4.2 Impact of RFCA on VENC-MRI
Mean value of pre-RFCA VENC-MRI was 49.85 ± 32.97 which was improved to 71.92 ± 34.94 after RFCA (44.3% improvement; p < 0.001; Figure 2). The degree of improvement in VENC-MRI was more pronounced in non-paroxysmal AF (∆VENC-MRI = 14.42 ± 40.94 vs. 29.71 ± 35.30; p < 0.001; Figure 2).
In our cohort, 139 patients (38.6%) experienced late recurrence before undergoing post-RFCA VENC-MRI evaluation. Patients without late recurrence had significantly greater improvement in VENC-MRI (∆VENC-MRI = 15.55 ± 41.41 vs. 25.75 ± 37.00; p = 0.016; Figure 2). In paroxysmal AF, numerically higher but statistically insignificant improvement in VENC-MRI was observed in those without late recurrence (∆VENC-MRI = 8.46 ± 44.19 vs. 17.77 ± 38.78; p = 0.137; Figure 2). However, ∆VENC-MRI was significantly higher in those without late recurrence in non-paroxysmal AF patients (∆VENC-MRI = 22.14 ± 37.77 vs. 35.06 ± 32.58; p = 0.017; Figure 2).
Patients with low pre-RFCA (VENC-MRI < 20 ml/sec) VENC-MRI had significantly greater improvement after RFCA (∆VENC-MRI = 16.72 ± 38.39 vs. 50.64 ± 28.92; p < 0.001; Figure 2). Low VENC-MRI before RFCA was a significant factor associated with greater improvement in VENC-MRI after RFCA in both paroxysmal (∆VENC-MRI = 9.92 ± 39.50 vs. 62.19 ± 20.76; p < 0.001; Figure 2) and non-paroxysmal AF (∆VENC-MRI = 25.23 ± 35.30 vs. 45.77 ± 30.68; p = 0.001; Figure 2).