Changes in f-wave characteristics during cryoballoon catheter ablation
Mikael Henriksson1, Arcadi García-Alberola2, Rebeca Goya3
1Department of Biomedical Engineering and Center of Integrative Electrocardiology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Objective:
Changes in ECG-derived parameters are studied in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergoing cryoballoon catheter ablation.
Approach:
Parameters characterizing f-wave frequency, morphology by phase dispersion, and amplitude are estimated using a model-based statistical approach. These parameters are studied before, during, and after ablation, as well as for AF type (paroxysmal/persistent). Seventy-seven (49/28 paroxysmal/persistent) AF patients undergoing de novo catheter ablation are included in the study, out of which 31 (16/15 paroxysmal/persistent) were in AF during the whole procedure. A signal quality index (SQI) is used to identify analyzable segments.
Main Results:
f-wave frequency decreased significantly during ablation (p = 0.001), in particular after ablation of the inferior right pulmonary vein (p < 0.05). Frequency and phase dispersion differed significantly between paroxysmal and persistent AF (p = 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively).
Significance:
This study demonstrates that a decrease in f-wave frequency can be distinguished during catheter ablation. The use of an SQI ensures reliable analysis and produces results significantly different from those obtained without an SQI.
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