LAUSR

BACKGROUND Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is commonly performed in patients with drug-refractory symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). However, the very long-term follow-up result is limited. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate 10-year ablation outcomes in patients with PAF and long-term follow-up results after PVI. METHODS This study retrospectively enrolled 176 (131 men, mean age 51.2 ± 12.1 years) patients with drug-refractory symptomatic PAF who underwent electroanatomic-guided PVI. Ten-year follow-up was completed using medical records or telephonic interviews. Procedural characteristics at index procedures and long-term clinical outcomes were investigated. RESULTS After a mean follow-up period of 130.0 ± 10.8 months, sinus rhythm was achieved in 58% patients after a single procedure (including 8% patients on antiarrhythmic medications) and in 88% patients after multiple procedures (including 10% patients on antiarrhythmic medications). Left atrial diameter (odds ratio 1.067; 95% confidence interval 1.009-1.127; P = .023) was the predictor of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia after a single ablation procedure. The single-procedure recurrence rates were similar between circumferential PVI and segmental PVI (59% and 50%; log-rank, P = .251). The recurrence patterns of both groups regarding the role of non-pulmonary vein and pulmonary vein triggers were similar. CONCLUSION The single-procedure long-term efficacy was modest, with freedom from atrial fibrillation at 10 years being 58%. Those who had enlarged left atrial diameters have more atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrences. Ten-year single-procedure outcomes of the effects of circumferential PVI and segmental PVI in patients with PAF were similar.