How to Achieve Complete and Permanent Pulmonary Vein Isolation without Complications

ABSTRACT

The efficacy and safety of catheter ablation for the management of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been improved in recent years. Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation for maintaining sinus rhythm is superior to the current antiarrhythmic drug therapy in selected patients. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone of various catheter ablation strategies. It is well recognized that pulmonary vein (PV) antrum contributes to the AF initiation and/or perpetuation. Since PV stenosis is a complication of ablation within a PV, the ablation site for PVI has shifted to the junction between the left atrium and the PV rather than the ostium of the PV. However, PV reconnection after ablation is the major cause of recurrence of AF. The recovery of PV conduction could be caused by anatomical variations such as the failure to produce complete transmural lesion or gaps at the ablation line due to the transient electrophysiologic effects from the RF ablation. In this review, we discussed several factors to be considered for the achievement of the best PVI, including clinical aspects and technical aspects.