Vagal AF induction test (VAFIT): a new endpoint for optimizing atrial fibrillation ablation through cardioneuroablation.

IF 2.1 4区医学 Q3 CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Pub Date : 2025-02-13 DOI:10.1007/s10840-025-02007-w

Jose Carlos Pachon-M, Enrique I Pachon-M, Tomas G Santillana-P, Tasso J Lobo, Carlos Thiene C Pachon, Juan Carlos Pachon-M, Maria Zelia C Pachon, John Clark

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, there is no reliable endpoint for the conclusion of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Atrial burst pacing and/or isoproterenol challenge are poor diagnostic tools. A newly proposed vagal AF induction test (VAFIT) uses effective atrial refractory period measurement, simultaneously with extra-cardiac vagal stimulation (ECVS) to study AF inducibility pre- and post-ablation. This is a prospective study in patients submitted to radiofrequency catheter pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) plus cardioneuroablation (CNA) evaluating the VAFIT result before and at the end of the procedure with AF recurrence.

Methods: Prospective study of 142 patients, 57.5 (48.9-70.2) years old, 71% males, with symptomatic AF (79.6% paroxysmal/20.4% persistent), left atrium diameter of 38.0 (35.0-41.2) mm, and left ventricular ejection fraction of 63.0 (62.0-68.2). VAFIT was considered positive or negative depending on whether AF induction occurred. It was performed at baseline and after PVI + CNA, with a single atrial extra stimulus during ECVS (5 s/50 Hz/1 V/kg up to 70 V/pulse width = 50 µs). Patients were followed for a median of 15.0 (7.0-20.0) months. The association of VAFIT-positive status at the end of the procedure with AF recurrence was investigated by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis.

Results: Pre-ablation VAFIT was positive in all cases and became negative in 62.9% of patients. AF recurrence: 18.7% in VAFIT-positive and 5.6% in VAFIT-negative patients (p = 0.012). VAFIT-positivity was associated with AF recurrence (HR 4.56 (1.37-15.23, p = 0.014).

Conclusion: A VAFIT-positive status following PVI + CNA was strongly and independently associated with AF recurrence. VAFIT negative status reduced 4.5 times the post-ablation AF recurrence. It remains to be investigated in randomized studies whether achieving VAFIT-negativity at the end of the procedure, as demonstrated in this study, would lead to better clinical outcomes.

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来源期刊

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology 医学-心血管系统

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

11.10%

发文量

320

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology is an international publication devoted to fostering research in and development of interventional techniques and therapies for the management of cardiac arrhythmias. It is designed primarily to present original research studies and scholarly scientific reviews of basic and applied science and clinical research in this field. The Journal will adopt a multidisciplinary approach to link physical, experimental, and clinical sciences as applied to the development of and practice in interventional electrophysiology. The Journal will examine techniques ranging from molecular, chemical and pharmacologic therapies to device and ablation technology. Accordingly, original research in clinical, epidemiologic and basic science arenas will be considered for publication. Applied engineering or physical science studies pertaining to interventional electrophysiology will be encouraged. The Journal is committed to providing comprehensive and detailed treatment of major interventional therapies and innovative techniques in a structured and clinically relevant manner. It is directed at clinical practitioners and investigators in the rapidly growing field of interventional electrophysiology. The editorial staff and board reflect this bias and include noted international experts in this area with a wealth of expertise in basic and clinical investigation. Peer review of all submissions, conflict of interest guidelines and periodic editorial board review of all Journal policies have been established.