The association between the recurrence of atrial fibrillation and the shape of left atrial lateral ridge

To investigate the role of the geometry of the left atrial lateral ridge (LLR) in the atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA). A total of 225 patients with AF who underwent RFA for the first time were retrospectively enrolled and divided into the recurrence (n = 53) and non-recurrence (n = 172) groups. The clinical data and the volume of left atrium (LAV) and the LLR geometry were analyzed. The LAV in the recurrence group was greater than that in the non-recurrence group (P < 0.001). There were more rectangular LLR in the recurrence group than the non-recurrence group (43% vs. 77%, P < 0.001). The anteroposterior diameter of the LLR orifice in the recurrence group was smaller than that in the non-recurrence group (P = 0.001), while the length of the LLR in the recurrence group was longer (P = 0.012). Multivariate analysis revealed the shape of the LLR was significant independent predictor of recurrence AF. The shape of the LLR is an independent predictor of recurrence after RFA.