Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia affecting millions of people in the US and around the world. Over the last 20 years, the catheter based AF ablation procedure has been widely adopted. However, the long-term success in paroxysmal AF is 50% and as low as 20% in persistent AF. To achieve temporary arrhythmia suppression, repeated ablation procedures may be needed. The cost of AF ablation among Medicare patients followed for a year after ablation was found to be US$16,049±$12,536 if ablation was successful versus US$19,997±$13,958 for failed ablation. Previous literature indicates that most people have distal connections between coronary sinus musculature and the left atrium and that these connections may provide a substrate for single or multiple reentry beats as a trigger for atrial fibrillation. In this proposal we wish to examine the efficacy of elimination of distal connection(s) between coronary sinus and left atrial musculature for suppression of recurrent atrial arrhythmias. In patients with paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation, undergoing first AF ablation and age over 18 years are eligible for the study.

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

• Conditions: Atrial Fibrillation | Arrhythmias, Cardiac
• Age: 99 years or below
• Gender: All