Purpose: Dormant conduction (DC) induced by intravenous adenosine triphosphate (ATP) after pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) could predict subsequent PV reconnection (RC) sites. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the DC and RC sites during the long-term follow-up.
Methods: Ninety-one consecutive patients (62 males; mean age, 62 ± 11 years) with symptomatic persistent (n = 18) or paroxysmal (n = 73) atrial fibrillation (AF) who underwent PVI were included in this study. After a successful PVI, we administered ATP to reveal the DC sites. In total, DC sites were observed in 46 (51%) patients, and all were left un-ablated after marking or tagging all of them using fluoroscopic images and a three-dimensional (3D) mapping system. After the follow-up period (14.8 ± 3.6 months), AF recurred in 29 (32%) patients, all of whom had a DC in the initial ablation session, and underwent redo sessions. We divided the DC sites into three groups; in group A, the RC sites differed from the DC sites, in group B, the RC sites were identical to the DC sites, and in group C, the RC sites involved both DC and other sites.
Results: As a result, 20 (69%), 3 (11.5%), and 6 (19.5%) patients belonged to groups A, B, and C, respectively. Statistical analyses comparing the agreement between DC and the RC sites yielded a weak relationship.
Conclusions: DC sites implying RC sites had a weak agreement, and other options to predict RC sites will be required to improve the clinical benefit of CA of AF.
Keywords: Adenosine triphosphate; Atrial fibrillation; Catheter ablation; Dormant conduction.