Epicardial Fat Volume as a New Imaging-Based Feature Associated with Risk of Recurrence after Pulmonary Veins Ablation in Atrial Fibrillation

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF), a common arrhythmia in clinical practice, is associated with a high rate of complications and an increased risk for thromboembolic events. Pulmonary vein ablation is a new therapeutic option to cure AF; however, it remains associated with a high rate of recurrence. In this study we aimed to identify the clinical characteristics and imaging-based features that may predict the risk of recurrence after pulmonary veins ablation in atrial fibrillation.

Keywords

• af recurrence
• pulmonary vein ablation
• indexed atrial volumes
• epicardial adipose tissue