Therapy of Atrial Flutter by Afib Ablation (TripleA)

Ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) in the right atrium is currently the therapy of choice for the treatment of typical atrial flutter (3,4). It is a curative approach and has a high success rate (5). It has been recognized that patients with typical atrial flutter often complain of atrial fibrillation (1,2). Current clinical and experimental studies confirm the close relationship between atrial flutter (AFL) and atrial fibrillation (AF) and raise a question, if both arrhythmias are different forms of a common electrical phenomenon with atrial fibrillation being the underlying clinical problem (6).

Current clinical and experimental studies confirm the close relationship between atrial flutter (AFlut) and atrial fibrillation (Afib). After initiation of Afib this may organize under special intrinsic conditions or due to antiarrhythmic medication to AFlut so Afib may be supposed the underlying arrhythmia. Therefore after successful ablation of AFlut this reentrant circuit is not longer possible and Afib persists. After new occurrence of Afib a long diagnostic and therapeutic marathon begins with AF ablation at the end of all therapeutic efforts. This double burden for the patient and the health system can probably be avoided by directly and effectively treating the underlying arrhythmia AF.

Medical treatment of atrial flutter with either class I antiarrhythmics (flecainide (Tambocor ®) 100 mg twice daily or propafenone (Rytmonorm ®) up to 150 mg 3 times daily) or amiodarone (Cordarex®) 200 mg daily cardioversion as needed

medical treatment of atrial flutter with either flecainide (Tambocor ®) 100 mg twice daily, propafenone (Rytmonorm ®) up to 150 mg 3 times daily) or amiodarone (Cordarex®) 200 mg daily electrical cardioversion as needed

irrigated radiofrequency (RF)-ablation of the cavo-tricuspid-isthmus catheter used: Thermocool R (F-type), Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA

pulmonary vein angiography followed by antral pulmonary vein isolation using 3D-electroanatomical Mapping mapping system: Carto 3 (Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA) catheter used for irrigated RF-ablation: Navistar Thermocool R (D, E or F-type according to atrial dimensions), Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA

Number (percentage) of patients with any atrial arrhythmia lasting longer than 30 s after ablation assessed by implantable loop recorder or 7-day-holter-ECG: AFL after AF ablation compared to the AFL ablation group and AF in both ablation groups

Number (percentage) of patients with any AFL episode after ablation or under medical therapy assessed by implantable loop recorder or 7-day-holter-ECG, compared between all 3 interventions (medical treatment vs. AFL Ablation vs. AF ablation)

Inclusion Criteria: Patients with- in 12-Channel-ECG documented atrial tachycardia suggestive of typical isthmus dependent atrial flutter > 21 years Exclusion Criteria: - AFL as secondary to an accessory pathway Antiarrhythmic treatment for AF AF Previous AF ablation Dilatation of left atrium > 6 cm Cardiac surgery less < 3 weeks Congenital heart disease Cardiac ischemia or coronary artery disease that needs intervention Life expectancy less than 2 years

Schneider R, Lauschke J, Tischer T, Schneider C, Voss W, Moehlenkamp F, Glass A, Diedrich D, Bansch D. Pulmonary vein triggers play an important role in the initiation of atrial flutter: Initial results from the prospective randomized Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in Atrial Flutter (Triple A) trial. Heart Rhythm. 2015 May;12(5):865-71. doi: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2015.01.040. Epub 2015 Jan 28.