Outcomes of a comprehensive strategy during repeat atrial fibrillation ablation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurs post-ablation in 30-40% of patients. The approach to a repeat ablation, beyond isolation of reconnected pulmonary veins (PVs), is not well established. We sought to prospectively assess outcomes and predictors of recurrence among consecutive patients who underwent repeat AF ablation with a standardized approach.

This was a single-center prospective study of consecutive patients who underwent repeat AF ablation. Our protocol consisted of six steps: PV re-isolation, ablation of left atrial low-voltage areas (LVAs), ablation of isoproterenol-induced non-PV triggers, electrophysiology study (EPS) and ablation of induced AVNRT/AVRT, ablation of induced clinical atrial flutters, and lastly empiric ablation as per operator discretion if no other ablation was performed.

Among 725 AF ablations performed during the study period, 74 were repeat ablations. Of those undergoing repeat ablation, 53 (72%) had PV reconnection, 30 (41%) had LVAs, seven (10%) had non-PV triggers, five (7%) had AVNRT, and 15 (20%) had typical atrial flutter. Following repeat ablation, arrhythmia-free survival was 65% at 1 year. The absence of PV reconnection was the only factor independently associated with recurrence after repeat ablation (recurrence rate 71%, adjusted OR 7.91, 95% CI 2.31-27.16, p = 0.001).

A comprehensive approach to repeat AF ablation including PV re-isolation, LVA ablation, non-PV trigger ablation, EPS, and flutter ablation was associated with a 65% 1-year arrhythmia-free survival. The absence of PV reconnection was the only independent predictor of arrhythmia recurrence. Further research is needed to identify therapies beyond PV isolation for patients undergoing repeat ablation.