Catheter ablation of pulmonary vein foci for atrial fibrillation - PV fociablation for atrial fibrillation

While experimental and human mapping studies have documented multiple wavel et reentry as the electrophysiological mechanism maintaining atrial fibrill ation, recent evidence shows that nearly all paroxysms of atrial fibrillati on are initiated by trains of rapid discharges from the pulmonary veins. Ra diofrequency catheter ablation targeting these initiating triggers has resu lted in an overall 69% freedom from atrial fibrillation at a follow-up of 8 +/- 4 months in a population of 110 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibril lation. Six of the targeted pulmonary veins (4%) developed pulmonary vein s tenosis; none requiring specific treatment. Catheter ablation of pulmonary vein foci initiating atrial fibrillation is therefore an effective curative modality for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.