Substrate Modification for Atrial Fibrillation Induced by Mechanical Irritation That May Be Associated With Non-Pulmonary Vein Foci.

The importance of treating non-pulmonary vein (PV) foci is increasing with improvements in the durability of PV isolation. We describe two cases wherein non-PV foci were induced by mechanical irritation and conventional induction in the same area, which was impossible to induce after ablation, suggesting a relationship between mechanical irritation and induction of non-PV foci. In a recurrent case of non-PV foci, atrial fibrillation (AF) was induced only by mechanical irritation. No recurrence has been observed since the ablation of the area. Thus, treatment of the AF induction site with mechanical irritation could be considered an effective therapy for non-PV foci.