Persistent atrial fibrillation converts to common type atrial flutter during CFAE ablation.

BACKGROUND

Catheter ablation of persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is still challenging. So far different ablation techniques have been reported, including pulmonary vein isolation, additional linear lesions, ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE), and combinations of these techniques. During ablation of CFAE, the occurrence of left atrial (LA) tachycardia is well known. The occurrence of right atrial flutter on the other hand is less well described.

METHODS

Here, we report three patients who had been ablated because of symptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation.

SUMMARY: In all patients, AF changed into a cavotricuspid isthmus = dependent right atrial flutter during ablation of CFAE in the LA.