Comparison of Propofol and Sevoflurane as a Primary Anesthetic for Cardiac Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation.

A side effect of some volatile anesthetics, such as isoflurane and desflurane, is enhanced automaticity, accounting for secondary atrial pacemakers. Volatile anesthetics also have varying effects on the AV node and His-Pukinje system. These agents also prolong the QT interval and, for this reason, volatile anesthetics as a group have at times been avoided for atrial fibrillation ablation due to the fear that they may affect the efficacy of the ablation and increase recurrence. However, sevoflurane does not have the effects shown for other volatile anesthetics cardiac conduction. At this point there has not been a study comparing propofol, a non volatile anesthetic typically used in these cases, to sevoflurane, a volatile anesthetic, to determine if volatile anesthetics should be avoided during these procedures. This study will challenge the existing belief that sevoflurane increases the length of time to ablate atrial fibrillation and also decreases the efficacy of the ablation.