Association between Doppler flow of atrial fibrillatory contraction and recurrence of atrial fibrillation after electrical cardioversion.

BACKGROUND

Left atrial fibrillatory contraction (Afc) flow can be frequently observed interspersed between two successive mitral E waves in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that Afc is related to the maintenance of sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion for AF.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, the records of a total of 137 patients with AF who underwent successful electrical cardioversion were examined. Conventional echocardiographic measurements, including left atrial volume index (LAVI), were obtained, and the appearance of Afc flow was also evaluated before cardioversion. Patients were followed to a clinical end point defined as recurrent AF during the study period.

RESULTS

AF recurrence was noted in 100 patients (73%) over a mean follow-up period of 5 months. The patients with recurrent AF had greater LAVI and left atrial dimensions and had a lower frequency of Afc flow (57.0% vs 86.5%, P < .001): both the velocity and velocity-time integral (VTI) of Afc flow significantly decreased. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the Afc flow VTI and velocity had stronger associations with AF recurrence than did LAVI (areas under the curve: VTI, 0.96; velocity, 0.86; LAVI, 0.71). A VTI of 3.1 cm and velocity of 32 cm/sec for Afc flow were the best cutoff values for AF recurrence. Afc flow VTI (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.51-0.96) and velocity (hazard ratio, 0.97; 95% confidence interval, 0.94-0.99) were significantly related to AF recurrence in a multivariate Cox regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Return of AF after successful electrical cardioversion may be associated with Afc Doppler flow velocity and VTI measured immediately before cardioversion.