Study population
A total of 325 PsAF patients who underwent a first-time catheter
ablation (CA) in our institution between September 2008 and July 2015
were retrospectively included. In this population, PVI plus linear
ablation or EGM-guided ablation was performed in 230 and 82 patients,
respectively. Following propensity-matched score analysis, 104 patients
(LINE-group: 52, EGM-group: 52) were included in the analysis. PsAF was
defined as AF lasting more than 7 days with or without anti-arrhythmic
drugs, and long-standing persistent AF was defined as continuous AF for
more than 12 months.13 AF duration was defined as the
duration from the date when the AF was detected on 12-lead
electrocardiogram (ECG) to either the date of AF termination by
medical/electrical cardioversion, or the date of the initial CA
procedure (if AF persisted despite medical/electrical cardioversion).
The study was approved by the Jikei University School of Medicine
institutional review board and ethics committee. All patients provided
their written informed consent.