Reverse remodeling of left atriumpost pulmonary veins ablation in atrial fibrillation: case series

Abstract

Electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins using third dimension navigation systems is a universal technique that has showed a significant success in atrial fibrillation ablation. Nevertheless, the reverse remodeling suffered by the left
atrium after ablation has been scarcely evaluated.
Eight patients underwent the ablation of the pulmonary veins with electroanatomic map system, between March 2016 to March 2017. The left atrium was evaluated by echocardiogram pre procedure, and one and three months after ablation, using the following variables: left atrial volume in biplane, ejection fraction of the left atrium and reservoir strain of the left atrium in the lateral wall. To determine the existence of recurrence, Holter of 24 hours was applied and phone calls three and six months after were made. There was evidence of a reverse remodeling structural and functional of the left atrium in six patients. Those with recurrence of atrial fibrillation did not show reverse remodel and showed higher deterioration of the auricular function prior to the ablation. These findings let us make some hypotheses and investigate about recurrence predictors.