Incidence and predictors of silent cerebral embolism during pulmonary vein catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

Aims Left atrial catheter ablation of the pulmonary veins (PV) has evolved as an important therapeutic option for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to investigate the incidence and predictors of silent cerebral embolism associated with PV catheter ablation, detected by diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI). Methods and results We performed a prospective analysis of 53 consecutive patients with persistent or paroxysmal AF that underwent PV ablation and post-procedural cerebral MRI 1 day after lasso catheter-guided ostial PV ablation. Patients were analysed for possible demographical, medical, echocardiographical, and procedural predictors of embolic events. A mean of 3.5 ± 0.5 PVs were ablated per patient. In six patients, DW-MRI depicted new clinically silent microembolism after PV ablation (11%). The number of ineffective medical antiarrhythmic agents prior to ablation procedure was significantly higher in the embolism group (3.3 ± 0.5 vs. 2.2 ± 1.4, P = 0.014). Coronary heart disease (CAD) was more frequent in patients with cerebral embolisms (33 vs. 2%, P = 0.031); left ventricular volume (130 ± 12 vs. 103 ± 26 mL, P = 0.002), and septal wall thickness (13.0 ± 1.4 vs. 7.9 ± 4.8 mm, P = 0.025) were significantly increased. Conclusion This study shows a high incidence of silent micro-embolic events after PV ablation. CAD, left ventricular dilatation, and hypertrophy were potential predictors of this complication.