The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of pre-ablation fibrosis on scar formation in the left atrium of the heart. This will be assessed by delayed enhancement magnetic resonance imaging and will be looked at in patients who have undergone successful open irrigated cooled-tipped radio-frequency ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Follow-up after ablation will be for 12 months.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an electrophysiological condition characterized by disorganized electrical activity that involves the entire atria. AF manifests initially as paroxysms of arrhythmia that later progress into persistent and permanent forms. It is a progressive disease associated with structural, electrical and contractile changes in the left atrium (LA). A major determinant of the progression of AF is structural remodeling or fibrosis that occurs in the left atrium. A more extensively remodeled atrium presents the substrate needed for the arrhythmia to persist. Structural remodeling is also a major determinant for success of rhythm control strategies in AF. While catheter ablation has reproducibly been shown to be superior to anti-arrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy for rhythm control in AF, the success of this procedure is significantly affected by the extent of structural remodeling present at the time of catheter ablation.

Delayed-Enhancement Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DE-MRI) has been demonstrated to be a very effective modality in identifying fibrotic and scarred cardiac tissue with excellent correlation to electro-anatomical mapping. This is related to the characteristics of Gadolinium, an extracellular contrast agent that is very effective in identifying regions of fibrotic non-viable myocardium. DE-MRI technology can be a very powerful, non-invasive method, of identifying the extent and the distribution of structural remodeling or fibrosis associated with AF. Specific image acquisition sequences have allowed for reproducible identification of high pixel intensity regions within the 2-dimensional images of the atrial wall. 3-Dimensional reconstruction of the entire left atrium then provides a quantification of the overall volume occupied by these hyper-enhanced regions relative to the entire left atrial wall volume. Used prior to catheter ablation, DE-MRI can therefore identify regions of significant structural remodeling or fibrosis. The same technology has also been shown to be very useful in examining the amount and distribution of ablation-induced scarring.

Catheter ablation has emerged as an effective interventional therapeutic modality for AF patients. Current ablation techniques, including pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI), use radiofrequency (RF) energy to induce thermal damage to the LA substrate in an attempt to electrically disconnect and isolate arrhythmogenic foci originating from the pulmonary veins (PVs). Multiple catheter technologies for RF have been developed. Catheters may be either cooled or not. Cooling allows for higher and deeper energy delivery with larger lesion formation. Open irrigation cooled-tip RF ablation of AF is associated with less impedance rise, microbubble formation, and esophageal injury when compared with traditional non-cooled ablation catheters. It is also associated with shorter RF delivery time, fluoroscopy, and procedural time.

Understanding the temporal sequence of events of LA structural remodeling (preceding AF ablation) to scar formation (following AF ablation) can prove valuable in determining whether certain patients are more susceptible to recovery of electrical conduction and recurrence of AF. DE-MRI recently has been introduced as a means to visualize this RF-induced scarring post-ablation. These scans can be reconstructed into three-dimensional (3D) recreations of the LA allowing for further analysis and quantification of the LA scar formation following RF ablation.

Objectives:

Primary Objective

• To evaluate the impact of pre-ablation structural remodeling (fibrosis) on scar formation and progression in the LA as assessed by DE-MRI in patients who have undergone successful open irrigated cooled-tipped RF ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), using observational, longitudinal data from the University of Utah Comprehensive Arrhythmia Research & Management (CARMA) Center supported AFIB database (approved IRB #20347) over a 12-month follow up period.

Secondary Objectives

• To determine if secondary variables, such as total ablation time, number of lesions, power delivered, and impedance, may play a significant role in catheter induced scar formation.
• To promulgate future research opportunities in the field of AF, particularly with regards to possible early intervention measures that may impact its progression.
• To adapt treatments aimed at patients with AF who are diagnosed at earlier stages.
• To use DE-MRI to further the knowledge and understanding of RF ablation therapy and to better understand the benefits and longitudinal effects of using scar formation to eliminate the fibrotic tissue that conducts the impulses which leads to AF.

Inclusion Criteria:

• > 17 years-old and < 90 years-old
• Long-term care for PAF
• Participated in regular clinical follow-ups

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who did not receive long-term follow-up care defined as at least 12-months post ablation.
• Women who were pregnant during the time period to be covered by this study.

Forty patients ages 18-89 years, who have had an open irrigation cooled-tipped RF ablation procedure for PAF. Patients must participate in 3-, 6-, and 12-months follow-up post ablation. PAF is defined by >2 documented episodes of AF that terminate spontaneously within 7 days. AF has to be documented by means of electrocardiography, holter monitor, loop recorder, or echocardiography.

This was a retrospective, observational study. Patients were enrolled using chart review. Hence, it did not include collection of adverse events.

The sample size was too small to see any significant relationship.