The role of chronic atrial stretch and atrial fibrillation on posterior left atrial wall conduction

Background The posterior left atrium (LA) is involved in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). Objective The purpose of this study was to compare conduction patterns on the posterior LA in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR), with and without AF. Methods Epicardial mapping of the posterior LA was performed in 23 patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Patients were included in one of three groups: Group A—patients in sinus rhythm with normal left ventricular function undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, Group B—patients in sinus rhythm with MR undergoing mitral valve surgery, or Group C—patients in persistent AF with MR undergoing mitral valve surgery. Conduction patterns, regional conduction velocity, conduction heterogeneity, conduction anisotropy, and complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) were assessed. Results LA diameter was greater in patients in Groups C (57 ± 4mm) and B (54 ± 6mm) than in Group A (39 ± 7mm, P