Introduction
Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is a widely utilized and highly effective treatment modality for symptomatic paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). RF ablation for AF is known to increase serum biomarkers of inflammation, which may be due to acute myocardial injury and healing of ablation-related atrial lesions1. Individuals with early recurrence of AF within the first three months after AF ablation was shown to have significantly greater odds of having an increase in serum C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels at post-ablation follow-up, suggesting an association between increased inflammation and early recurrence of AF2.
The effect of peri-procedural administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids has been evaluated3-5. Peri-ablation administration of intravenous steroids followed by a short course of moderate-intensity oral steroids has been shown to significantly reduce AF recurrence at 3 months5. There is no evidence regarding the efficacy of intravenous dexamethasone, and it is unclear if single-dose administration at the time of ablation for the prevention of postoperative nausea (PONV) yields a similar reduction in AF recurrence or inhibits adequate lesions formation and maturation.