These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.
Pubmed for Handhelds
PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS
Search MEDLINE/PubMed
Title: Low risk of major complications associated with pulmonary vein antral isolation for atrial fibrillation: results of 500 consecutive ablation procedures in patients with low prevalence of structural heart disease from a single center. Author: Lee G, Sparks PB, Morton JB, Kistler PM, Vohra JK, Medi C, Rosso R, Teh A, Halloran K, Kalman JM. Journal: J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol; 2011 Feb; 22(2):163-8. PubMed ID: 20731742. Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To report the major complication rate associated with pulmonary vein antral isolation (PVAI) in a consecutive series of 500 patients from a single center. BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is an established procedure for refractory AF. However, the risk of major complications has been reported to range from 3.9% to 4.5% and continues to represent a cause for concern. We hypothesized that these studies may have overestimated the rate of major complications associated with PVAI in patients with a low prevalence of structural heart disease (SHD). METHODS: Data were prospectively collected from 500 consecutive AF ablation procedures on 424 patients (mean age 55 ± 11 years, 79% men, paroxysmal AF-80% and persistent AF-20%, CHADS₂ scores of 0, 1, 2, 3 present in 64%, 28%, 7%, 1%, respectively), performed between July 2006 and September 2009. All procedures were performed under general anesthesia with intraoperative transesophageal echo. PVAI was performed using a nonfluoroscopic mapping system with an endpoint of PV isolation. Adjunctive left atrial ablation was performed in 21% of patients only. Major complications were defined from a compilation of those reported in 5 prior studies reporting complications. RESULTS: In 500 procedures, there were no instances of death, stroke/TIA, cardiac tamponade, atrioesophageal fistula, or PV stenosis. Major complications occurred in 4 procedures (0.8%): esophageal hematoma (TEE probe)--2; pharyngeal trauma--1; and retroperitoneal hematoma-1. CONCLUSIONS: AF ablation can be performed safely in young patients without structural heart disease with a low risk (<1%) of major complications when using a strategy of PVAI.[Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]