Acute regional left atrial ischemia causes acceleration of atrial drivers during atrial fibrillation.

Background: The mechanisms by which acute left atrial ischemia (LAI) leads to atrial fibrillation (AF) initiation and perpetuation remain unclear.

Objective: To investigate the electrophysiological mechanisms of AF perpetuation in the presence of regional atrial ischemia.

Methods: LAI (90-minute ischemia) was obtained in isolated sheep hearts by selectively perfusing microspheres into the left anterior atrial artery.