Prevalence and Severity of Left Atrial Edema Detected by Electron Beam Tomography Early After Pulmonary Vein Ablation

Abstract

Left atrial edema was observed in a large portion of the patients immediately after the PV ablation, and the severity of the LA edema depended on the extent and amount of the radiofrequency energy delivered in the PV ablation. The LA edema soon disappeared naturally and did not reduce the cardiac function.

Vagal Modification Can Also Help Prevent Late Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation After Segmental Pulmonary Vein Isolation

“…25,26 However, it is still controversial whether SCA or LACA is superior, for the following reasons: (1) SCA is an easier technique for achieving PV electrical disconnection than LACA, (2) it was recently reported that there is no superiority of LACA over SCA for the treatment of AF in terms of efficacy and safety, 27,28 and (3) LACA can have some life-threatening complications such as atrio-esophageal fistula 29 or congestive heart failure associated with LA edema. 30,31 Therefore, we believe that our study provides some important evidence for an advance in the catheter ablation of AF.…”

Left atrial wall thickness in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by multislice-CT is initial marker of structural remodeling and predictor of transition from paroxysmal to chronic form

“…The edematous changes in the LA wall were confirmed as doctors did CT studies because they had not noticed LA wall swelling before RFCA [52,53]. Nevertheless, the LA edema was temporary and disappeared 1 to 6 months after the ablation procedure.…”

Initial Experience of Assessing Esophageal Tissue Injury and Recovery Using Delayed-Enhancement MRI After Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

“…This could be similar to the inflammatory state that has been described in the LA immediately after radiofrequency ablation. 13,14 It has recently been reported that gadolinium enhancement in the LA in the immediate postablative state might represent edema/hemorrhage rather than true myocyte necrosis, because the enhancement often recedes by later follow-up. 15 A similar transient inflammatory process from the radiofrequency energy with subsequent healing and recovery may also occur in the immediate postablative esophagus.…”