Clinical utility of adenosine-infusion test at a repeat atrial fibrillation ablation procedure.

BACKGROUND: The majority of patients with recurrence of arrhythmia after the initial atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedure have resumption of pulmonary vein (PV) conduction. Adenosine-infusion test after PV isolation identifies acute dormant PV conduction during the index procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of adenosine-infusion test at a repeat AF ablation procedure.

METHODS: This study included 50 consecutive patients (38 men; mean age 65 ± 9 years) who underwent second ablation procedure for recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia(s). At the index procedure, which was undertaken for paroxysmal AF, all patients underwent PV isolation and 48 of 50 (96%) underwent superior vena cava (SVC) isolation followed by adenosine infusion. PV and SVC were reisolated-if found reconnected-at the start of the second procedure. Thereafter, adenosine-infusion test was undertaken for all PVs in all patients.

RESULTS: At the index procedure, adenosine infusion revealed dormant PV conduction in 15 of 50 (30%) patients. At the second procedure, after 10 ± 10 months, PV and SVC reconnections were observed in 46 of 50 (92%) and 33 of 48 (68.8%) patients and they were reisolated. Subsequently, adenosine-infusion test revealed dormant PV conduction in 9 of 50 (18%) patients, including 3 of 50 (6%) who had no PV reconnection at the start of the procedure. In these 3 patients, transient AF resulted after adenosine infusion, and at mean 8.0 ± 3.4 months, they were free from any atrial arrhythmia after the elimination of dormant PV conduction alone.

CONCLUSIONS: Adenosine-infusion test reveals dormant thoracic vein conduction associated with arrhythmia recurrence in the chronic phase after the initial PV isolation.