Noncontact system-guided simplified right atrial linear lesions using radiofrequency transcatheter ablation for treatment of refractory atrial fibrillation

This article describes our experience with a staged "hybrid" approach to th e treatment of drug resistant AF, in which the completeness of a single lin ear lesion in the RA was verified with a noncontact mapping system. Inferio r vena cava-tricuspid annulus ablation wets performed and followed by the c reation of a single intercaval lesion. The study population consisted of 24 patients with a 3.4 +/- 1.6-year history of drug resistant, severely sympt omatic, lone paroxysmal (n = 19), or persistent (n = 5) AF. During a follow -up of 8 +/- 2.6 months, 12 (50%) patients remained asymptomatic and 6 (25% ) had a significant decrease in AF episodes, while the arrhythmia was uncha nged in 5 (21%) patients and aggravated in 1 (4%) patient. Overall, a favor able clinical result was achieved in 28 (75%) patients.