Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026

Non-fluoroscopic Catheter Tracking for Fluoroscopy Reduction in Interventional Electrophysiology
Published on: May 26, 2015
Catheter ablation for long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation in patients who have failed electrical
Fei Lü1, Wayne O Adkisson, Taibo Chen
1Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. luxxx074@umn.edu
Abstract:
Ablation outcomes in 22 consecutive long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LPAF) patients with failed direct current cardioversion (DCCV; group 1) were compared with findings in 22 consecutive LPAF patients who had successful DCCV (control 1) and 22 consecutive patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF; control 2). All patients underwent a stepwise progressive ablation protocol (pulmonary vein isolation, ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrogram, and repeat ablation of any induced atrial tachycardias). Over 18-month follow-up, 59 % of group 1 patients remained in sinus rhythm without recurrent AF, compared to 64 % and 77 % in controls 1 and 2, respectively. The procedure time was longer in LPAF with a higher procedure complication risk in these 44 LPAF patients (5 % vs. 0 %) than in patients with paroxysmal AF. Our data suggest that catheter ablation provides a practical treatment option with moderate efficacy for restoring sinus rhythm in LPAF patients after failed DCCV.
Related Concept Videos
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias
Dysrhythmias VI: Management of Dysrhythmias
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation III: AED Use
Cardiomyopathy V: Interprofessional Care
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation IV: Pharmacological Management

