The “atrial arrhythmic storm” phenomenon after segmental pulmonary veins isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms and the possible treatment of early and frequent recurrence of atrial fibrillation after segmental pulmonary veins isolation (PVI) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and Results Guided by Lasso mapping catheter, segmental pulmonary veins isolation was performed using radiofrequency energy in 54 consecutive patients (mean age 53?15 years) with recurrent documented symptomatic paroxysmal AF. Early recurrence of AF and rapid atrial arrhythmia occurred in 10 out of 54 patients (18.5%) within two weeks after PVI. 4 out of 10 patients (7.4 %) experienced early and frequent recurrence of atrial fibrillation and atrial tachyarrhythmia, which we termed as “atrial arrhythmic storm". The 4 patients were treated with class Ⅰ and Ⅲ antiarrhythmic drugs for 3 months. The “atrial arrhythmic storm" subided apparently and disappeared within two weeks after antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Only 1 patient still suffered from paroxysmal AF after drug control at mean follow-up of 3 months. After repeat ablation, there was no occurrence of AF and atrial arrhythmia in this patient.Conclusion A few paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients experienced “atrial arrhythmic storm" after segmental pulmonary veins isolation. It is suggested that “atrial arrhythmic storm" after PVI may due to a lot of factors and combined antiarrhythmic drug therapy may be feasible. Early repeat ablation in patients with “atrial arrhythmic storm" may not be necessary.