Efficacy and safety of novel epicardial circumferential left atrial ablation with pulmonary vein isolation in sustained atrial fibrillation

The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy and safety of this novel epicardial circumferential left atrial ablation (CLAA) with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in sustained atrial fibrillation (AF). Thirty domestic pigs were divided equally into 3 groups: AF without ablation (AF group), AF with PVI (PVI group), and AF with CLAA and PVI (CLAA + PVI group). AF was induced by rapid atrial pacing. After AF was induced, CLAA and PVI were performed for pigs in CLAA + PVI group, and PVI was performed for pigs in PVI group. AF vulnerability, AF duration, and histology were performed in all groups. All pigs developed sustained AF after 6.27 ± 0.69 weeks of rapid atrial pacing. All pigs successfully underwent isolated PVI or CLAA with PVI on the beating heart in PVI group or CLAA + PVI group. Isolated PVI terminated AF in 3 of 20 pigs (15 %), and CLAA with PVI terminated AF in 5 of 8 pigs (62.5 %, P = 0.022). Compared with AF group (10/10), the incidence of sustained AF by burst pacing was significantly decreased in PVI group (3/10, P = 0.003) or CLAA + PVI group (0/10, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between PVI group and CLAA + PVI group (P = 0.211). AF duration was significantly decreased in CLAA + PVI group (734.70 ± 177.81 s, 95 % CI 607.51–861.89) compared with PVI group (1217.90 ± 444.10 s, 95 % CI 900.21–1535.59, P = 0.008). Also, AF duration was significantly decreased in PVI group (P = 0.003) or CLAA + PVI group (P < 0.001) in comparison with AF duration in AF group (average 1800 s). Epicardial CLAA could ablate the left atrial roof and posterior wall together safely and reliably. Compared with PVI alone, CLAA with PVI may be able to improve the rate of acute termination of persistent AF. It may be useful in selecting the best ablation approaches for patients with persistent AF.