Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Systolic Heart Failure Patients: Stone by Stone, a CASTLE.

Heart failure (HF) and AF frequently coexist and are involved in a vicious cycle of adverse pathophysiologic interactions. Applying treatment algorithms that have been validated in the general AF population to patients with AF and HF may be fraught with risks and lack effectiveness. While firm recommendations on using catheter ablation for AF do exist, the subset of patients also suffering from HF needs to be further evaluated.

Effect of pulmonary vein isolation on left atrial appendage flow in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: Left atrial appendage (LAA) functional modification in the context of pulmonary vein isolation has been a focus point of research and LAA emptying flow velocity (LAAEFV) is considered to reflect LAA contractility, stunning, and fibrosis.

Objective: In the present study, we sought to prospectively evaluate short-term LAAEFV changes after radiofrequency (RF) or cryoballoon ablation in paroxysmal AF.

Methods: This was a prospective substudy of the Effect of Cryoballoon and RF Ablation on Left Atrial Function (CryoLAEF) study (ClinicalTrials.