Safety and efficacy of atrial fibrillation ablation in young patients

Background: Outcome of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in young patients has not been widely reported. This study describes the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) for atrial fibrillation in patients forty years or younger. Methods and Results: Forty consecutive patients who underwent fifty-two RFA procedures for symptomatic, drug-refractory paroxysmal or non-paroxysmal AF were included in the study. The mean (SD) age of the patients at time of initial procedure was 34.1 (5.6) years. Twenty-five (62.5%) patients had paroxysmal AF, 6 (15%) patients had persistent AF, and 9 (22.5%) patients had longstanding persistent AF. Procedural safety and efficacy were assessed based on patient status > 1 year after initial ablation procedure. After a mean (SD) follow-up of 3.8 (2.9) years, 25 (62.5%) patients were free of AF without antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) and 40 (100%) patients experienced > 95% reduction of AF burden on or off AADs. No major complications or adverse events occurred during the study. Conclusions: Catheter ablation of AF is a favorable therapeutic option for patients 40 years or younger, resulting in high rates of procedural success with a low risk of major complications.