Pulmonary Vein (PV) Isolation Versus Box Isolation for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Pulmonary Vein (PV) Isolation Versus Box Isolation for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Curative catheter ablation has been established as an effective therapeutic option for atrial
 fibrillation (AF) that is resistant to pharmacologic rhythm or rate control. However,
 standard ablative approaches targeting the pulmonary veins (PVs) are associated with a
 success rate as low as 40%. In a recent study, Kumagai et al. described a new approach of
 catheter ablation of AF isolating the posterior left atrium including all PVs (called Box
 Isolation). In Kumagai's study, 46 patients with symptomatic AF underwent box isolation. At 6
 months follow up, 43 of 46 patients (93%) were arrhythmia free without antiarrhythmic drugs,
 with a single procedure success rate of 87% (40/46). This study provided new evidence
 supporting the hypothesis that the posterior wall is of high importance for the maintenance
 of AF. The aim of the investigators study is to determine the efficacy of two different
 approaches of catheter ablation (Standard PV Isolation vs. Box isolation) for the treatment
 of chronic AF.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients undergoing clinically indicated pulmonary vein ablation for atrial
 fibrillation.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Unable to understand consent form. Not scheduled for clinically indicated pulmonary
 vein ablation