Common atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation are not always two stages of the same disease. A long-term follow-up study in patients with atrial flutter treated with cavo–tricuspid isthmus ablation

Abstract

Over a long-term follow-up, cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation is curative in >70% of patients with atrial flutter alone. Therefore, if no AF is documented, more extensive ablation is not needed. By contrast, cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation is frequently unable to prevent AF in patients with both atrial flutter and AF, although in some cases a significant clinical benefit may be obtained.