Predictive value of left atrial function by transesophageal echocardiography for early heart failure in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation
LIU Min
WANG Liyuan
LI Yanru
LI Yan
Abstract：Objective To explore the predictive value of left atrial function evaluated with transesophageal echocardiography(TEE)for early heart failure(HF)in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation(AF)after radiofrequency ablation(RFA).Methods A total of 154 elderly patients with diagnosed AF and undergoing RFA in our hospital from January 2022 to December 2024 were enrolled,and based on whether HF occurred within 30 d after surgery,they were divided into a HF group(28 cases)and a non-HF group(126 cases).The clinical data and TEE parameters were compared between the two groups.Logistic regression analysis was used to screen the independent risk factors for early postoperative HF.The predictive value of left atrial function parameters was evaluated through ROC curve analysis,and the area under the curve(AUC)was calculated.Results The HF group exhibited significantly advanced age,higher N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP)and troponin I levels,and higher recurrence of AF than the non-HF group(P<0.01).The left atrial appendage peak emptying velocity(LAA-PEV),peak filling velocity of the left atrial appendage,and left atrial appendage ejection fraction were obviously lower,while the maximum volume,minimum volume,opening diameter of the left atrial appendage,and incidence of left atrial spontaneous echo contrast(LASEC)were notably higher in the HF group than the non-HF group(P<0.01).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that LAA-PEV,LASEC,NT-proBNP,and AF recurrence were independent risk factors for early HF after RFA in elderly AF patients(P<0.05,P<0.01).ROC curve analysis indicated that the AUC values of LAA-PEV,LASEC and NT-proBNP in predicting early HF after RFA in elderly AF patients were 0.825,0.675,and 0.799,respectively.And the AUC value of LAA-PEV combined with NT-proBNP was 0.894,which was significantly higher than that of a single indicator(P<0.01).Conclusion The parameters of left atrial appendage function detected by TEE have significant predictive value for early HF in elderly AF patients after RFA.Combination of LAA-PEV and NT-proBNP can improve the predictive efficacy.
Keywords：atrial fibrillationradiofrequency ablationheart failuretrans esophageal echocardiography
Publication Date：2026-02-15
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-11(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 171-175 )