AV nodal ablation was associated with a substantial reduction in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality and with improvements in New York Heart Association functional class compared with medical therapy in CRT-AF patients .
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to systematic ally review the medical literature to evaluate the impact of AV nodal ablation in patients with heart failure and coexistent atrial fibrillation ( AF ) receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy ( CRT ) .
BACKGROUND CRT has a substantial evidence base in patients in sinus rhythm with significant systolic dysfunction , symptomatic heart failure , and prolonged QRS duration .
The role of CRT is less well established in AF patients with coexistent heart failure .
AV nodal ablation has recently been suggested to improve outcomes in this group .
Acute and long-term effects of atrioventricular junction ablation and VVIR pacemaker in symptomatic patients with chronic lone atrial fibrillation and normal ventricular response.
INTRODUCTION The precise role of irregular ventricular response in atrial fibrillation ( AF ) has not been fully eluci date d. This study examined the independent effects of rhythm regularity in patients with chronic AF . METHODS AND RESULTS This study included 50 patients who had chronic lone AF and a normal ventricular rate . Among these patients , 21 who underwent AV junction ablation and implantation of a VVIR pacemaker constituted the ablation group ; the other 29 patients were the medical group .  Acute hemodynamic findings were measured in 21 ablation patients before ablation ( during AF , baseline ) and 15 minutes after ablation ( during right ventricular pacing ) . Compared with baseline data , ablation and pacing therapy increased cardiac output ( 4.7 + /- 0.8 vs 5.2 + /- 0.9 L/min ; P = 0.05 ) , decreased pulmonary capillary wedge pressure ( 16 + /- 5 vs 13 + /- 4 mmHg ; P = 0.001 ) , and decreased left ventricular end-diastolic pressure ( 14 + /- 4 vs 11 + /- 3 mmHg ; P < 0.05 ) . After 12 months , the ablation group patients showed lower scores in general quality of life ( -20 % ; P < 0.001 ) , overall symptoms ( -24 % ; P < 0.001 ) , overall activity scale ( -23 % ; P = 0.004 ) , and significant increase of left ventricular ejection fraction ( 44 % + /- 6 % vs 49 % + /- 5 % ; P = 0.02 ) by echocardiographic examination . CONCLUSION AV junction ablation and pacing in patients with chronic AF and normal ventricular response may confer acute and long-term benefits beyond rate control by eliminating rhythm irregularity
AV nodal ablation was associated with a substantial reduction in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality and with improvements in New York Heart Association functional class compared with medical therapy in CRT-AF patients .
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to systematic ally review the medical literature to evaluate the impact of AV nodal ablation in patients with heart failure and coexistent atrial fibrillation ( AF ) receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy ( CRT ) .
BACKGROUND CRT has a substantial evidence base in patients in sinus rhythm with significant systolic dysfunction , symptomatic heart failure , and prolonged QRS duration .
The role of CRT is less well established in AF patients with coexistent heart failure .
AV nodal ablation has recently been suggested to improve outcomes in this group .