Study population
Consecutive LSPAF patients referred to our centre for RF point-by-point
catheter ablation were prospectively enrolled. The patients with a
history of AF ablation procedure, any cardiac surgery, severe valvular
disease, previous myocarditis or pericarditis, known or suspected
pulmonary hypertension, atrial septal defect and those who were not able
to maintain sinus rhythm during LA mapping were excluded. All patients
underwent an electrophysiological study and ablation under the approval
of a local institutional committee on human research after providing
written informed consent.