Left Atrial Spontaneous Echo Contrast Is Clinical Predictor for the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation after Catheter Ablation?

Abstract

Background: Left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) is associated with the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardiovertion in previous some studies. But it was not examinated that SEC have a influence on the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation. We investigated the relation of SEC and the recurrence of AF after procedure. Method: 229 patients with non-valvular AF who were underwant catheter ablation for AF were enrolled and performed trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) and trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) before procedure. SEC was diagnosed by TEE as the presence of smoke-like echogenic materials which swirled in the cavities. And other 2d-echocardiography parameter was measured. Result: Patients with LASEC had a non-significant higher incidence of AF recurrence after ablation (25.9 vs. 20.1%, P=0.45). But Ablation time was longer in patients with SEC than in patients without SEC (88±34 vs. 91±59 P<0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of patients with SEC was mildly decreased than in patients without SEC (55.5±5.8 vs. 56.4±3.7, P=0.003). E/e ration, the marker of diastolic function of left ventricle was larger in patients with SEC than in patients without SEC (10.8±5.9 vs. 8.7±2.9, P=0.004). Conclusion: LASEC was not associated the recurrence of AF after catheter ablation.