[Circumferential isolation of pulmonary veins with transcatheter radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation].

Background: Circumferential anatomical isolation of the pulmonary veins by radiofrequency transcatheter ablation is a new technique for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of circumferential radiofrequency ablation of the pulmonary veins and to analyze clinical, echocardiographic and procedural parameters as possible predictors of clinical success.

Methods: We performed circumferential isolation of the pulmonary veins in 33 patients with paroxysmal (15 patients) or persistent AF (18 patients) refractory to at least two antiarrhythmic drugs. All patients continued antiarrhythmic therapy after the procedure for at least 12 months.

Results: At the end of the follow-up (mean 13.7 +/- 5.1 months) 70% of the patients resulted responders to the ablation, with no differences between patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF. Complications were observed in 3% of patients. Among clinical, echocardiographic and procedural parameters analyzed none turned out to be predictor of clinical success.

Conclusions: Circumferential isolation of the pulmonary veins by radiofrequency transcatheter ablation associated with antiarrhythmic drugs was efficacious in 70% of patients with either paroxysmal or persistent AF. None of the analyzed variables predicted clinical success.