Atrial fibrillation following lung transplantation: Double but not single lung transplant is associated with long-term freedom from paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Abstract

IntroductionThe cornerstone of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is pulmonary vein electrical isolation (PVI). Recurrent AF post-PVI is a major limitation of the procedure with PV reconnection present in most patients. Single (SLT) and double (DLT) lung transplant surgery involves a 'cut and sew' PV antral isolation analogous to a catheter-based approach providing an opportunity to assess the efficacy of durable PVI.Methods and resultsA total of three hundred and twenty-seven consecutive lung transplant patients were compared with 201 control non-transplant thoracic surgery (THR) patients between 1998 and 2008. The primary analysis was the incidence of 'early' post-operative AF ..