Quality of life and outcomes after radiofrequency His-bundle catheter ablation and permanent pacemaker implantation: Impact of treatment in paroxysmal and established atrial fibrillation

One hundred seven patients underwent atrioventricular (AV)-junctional ablation and pacing for atrial fibrillation, and 90 were alive 2.3 +/- 1.2 years later. Quality of life index (1.9 +/- 1.2 to 3.6 +/- 1.1; 3.6 +/- 1.1; p < 0.001) and ease of activities of daily living (2 +/- 0.4 to 2.4 +/- 0.3; p < 0.001) were significantly improved. Doctor visits (10 +/- 13 to 5.06 +/- 7; p < 0.03), hospital admissions (2.8 +/- 6.8 vs 0.17 +/- 0.54; p < 0.03), and antiarrhythmic drug trials (6.2 +/- 4 to 0.46 +/- 1.5; p < 0.001) decreased significantly after treatment. Congestive heart failure episodes decreased from 18 before to 8 afterward. Twenty-eight of 36 patients with dual-chamber pacemakers remained in a dual-chamber mode at follow-up. Radiofrequency AV-junctional catheter ablation and pacing is a highly successful form of treatment for medically refractory atrial fibrillation.