Right atrial (RA) maze procedures using linear catheter ablation have had limited efficacy in paroxysmal @entity955 ( @entity955 ). We hypothesized that "hybrid" therapy using overdrive atrial pacing and antiarrhythmic drugs can improve efficacy of catheter RA maze and expand its role to persistent or permanent @entity955 . Catheter RA maze procedures were performed in 26 @entity1 with persistent or permanent @entity955 refractory to 4.5 +/- 2.1 antiarrhythmic drugs. Overdrive dual-site RA pacing (21 @entity1 ) or high RA pacing (5 @entity1 ) was continued (n = 11) or instituted periablation (n = 15). All @entity1 continued receiving previously ineffective antiarrhythmic drugs. Freedom from permanent @entity955 (rhythm control), symptomatic and/or asymptomatic @entity955 , the safety of hybrid therapy, and overall survival were assessed. There was no procedure-related mortality or @entity64 . Rhythm control was achieved in 24 @entity1 (92%) within 3 months. During long-term follow-up (6 to 49 months, mean 17 +/- 10), rhythm control was maintained in 20 @entity1 (77%). Nine @entity1 (35%) had no @entity955 , whereas 11 @entity1 maintained rhythm control with infrequent @entity955 . Device datalogs at the study cut-off point demonstrated no @entity955 events in 6 @entity1 , nonsustained @entity591 in 2 @entity1 , and brief asymptomatic paroxysmal @entity955 in 12 @entity1 . Actuarial @entity1 survival was 95% at 1 year and 74% at 2 years of follow-up. Thus, hybrid therapy utilizing catheter RA maze procedures with overdrive atrial pacing and antiarrhythmic drugs can be performed safely and can reestablish rhythm control in selected @entity1 with refractory persistent or permanent @entity955 .

Effectiveness of rhythm control in persistent or permanent XXXX with overdrive atrial pacing and antiarrhythmic drugs after linear right atrial catheter ablation.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity591 :: ('MESH:D013610', 'Disease') :: ['atrial tachycardia'] @entity64 :: ('MESH:D020521', 'Disease') :: ['stroke'] @entity955 :: ('MESH:D001281', 'Disease') :: ['atrial fibrillation', 'AF recurrences', 'AF']
@entity955 :: (MESH:D001281,Disease) :: ['atrial fibrillation']
