Clinical relevance and management of early recurrences after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Evaluation of: Malasana G, Day JD, Weiss JP et al. A strategy of rapid cardioversion minimizes the significance of early recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias after ablation for atrial fibrillation. J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. DOI: 10.1111/j.1540–8167.2010.02005.x (2011) (Epub ahead of print).

Early recurrences of atrial arrhythmias are frequent and have been reported in up to 50% of patients after radiofrequency catheter ablation. As these arrhythmias do not definitively indicate therapy failure over the long term, this period is also referred to as the ‘blanking’ or ‘therapy stabilization’ period. Nevertheless, early recurrences have been linked to the occurrence of late recurrences after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. Treatment strategies aiming at these early recurrences range from conservative management to repeat catheter ablation with controversial results. In this article, we evaluate a recent publication investigating the efficacy of an aggressive rhythm control approach, with the use of prompt electrical cardioversion for early arrhythmia recurrences on long-term outcomes after atrial fibrillation ablation, and discuss the results in the light of current evidence.

Keywords::

• atrial fibrillation
• catheter ablation
• early recurrence
• follow-up

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.