This study demonstrates significantly better outcomes in terms of restenosis after stent implantation versus PTA only, with comparable complication rates for these 2 options of interventional treatment of radiofrequency-induced PVS. In summary, despite the lack of randomized studies, the present data and currently available published studies seem to favor stent implantation as a first-line therapy in patients with radiofrequency-induced severe PVS.

Characteristic differences of both left atrial volume and geometry exist between the different forms of atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal, persistent and long-term persistent). The asymmetry index is a simple parameter derived by cardiac CT data that reflects these changes of LA geometry and predicts the outcome after the pulmonary vein isolation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the clinically most prevalent rhythm disorder with large impact on quality of life and increased risk for hospitalizations and mortality in both men and women. In recent years, knowledge regarding epidemiology, risk factors and patho-physiological mechanisms of AF has greatly increased. Sex differences have been identified in the prevalence, clinical presentation, associated comorbidities and therapy outcomes of AF. Although it is known that age-related prevalence of AF is lower in women than in men, women have worse and often atypical symptoms and worse quality of life as well as a higher risk for adverse events such as stroke and death associated with AF.In this review, we evaluate what is known about sex differences in AF mechanisms -covering structural, electrophysiological, and hormonal factors -and underscore areas of knowledge gaps for future studies. Increasing our understanding of mechanisms accounting for these sex differences in AF is important both for prognostic purposes and the optimization of (targeted, mechanism-based, and sex-specific) therapeutic approaches.

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The use of a cryoballoon catheter equipped with a 6-pole micromapping catheter inserted through its central lumen for the purpose of mapping and ablation during PV isolation procedures is both feasible and effective.

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LA dilatation, especially on the coronal plane, is associated with reduced long-term success after catheter ablation. LA-TV is the best linear predictor of AF recurrence, stronger than the commonly used LA-D.

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