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.