Index ablation results
The procedural characteristics during the ablations are shown in Table 1. All PVs were successfully isolated in all patients, and touch-up ablation with RF energy was required in 32 (16.8%) of 191 patients (left superior PV, 2 patients; left inferior PV, 12 patients; right superior PV, 4 patients; right inferior PV, 20 patients; left common PV, 1 patient). Complete conduction block at the LA roof was obtained in 131 (97.0%) of 135 patients. Among those, one patient underwent LAPW bottom line ablation utilizing a RF catheter instead of a cryoballoon. The prevalence of complete conduction block at the LAPW bottom line, namely LAPW isolation, was 85.2% (115/135 patients). Touch-up ablation with RF energy was performed in six patients (4.4%) for the LA roof line and 29 patients (21.6%) for the LAPW bottom line. CTI ablation was performed in 186 patients, of whom 184 (98.9%) had complete conduction block. Of 340 patients, including those who underwent MI ablation or only LA roof-line ablation, transient and persistent phrenic nerve injuries were observed in 21 (6.2%) and 16 (4.7%), respectively. Phrenic nerve injury eventually recovered in all cases. Two patients (0.6%) had cardiac tamponade that required pericardiocentesis. One patient developed arteriovenous fistula requiring surgical repair. No other procedural complications, such as stroke or symptomatic esophageal complications, were observed.