How does circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) function?

Circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) works by completely surrounding each individual pulmonary vein in order to isolate the electrical signals that can lead to atrial fibrillation. This procedure is aimed at preventing any abnormal electrical activity from the pulmonary veins from entering the left atrium, which is crucial because these veins can be a common source of triggers for atrial fibrillation. By encircling the pulmonary veins with ablation lesions, the electrical impulses that originate here are effectively blocked, thus restoring a normal rhythm.

This approach is specifically designed to fully encompass the veins, providing a complete isolation rather than just a partial ablation or targeting only one side. Consequently, the focus on surrounding each vein is essential to ensuring that the left atrium can no longer receive these disruptive signals, which is a pivotal aspect of successfully managing atrial fibrillation for patients.