Left atrial function after successful catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: cryoablation versus radiofrequency techniques. (8th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pilichowska, E; Sikorska, A; Baran, J; Piotrowski, R; Krynski, T; Kulakowski, P; Zaborska, B
• Is Part Of: European heart journal. Volume 22(2021)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2021-02-08
• Subjects: Cardiovascular system -- Imaging -- Periodicals; Heart -- Imaging -- Periodicals; 616.10754
• DOI: 10.1093/ehjci/jeaa356.138
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2047-2404

Abstract

Abstract: Funding Acknowledgements: Type of funding sources: None. Purpose: It has been suggested that cryoballoon (CB) ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) may lead to more extensive left atrial (LA) injury than radiofrequency (RF) ablation, however, results are conflicting. We sought to address this issue using modern echocardiographic techniques. Methods: We performed transthoracic echocardiography in 90 patients (66% males, mean age 57 ± 10 years) successfully treated with RF (51%) or CB (49%) ablation for PAF before and 6 months after the procedure. Peak longitudinal LA strain (LAS) and strain rate (LASR) during the reservoir (r), conduit (cd) and contraction (ct) phases were measured during sinus rhythm by speckle tracking. The LA diameter and volume (LAV) index - using biplane area-length method divided by the body surface area were also calculated. Results: The LA diameter decreased (38.1 ± 4.0 vs 37.2 ± 3.8 mm, p = 0.004), the LAV index did not change (33.5 ± 11.9 vs 34.4 ± 8.9 mL/m², p = 0.272) at 6 months in the whole study group. The LASRr and LASRcd increased, whereas there were no changes in remaining LA function parameters in either ablation strategy (table). The CB subgroup did not differ in LA function parameters comparing to RF subgroup at six months after procedure (table). Conclusion: CB and RF ablation did not differentially affect the LA function. Successful ablation for PAF resulted in improvement of rate of deformation during reservoir and conduit LA cycle and stable contractile LA function.