Study population
Ninety-four paroxysmal AF (PAF) patients (68 male and 26 female, mean
age ± standard deviation = 66 ± 10 years) with SVC potentials who
underwent AF ablations were included in this study. PAF was defined as
AF with duration < 7 days. Those who underwent cardiac
implantable electrophysiological device implantation were excluded from
this study. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan
(Revolution CT. GE Healthcare, Chicago, Illinois, USA) was conducted
prior to the ablation to estimate the intracardiac thrombus and SVC
area. Antiarrhythmic drugs were discontinued for at least five
half-lives prior to the ablation. This study was executed according to
the protocol that was approved by the Ethnic committee at the Kimitsu
Central Hospital.