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.