Impact on ventricular function and quality of life of transcatheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction in chronic atrial fibrillation with a normal ventricular response.

We assessed left ventricular function and quality of life after atrioventricular junction ablation and pacemaker implant in 14 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation and normal ventricular response. A significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and functional capacity were observed at follow-up, suggesting that in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation a regular heart beat may be preferable over rate control.