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Updated: Jul 17, 2026
Benefits of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in an Asynchronous Heart Failure Model Induced by Left Bundle Branch Ablation and Rapid Pacing
Published on: December 11, 2017
Successful radiofrequency ablation determines atrio-ventricular remodelling and improves systo-diastolic function at
Francesco Onorati1, Massimo Bilotta, Francesco Borrello
1Cardiac Surgery Unit-Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy. frankono@libero.it
Background:
Clinical, echocardiographic results and determinants of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence following AF ablation during mitral valve surgery (AFAMVS) were evaluated.
Methods:
Fifty-two patients undergoing radiofrequency AFAMVS between January 2003 and December 2005, underwent serial echocardiographies with tissue Doppler imaging to assess atrio-ventricular function. Recurrence of AF, hospital readmission, episodes of congestive heart failure (CHF) were recorded. Predictors for AF-recurrence were evaluated.
Results:
At a 29.5+/-8.6 months of follow-up (100% complete), 78.8% patients were in sinus rhythm (SR). Freedom from AF-recurrence was 64.6+/-0.76%, from hospital readmission 88.9+/-0.47%, from CHF 91.6+/-0.63%. SR-patients demonstrated better freedom from hospital readmission (97.4 vs 60.6%; p=0.0003) and from CHF (100 vs 72.7%; p=0.008) during follow-up. At follow-up SR-patients demonstrated left atrial (preoperative 5.8+/-0.8 cm vs follow-up 5.1+/-0.9; p=0.013) and ventricular reverse remodelling (preoperative LVDd 5.7+/-1.1cm vs follow-up 5.2+/-1.1; p=0.048 - preoperative LVDs 4.0+/-1.4 vs follow-up 3.6+/-1.1; p=0.036). E/A ratio was normal in 73.1% (92.7% of SR-patients). TDI at the level of the left lateral annulus showed an improved left ventricular systole (Sm), and diastole (Em, E/Em) of SR-patients, compared with AF-patients (Sm 9.40+/-1.74 vs 7.72+/-1.5, p=0.0001; Em: 10.45+/-1.98 vs 7.68+/-0.72, p=0.001; E/Em: 0.07+/-0.02 vs 0.10+/-0.04, p=0.0001). Large preoperative atrial diameter (OR=5.81; p=0.002), preoperative NYHA-IV (OR=3.55; p=0.001), high diuretics at discharge (OR=1.27; p=0.03), tricuspid insufficiency at follow-up (OR=2.31; p=0.02) were independent predictors of AF-recurrence.
Conclusions:
Radiofrequency AFAMVS achieves 78.8% of SR recovery. Maintenance of SR improves clinic, haemodynamic and echocardiographic endpoints. Pre- and post-operative cardiac failure is the main determinant of AF-recurrence.
