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Introduction and objectives: This report presents the findings of the 2018 Spanish Catheter Ablation Registry. Methods: Data collection was retrospective. A standardized questionnaire was completed by each of the participating centers. Results: Data sent by 100 centers were analyzed, with a total number of 16,566 ablation procedures performed (the highest historically reported in this registry) for a mean of 165.5 ± 127.9 and a median of 119 procedures per center. The ablation targets most frequently treated were atrial fibrillation (n = 4234; 25.6%), atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (n = 3525; 21.3%) and cavotricuspid isthmus (n = 3425; 20.7%). A new peak was observed in the ablation of atrial fibrillation, increasing the distance from the other substrates. The overall success rate was 91%. The rate of major complications was 2.2%, and the mortality rate was 0.04%. A total of 2.1% of the ablations were performed in pediatric patients. Conclusions: The Spanish Catheter Ablation Registry systematically and continuously enrolls the ablation procedures performed in Spain, showing a progressive increase in the number of ablations over the years, with a high success rate and low percentage of complications.

Aim: To analyze the perception of anticoagulation with dabigatran in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation previously treated with vitamin K antagonists over a 6-month period. Materials & methods: This is a prospective, noninterventional, noncontrolled, multicenter study. To assess patients’ perceptions, PACT-Q2 questionnaire was completed. Results: Six hundred and fifty nine patients (73.1 ± 9.4 years, CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc 3.6 ± 1.6) were included. At baseline, the convenience and satisfaction scores were 60.9 ± 24.9 and 49.9 ± 17.7, respectively. The scores significantly increased along the study. Convenience score was higher in males and in patients with low–moderate thromboembolic risk. Satisfaction score was higher in females. Only 8.0% of patients discontinued dabigatran (3.7% due to side effects). Conclusion: Convenience and satisfaction scores for nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients treated with dabigatran at 6 months were significantly better than with previous vitamin K antagonists.

Background Pacing in vasovagal syncope remains controversial. Objectives The authors evaluated dual-chamber pacing with closed loop stimulation (DDD-CLS) in patients with cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope. Methods This randomized, double-blind, controlled study included Canadian and Spanish patients age ≥40 years, with high burden syncope (≥5 episodes, ≥2 episodes in the past year), and a cardioinhibitory head-up tilt test (bradycardia 3 s). Patients were randomized to either DDD-CLS pacing for 12 months followed by sham DDI mode pacing at 30 pulses/min for 12 months (group A), or sham DDI mode for 12 months followed by DDD-CLS pacing for 12 months (group B). Patients in both arms crossed-over after 12 months of follow-up or when a maximum of 3 syncopal episodes occurred within 1 month. Results A total of 46 patients completed the protocol; 22 were men (47.8%), and mean age was 56.30 ± 10.63 years. The mean number of previous syncopal episodes was 12 (range 9 to 20). The proportion of patients with ≥50% reduction in the number of syncopal episodes was 72% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 47% to 90%) with DDD-CLS compared with 28% (95% CI: 9.7% to 53.5%) with sham DDI mode (p = 0.017). A total of 4 patients (8.7%) had events during DDD-CLS and 21 (45.7%) during sham DDI (hazard ratio: 6.7; 95% CI: 2.3 to 19.8). Kaplan-Meier curve was significantly different between groups in time to first syncope: 29.2 months (95% CI: 15.3 to 29.2 months) versus 9.3 months (95% CI: 6.21 months, NA; p Conclusions DDD-CLS pacing significantly reduced syncope burden and time to first recurrence by 7-fold, prolonging time to first syncope recurrence in patients age ≥40 years with head-up tilt test–induced vasovagal syncope compared with sham pacing. (Closed Loop Stimulation for Neuromediated Syncope [SPAIN Study]; NCT01621464)

Pacing in vasovagal syncope remains controversial.The authors evaluated dual-chamber pacing with closed loop stimulation (DDD-CLS) in patients with cardioinhibitory vasovagal syncope.This randomized, double-blind, controlled study included Canadian and Spanish patients age ≥40 years, with high burden syncope (≥5 episodes, ≥2 episodes in the past year), and a cardioinhibitory head-up tilt test (bradycardia 40 beats/min for 10 s or asystole3 s). Patients were randomized to either DDD-CLS pacing for 12 months followed by sham DDI mode pacing at 30 pulses/min for 12 months (group A), or sham DDI mode for 12 months followed by DDD-CLS pacing for 12 months (group B). Patients in both arms crossed-over after 12 months of follow-up or when a maximum of 3 syncopal episodes occurred within 1 month.A total of 46 patients completed the protocol; 22 were men (47.8%), and mean age was 56.30 ± 10.63 years. The mean number of previous syncopal episodes was 12 (range 9 to 20). The proportion of patients with ≥50% reduction in the number of syncopal episodes was 72% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 47% to 90%) with DDD-CLS compared with 28% (95% CI: 9.7% to 53.5%) with sham DDI mode (p = 0.017). A total of 4 patients (8.7%) had events during DDD-CLS and 21 (45.7%) during sham DDI (hazard ratio: 6.7; 95% CI: 2.3 to 19.8). Kaplan-Meier curve was significantly different between groups in time to first syncope: 29.2 months (95% CI: 15.3 to 29.2 months) versus 9.3 months (95% CI: 6.21 months, NA; p 0.016); odds ratio: 0.11 (95% CI: 0.03 to 0.37; p 0.0001).DDD-CLS pacing significantly reduced syncope burden and time to first recurrence by 7-fold, prolonging time to first syncope recurrence in patients age ≥40 years with head-up tilt test-induced vasovagal syncope compared with sham pacing. (Closed Loop Stimulation for Neuromediated Syncope [SPAIN Study]; NCT01621464).

Introduction and objectives This report presents the findings of the 2014 Spanish Catheter Ablation Registry. Methods For data collection, each center was allowed to choose freely between 2 systems: retrospective, requiring the completion of a standardized questionnaire, and prospective, involving reporting to a central database. Results Data were collected from 85 centers. A total of 12 871 ablation procedures were performed, for a mean of 149.5 ± 103 procedures per center. The ablation targets most frequently treated were atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (n = 3026; 23.5%), cavotricuspid isthmus (n = 2833; 22.0%), and atrial fibrillation (n = 2498; 19.4%). The number of ablation procedures for ventricular arrhythmias was similar to that of 2013, but there was a slight increase in the treatment of all the ventricular substrates, especially those associated with idiopathic ventricular tachycardia and scarring following myocardial infarction. The overall success rate was 95%, the rate of major complications was 1.3%, and the mortality rate was 0.02%. Conclusions The 2014 registry shows that the number of ablation procedures performed continued its upward trend and that, overall, the success rate was high and the number of complications low. Ablation of complex conditions continued to increase.

Introduction and objectives This report presents the results of the 2013 Spanish Catheter Ablation Registry. Methods Data were collected using 2 systems: retrospectively by completing a dedicated form and prospectively by reporting to a central database. Each participating center chose 1 of the 2 data collection methods. Results Eighty centers voluntarily contributed data to the registry. A total of 11 987 ablation procedures were performed, with a mean (standard deviation) of 149 (105) procedures per center. The 3 main arrhythmic substrates treated were atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (n = 2959; 24.6%), cavotricuspid isthmus ablation (n = 2700; 22.5%), and atrial fibrillation (n = 2201; 18.4%). The number of ventricular ablation procedures was similar to the 2012 activity, but there was a slight increase in procedures for scar-related postmyocardial infarction ventricular tachycardia. The success rate was 94.4%, major complications occurred in 1.8%, and the mortality rate was 0.03%. Conclusions In line with previous reports, the data from the 2013 registry show a continuing increase in the number of ablations performed. Overall, there was a high success rate and few complications. Ablation of complex substrates has continued to increase.

An 82-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of syncope. A 12-lead ECG demonstrated atrial fibrillation with a ventricular response of 35 bpm, and a VVIR (ventricular pacing, ventricular sensing, inhibiting mode, rate response function) pacemaker was implanted using a ventricular active fixation lead via the left subclavian artery. Prior to discharge a chest X-ray was taken and showed normal ventricular lead placement but with a minor lead retraction (figure 1A). One month after implantation she came again to the emergency room with dizziness with a ventricular response of 42 bpm. A chest X-ray was urgently performed and showed ventricular lead retraction (figure 1B, black arrow) secondary to rotation of the pulse generator …

We report a patient with a severe complication after pacemaker implantation. Two months after the implant, …