Feasibility and Usefulness of Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation Using the Navx System

The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and usefulness of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) guided by the NavX system. Thirty-nine patients (28 male, 60.9±8.4 years) who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation with symptomatic paroxysmal (n=25), persistent (n=7) or long-lasting (n=7) AF were investigated. In all patients, extensive encircling pulmonary vein isolation (EEPVI) was performed after constructing the three-dimensional (3D) geometry of left atrium and four PVs, and fusion with CT imaging using the NavX system. When AF persisted, or AF or atrial tachycardia (AT) was induced by atrial burst pacing after bilateral EEPVI, complex fractionated atrial electrogram (CFAE) ablation and/or left atrial linear ablation was added. Simultaneous mapping by multipolar catheter in the NavX system was able to construct 3D activation map or CFAE map quickly, and helpful in detecting the gap of PVI or linear ablation line, or identifying CFAE areas. After a mean follow-up period of 7.1±4.4 months, 29 (74.3%) patients (18 in paroxysmal, 6 in persistent, 5 in long-lasting) were free of arrhythmia and symptoms (21 without antiarrhythmic agents (AA), 8 with AA), 27 after one session and 2 after two sessions. In conclusion, catheter ablation using NavX is feasible and useful for curing AF patients.