Carto System Under The Guidance Of Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation Of 13 Cases And Literature Review

Background: Atrial fibrillation(AF),the most common sustained cardiacarrhythmia,can now be treatd by catheter ablation.,Guided by the CARTOsystem, one of the 3D electroanatomic mapping systems, the successfulrate of catheter ablation has increased.In our hospital,we have performedthis new technic since 2006.Objective: To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of catheter ablationof AF with the guidance of CARTO system in our hospital.Methods and Results: We studied 13 patients with symptomatic AFrefractory to drug therapy, either paroxysmal(n=8) orpersistant(n=5).Guided by the CARTO system and single Lassocatheter, the ipsilateral pulmonary veins(PVs) were isolated by continuouscircular lesions,and the end point was the complete electronic isolation ofall the PVs.Other lesions or ablations of CFAEs were also performedwhen needed.All patients converted to sinus rhythm during theoperation.When followed up for 158.5±59.8 days,11 patients(84.6%)maintained sinus rhythm,including 7 patients(87.5%) with paroxysmalAF and 4 patients(80.0%) with persistent AF.8 patients(61.5%) was AF free without any antiarrhythmic drug. 1 patient died of atrial-esophagealfistula,and post-operation atrial flutter presented in 3 patients.No othercomplication was observed.Conclusion: Catheter ablation of AF with the guidance of the CARTOsystem is safe and effective.