Evaluation of the characteristics of rotational activation at high-dominant frequency and complex fractionated atrial electrogram sites during atrial fibrillation

High-dominant frequency (DF) and continuous complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) sites as surrogates for localized sources maintaining atrial fibrillation (AF) are potential AF ablation targets. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics of a rotational activation at high-DF and continuous CFAE sites in AF patients.

Thirty-two consecutive AF patients (5 paroxysmal and 27 non-paroxysmal) underwent ablation using the NavX system. When AF continued after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), high-DF sites of ≥8 Hz and continuous CFAE sites (fractionated intervals ≤50 ms) in the left (LA) and right (RA) atria were recorded using a high-density 20-pole circular mapping catheter for 5 s and ablated.

The atrial electrogram characteristics during AF were assessed. A total of 2383 AF beats from 89 high-DF and 19 continuous CFAE sites were investigated. A rotational activation of high-DF and continuous CFAE sites was also observed at 4% and 3% of LA, and 4% and 4% of RA sites, respectively. However, rotational activation was identified in 29 (91%) of 32 patients (mean 3.0±2.6 beats per patient, 80% in the LA). Procedural endpoints were achieved in 26 (81%) of 32 patients: AF termination (n=2) and AF cycle length slowing of >10% (n=26).

Rotational activation could be identified in high-DF and continuous CFAE sites during AF, but the documentation was limited. Therefore, only limited effects of rotational activation ablation at high-DF and/or continuous CFAE sites following PVI could be concluded.