| Objective: Nowadays, the common assessment of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) whether or not recover sinus rhythm, when they received radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA), are their clinical manifestation, current electrocardiogram or the 24 hours’ dynamic electrocardiogram, in order to evaluate the effect of this operation. But there are few studies focus on the change of patients’left atrial (LA) structure and function among these postoperative patients. The aim of this study is to use echocardiography to evaluate the midterm impact of RFCA on LA volume and function in patients with AF, so as to provide objective basis for clinical evaluation of surgical effects.Methods: A total of 44 patients finished the trial. They were divided into sinus rhythm (SR) group and AF group according to whether they recovered sinus rhythm.At the baseline and at least 6 months after ablation, we used echocardiography to measure LA diameter, left atrial maximum volume (LAVmax) and left atrial minimum volume (LAVmin), LA presystolic volume (LAVps), left atrial ejection fraction (LAEF), left atrial active ejection fraction (LAAEF) , LA conduit function index and LA dilatation index. The statistical analysis included within and between group comparisons.Results: The general clinical data and the indicator of preoperative echocardiography do not have significant differences between two groups of patients. Compared with SR group, patients with recurrent AF were older and had higher proportion of patients with hypertension (p<0.05). At the average of 6-month follow-up period, 29 of 44 patients (66%) maintained sinus rhythm (SR), of whom LA diameters significantly decreased accompanied by increased LAEF compared with baseline (all of P <0.05).However, among AF recurrence patients, their LAEF and LAAEF had significantly decreased (p<0.05) while LA diameters did not show significant difference and LA volume increased when compared with baseline.Conclusions: After ablation, patients with SR could have decreased LA diameters and increased LAEF. LA volume increased in AF recurrence patients while their LA function has significantly reduced. The old age and hypertension may be the risk factors for recurrence of AF after ablation. |
