Incidence and predictors of silent cerebral embolism during pulmonary vein catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Left atrial catheter ablation of the pulmonary veins (PV) has evolved as an important therapeutic option for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of silent cerebral embolism associated with PV catheter ablation, detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI).

Methods And Results: We performed a prospective analysis of 53 consecutive patients with persistent or paroxysmal AF that underwent PV ablation and post-procedural cerebral MRI 1 day after lasso catheter-guided ostial PV ablation.

Cerebral diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging: a tool to monitor the thrombogenicity of left atrial catheter ablation.

Introduction: Cerebral embolism and stroke are feared complications of left atrial catheter ablation such as pulmonary vein (PV) ablation. In order to assess the thrombogenicity of left atrial catheter ablation, knowledge of both clinically evident as well as silent cerebral embolism is important. The aim of the current study was to examine the use of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) for detection of cerebral embolism, apparent as well as silent, caused by PV catheter ablation.