Premium
Re‐definition of blanking period in radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in the contact force era
Author(s) -
Uetake Shunsuke,
Miyauchi Yasushi,
Mitsuishi Tatsuya,
Maruyama Mitsunori,
Seino Yoshihiko,
Shimizu Wataru
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1111/jce.14643
Subject(s) - medicine , ablation , atrial fibrillation , catheter ablation , radiofrequency catheter ablation , cardiology , paroxysmal atrial fibrillation , surgery
Early recurrence (ER) of atrial fibrillation (AF) is defined as the recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias within 3 months after AF ablation, however, this definition is based on data from the era of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA), without contact force (CF) technology. We investigated the significance of ER as a risk factor for late recurrence (LR) in paroxysmal AF (PAF) patients treated with CF and non‐CF‐guided ablation. Methods and Results We studied 395 patients with PAF who underwent RFCA. Of these, 97 patients underwent RFCA without‐CF technology (non‐CF group) and 298 underwent with CF technology (CF group). Over a 2‐year postablation follow‐up period, LR occurred in 54 (55.7%) patients in the non‐CF group, and in 105 (35.2%) patients in the CF group. ER had a more significant relationship with LR in the CF group, and all patients in the CF group with ER in the third month developed LR. Conclusion PAF patients with ER who have undergone CF‐guided ablation have a greater risk of LR than those who have undergone non‐CF‐guided ablation. ER in the third month after CF‐guided ablation may indicate an absolute risk of LR. Blanking period could be defined as 2 months in the CF era.