Left Atrial Appendage Outflow Velocity is Superior to Conventional Criteria for Predicting of Maintenance of Sinus Rhythm After Simple Cryoablation of Pulmonary Vein Orifices

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Background We sought to identify factors favoring long-term restoration of sinus rhythm (SR) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent a simple cryoablation of pulmonary vein orifices (PV-cryo) as part of their cardiac surgery. Methods and Results Of 101 patients with AF undergoing PV-cryo, the 71 in SR at discharge were grouped according to whether they maintained or lost SR (group SR, n=61, and group AF, n=10) after an average of 2.3 years. Atrial fibrillation present at discharge (n=30) persisted during follow up. Comparisons were made to identify preoperative predictive factors, including transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic parameters. Of patients discharged from the hospital with SR, 92% (46 of 50) of those with AF duration of 3 years or less were in group SR, as were 92% (23 of 25) of those with left atrial dimension of 50 mm or less, and 93% (37 of 40) of those with average peak left atrial appendage outflow velocities (LAA-V) of at least 30 cm/s. Of 25 patients in group SR who had no paroxysmal AF and did not require antiarrhythmic drugs, all had LAA-V over 20 cm/s. Patients in group AF all had LAA-V under 40 cm/s. Conclusions Left atrial appendage outflow velocities was the best predictor of whether SR was maintained long-term after PV-cryo. (Circ J 2005; 69: 446 - 451)