Study patients
We retrospectively investigated 73 consecutive AF patients who underwent
a systematic ICE study of the LAPW thickness and esophagus from the LA
cavity, contrast esophagography saved in Carto UNIVU™, and ablation
index (AI)-guide, first circumferential PVI from June 2019 to February
2020 in our hospital. There were 49 male and 24 female patients and
their mean age was 68±12 years (Table 1 ). Forty five patients
(62%) had paroxysmal AF. The median left ventricular ejection fraction
measured by trans-thoratic echocardiography was 62% and mean LA
diameter 42 ± 7 mm. All patients were administered oral anticoagulants
for at least 4 weeks before the study. Transesophageal echocardiography
was done before the procedure in patients with CHADS2score ≥2, persistent AF or history of cerebral infarction to rule out
the left atrial thrombus.
The study was approved by the ethics committee in our hospital. Written
informed consent for cardiac catheterization and ablation procedures was
obtained from all patients before the ablation procedure.