Prevalence and characteristics of left atrial tachycardia following left atrial catheter ablation

Abstract

Background: Left atrial tachycardia (AT) is a complication of left atrial catheter ablation (LACA) of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, its prevalence and characteristics have not been sufficiently clarified.

Methods: We divided 121 patients who underwent LACA into 2 groups based on the results of AT occurrence after LACA (follow-up period; 12 +/- 7 months): an AT+ group and AT- group.

Results: New-onset left AT occurred in 30 patients (25%) 31 +/- 51 days after LACA. Among the 26 patients with an early onset of AT, 4 underwent a second ablation for AT, and 21 became free of AT within 6 months without a repeat ablation procedure. Among the 4 patients with a late onset of AT (> 2 months after the LACA), the tachycardia remitted without a repeat ablation procedure in a single patient within 6 months. Among 71 patients who underwent LACA with additional ablation lines, 22 (31%) developed new-onset left AT. Among 50 patients who underwent LACA alone, 8 (16%) developed new-onset left AT (P = 0.02).

Conclusions: New-onset left AT is a frequent complication of LACA for AF, especially in men and in patients with a low left ventricular ejection fraction. Early (< 2 months) onset AT does not require a repeat ablation because it often represents a transient phenomenon and disappears spontaneously.