Results of a survey concerning atrial fibrillation ablation strategies in Poland.

BACKGROUND Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Despite increasing availability of the procedure, current treatment patterns of invasive AF treatment in Poland are unknown. AIM The aim of the study was to assess contemporary AF ablation approaches in Poland, such as: target population, patients' characteristics, ablation techniques, procedural results and complication rates. METHODS The survey with 36 questions was conducted among 38 representatives of Polish EP centers performing AF catheter ablation to test the methods and outcomes in their labs. RESULTS The survey was conducted among 38 out of 69 polish electrophysiology centers performing AF ablation. There were 88 ablation laboratories in 2018 in Poland. They have performed 16566 ablation procedures, of which 6680 were AF ablations, according to National Health Fund data. Therefore, 3745 AF ablations analyzed in this manuscript constituted 22.6% of all ablation and 56.0% of AF ablation performed in Poland in 2018. Paroxysmal AF was the most common type of AF in all surveyed centers. In 69% of the centers the preferred method was cryoballoon ablation (CBA), in 31% radiofrequency point-by-point circumferential pulmonary vein isolation. The reported complication rate was low (6.4%), with the localized adverse events as the most often ones. The mean reported incidence of atrial flutter/tachycardia after ablation was low (5%). Repeated procedures were performed mainly with radiofrequency ablation (89%). Procedural techniques, and the venous access used did not vary between the centers. CONCLUSIONS Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was the most common indication to percutaneous ablation of that arrhythmia in Polish electrophysiologic laboratories. The preferred method was CBA.