Abstract
This study was to investigated the long term outcome of Atrioventricular node (AVN) ablation with implantation of a permanent pacemaker (PPM) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: Twenty one patients (59.2±13.8 years) who underwent AVN ablation with implantation of PPM were studied. We divided study population into two group-according to history of catheter ablation (CA) for AF to assess predictors to affect clinical outcome. Results: Seven patients underwent CA for AF before procedure and 14 patients without CA were identified. All but 3 patients had normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function. Indication of AVN ablation with implantation of PPM was AF with slow (n=5) or fast (n=4) ventricular response and AF with sick sinus syndrome in 12 (57.1%). Mean age at procedure was younger (55.8±17.0 years) in prior ablation group than no CA group (61±12.2 years, P<0.001) and mean symptom duration to procedure was significantly shorter in CA group (5.8±8.5 months vs, 12.8±9.7 months, P=0.02). In 11 patients (52.4%), symptoms were still ongoing. CA group demonstrated higher incidence of symptom as compared with no CA group (85.7% vs 41.7%, P=0.06). Conclusions: AVN ablation with PPM implantation is less effective to relief of symptoms. The younger age and shorter symptom duration to procedure were associated with higher incidence of symptomatic clinical outcome.
