Study population
Our study consisted of 560 consecutive patients (419 males and 141
females, mean age ± standard deviation = 67.2 ± 9.1 years) with
non-paroxysmal AF who underwent initial MI ablation in the Kimitsu
Central Hospital. The study duration was from January 2012 to September
2019; however, EIVOM has been started in our institute since February
2015. EIVOM and RF ablation were performed in 176 patients (EIVOM/RF
group) with the amenable VOM. In the remaining 384 patients, MI block
line was created via only RF because the patients underwent catheter
ablation before then, or they lacked the amenable VOM. All patients
provided informed consent before the procedure. This study was conducted
according to the protocol that was approved by the Ethic Committee at
the Kimitsu Central Hospital.