Abstract
BackgroundAnti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) are often administered following catheter ablation (CA) for persistent atrial fibrillation (peAF) to maintain sinus rhythm (SR). It remains unclear whether AADs can be withdrawn in patients showing no recurrence after CA. MethodWe administered hybrid therapy consisting of CA and AAD (bepridil) in 75 patients with peAF. Withdrawal of AADs was attempted in patients who had no recurrence of AF for ≥6 months. We followed them for 22±16 months. ResultsPatients received 1.2±0.4 sessions of CA and a mean bepridil dose of 131±46mg/day. After a 3-month “blanking period,” 62 (83%) patients maintained SR without recurrence of tachyarrhythmia for ≥6 months. AADs were discontinued in 41 patients who agreed to medication withdrawal. Ten of these (24%) experienced a relapse of tachycardia, and these patients had a higher incidence of residual inducibility of tachyarrhythmia at the end of the CA procedure (70% vs. 32%; P=0.03) and required a higher dose of bepridil to maintain SR (170±48mg vs. 106±30mg; P<0.0001) than those without relapse. ConclusionsDiscontinuation of AADs occasionally results in recurrence, especially in patients with residual inducibility and in those requiring higher doses of AADs.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
