Electrophysiological and Electrocardiographic Characteristics of Focal Atrial Tachycardia Originating From the Pulmonary Veins

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to describe the electrophysiological characteristics, anatomic distribution, and long-term outcome after focal ablation (RFA) of pulmonary vein (PV) atrial tachycardia (AT). Both atrial fibrillation (AF) and AT may be due to a rapidly firing focus in the PVs. Whether these represent two aspects of the same process is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients with 28 PV(16%) ATs of a consecutive series of 172 undergoing RFA for focal AT are reported. The mean age was 39+/-16 years, with symptoms for 9+/-14 years resistant to 1.7+/-0.8 medications. AT occurred spontaneously or with isoproterenol in all patients and was not inducible with PE..