Arrhythmias & electrophysiology

Left atrial intramyocardial fat at pulmonary vein reconnection sites during atrial fibrillation redo ablation

EuropacePublished Observational study

Authors' conclusion

Intramyocardial fat is co-localized with two-thirds of PV-LA reconnection points in patients undergoing AF redo ablation. Reconnection segments exhibit significantly higher inFAT volumes compared to non-reconnection segments.

Study context

Population
Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence undergoing redo ablation with at least one PV-LA reconnection; Intramyocardial fat (inFAT) mapped on first-ablation pre-procedural multidetector computed tomography (MDCT)
Participants
45 patients
Exposure
Reconnection vs non-reconnection pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) segments
Outcome
Relationship between inFAT localization and PV-LA reconnections
Methodological detailsproof-of-concept, consecutive patients
  • Proof-of-concept
  • Consecutive patients

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

GroupTotal inFAT volumeDense inFATFat-myocardial admixture
Reconnection segments8.05 ± 6.56 μL0.06 ± 0.06 μL7.98 ± 6.52 μL
Non-reconnection segments5.40 ± 5.18 μL0.03 ± 0.04 μL5.37 ± 5.16 μL

Total inFAT volume

Reconnection segments8.05 ± 6.56 μL
Non-reconnection segments5.40 ± 5.18 μL

Dense inFAT

Reconnection segments0.06 ± 0.06 μL
Non-reconnection segments0.03 ± 0.04 μL

Fat-myocardial admixture

Reconnection segments7.98 ± 6.52 μL
Non-reconnection segments5.37 ± 5.16 μL
  • Reconnection segments vs Non-reconnection segments: P < 0.001 — total inFAT volume
  • Reconnection segments vs Non-reconnection segments: P < 0.001 — dense inFAT
  • Reconnection segments vs Non-reconnection segments: P < 0.001 — fat-myocardial admixture
PV-LA reconnection points with inFAT in the 6 mm tag point
103 out of 156 (66.0%)

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Original publication

Left atrial intramyocardial fat at pulmonary vein reconnection sites during atrial fibrillation redo ablation. Europace. Published 20 February 2025. doi:10.1093/europace/euaf038

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