Effect of ethanol infusion
Figure 4 and Supplementary data 1 demonstrate the variation in the left atrial LVA (<0.5 mV) of the consecutive 20 patients in the EIVOM/RF group. This was evaluated by two independent observers—excluding the authors—before, just after, and one hour after EIVOM. LVA was originally observed in eight patients before EIVOM. Extravasation of contrast medium into the epicardium occurred in three patients during the procedure, which did not cause cardiac tamponade. LVA measured just after EIVOM significantly increased to 11.7 ± 8.1 cm2 (measured by the observer 1) or 11.2 ± 7.9 cm2 (measured by the observer 2) compared to that before EIVOM (p < 0.05 in both). At one hour after EIVOM, the LVA of the left atrium was 11.9 ± 10.5 cm2 (observer 1) or 12.3 ± 9.9 cm2 (observer 2). The effect of EIVOM appeared immediately and sustained during the procedure.