Exercise capacity after His bundle ablation and rate response ventricular pacing for drug refractory chronic atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate exercise capacity of patients with chronic atrial fibrillation in whom His bundle ablation followed by ventricular rate response pacing (VVIR) was carried out because of drug refractoriness. DESIGN: Prospective study. PATIENTS: 25 consecutive patients, all with chronic symptomatic drug refractory atrial fibrillation, underwent His bundle ablation. Before this intervention all patients were on antiarrhythmic drugs to attain acceptable heart rate control and to relief symptoms. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Exercise capacity, including measurements of VO2, was examined before and after a mean interval of seven months following His bundle ablation. RESULTS: Exercise capacity after His bundle ablation increased from a mean of 109 (SD 49) W to 118 (46) W (P < 0.002), but VO2 at peak exercise did not change significantly. Maximum exercise capacity was achieved with a significantly lower maximum driven heart rate than the spontaneous heart rate before ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Exercise capacity of patients who underwent His bundle ablation followed by VVIR pacing remained unchanged or improved during a mean follow up of seven months. Larger patient populations with longer follow up are necessary to examine determinants of improved exercise capacity.