Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Investigate the distribution of triggers in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients and assess the efficacy of circumferential pulmonary vein isolationI (CPVI) combined with non-pulmonary veins (PV) trigger ablation over 1 year. METHODS: This prospective study included 130 PAF patients undergoing initial catheter ablation. A standardized protocol was applied before CPVI, followed by ablation targeting non-PV triggers. Ablation success was marked by the inability to induce atrial fibrillation (AF) or related arrhythmias. Patients underwent Holter monitoring at intervals post-surgery, culminating in a 7-day exam at 12 months. RESULTS: Atrial fibrillation (AF) was induced in 88 patients (67.0%), with 94 foci identified. The left pulmonary vein was a common source, but the superior vena cava emerged as the most prevalent non-PV site. The 1-year success rate was 86.0%, with no significant differences in success rates among trigger types. However, non-PV triggers were linked to lower recurrence rates post-surgery (HR 0.27, 95% CI 0.08-0.96, p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: The study found that the combination of drug stimulation and high-frequency atrial stimulation before CPVI significantly boosted AF induction rates and revealed a high incidence of non-PV triggers. Effective intraoperative induction and accurate identification of non-PV triggers, particularly in the superior vein cava (SVC), contributed to a substantial reduction in postoperative recurrence rates. This approach suggests a potential strategy for improving outcomes in PAF treatment.