Impaired cardiac performance relating to delayed left atrial activation after atrial compartment operation for chronic atrial fibrillation

In the presence of a normal atrial systole and optimal AV delay, atrial kic k contributes to a significant fraction of the stroke volume. This atrial c ontribution may be lost during atrial asystole or mismatch in the timing of atrial and ventricular contraction. A patient received atrial compartment operation for his chronic AF. Although the AF was successfully converted to sinus rhythm, the conduction from the right to left atrium was markedly de layed so that the left atrial and ventricular activations occurred almost s imultaneously This delay in left atrial activation resulted in impaired car diac performance.