Role of pre-procedural CT imaging on catheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation: procedural outcomes and radiological exposure

Background Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is commonly used to study left atrial (LA) and pulmonary veins (PVs) anatomy before atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of pre-procedural cardiac CT with 3D reconstruction on procedural outcomes and radiological exposure in patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) of AF. Methods In this registry, 493 consecutive patients (age 62 +/- 8 years, 70% male) with paroxysmal (316) or persistent (177) AF who underwent first procedure of RFA were included. A pre-procedural CT scan was obtained in 324 patients (CT group). Antral pulmonary vein isolation was performed in all patients using an open-irrigation-tip catheter with a 3D electroanatomical navigation system. Procedural outcome, including radiological exposure, and clinical outcomes were compared among patients who underwent RFA with (CT group) and without (no CT group) pre-procedural cardiac CT. Results Acute PV isolation was obtained in all patients, with a comparable overall complication rate between CT and no CT group (4.3% vs 3%, p = 0.7). No differences were observed about mean duration of the procedure (231 +/- 60 vs 233 +/- 58 min, p = 0.7) and fluoroscopy time (13 +/- 10 vs 13 +/- 8 min, p = 0.6) among groups. Cumulative radiation dose resulted significantly higher in the CT group compared with no CT group (8.9 +/- 24 vs 4.8 +/- 15 mSv, P = 0.02). At 1 year, freedom from AF/atrial tachycardia were comparable among groups (CT group, 227/324 (70%), vs no CT group,119/169 (70%), p = ns). Conclusions Pre-procedural CT does not improve safety and efficacy of AF ablation, increasing significantly the cumulative radiological exposure.