What medication is used when testing to prevent reconnection during AF ablation?

The use of adenosine in the context of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is crucial for assessing and preventing reconnection of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) during the procedure. Adenosine is an antiarrhythmic medication that has a very short half-life and is used in ablation procedures to temporarily block conduction through the atrioventricular (AV) node. This allows electrophysiologists to evaluate the connectivity of the heart’s electrical pathways more effectively.

By administering adenosine during AF ablation, clinicians can induce a transient heart block, which helps them assess the effectiveness of the ablation lines and identify any potential reconnection sites. If the ablation lines are intact and no reconnection occurs, the rhythm should remain stable. However, if there is a reconnection, the AF may resume, indicating that further ablation may be necessary.

While other medications, like amiodarone, may be used for rhythm control or maintenance after ablation, they do not serve the same purpose in the immediate setting of testing reconnection. Dopamine and adenosine triphosphate are not typically employed in this context, making adenosine the correct choice for preventing reconnection during AF ablation testing.