Study design and population
This study retrospectively analyzed data obtained
from the AF ablation database of
Tokyo Women’s Medical University. From January 2011 to March 2020, 1340
patients had undergone AF ablation at our institution. We excluded 266
patients who did not undergo SVCI. Thirty-four patients who had received
CIED implantation before SVCI were enrolled in this study (CIED group),
and 34 age-, sex- and AF type-matched patients without CIEDs comprised a
control group (non-CIED group). Experienced physicians undertook the
data collection, based on individual chart reviews. The following data
were used as baseline characteristics: age, sex, height, body weight, AF
type, structural heart diseases, echocardiographic parameters, and
B-type natriuretic peptide levels. Procedural characteristics were also
assessed. Baseline patient and procedural characteristics were compared
between the CIED and non-CIED groups. In the CIED group, detailed
device-related and lead-related information was studied, along with lead
parameters before and after SVCI. Lead positions were also evaluated
using computed tomography imaging before AF ablation at the level of the
left atrium roof, and these were divided into 4 portions, namely, the
anterior, septal, posterior, and lateral portions of the SVC.
The study protocol conformed to the ethical guidelines of the 1975
Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Institutional Review
Board and Ethics Committee of the Tokyo Women’s Medical University.
Written informed consent was obtained from all patients.