PERICARDIAL FAT DOESN'T IMPACT ATRIAL FIBRILLATION ABLATION OUTCOMES

The Role of Pericardial and Epicardial Fat in Atrial Fibrillation Pathophysiology and Ablation Outcomes.

Emerging evidence suggests that epicardial and pericardial fat are related to the presence, severity and outcome of AF. These associations, independent of generalized obesity, suggest that they may become increasingly useful as markers for risk stratification or monitoring in the clinical setting. Mechanistically, studies have suggested the effects of epicardial and pericardial fat may be media...

Outcomes of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Pericardial fat is associated with atrial fibrillation severity and ablation outcome.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to characterize the relationship between pericardial fat and atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND Obesity is an important risk factor for AF. Pericardial fat has been hypothesized to exert local pathogenic effects on nearby cardiac structures above and beyond that of systemic adiposity. METHODS One hundred ten patients undergoing first-time AF ablation a...

Pericardial-esophageal fistula complicating cryoballoon ablation for refractory atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation affects an estimated 2.7–6.1 million people in the United States and accounts for more than 750,000 hospitalizations per year. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has been well established as the most effective ablation treatment available for patients with symptomatic and medication-refractory atrial fibrillation. Previously, radiofrequency (RF) ablation was the mainstay for PVI...

The Relationship Between Pericardial Fat and Atrial Fibrillation.

Pericardial adiposity is strongly associated with increased cardiovascular risk, especially for coronary artery disease. However, until 2010 researchers have not focused on the mechanistic role of pericardial fat in atrial fibrillation (AF) pathogenesis. Only a limited number of studies have reported on the significant association between pericardial fat and AF prevalence, and the role of peric...