Long-term follow-up of thoracoscopic ablation in long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation.
Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg
; 34(6): 990-998, 2022 06 01.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34957518
OBJECTIVES: Catheter ablation of long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) remains challenging, with suboptimal success rates obtained following multiple procedures. Thoracoscopic ablation has shown effective at creating transmural lesions around the pulmonary veins and box; however, long-term rhythm follow-up data are lacking. This study aims, for the first time, to assess the long-term outcomes of thoracoscopic pulmonary vein and box ablation in LSPAF. METHODS: Rhythm follow-up consisted of continuous rhythm monitoring using implanted loop recorders or 24-h Holter recordings. Rhythm status and touch-up interventions were assessed up to 5 years. RESULTS: Seventy-seven patients with symptomatic LSPAF underwent thoracoscopic ablation in 2 centres. Freedom from atrial arrhythmias at 5 years was 50% following a single thoracoscopic procedure and 68% allowing endocardial touch-up procedures (performed in 21% of patients). The mean atrial fibrillation burden in patients with continuous monitoring was reduced from 100% preoperatively to 0.1% at the end of the blanking period and 8.0% during the second year. Antiarrhythmic drug use decreased from 49.4% preoperative to 12.1% and 14.3% at 2 and 5 years, respectively (P < 0.001). Continuous rhythm monitoring resulted in higher recurrence detection rates compared to 24-h Holter monitoring at 2-year follow-up (hazard ratio: 6.5, P = 0.003), with comparable recurrence rates at 5-year follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Thoracoscopic pulmonary vein and box isolation are effective in long-term restoration of sinus rhythm in LSPAF, especially when complemented by endocardial touch-up procedures, as demonstrated by the 68% freedom rate at 5 years. Continuous rhythm monitoring revealed earlier, but not more numerous documentation of recurrences at 5-year follow-up.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Venas Pulmonares
/
Fibrilación Atrial
/
Ablación por Catéter
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg
Asunto de la revista:
ANGIOLOGIA
/
CARDIOLOGIA
Año:
2022
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Países Bajos
Pais de publicación:
Reino Unido