P1401Electrophysiological findings during repeat procedures in patients exhibiting electrical isolation in all veins after an index cryoballoon procedure for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to analyze and compare the electrophysiological findings in redo radiofrequency (RF)-ablation of AF in a series of patients with durable PV isolation (PVI) and with PV reconnection after index procedure with the second-generation cryoballon (CB). Methods and results A total of 132 patients (81 males, 60.7 ± 12.4 years) who underwent CB-A for paroxysmal AF (PAF) were enrolled. Indication for the redo procedure was symptomatic (PAF) in 83 (63%) and persistent AF (PeAF) or persistent regular atrial tachycardia (RAT) in 49 (37%). Seventy-five (57%) patients presented a PV reconnection (PV group), whereas 57 (43%) no PV reconnection (non-PV group). The non-PV group exhibited significantly more atrial flutters and non-PV foci than the PV group after induction protocol (67% vs. 36%, p = 0.003 and 51% vs. 24% p = 0.002, respectively) (Table 1). Twenty-two (29.3%) patients of the PV group and 20 (35%) patients of the non-PV group had AF/RAT recurrence after a mean follow-up of 12.5 ± 8 months. The survival analysis demonstrated no statistical significance in recurrence between the two groups (log rank p = 0.358). In the cox regression analysis only the AF/RAT recurrence in the blanking period could predict independently an AF/RAT relapse. Conclusions AF/RAT recurrence in patients after CB-A with durable PVI is significantly associated to atrial flutters and non-PV foci. No statistically different success rate regarding AF/RAT freedom was detected between PV and non-PV Group after redo RF-CA. Table 1. Electrophysiological findings PV Groupn = 75 non-PV Groupn = 57 p-value PV trigger (n of patients) 75(100) 0(0) <0.001 LSPV 29 (39) 0 (0) <0.001 LIPV 15 (20) 0 (0) <0.001 RSPV 27 (36) 0 (0) <0.001 RIPV 33 (44) 0 (0) <0.001 Atrial flutters (n of patients) 27 (36) 38 (67) 0.003 Roof-flutter 13 (17) 34 (60) 0.0001 Peri-mitral-flutter 9 (12) 20 (35) 0.003 Right flutter 13 (17) 5 (9) 0.2 Non-PV foci (n of patients) 18 (24) 29 (51) 0.002 Categorical variables are expressed as absolute and percentage (in brackets). LIPV, left inferior pulmonary vein; LSPV, left superior pulmonary vein; PV, pulmonary vein; RSPV, right superior pulmonary vein; RIPV, right inferior pulmonary vein.