Long-term outcomes (>2 years) of atrial fibrillation ablation using a multi-electrode ablation catheter in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.
Looi K-L., Gajendragadkar P., Taha T., Elsik M., Scully E., Heck P., Fynn S., Virdee M., Begley D.
PURPOSE: Catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is an effective treatment. Favourable outcomes at 6-12 months post-ablation have been reported using the multi-electrode catheter 'pulmonary vein ablation catheter (PVAC)' but little is known about longer term outcomes. There are also limited data on quality of life (QoL) post-atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation beyond 2 years of follow-up. METHODS: Two hundred three consecutive patients (77 % male, mean age 57.7 ± 11 years) who had a PAF ablation were included. Patients underwent conventional pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) (n = 128) or PVAC ablation (n = 75). Patients' symptoms were scored at baseline, at clinic follow-up and on questionnaire follow-up using the validated Canadian Cardiovascular Society Severity of AF (CCS-SAF) scale. The 'AF Effect on QualiTy of life' (AFEQT) questionnaire was used on questionnaire follow-up. RESULTS: Mean questionnaire follow-up was 854 ± 176 days with 74 % response rate. The majority of patients (91.6 % overall) were highly symptomatic at baseline with CCS-SAF class 3 or 4 symptoms. CCS-SAF class on follow-up questionnaire decreased significantly from baseline for both groups (mean 1.69 ± 1.7 for PVAC and 1.45 ± 1.5 for PVI, p = 0.001 and p