Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Success Rate - A Retrospective Multicenter Study

Atrial fibrillation (AF) has become a major health and economic burden. Pulmonary veins isolation (PVI) based ablation for rhythm control of AF is well established. Furthermore, recent studies show its superiority over anti-arrhythmic therapy. However, most of these studies were performed in highly experienced centers, that may not necessarily reflect real world outcomes. We evaluated the outcome (success rate and complications) of 300 consecutive procedures, performed on 291 patients (during 2014-2015) of a major HMO. All had undergone PVI for AF by experienced electrophysiologists in 8 medical centers (85% RF technique). Data were retrospectively collected using computerized medical records. Variables included demographic and clinical characteristics, acute procedural success and complications, long term success rate based on multiple ECGs and Holter monitoring. The average age was 63 years, 61% were male, 79% had paroxysmal AF. Sinus rhythm at 2 years was considered success. The overall success rate of maintaining sinus rhythm at 2 years was 56%. Success rate correlated significantly with age and standard risk factors. Those patients in whom the index procedure was the first ablation, success rate was 78%. Sixty-one patients underwent a second ablation with success rate of 64%, 32 underwent a 3rd/4th procedure with success rate of 56%. The probability to be in sinus rhythm after 2 years regardless of the number of ablations was 78%. Thirty-five percent of the patients were still on anti-arrhythmic therapy at 2 years post procedure. Complication rate was 6.6% (2.5% serious), among them 2 deaths, 1 procedure related. PVI in a real-world large unselected population is a valid therapeutic option for AF with an overall 2-year success rate of 56%. In our group higher complication rate was observed compared to the reported rate in the literature. The use of cryo-ablation for PVI and further improvements in both technique and experience may improve both efficacy and safety profile.