Fehmi Keçe

Chapter 7 148 7.3 Results 7.3.1 Baseline characteristics A total of 151 patients (60±9 years, 108 males, 95% paroxysmal AF) were included. Fifteen patients and 52 veins were excluded from the analysis, because dormant conduction testing was not performed due to contraindications for adenosine (asthma)). The final population consisted of 136 patients and 575 veins were analysed. ERC was found in 40 (29%) patients (ERC group) and in 53 (9%) veins. ERC was more prevalent in males (83% vs. 66%, p=0.049). Other baseline clinical characteristics were comparable between groups (table 1). Table 1. Baseline Characteristics. No ERC (n=96) ERC (n=40) P value Age (y), mean 60±10 60±9 0.789 Male gender, n (%) 63 (66%) 33 (83%) 0.049 AF duration, years 4.4±3.8 3.9±3.1 0.473 Paroxysmal AF 93 (97%) 36 (90%) 0.098 CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score 1.6±1.4 1.4±1.2 0.333 Body Mass Index, kg/m² 26.9±3.8 27.3±3.8 0.538 AAD at baseline, n (%) 82 (85%) 33 (83%) 0.668 Amiodaron 14 (15%) 5 (13%) 0.749 Comorbidity Hypertension, n (%) 44 (46%) 13 (33%) 0.151 Dyslipidemia, n (%) 24 (25%) 15 (38%) 0.142 Diabetes, n (%) 6 (6%) 5 (135%) 0.300 Sleep Apnea, n (%) 5 (5%) 4 (10%) 0.449 Coronary Artery Disease, n (%) 13 (14%) 6 (15%) 0.823 Structural Hearth Disease, n (%) 6 (6%) 3 (8%) 0.722 Imaging LA diameter (mm), mean, SD 40±4 41±5 0.706 AF: atrial fibrillation; AAD: anti-arrhythmic drugs; LA: left atrium. 7.3.2 Procedural details Procedure and total ablation time were longer in the ERC group compared to the non-ERC group (150±40 min vs. 125±34 min and 24±5 min vs. 17±4 min; both p<0.001). The total number of applications (8±2 v. 5±1, p<0.001) and the number of unsuccessful freezes 38%