Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Left atrial function after atrial fibrillation ablation with pulsed field vs radiofrequency energy: A comparative study
Authors' conclusion
PVI using PFA is associated with acute LA stunning, with persistent impairment in contractile function at 3 months despite recovery of reservoir function. These findings suggest subtle, lasting alterations in atrial mechanics not observed with RFA.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing a first-time pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for PAF with either radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or pulsed field ablation (PFA)patients analyzed
- Participants
- 59 patients
- Exposure
- PVI performed with PFA vs radiofrequency ablation
- PFAn = 31
- RFAn = 28
- Outcome
- Left atrial (LA) reservoir strain (LASr) and LA contraction strain (LASct)
- Follow-up
- Baseline (immediately before ablation), acute phase (immediately after ablation), chronic phase (3 months post-ablation)
Methodological detailsserial echocardiographic strain analysis
- Serial echocardiographic strain analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
PFA, LASr, baseline to acute phase
26.5 ± 5.8% to 22.9 ± 6.6%
P = .010
PFA, LASct, baseline to acute phase
12.2 ± 3.6% to 8.6 ± 3.1%
P < .001
PFA, LASr at 3-month follow-up (recovered to baseline levels)
25.8 ± 7.9%
P = .531
PFA, LASct at 3-month follow-up (remained significantly reduced)
10.9 ± 4.3%
P = .031
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Original publication
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