Search

Background: Active esophageal cooling reduces the incidence of endoscopically identified severe esophageal lesions during radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation of the left atrium for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. A formal analysis of the atrioesophageal fistula (AEF) rate with active esophageal cooling has not previously been performed., Objectives: The authors aimed to compare AEF rates before and after the adoption of active esophageal cooling., Methods: This institutional review board (IRB)-approved study was a prospective analysis of retrospective data, designed before collecting and analyzing the real-world data. The number of AEFs occurring in equivalent time frames before and after adoption of cooling using a dedicated esophageal cooling device (ensoETM, Attune Medical) were quantified across 25 prespecified hospital systems. AEF rates were then compared using generalized estimating equations robust to cluster correlation., Results: A total of 14,224 patients received active esophageal cooling during RF ablation across the 25 hospital systems, which included a total of 30 separate hospitals. In the time frames before adoption of active cooling, a total of 10,962 patients received primarily luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring during their RF ablations. In the preadoption cohort, a total of 16 AEFs occurred, for an AEF rate of 0.146%, in line with other published estimates for procedures using LET monitoring. In the postadoption cohort, no AEFs were found in the prespecified sites, yielding an AEF rate of 0% (P < 0.0001)., Conclusions: Adoption of active esophageal cooling during RF ablation of the left atrium for the treatment of atrial fibrillation was associated with a significant reduction in AEF rate., Competing Interests: Funding Support and Author Disclosures No specific funding for this research was provided. Some authors are supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, under Award Number R44HL158375 for the evaluation of esophageal cooling (the content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health). Academic advisors to—and representatives of—Attune Medical participated in the study design, data collection, analysis, and interpretation and participated in the preparation, review, and approval of the manuscript. Dr Woods has received consulting fees from Abbott and research funding from Biosense Webster; and has equity in Inheart Medical and intellectual property with Attune Medical. Dr Zagrodzky has received consulting fees from Biosense Webster and Attune Medical. Dr Singleton has received consulting fees from Biosense Webster. Dr Brumback has received consulting fees from Attune Medical. Dr Athill has received consultant fees from Abbott, Boston Scientific, Biosense Webster, and Acutus; and speaker fees from Zoll Medical. Dr Joseph has served an internship with Attune Medical. Dr Shah has received consulting fees from Abbott and Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Dr Kulstad holds equity in and has had employment in Attune Medical. Dr Upadhyay has received consulting fees from Abbott, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Philips BioTel, and Zoll Medical. Dr Cogan has received consulting fees from Abbott and Biosense Webster. Dr Cooper has received support for data acquisition from Attune Medical. Dr Tamirisa has received speaking fees from Abbott and Medtronic; and consultant fees from Sanofi. Dr Patel has received consulting fees from Biosense Webster. Dr Greet has received consulting fees from Medtronic. Dr MacGregor has received research fees from Boston Scientific. Dr Percell has served on Speaker Bureau for Abbott and Janssen. Dr Hao has received consultant fees from Rampart IC. Dr Dewland has received consulting fees from Adagio Medical. Dr Gerstenfeld has received lecture honoraria from Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Abbott; research funding, scientific advisory board, and compensation from Biosense Webster; has served on a scientific advisory board for Farapulse; and Data and Safety Monitoring Board for trials sponsored by Thermedical Inc and Abbott. Dr Panico has received consulting fees from Abbott and Impulse Dynamics. Dr Mickelsen has received consulting fees from Field Medical, Atraverse Medical, and Attune Medical. Dr Metzl has received consulting fees from Abbott, Biosense Webster, Attune Medical, Medtronic, Sanofi Aventis, and Philips. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Early and safe ambulation can facilitate same-day discharge (SDD) following catheter ablation, which can reduce resource utilization and healthcare costs and improve patient satisfaction. This study evaluated procedure success and safety of the VASCADE MVP venous vascular closure system in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)., Methods: The AMBULATE SDD Registry is a two-stage series of postmarket studies in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF undergoing catheter ablation followed by femoral venous access-site closure with VASCADE MVP. Efficacy endpoints included SDD success, defined as the proportion of patients discharged the same day who did not require next-day hospital intervention for procedure/access site-related complications, and access site sustained success within 15 days of the procedure., Results: Overall, 354 patients were included in the pooled study population, 151 (42.7%) treated for paroxysmal AF and 203 (57.3%) for persistent AF. SDD was achieved in 323 patients (91.2%) and, of these, 320 (99.1%) did not require subsequent hospital intervention based on all study performance outcomes. Nearly all patients (350 of 354; 98.9%) achieved total study success, with no subsequent hospital intervention required. No major access-site complications were recorded. Patients who had SDD were more likely to report procedure satisfaction than patients who stayed overnight., Conclusion: In this study, 99.7% of patients achieving SDD required no additional hospital intervention for access site-related complications during follow-up. SDD appears feasible and safe for eligible patients after catheter ablation for paroxysmal or persistent AF in which the VASCADE MVP is used for venous access-site closure., (© 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Following left atrial appendage (LAA) electrical isolation, the decision on whether to continue oral anticoagulation after successful atrial fibrillation ablation is based on the study of its mechanical function on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). In this cohort, LAA contraction is absent and the incorrect interpretation of emptying flow velocities can lead to unwanted clinical sequelae., Methods: One hundred and sixty consecutive TEE exams performed to evaluate the LAA mechanical function following its electrical isolation were reviewed by an experienced operator blinded to the original diagnosis of LAA dysfunction. The rate of diagnostic discrepancy in the assessment LAA dysfunction and its clinical implications were evaluated., Results: Diagnostic discrepancy with misclassification of the LAA mechanical function occurred 36% (58/160) of TEE exams. In most cases (57/58), such discrepancy was observed in the setting of an incorrect original diagnosis of a normal LAA mechanical function despite absent/reduced or inconsistent LAA contraction. This main source of this wrong diagnosis was the wrong interpretation of passive LAA flows (34/57; 60%), followed by failure to identify dissociated firing (15/57; 26%). In rare cases (8/57; 14%), velocities of surrounding structures were interpreted as LAA flow due to misplacement of the pulsed-wave Doppler sample volume. Following LAA isolation, the proportion of patients who experienced a cerebrovascular event while off oral anticoagulation due to the misclassification of their LAA mechanical function was 70% (7/10 [95% CI, 40%-89%])., Conclusions: Underdiagnosis of LAA mechanical dysfunction is common in TEEs performed following LAA electrical isolation, and it is associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular events owing to oral anticoagulation discontinuation despite absent/reduced LAA contraction. Careful review of the TEE exam by an operator with specific expertise in LAA imaging and familiar with the functional implications of LAA isolation is necessary before interrupting oral anticoagulation in this cohort.

COVID-19 mainly affects the respiratory system but has been correlated with cardiovascular manifestations such as myocarditis, heart failure, acute coronary syndromes, and arrhythmias. Cardiac arrhythmias are the second most frequent complication affecting about 30% of patients. Several mechanisms may lead to an increased risk of cardiac arrhythmias during COVID-19 infection, ranging from direct myocardial damage to extracardiac involvement. The aim of this review is to describe the role of COVID-19 in the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias and provide a comprehensive guidance for their monitoring and management., Competing Interests: Disclosure Dr J.D. Burkhardt is a consultant for Biosense Webster and Stereotaxis. Dr L. Di Biase is a consultant for Biosense Webster, Boston Scientific, Stereotaxis, and St. Jude Medical; and has received speaker honoraria from Medtronic, Atricure, EPiEP, and Biotronik. Dr A. Natale has received speaker honoraria from Boston Scientific, Biosense Webster, St. Jude Medical, Biotronik, and Medtronic; and is a consultant for Biosense Webster, St. Jude Medical, and Janssen. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this article to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: We evaluated the efficacy of an ablation strategy empirically targeting pulmonary veins (PVs) and posterior wall (PW) and the prevalence and clinical impact of extrapulmonary trigger inducibility and ablation in a large cohort of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF)., Methods and Results: A total of 1803 PerAF patients were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) extended to the entire PW. A standardized protocol was performed to confirm persistent PVAI and elicit any triggers originating from non-PV sites. All non-PV triggers initiating sustained atrial tachyarrhythmias were ablated. Ablation of non-PV sites triggering non-sustained runs (<30 s) of atrial tachyarrhythmias or promoting frequent premature atrial complexes (≥10/min) was left to operator's discretion. Overall, 1319 (73.2%) patients had documented triggers from non-PV areas. After 17.4 ± 8.5 months of follow-up, the cumulative freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias among patients without inducible non-PV triggers (n = 484) was 70.2%. Patients with ablation of induced non-PV triggers had a significantly higher arrhythmia control than those whose triggers were not ablated (67.9% vs. 39.4%, respectively; P < 0.001). After adjusting for clinically relevant variables, patients in whom non-PV triggers were documented but not ablated had an increased risk of arrhythmia relapse (hazard ratio: 2.39; 95% confidence interval: 2.01-2.83; P < 0.001)., Conclusion: Pulmonary vein antrum isolation extended to the entire PW might provide acceptable long-term arrhythmia-free survival in PerAF patients without inducible non-PV triggers. In our population of PerAF patients, non-PV triggers could be elicited in ∼70% of PerAF patients and their elimination significantly improved outcomes., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2021. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Atrioesophageal fistula (AEF) is a worrisome complication of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Its clinical manifestations and time course are unpredictable and may contribute to diagnostic and treatment delays. We conducted a systematic review of all available cases of AEF, aiming at characterizing clinical presentation, time course, diagnostic pitfalls, and outcomes., Methods: The digital search retrieved 150 studies containing 257 cases, 238 (92.6%) of which with a confirmed diagnosis of AEF and 19 (7.4%) of pericardioesophageal fistula., Results: The median time from ablation to symptom onset was 21 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 11-28). Neurological abnormalities were documented in 75% of patients. Compared to patients seen by a specialist, those evaluated at a walk-in clinic or community hospital had a significantly greater delay between symptom onset and hospital admission (median: 2.5 day [IQR: 1-8] vs. 1 day [IQR: 1-5); p = .03). Overall, 198 patients underwent a chest scan (computed tomography [CT]: 192 patients and magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]: 6 patients), 48 (24.2%; 46 CT and 2 MRI) of whom had normal/unremarkable findings. Time from hospital admission to diagnostic confirmation was significantly longer in patients with a first normal/unremarkable chest scan (p < .001). Overall mortality rate was 59.3% and 26.0% survivors had residual neurological deficits at the time of discharge., Conclusions: Since healthcare professionals of any specialty might be involved in treating AEF patients, awareness of the clinical manifestations, diagnostic pitfalls, and time course, as well as an early contact with the treating electrophysiologist for a coordinated interdisciplinary medical effort, are pivotal to prevent diagnostic delays and reduce mortality., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is a valuable tool and should be standard of care in any modern electrophysiology laboratory. Through real-time imaging of cardiac anatomy, ICE is used to guide electrophysiology procedures and monitor for complications. This article is a short overview of the application of real-time ICE imaging during atrial fibrillation ablation procedures., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Substrate catheter ablation of scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a widely accepted therapeutic option for patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM)., Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether concomitant amiodarone therapy affects procedural outcomes., Methods: A total of 134 consecutive patients (89% male; age 66 ± 10 years) with ICM undergoing catheter ablation of VT were included in the study. Patients were sorted by amiodarone therapy before ablation. In all patients, a substrate-based catheter ablation (endocardial ± epicardial) in sinus rhythm abolishing all "abnormal" electrograms within the scar was performed. The endpoint of the procedure was VT noninducibility. After the ablation procedure, all antiarrhythmic medications were discontinued. All patients had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, and recurrences were analyzed through the device., Results: In 84 patients (63%), the ablation was performed on amiodarone; the remaining 50 patients (37%) were off amiodarone. Patients had comparable baseline characteristics. Mean scar size area was 143.6 ± 44.9 cm 2 on amiodarone vs 139.2 ± 36.8 cm 2 off amiodarone (P = .56). More radiofrequency time was necessary to achieve noninducibility in the off-amiodarone group compared to the on-amiodarone group (68.1 ± 20.1 minutes vs 51.5 ± 19.7 minutes; P <.001). In addition, due to persistent VT inducibility, more patients in the off-amiodarone group required epicardial ablation than in the on-amiodarone group (13/50 [26%] vs 5/84 [6%], respectively; P <.001). During mean follow-up of 23.9 ± 11.6 months, recurrence of any ventricular arrhythmias off antiarrhythmic drugs was 44% (37/84) in the on-amiodarone group vs 22% (11/50) in the off-amiodarone group (P = .013)., Conclusion: Albeit, VT noninducibility after substrate catheter ablation for scar related VT was achieved faster, with less radiofrequency time and less need for epicardial ablation in patients taking amiodarone, these patients had significantly higher VT recurrence at long-term follow-up when this medication was discontinued., (Copyright © 2021 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The creation of effective and permanent lesions is a crucial factor in determining the success rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. By increasing the efficacy of radiofrequency (RF) energy-mediated lesion formation, half-normal saline (HNS) as an irrigant for open-irrigated ablation catheters has the potential to reduce procedural times and improve acute and long-term outcomes., Methods: This is a double-blind randomized clinical trial of 99 patients undergoing first-time RF catheter ablation for AF. Patients enrolled were randomly assigned in a 1:1 fashion to perform ablation using HNS or normal saline (NS) as an irrigant for the ablation catheter., Results: The use of HNS is associated with shorter RF times (26 vs. 33 min; p = .02) with comparable procedure times (104 vs. 104 min). The rate of acute pulmonary vein reconnections (16% vs. 18%) was comparable, with a median of 1 vein reconnection in the HNS arm versus 2 in the NS arm. There was no difference in procedure-related complications, including the incidence of postprocedural hyponatremia when using HNS. Over the 1-year follow-up, there is no significant difference between the HNS and NS with respect to the recurrence of any atrial arrhythmia (off antiarrhythmic drugs [AAD]: 47% vs. 52%; hazard ratio [HR]: 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66-2.06; off/on AAD: 66% vs. 66%, HR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.53-2.12), with a potential benefit of using HNS when considering the paroxysmal AF cohort (on/off AAD 73% vs. 62%, HR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.19-2.70)., Conclusions: In a mixed cohort of patients undergoing first-time AF ablation, irrigation of open-irrigated RF ablation catheters with HNS is associated with shorter RF times, with a comparably low rate of procedure-related complications. In the long term, there is no significant difference with respect to the recurrence of any atrial arrhythmia. Larger studies with a more homogeneous population are necessary to determine whether HNS improves clinical outcomes., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objectives: This study sought to compare the effect of high-dose dobutamine (DBT) with that of high-dose isoproterenol (IPN) in eliciting triggers during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation., Background: High-dose IPN is commonly used to elicit triggers during AF ablation. However, it is not available worldwide and, in the United States, its cost per dose has significantly increased. DBT is a similarly nonselective β-agonist and, as such, is a potential alternative., Methods: This was a prospective, randomized 2×2 crossover study of patients undergoing AF ablation. Patients were assigned to receive IPN (20 to 30 μg/min for 10 min) followed by DBT (40 to 50 μg/kg/min for 10 min) or vice versa in a 1:1 fashion. The type, number, and location of triggers as well as heart rate, blood pressure, and side effects were noted., Results: Fifty patients were included in the study. Both drugs caused a significant increase in heart rate, with a consistently lower peak for DBT. Blood pressure significantly increased with DBT, while there was a significant reduction with IPN, despite phenylephrine support. Atrial arrhythmias induced during DBT were comparable to that induced during IPN. In patients with IPN-inducible outflow tract premature ventricular contractions, a similar effect was noted with DBT. No major complications occurred during either drug challenge., Conclusions: High-dose DBT is safe and comparable to high-dose IPN in respect of eliciting AF triggers, with the advantage to maintain systemic pressure without the need of additional vasopressor support. This study supports the use of high-dose DBT in electrophysiology laboratories in which IPN is not readily available and for those patients in whom hypotension is a concern., Competing Interests: Author Disclosures The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose., (Copyright © 2020 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Thromboembolic stroke is a rare but devastating consequence of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is recommended to rule out left atrial appendage thrombus; however, its use is variable., Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether TEE is mandatory in patients undergoing AF ablation on uninterrupted direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)., Methods: Data from our prospective multicenter registry of patients with AF undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation on uninterrupted DOACs were analyzed. All the included patients were on anticoagulation for at least 4 weeks before ablation. All AF ablation procedures were performed under intracardiac echocardiography guidance. Before transseptal puncture, heparin bolus was administered, followed by continuous infusion, with a target activated clotting time of >300 seconds., Results: A total of 6186 patients (3180 on apixaban [51.4%], 2528 on rivaroxaban [40.9%], 404 on dabigatran [6.5%], and 74 on edoxaban [1.2%]) were analyzed. The mean age of the study population was 69.4 ± 10.3 years; 4194 patients (67.8%) were male, and 5120 patients (82.8%) had persistent and long-standing persistent AF. The mean CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score was 2.86 ± 1.58; the mean CHADS 2 score was 1.65 ± 1.14. Intracardiac echocardiography ruled out left atrial appendage and left atrial thrombi in all patients and revealed "smoke" in 1672 patients (27.03%). Transient ischemic attack was noted in 1 patient with long-standing persistent AF in the setting of a missed dose of rivaroxaban before ablation., Conclusion: Our study showed that performing AF ablation in patients on uninterrupted DOACs without TEE is safe and feasible in high stroke risk patients. Elimination of routine preablation TEE would have significant economic and clinical implications., (Copyright © 2020 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Left atrial appendage electrical isolation (LAAEI) has been proposed for the treatment of nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). The long-term clinical outcomes of this approach remain unclear. The objective of our study was to investigate the incremental benefit and safety of LAAEI in patients undergoing catheter ablation for nonparoxysmal AF., Methods: Propensity score-matched analysis was performed using a prospective registry database from 2010 to 2014. All patients in the LAAEI group were matched based on baseline characteristics, echocardiographic parameters, and procedural ablation techniques., Results: We identified 1842 patients who underwent catheter ablation for nonparoxysmal AF. Propensity score matching yielded 1092 patients, 546 patients with LAAEI, and 546 patients without LAAEI. At 5-year follow-up, overall freedom from all-atrial arrhythmia recurrence, off-antiarrhythmic drugs, in patients who underwent LAAEI was 68.9% versus 50.2% in those who underwent standard ablation alone ( P <0.001). Acute complication rates were similar between groups (LAAEI 1.3% versus non-LAAEI 0.73%, P =0.36). At 5-year follow-up, 382 (70%) patients in the LAAEI group remained on oral anticoagulation versus 217 (39.7%) in the non-LAAEI group. At 5-year follow-up, thromboembolic events occurred in 15/546 (2.75%) in the LAAEI group and 4/546 (0.73%) in the non-LAAEI group ( P =0.01). No thromboembolic events occurred in either group on-oral anticoagulation. In patients who were off-oral anticoagulation, at 5-year follow-up, thromboembolic events occurred in 15/164 (9.1%) in the LAAEI group and 4/329 (1.2%) in the non-LAAEI group ( P <0.001)., Conclusions: At 5-year follow-up, LAAEI was associated with significantly higher freedom from all-atrial arrhythmia recurrence in patients with persistent and long-standing persistent AF without increasing acute procedural complication rate. In patients off-oral anticoagulation, there appears to be a higher risk of thromboembolic events in the LAAEI group.

Atrial fibrillation catheter ablation has emerged as the most effective strategy to restore and maintain sinus rhythm. The cornerstone of atrial fibrillation ablation is elimination of triggers from the pulmonary veins by pulmonary vein isolation. Nevertheless, some patients may experience atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrences even with permanent pulmonary vein antral isolation. Whether and in which patients pulmonary vein antral isolation should be considered as the only ablation strategy remains a matter of debate. This review aims to summarize the rationale and effectiveness of different ablation approaches and identify key points for a uniform atrial fibrillation ablation strategy., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We evaluated the association of P wave duration (PWD) with left atrial scar (LAS) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF)., Methods: Consecutive patients with PAF undergoing their first catheter ablation were screened and only those in sinus rhythm at baseline were included in the analysis. A standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) was performed in all and three-dimensional voltage mapping of the left atrium was generated for identification of low-voltage areas (≤0.2 mV) before the procedure., Results: In total, 411 patients with PAF were included in this study of which 181 had LASs (scar group), while 230 had no scar (nonscar group). In the scar group, patients were older (65.5 ± 8.8 vs 59.7 ± 11.7 years; P < .001), the proportion of female was higher (47.5% vs 37.4%; P = .04) and left atrial (LA) diameter (4.1 ± 0.6 vs 3.9 ± 0.6 cm; P < .001) was larger compared with the nonscar group. There was no significant difference in terms of hypertension, sleep apnea, and diabetes between the two groups. When comparing ECG characteristics between the two groups, PWD was significantly longer in the scar group (122.9 ± 18.5 and 116.9 ± 28.0 ms; P = .01). A multivariate analysis was performed, after adjustment of age, sex, LA diameter, PWD ≥ 120 ms was found to be an independent predictor of LA scarring (OR: 1.69, p-value: 0.02)., Conclusion: In the current series, prolonged PWD was found to be independently associated with LA scarring in PAF, even after adjustment for age, sex, and LA diameter., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Loss of contractility leading to stasis of blood flow following left atrial appendage electrical isolation (LAAEI) could lead to thrombus formation., Objectives: This study evaluated the incidence of thromboembolic events (TE) in post-LAAEI cases "on" and "off" oral anticoagulation (OAC)., Methods: A total of 1,854 consecutive post-LAAEI patients with follow-up transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) performed in sinus rhythm at 6 months to assess left atrial appendage (LAA) function were included in this analysis., Results: The TEE at 6 months revealed preserved LAA velocity, contractility, and consistent A waves in 336 (18%) and abnormal parameters in the remaining 1,518 patients. In the post-ablation period, all 336 patients with preserved LAA function were off OAC. At long-term follow-up, patients with normal LAA function did not experience any stroke events. Of the 1,518 patients with abnormal LAA contractility, 1,086 remained on OAC, and the incidence of stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) in this population was 18 of 1,086 (1.7%), whereas the number of TE events in the off-OAC patients (n = 432) was 72 (16.7%); p < 0.001. Of the 90 patients with stroke, 84 received left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) devices. At median 12.4 months (interquartile range: 9.8 to 15.3 months) of device implantation, 2 (2.4%) patients were on OAC because of high stroke risk or personal preference, whereas 81 patients discontinued OAC after LAAO device implantation without any TE events., Conclusions: LAAEI is associated with a significant risk of stroke that can be effectively reduced by optimal uninterrupted OAC or LAAO devices., (Copyright © 2019 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) triggers within the coronary sinus (CS)/great cardiac vein (GCV) and the left atrial appendage (LAA) have been recognized as nonpulmonary vein triggers of AF., Objective: The aim of this study was to describe an electrical connection between the LAA and CS/GCV and its importance in achieving LAA electrical isolation (LAAEI)., Methods: A total of 488 consecutive patients undergoing catheter ablation for persistent or long-standing persistent AF who showed firing from the LAA and/or from the CS/GCV were enrolled in this multicenter prospective study. In all patients, potential defragmentation of the CS/GCV to achieve isolation and LAAEI was attempted with both endocardial and epicardial ablation., Results: In 7% (n = 34) of these patients, after attempting endocardial LAAEI, the LAA was isolated during epicardial ablation in the GCV. In 8% (n = 39) of patients after attempting endocardial LAA isolation, the LAA was isolated during ablation along the endocardial aspect of the GCV. The presence of a venous branch connecting the GCV with the LAA was found in all these patients. In 23% (n = 112) of patients, the isolation of the LAA also isolated the GCV. In all these patients, LAA dissociated firing was present together with the CS/GCV recordings., Conclusion: These findings suggest the presence of a distinct electrical connection between the GCV and the LAA. The clinical relevance of our results requires further investigation. Ablation in the CS/GCV can result in inadvertent isolation of the LAA. Ablation of the GCV is relevant to achieve LAAEI. Considering the potential long-term implications, ablation in the distal CS/GCV should prompt assessment of LAA conduction., (Copyright © 2019 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The optimal site of ablation of idiopathic left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) is challenging as activation mapping can reveal similar activation times in different anatomical sites, suggesting an intramural origin., Objective: We sought to assess whether in patients with intramural VAs and with multiple early activation sites (EASs), sequential ablation of all the early EASs could improve acute and long-term clinical outcomes., Methods: A total of 116 patients undergoing catheter ablation for symptomatic LVOT VAs were enrolled in this study. Thirty-nine patients (34%) were referred for a redo procedure, whereas the remaining presented for a first procedure. Mapping was performed manually in 86 cases (74%) and with a magnetic robotic system (Niobe, Stereotaxis, St. Louis, MO) in the remainder of the cases., Results: Of the 116 patients, 15 (13%) were found to have multiple sites of equally early activation. In patients with multiple EASs, the mean pre-QRS activation time was significantly less than in patients with a single EASs (-26 ± 3 ms vs -38 ± 6 ms; P < .005). Sequential ablation of all the EASs was possible in 14 patients (93%), resulting in complete arrhythmia suppression. After a mean follow-up of 21 ± 5 months, all patients with successful ablation of all multiple early EASs remained free from clinical VAs., Conclusion: Intramural LVOT VAs manifesting with multiple EASs require ablation at all sites to achieve acute and long-term success, particularly if none of the EASs is > -30ms pre-QRS activation time., (Copyright © 2018 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Electrical isolation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) is an important adjunctive ablation strategy in patients with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients who have impaired LAA contractility following isolation may require long-term oral anticoagulant (OAC) therapy irrespective of their CHADS 2 -VASc score. Percutaneous LAA occlusion (LAAO) is a potential alternative to life-long OAC therapy. We aimed to assess the rate of OAC discontinuation and thromboembolic (TE) events following percutaneous LAAO in patients who underwent LAA electrical isolation (LAAI)., Methods: This is a retrospective two-center study of patients who underwent percutaneous LAAO following LAAI. Patients with at least 3-month follow-up were included in the study. The antithrombotic therapy and TE events at the time of the last follow-up were noted., Results: The LAA was successfully occluded in 162 (with Watchman device in 140 [86.4%] and Lariat in 22 [13.6%]). A total of 32 patients had leaks detected on the 45-day transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE); 21 (15%) Watchman and 11 (50%) Lariat cases (P = 0.0001). Two (one Watchman and one Lariat) of the 32 leaks were more than 5 mm. After the 45-day TEE, 150 (92.6%) patients were off-OAC. No TE events were reported in the 150 patients who stopped the anticoagulants. Four (2.47%) patients experienced stroke following the LAAO (three Watchman and one Lariat) procedure while on-OAC, two of which were fatal. At the median follow-up of 18.5 months, 159 (98.15%) patients were off-anticoagulant., Conclusion: Up to 98% of patients with LAAI could safely discontinue OAC after undergoing the appendage closure procedure., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Spontaneous echocardiographic contrast ("smoke") within the left atrial cavity on transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) suggests low blood flow velocities in the heart that may lead to thromboembolic (TE) events., Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of TE events in the periprocedural period and at long-term follow-up in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients having dense smoke on preprocedural TEE., Methods: A total of 2511 patients undergoing AF ablation were included in this analysis. They were classified as group 1 (dense smoke detected on TEE at baseline; n = 234) and group 2 (no smoke on baseline TEE; n = 2277). Patients were followed up for TE events, which included both stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs). In order to attenuate the observed imbalance in baseline covariates between the study groups, a propensity score matching technique was used (covariates were age, sex, AF type, diabetes, and CHADS 2 VASc score)., Results: In the periprocedural period, no TE events were reported in group 1 and 3 events (0.13%) were reported in group 2. At follow-up of 6.62 ± 2.01 years, 6 (2.6%) TE complications (2 TIA, 4 stroke) occurred in group 1 and 16 (0.70%) TE complications (6 TIA, 10 stroke) in group 2 (P = .004). In the propensity-matched population, 6 (2.56%) TE complications occurred in group 1 and 1 (0.2%) in group 2 (P = .007)., Conclusion: In our study population, the presence of dense left atrial smoke did not show any correlation with periprocedural TE events in patients undergoing catheter ablation with uninterrupted anticoagulation. However, significant association was observed with late stroke/TIA, irrespective of CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc score., (Copyright © 2018 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Outcome data after catheter ablation (CA) for longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) lasting less than 2 years are limited and highly variable with different ablation approaches. We aimed to assess the long-term outcomes in patients with LSPAF lasting less than 2 years undergoing extended pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) versus those with additional non-pulmonary vein (PV) trigger ablation., Methods and Results: In this prospective analysis, 381 consecutive patients with LSPAF lasting less than 2 years (age: 64 ± 9 years, 76% male, atrial fibrillation duration: 19 ± 5 months) undergoing their first CA were classified into two groups: Group 1 (n = 104) received PVAI extended to PW plus isolation of superior vena cava (SVC) and Group 2 ( n = 277) received PVAI + PW + SVC + non-PV-trigger ablation. All patients were followed-up for at least 2 years. In case of recurrence, repeat procedure was offered and non-PV triggers were targeted for ablation in all. After a single procedure, 26 (25%) patients in Group 1 and 172 (62.1%) in Group 2 remained arrhythmia-free (P < 0.001). A second procedure was performed in 58 of 78 (74.4%) patients in Group 1 and 77 of 105 (73.3%) patients in Group 2. Non-PV triggers were identified in 52 (89.6%) and 54 (70.1%) patients in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, and targeted for ablation. Overall, 72 (69.2%) patients in Group 1 and 238 (86%) in Group 2 remained arrhythmia-free ( P < 0.001)., Conclusion: In patients with LSPAF lasting less than 2 years, extended PVAI plus SVC isolation was less likely to achieve long-term sinus rhythm. In the majority of patients, recurrence was due to non-PV triggers and ablation of those resulted in better outcome., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Aims: Superior vena cava (SVC) isolation might be difficult to achieve because of the vicinity of the phrenic nerve (PN) and sinus node. Based on its embryogenesis, we hypothesized the presence of preferential conduction from the right atrial (RA) posterior wall, making it possible to isolate the SVC antrally, sparing its anterior and lateral aspect., Methods and Results: This is a descriptive cohort study of 105 consecutive patients in which SVC isolation was obtained with radiofrequency ablation, starting in the septal aspect of the SVC-RA junction and continued posteriorly and inferiorly targeting sites of early activation until electrical isolation was obtained. Acute SVC isolation was achieved in 103 (98%) patients; the mean distance between the site of SVC isolation and the SVC-RA junction was 19.9 ± 5.3 (range 9.7-33.7) mm. During follow-up, 2 (2%) patients developed symptomatic diaphragmatic paralysis due to transient right PN injury; 13 patients underwent a repeat ablation: SVC reconnection was observed in 5 patients, and re-isolation was easily achieved by targeting the corresponding sites of early activation., Conclusion: Superior vena cava isolation can be completed by targeting its septal segment and sites of early activation in the posterior SVC-RA junction and RA posterior wall; this is a feasible alternative ablation strategy in patients in which SVC isolation cannot be completed with the standard approach. The risk of sinus node injury or SVC stenosis are eliminated; PN injury is still possible but can easily be prevented with high-output pacing to exclude a true posterior course of the PN.

Aims: This study investigated the impact of weight loss in longstanding persistent (LSPAF) patients undergoing catheter ablation (CA)., Methods: Ninety consecutive obese LSPAF patients were approached; 58 volunteered to try weight loss interventions for up to 1 year (group 1), while 32 patients declined weight loss interventions and were included as a control (group 2). Both groups remained on antiarrhythmic drugs. If they continued to experience AF, CA was performed. Body weight was measured at 6-month intervals and arrhythmia status was assessed by event recorder, electrocardiogram (ECG), and Holter monitoring. Symptom severity and quality of life (QoL) were evaluated by AFSS and SF-36 survey, respectively. A scoring algorithm with two summary measures, physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS), was prepared for QoL analysis., Results: Significant reduction in body weight (median -24.9 (IQR -19.1 to -56.7) kg, P < 0.001) was observed in the group 1 patients, while no such change was seen in group 2. The PCS and MCS scores improved significantly in group 1 only, with a change from baseline of 8.4 ± 3 (P = 0.013) and 12.8 ± 8.2 (P < 0.02). However, AF symptom severity remained unchanged from baseline in both groups (P = 0.84). All 90 patients eventually underwent CA and received PVAI+ posterior wall+ non-PV triggers ablation. At 1-year follow-up after single procedure, 37 (63.8%) in group 1 and 19 (59.3%) patients in group 2 remained arrhythmia-free off AAD (P = 0.68)., Conclusion: In this prospective analysis, in LSPAF patients weight loss improved QoL but had no impact on symptom severity and long-term ablation outcome., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Introduction: This study reports the procedural findings and ablation outcome in AF patients referred after ≥2 failed PV isolation (PVI)., Methods: Three hundred and five consecutive AF patients referred after ≥2 PVI were included in the analysis. High-dose isoproterenol challenge was used to identify PV reconnection and non-PV triggers; the latter were ablated based on the operator's discretion during the index procedure. At the repeat procedure, non-PV triggers were ablated in all. Empirical isolation of LA appendage (LAA) and coronary sinus (CS) was performed if the PVs were silent and no non-PV triggers were detected., Results: PV reconnection was detected in 226 and non-PV triggers were identified or empirically isolated in 285 patients during the index procedure. At follow-up, 182 (60%) patients were recurrence-free off-AAD; the success rate with and without non-PV ablation was 81% vs. 8% (P < 0.0001). 104 patients underwent repeat procedure with non-PV trigger ablation in all. At 1 year, 90% were arrhythmia free off-AAD in non-PV ablation group, and 72% who did not receive non-PV triggers ablation at the index procedure (P = 0.035). The success rate of empirical LAA and CS isolation was 78.5% and 82% after the index and repeat procedure, respectively., Conclusion: In patients experiencing AF recurrence after multiple failed PVI, despite PV reconnection, non-PV triggers were found to be responsible for AF maintenance in the majority and ablating those triggers increased ablation success. Additionally, in the presence of permanent PVI and no non-PV triggers on isoproterenol, empirical isolation of LAA and CS provided high rate of arrhythmia-free survival., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Aims: Left atrial (LA) scarring, a consequence of cardiac fibrosis is a powerful predictor of procedure-outcome in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergoing catheter ablation. We sought to compare the long-term outcome in patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) and severe LA scarring identified by 3D mapping, undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVAI) only or PVAI and the entire scar areas (scar homogenization) or PVAI+ ablation of the non-PV triggers., Methods and Results: Totally, 177 consecutive patients with PAF and severe LA scarring were included. Patients underwent PVAI only (n = 45, Group 1), PVAI+ scar homogenization (n = 66, Group 2) or PVAI+ ablation of non-PV triggers (n = 66, Group 3) based on operator's choice. Baseline characteristics were similar across the groups. After first procedure, all patients were followed-up for a minimum of 2 years. The success rate at the end of the follow-up was 18% (8 pts), 21% (14 pts), and 61% (40 pts) in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Cumulative probability of AF-free survival was significantly higher in Group 3 (overall log-rank P <0.01, pairwise comparison 1 vs. 3 and 2 vs. 3 P < 0.01). During repeat procedures, non-PV triggers were ablated in all. After average 1.5 procedures, the success rates were 28 (62%), 41 (62%), and 56 (85%) in Groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively (log-rank P< 0.001)., Conclusions: In patients with PAF and severe LA scarring, PVAI+ ablation of non-PV triggers is associated with significantly better long-term outcome than PVAI alone or PVAI+ scar homogenization., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2016. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Thyroid hormone (TH) is known to enhance arrhythmogenicity, and high-normal thyroid function is related with an increased recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after catheter ablation. However, the impact of thyroid hormone replacement (THR) on AF ablation is not well known., Methods: This study evaluated 1163 consecutive paroxysmal AF patients [160 (14%) on THR and 1003 (86%) without THR] undergoing their first catheter ablation. A total of 146 patients on THR and 146 controls were generated by propensity matching, based on calculated risk factor scores, using a logistic model (age, sex, body mass index, and left atrium size). The presence of non-pulmonary vein (PV) triggers was disclosed by a high-dose isoproterenol challenge (up to 30 μg/min) after PV isolation., Results: Clinical characteristics were not different between the groups. When compared to the control, non-PV triggers were significantly greater in the THR patients [112 (77%) vs. 47 (32%), P < 0.001], and most frequently originated from the right atrium (95 vs. 56%, P < 0.001). Other sources of non-PV triggers were the interatrial septum (25 vs. 11%, P = 0.002), coronary sinus (70 vs. 52%, P = 0.01), left atrial appendage (47 vs. 34%, P = 0.03), crista terminalis/superior vena cava (11 vs. 8%, P = 0.43), and mitral valve annulus (7 vs. 5%, P = 0.45) (THR vs. control), respectively. After mean follow-up of 14.7 ± 5.2 months, success rate was lower in patients on THR therapy [94 (64.4%)] compared to patients not receiving THR therapy [110 (75.3%), log-rank test value = 0.04]., Conclusions: Right atrial non-PV triggers were more prevalent in AF patients treated with THR. Elimination of non-PV triggers provided better arrhythmia-free survival in the non-THR group.

Background: Longstanding persistent (LSP) atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most challenging type of AF. In addition to pulmonary vein isolation, substrate modification and triggers ablation have been reported to improve freedom from AF in patients with LSPAF., Objectives: This study sought to assess whether the empirical electrical isolation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) could improve success at follow-up., Methods: This was an open-label, randomized study assessing the effectiveness of empirical electrical left atrial appendage isolation for the treatment of LSPAF. Patients were randomly assigned to undergo empirical electrical left atrial appendage isolation along with extensive ablation (group 1; n = 85) or extensive ablation alone (group 2; n = 88). Recurrence of atrial arrhythmias was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included cardiac-related hospitalization, all-cause mortality, and stroke at follow-up., Results: Major clinical characteristics were not different between the 2 groups. At 12-month follow-up, 48 (56%) patients in group 1 and 25 (28%) in group 2 were recurrence free after a single procedure (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR] for recurrence with standard ablation: 1.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3 to 2.9; log-rank p = 0.001). After adjusting for age, sex, and left atrial size, standard ablation was predictive of recurrence (HR: 2.22; 95% CI: 1.29 to 3.81; p = 0.004). During repeat procedures, empirical electrical left atrial appendage isolation was performed in all patients. After an average of 1.3 procedures, cumulative success at 24-month follow-up was reported in 65 (76%) in group 1 and in 49 (56%) in group 2 (unadjusted HR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.3 to 3.8; log-rank p = 0.003)., Conclusions: This randomized study showed that both after a single procedure and after redo procedures in patients with LSPAF, empirical electrical isolation of the LAA improved long-term freedom from atrial arrhythmias without increasing complications. (Effect of Empirical Left Atrial Appendage Isolation on Long-term Procedure Outcome in Patients With Persistent or Longstanding Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Catheter Ablation [BELIEF]; NCT01362738)., (Copyright © 2016 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Scar homogenization improves long-term ventricular arrhythmia-free survival compared with standard limited-substrate ablation in patients with post-infarction ventricular tachycardia (VT). Whether such benefit extends to patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and scar-related VT is unclear., Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the long-term efficacy of an endoepicardial scar homogenization approach compared with standard ablation in this population., Methods: Consecutive patients with dilated nonischemic cardiomyopathy (n = 93), scar-related VTs, and evidence of low-voltage regions on the basis of pre-defined criteria on electroanatomic mapping (i.e., bipolar voltage <1.5 mV) underwent either standard VT ablation (group 1 [n = 57]) or endoepicardial ablation of all abnormal potentials within the electroanatomic scar (group 2 [n = 36]). Acute procedural success was defined as noninducibility of any VT at the end of the procedure; long-term success was defined as freedom from any ventricular arrhythmia at follow-up., Results: Acute procedural success rates were 69.4% and 42.1% after scar homogenization and standard ablation, respectively (p = 0.01). During a mean follow-up period of 14 ± 2 months, single-procedure success rates were 63.9% after scar homogenization and 38.6% after standard ablation (p = 0.031). After multivariate analysis, scar homogenization and left ventricular ejection fraction were predictors of long-term success. During follow-up, the rehospitalization rate was significantly lower in the scar homogenization group (p = 0.035)., Conclusions: In patients with dilated nonischemic cardiomyopathy, scar-related VT, and evidence of low-voltage regions on electroanatomic mapping, endoepicardial homogenization of the scar significantly increased freedom from any recurrent ventricular arrhythmia compared with a standard limited-substrate ablation. However, the success rate with this approach appeared to be lower than previously reported with ischemic cardiomyopathy, presumably because of the septal and midmyocardial distribution of the scar in some patients., (Copyright © 2016 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Luminal esophageal temperature monitoring is performed with a variety of temperature probes, but little is known about the relationship between the structure of a given probe and its thermodynamic characteristics., Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the difference in thermodynamics between a 9Fr standard esophageal probe and an 18Fr esophageal stethoscope., Methods: In the experimental setting, each probe was submerged in a constant temperature water bath maintained at 42°C; in the patient setting, we monitored the temperature with both probes at the same time., Results: The time constant of the stethoscope was higher than that of the probe (33.5 vs 8.3 s). Compared to the probe, the mean temperature measured by the stethoscope at 10 seconds was significantly lower (22.5°C ± 0.4°C vs 33.5°C ± 0.3°C, P<.0001), whereas the time to reach the peak temperature was significantly longer (132.6 ± 5.9 s vs 38.8 ± 1.0 s, P<.0001). Even in the ablation cases we observed that when the esophageal probe reached a peak temperature of 39.6°C ± 0.3°C, the esophageal stethoscope still displayed a temperature of 37.3°C ± 0.2°C (a mean of 2.39°C ± 0.3°C lower, P<.0001), showing a <0.5°C increase in temperature half of the times., Conclusion: The 18Fr esophageal stethoscope has a significantly slower time response compared to the 9Fr esophageal probe. In the clinical setting, this might result in a considerable underestimation of the luminal esophageal temperature with potentially fatal consequences., (Copyright © 2016 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is recommended in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, but use of this strategy is variable., Objective: To evaluate whether TEE is necessary before AF ablation in patients treated with novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs)., Methods: We performed a prospective multicenter registry of AF patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation on uninterrupted NOACs (apixaban and rivaroxaban). All patients were on NOACs for at least 4 weeks before ablation. Heparin bolus was administered to all patients before transseptal catheterization to maintain a target activated clotting time above 300 seconds. A subset of 86 patients underwent brain diffuse magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) to detect silent cerebral ischemia (SCI)., Results: A total of 970 patients (514 [53%] apixaban patients and 456 [47%] rivaroxaban patients) were enrolled for this study. The mean age was 69.5 ± 9.0 years, with 824 patients (85%) having nonparoxysmal AF, and 636 patients (65.6%) were male. The average CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.01 ± 1.3 and CHADS2 score was ≥2 in 609 patients (62.8%). Intracardiac echocardiogram ruled out left atrial appendage thrombus in all patients whose left atrial appendage was visualized (692, 71%), and detected "smoke" in 407 patients (42%). SCI at postprocedure dMRI was detected in 2.3% (2/86). One thromboembolic event (transient ischemic attack) (0.10%) with positive dMRI occurred in a patient on uninterrupted rivaroxaban with longstanding persistent AF., Conclusion: Our study illustrates that performing AF ablation while on uninterrupted apixaban and rivaroxaban without TEE is feasible and safe. This finding has important clinical and economic relevance., (Copyright © 2016 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Ablation of longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) is the most challenging procedure in the treatment of AF, either by surgical or by percutaneous approach., Objective: We investigated the difference in success and complication rates between combined surgical epicardial and endocardial catheter ablation procedure and our standard endocardial ablation procedure., Methods and Results: Twenty-four consecutive patients (group 1) with LSPAF and enlarged left atrium (>4.5 cm) underwent a combined procedure, consisting of surgical, closed-chest, epicardial, radiofrequency ablation (nContact, NC, USA) via pericardial access, and concomitant endocardial ablation (hybrid procedure). Procedural complications and long-term outcomes were compared to those of 35 consecutive patients who refused the hybrid procedure and underwent standard endocardial only ablation (group 2). Baseline characteristics were comparable. In group 1, 1 patient (4.2%) developed post-procedural cardio-embolic stroke and 3 (12.5%) died (1 atrio-esophageal fistula, 1 fatal stroke, 1 of unknown cause in early follow-up), while no strokes or deaths occurred in group 2. Overall complication rates were higher for group 1 (P = 0.036). At 24-month follow-up, 4 (19%) patients in group 1 and 19 (54.3%) in group 2 were arrhythmia-free after a single procedure, on or off antiarrhythmic drugs (P<0.001). Total procedural time (276.9 ± 63.5 vs. 203.15 ± 67.3 minutes) and length of hospital stay (5 [IQR 3-8] vs. 1 [IQR 1-3] days were significantly shorter for group 2 (P <0.001)., Conclusions: In patients with LSPAF and enlarged left atrium, a concomitant combined surgical/endocardial ablation approach increases complication rate and does not improve outcomes when compared to extensive endocardial ablation only., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: We report the outcome of pulmonary vein (PV) antrum isolation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) patients over more than a decade of follow-up., Methods and Results: A total of 513 paroxysmal AF patients (age 54±11 years, 73% males) undergoing catheter ablation at our institutions were included in this analysis. PV antrum isolation extended to the posterior wall between PVs plus empirical isolation of the superior vena cava was performed in all. Non-PV triggers were targeted during repeat procedure(s). Follow-up was performed quarterly for the first year and every 6 to 9 months thereafter. The outcome of this study was freedom from recurrent AF/atrial tachycardia. At 12 years, single-procedure arrhythmia-free survival was achieved in 58.7% of patients. Overall, the rate of recurrent arrhythmia (AF/atrial tachycardia) was 21% at 1 year, 11% between 1 and 3 years, 4% between 3 and 6 years, and 5.3% between 6 and 12 years. Repeat procedure was performed in 74% of patients. Reconnection in the PV antrum was found in 31% of patients after a single procedure and in no patients after 2 procedures. Non-PV triggers were found and targeted in all patients presenting with recurrent arrhythmia after ≥2 procedures. At 12 years, after multiple procedures, freedom from recurrent AF/atrial tachycardia was achieved in 87%., Conclusions: In patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing extended PV antrum isolation, the rate of late recurrence is lower than what previously reported with segmental or less extensive antral isolation. However, over more than a decade of follow-up, nearly 14% of patients developed recurrence because of new non-PV triggers., (© 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.)

Catheter ablation has become a widely available and accepted treatment to restore sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation patients who fail antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Although generally safe, the procedure carries a non-negligible risk of complications, including periprocedural cerebral insults. Uninterrupted anticoagulation, maintenance of an adequate ACT during the procedure, and measures to avoid and detect thrombus build-up on sheaths and atheters during the procedure, appears useful to reduce the risk of embolic events. This is a review of the incidence, mechanisms, impact, and methods to reduce catheter ablation related cerebral insults., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Whether catheter ablation (CA) is superior to amiodarone (AMIO) for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure is unknown., Methods and Results: This was an open-label, randomized, parallel-group, multicenter study. Patients with persistent AF, dual-chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator, New York Heart Association II to III, and left ventricular ejection fraction <40% within the past 6 months were randomly assigned (1:1 ratio) to undergo CA for AF (group 1, n=102) or receive AMIO (group 2, n=101). Recurrence of AF was the primary end point. All-cause mortality and unplanned hospitalization were the secondary end points. Patients were followed up for a minimum of 24 months. At the end of follow-up, 71 (70%; 95% confidence interval, 60%-78%) patients in group 1 were recurrence free after an average of 1.4±0.6 procedures in comparison with 34 (34%; 95% confidence interval, 25%-44%) in group 2 (log-rank P<0.001). The success rate of CA in the different centers after a single procedure ranged from 29% to 61%. After adjusting for covariates in the multivariable model, AMIO therapy was found to be significantly more likely to fail (hazard ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-4.3; P<0.001) than CA. Over the 2-year follow-up, the unplanned hospitalization rate was (32 [31%] in group 1 and 58 [57%] in group 2; P<0.001), showing 45% relative risk reduction (relative risk, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.76). A significantly lower mortality was observed in CA (8 [8%] versus AMIO (18 [18%]; P=0.037)., Conclusions: This multicenter randomized study shows that CA of AF is superior to AMIO in achieving freedom from AF at long-term follow-up and reducing unplanned hospitalization and mortality in patients with heart failure and persistent AF., Clinical Trial Registration: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00729911., (© 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.)

Introduction: Because of the absence of a dedicated reversal agent, the outcome of pericardial effusion (PE) following procedures performed with uninterrupted apixaban or rivaroxaban is unknown. We report the characteristics of PEs presenting with tamponade in patients undergoing AF ablation with uninterrupted factor Xa inhibition (FXaI) to understand their management and prognosis., Methods and Results: We performed a multicenter cross-sectional survey in 10 centers across the United States. Patient data were obtained by chart review. In all patients the procedure was performed with uninterrupted FXaI. A total of 16 PEs requiring intervention were reported from 5 centers. Two patients were on apixaban 5 mg BD, the remaining on rivaroxaban 20 mg OD. Eleven PEs occurred in the periprocedural setting, and 5 PEs occurred from 1 to 28 days after the procedure. Pericardiocentesis and drainage were performed in all cases. Protamine and 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) were given in all periprocedural cases. Two patients required surgery: in one case coagulation of the pericardial blood prevented effective drainage, and in the other bleeding was secondary to a steam pop-induced atrial tear. None of the postprocedural cases required FXaI reversal and the dose of rivaroxaban was temporarily reduced. No fatal outcomes or thromboembolic events were reported., Conclusion: Pericardiocentesis and drainage with FXaI reversal proved effective in the management of acute PEs with tamponade occurring periprocedurally in patients undergoing AF ablation with uninterrupted FXaI. Early postprocedural effusions can be treated with pericardiocentesis without the need of a reversal agent., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Focal impulse and rotor modulation (FIRM)-guided ablation targets sites that are thought to sustain atrial fibrillation (AF)., Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute and mid-term outcomes of FIRM-guided only ablation in patients with nonparoxysmal AF., Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients with persistent and long-standing persistent (LSP) AF at three centers to undergo FIRM-guided only ablation. We evaluated acute procedural success (defined as AF termination, organization, or ≥10% slowing), safety (incidence of periprocedural complications), and long-term success (single-procedure freedom from atrial tachycardia [AT]/AF off antiarrhythmic drugs [AAD] after a 2-month blanking period)., Results: Twenty-nine patients with persistent (N = 20) and LSP (N = 9) AF underwent FIRM mapping. Rotors were presents in all patients, with a mean of 4 ± 1.2 per patient (62% were left atrial); 1 focal impulse was identified. All sources were successfully ablated, and overall acute success rate was 41% (0 AF termination, 2 AF slowing, 10 AF organization). There were no major procedure-related adverse events. After a mean 5.7 months of follow-up, single-procedure freedom from AT/AF without AADs was 17%., Conclusion: In nonparoxysmal AF patients, targeted ablation of FIRM-identified rotors is not effective in obtaining AF termination, organization, or slowing during the procedure. After mid-term follow-up, the strategy of ablating FIRM-identified rotors alone did not prevent recurrence from AT/AF., (Copyright © 2016 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Non-pulmonary vein (non-PV) triggers and left atrial (LA) scars perpetuate atrial fibrillation (AF) and limit the success rate of catheter ablation. In order to understand the genetic basis of these risk factors, we examined the association of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with scar and non-PV triggers., Methods: Four hundred AF patients (67 %male, 62±12 years, LA size 45.3±7 mm, 64%non-paroxysmal) undergoing catheter ablation were prospectively enrolled. DNA extractions for16 AF-related SNPS from blood samples were performed of which 371 DNA samples were available for genotyping. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used for assessing predictive role of individual SNP, and logistic kernel-machine approach was applied to test the cumulative effect of multiple SNPs as a group with non-PV triggers and LA scar. False discovery rate (FDR) was computed for all candidate SNPs to address multiple testing., Results: SNPs rs6599230 and rs6843082 were inversely associated (OR 0.68, p=0.04, and 0.62, p=0.01, respectively) whereas rs1448817 (OR 1.74, p=0.04) and rs7193343 (OR 1.66, p=0.02) predicted higher risk of non-PV triggers. Genotypes for rs6599230 and rs6843082 conferred 51 % reduction in the odds for non-PV triggers (combined OR 0.49, p=0.019), while rs1448817 and rs7193343 demonstrated a combined OR of 1.93, p=0.025. FDR was controlled at 16 % to adjust for multiple testing. For LA scar, inverse association was observed with rs1448817 (OR 0.29, p=0.006), rs17042171 (OR 0.27, p=0.032), rs3807989 (OR 0.54, p=0.017), and rs6843082 (OR 0.56, p=0.009). Two SNPs were associated with increased scar risk: rs17375901 (OR 3.68, p=0.03) and rs7193343 (OR 1.74, p=0.037). For global association of SNPs with left atrial scar FDR was controlled at ≤10 % to adjust for multiple testing., Conclusions: This study has a strong clinical significance as it provides important insights into the molecular basis of pertinent therapeutic targets. Our findings demonstrate that the presence of certain genetic polymorphisms increases the risk of scar and non-PV triggers in AF patients. Therefore, PVAI alone will not be enough to eliminate the arrhythmia and the operators may need to identify and isolate the non-PV foci to maximize procedural success in patients carrying these risk variants. Clinical trial registration clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01751607).

Background: It is unclear whether isolation of the left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) offers additional benefits over pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) alone in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF)., Objective: We sought to determine the impact of PVAI and LAPW isolation (PVAI+LAPW) versus PVAI alone on the outcome of ablation of persistent AF., Methods: During the first procedure, PVAI was performed in 20 patients (group 1), whereas in 32 patients (group 2), PVAI was extended to the left atrial (LA) septum and coronary sinus (CS), and isolation of the LAPW was targeted (ePVAI+LAPW). Isolation of the superior vena cava was achieved in both groups. All patients, regardless of arrhythmia recurrence, underwent a second procedure 3 months after the first procedure. In patients with reconnection of pulmonary veins or LAPW, reisolation was performed, and a third procedure was performed 3 months later to verify isolation. Patients entered follow-up only after PVAI (group 1) or PVAI+LAPW (group 2) isolation was proven., Results: At the 1-, 2-, and 3-year follow-up examinations, the rates of freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia without use of an antiarrhythmic drug were 20%, 15%, and 10% in group 1 and 65%, 50%, and 40% in group 2, respectively (log-rank P < .001). The median recurrence-free survival time was 8.5 months (interquartile range 6.5-11.0) in group 1 and 28.0 months (interquartile range 8.5-32.0) in group 2., Conclusion: Proven isolation of the LAPW provides additional benefits over PVAI alone in the treatment of persistent AF and improves procedural outcome at follow-up. However, the ablation strategy of ePVAI+LAPW is still associated with a significant high incidence of very late recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia., Clinical Trial Registration: "Outcome of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation After Permanent Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation With or Without Proven Left Atrial Posterior Wall Isolation" (LIBERATION). ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01660100., (Copyright © 2016 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Whether ablation of non-pulmonary vein (PV) triggers after pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) improves the long-term procedure outcome in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction is unknown., Objective: We sought to evaluate whether a more extensive ablation procedure improves outcomes at follow-up., Methods: Consecutive patients with PAF refractory to antiarrhythmic drugs presenting for PVAI were prospectively studied. Patients were categorized into 2 groups: patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35% (group I; n = 175) and patients with LVEF ≥50% (group II; n = 545). Patients in group I were further divided according to whether additional ablation of non-PV triggers was performed (group IA; n = 88) or not (group IB; n = 87). Long-term ablation success off antiarrhythmic drugs after a single procedure was analyzed., Results: Patients in group I had more non-PV triggers than did patients in group II (69.1% vs 26.6%; P < .001). During a follow-up of 15.8 ± 4.7 months, fewer patients in group I remained free from recurrences than those in group II (53.7% vs 81.7%; P < .001). Long-term ablation success was higher in group IA than in group IB (75.0% vs 32.2%; P < .001) and similar to that in group II (75.0% vs 81.7%; P = .44). In multivariate analysis, LVEF ≤35% (hazard ratio 1.68; P = .003) and non-PV triggers (hazard ratio 3.12; P < .001) were independent predictors of recurrences., Conclusion: In patients with PAF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction, ablation of non-PV triggers in addition to PVAI significantly improves their long-term procedure outcome., (Copyright © 2016 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Catheter ablation reduces ventricular tachycardia (VT) recurrence and implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks in patients with VT and ischemic cardiomyopathy. The most effective catheter ablation technique is unknown., Objectives: This study determined rates of VT recurrence in patients undergoing ablation limited to clinical VT along with mappable VTs ("clinical ablation") versus substrate-based ablation., Methods: Subjects with ischemic cardiomyopathy and hemodynamically tolerated VT were randomized to clinical ablation (n = 60) versus substrate-based ablation that targeted all "abnormal" electrograms in the scar (n = 58). Primary endpoint was recurrence of VT. Secondary endpoints included periprocedural complications, 12-month mortality, and rehospitalizations., Results: At 12-month follow-up, 9 (15.5%) and 29 (48.3%) patients had VT recurrence in substrate-based and clinical VT ablation groups, respectively (log-rank p < 0.001). More patients undergoing clinical VT ablation (58%) were on antiarrhythmic drugs after ablation versus substrate-based ablation (12%; p < 0.001). Seven (12%) patients with substrate ablation and 19 (32%) with clinical ablation required rehospitalization (p = 0.014). Overall 12-month mortality was 11.9%; 8.6% in substrate ablation and 15.0% in clinical ablation groups, respectively (log-rank p = 0.21). Combined incidence of rehospitalization and mortality was significantly lower with substrate ablation (p = 0.003). Periprocedural complications were similar in both groups (p = 0.61)., Conclusions: An extensive substrate-based ablation approach is superior to ablation targeting only clinical and stable VTs in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy presenting with tolerated VT. (Ablation of Clinical Ventricular Tachycardia Versus Addition of Substrate Ablation on the Long Term Success Rate of VT Ablation (VISTA); NCT01045668)., (Copyright © 2015 American College of Cardiology Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) reduce the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF)., Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of upstream ACEI therapy on postablation AF recurrence and hospitalization in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)., Methods: Three hundred forty-five consecutive patients undergoing first AF ablation with low LVEF (≤45%) were classified into group 1 (ACEI+, n = 187 [54%], of whom 44 patients [23.5%] had paroxysmal AF [PAF]) or group 2 (ACEI-, n = 158 [46%]; 31 of these 158 patients [19.6%] had PAF). Additionally, 703 consecutive patients with LVEF >45% undergoing first AF ablation were included for a secondary analysis to evaluate the effect of ACEI treatment in normal ejection fraction. In group 1, ACEI therapy started ≥3 months before ablation and continued through follow-up., Results: Baseline characteristics were similar except for hypertension, which was significantly more prevalent in ACEI+ (71% vs 51%, P < .001). At 24 ± 7 months of follow-up, 109 nonparoxysmal AF patients in group 1 (76%) and 81 (64%) in group 2 (P = .015) were recurrence free. In multivariate analysis, ACEI therapy was an independent predictor of recurrence (hazard ratio for ACEI-, 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.7; P = .026]. However, among PAF patients, ACEI use was not associated with ablation success (80% vs 77% in ACEI+ and ACEI-, respectively; P = .82). In the normal-EF population, the success rates between ACEI+ and ACEI- cohorts were similar (71% vs 74%, P = .31). After the index procedure, 17 patients (9.1%) in the ACEI+ group and 28 (17.7%) in the ACEI- cohort (P= .02) required rehospitalization, for a 49% relative risk reduction (relative risk 0.51, 95% confidence interval 0.29-0.90)., Conclusion: Preablation use of an ACEI is associated with improvement in ablation outcome in patients with nonparoxysmal AF with low LVEF., (Copyright © 2015 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study examined incidence of AF following cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation alone or CTI plus prophylactic pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients presenting with isolated atrial flutter (AFL) with no history of AF., Methods and Results: We enrolled 216 patients with isolated typical atrial flutter and randomized them to CTI alone (group 1, n = 108, 61.2 ± 9.7 year, 75% male) or CTI+PVI ablation (group 2, n = 108, 62.4 ± 9.3 year, 73% male). Insertible loop recorder (ILR) was implanted in 21 and 19 patients from groups 1 and 2, respectively. Remaining patients were monitored with event recorders, ECG, 7-day Holter. Follow-up period was for 18 ± 6 months. Compared to group 1, group 2 had significantly longer procedural duration (75.9 ± 33 min vs. 161 ± 48 min [P < 0.001]) and fluoroscopy time (15.9 ± 12.3 min vs. 56.4+21 min [P < 0.001]). At the end of follow-up, 65 (60.2%) in group 1 and 77 (71.3%) in group 2 were arrhythmia free off-AAD (log-rank P = 0.044). A subgroup analysis was performed with 55 year age cut-off. In the <55 age group the CTI only population had similar success as in CTI+PVI, (21 of 24 [83.3%] vs. 19 of 22 [86.4%], respectively, log-rank P = 0.74). In the ≥55 group, having CTI+PVI showed significantly higher success compared to CTI only; 45 of 84 (53.6%) were AF/AT free in CTI only group versus 58 of 86 (67.4%) with CTI+PVI (log-rank P = 0.029)., Conclusion: Prophylactic PVI reduced new-onset AF in patients with lone atrial flutter., (© 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Periprocedural anticoagulation management with uninterrupted warfarin and a "therapeutic" international normalized ratio is the best approach for reducing both thromboembolic and bleeding complications in the setting of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF)., Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of uninterrupted apixaban in this setting., Methods: This was a prospective multicenter registry of AF patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation at 4 institutions in United States and Europe with uninterrupted apixaban. These patients were compared with an equal number of patients, matched for age, gender, and type of AF, undergoing AF ablation on uninterrupted warfarin. The apixaban group was comprised of consecutive patients who had taken their last dose of apixaban the morning of the procedure. A subset of 29 patients in the apixaban group underwent diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) to detect silent cerebral ischemia., Results: A total of 400 patients (200 patients in each group) were included in the study. The average age was 65.9 ± 9.9 years, 286 (71.5%) were male, and 334 (83.5%) had nonparoxysmal AF. There were no statistical differences with regard to major complications (1% vs 0.5%, P = 1), minor complications (3.5% vs 2.5%, P = .56), or total bleeding complications (4.5% vs 3%, P = .43) between the apixaban and warfarin groups. There were no symptomatic thromboembolic complications. All dMRIs were negative for "new" silent cerebral ischemia in the apixaban group., Conclusion: Uninterrupted apixaban administration in patients undergoing AF ablation seems to be feasible and effective in preventing clinical and silent thromboembolic events without increasing the risk of major bleeding., (Copyright © 2015 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We examined the influence of catheter ablation and periprocedural anticoagulation regimen on trajectory of migraine in atrial fibrillation patients with or without migraine history., Methods and Results: Forty patients with (group 1: 64 ± 8 years; men 78%) and 85 (group 2: 61 ± 10 years; men 73%) without migraine history undergoing atrial fibrillation-ablation were enrolled. Migraine status and quality of life were evaluated using standardized questionnaires. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging of brain was performed for all at pre and 24 hours post procedure. Catheter ablation was performed with (88, 70%) or without (37, 30%) continuous warfarin treatment. Fifty-four patients (11 and 43 from groups 1 and 2, respectively) had subtherapeutic international normalized ratio on procedure day. At 17 ± 5 months follow-up, from group 1, 25 (63%) reported no migraine, 10 (25%) had < 1, and 3 (8%) had 2 to 3 monthly symptoms. Intensity of pain decreased from baseline 7 (Q1-Q3, 4-8) to 2 (0-4) scale points at follow-up (P < 0.001) and duration of headache from median 8 (Q1-Q3, 4-15) to 0.5 (Q1-Q3, 0-2) hours (P < 0.001). Two patients from group 1 reported increased migraine severity and 2 from group 2 had new-onset migraine. Follow-up diffusion magnetic resonance imaging revealed new infarcts in 9.6% (12/125) patients; of which 11 had subtherapeutic preprocedural international normalized ratio on or off continuous warfarin. Quality of life improved significantly in patients with successful ablation, being more pronounced in group 1., Conclusions: In most patients, migraine symptoms improved substantially after catheter ablation. Interestingly, the only cases of new migraine and aggravation of pre-existent headache had subtherapeutic international normalized ratio during the procedure and new cerebral infarcts., (© 2015 American Heart Association, Inc.)

Background: The impact of amiodarone on ablation outcome in longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) patients is not known yet., Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of amiodarone on procedural-outcomes in LSPAF patients undergoing catheter ablation., Methods: We enrolled 112 LSPAF patients on amiodarone and scheduled to undergo atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Patients were randomized to amiodarone discontinuation 4 months before ablation (group 1, n = 56) and a control group (group 2, n = 56) in which ablation was performed without amiodarone discontinuation. All patients underwent pulmonary vein (PV) antrum and posterior wall isolation, defragmentation and extra PV triggers ablation. Patients were followed up for recurrence for 32 ± 8 months post-ablation. Repeat procedures in all recurrent patients were performed off amiodarone., Results: During ablation, AF termination was more frequent in group 2 compared to group 1 [44 (79%) vs 32 (57%), P = .015]. After high-dosage isoproterenol, more non-PV triggers were disclosed in group 1 compared to group 2 (42 [75%] vs 24 [43%] respectively, P <.001). Group 2 had lower procedure, radiofrequency and fluoroscopy times compared to group 1 (2.7 ± 1 vs 3.1 ± 1 h, 69 ± 13 min vs 87 ± 11 min and 64 ± 14 min vs 85 ± 18 min respectively, p < .05). At 32 ± 8 month follow-up, on or off antiarrhythmic drug success rate was 37 (66%) in group 1 and 27 (48%) in group 2 (P = .04). During redo, new non-PV trigger sites were identified in group 2 patients., Conclusion: Periprocedural continuous amiodarone was associated with higher organization rate and lower radiofrequency ablation rate. However, masking non-PV triggers increased the late recurrence rate., (Copyright © 2015 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Animal studies showed that papillary muscles can be sources of ventricular fibrillation (VF) in both the left and right ventricle, but this occurrence in humans has been described only in patients with ischemic heart disease., Objective: To investigate the role of papillary muscle premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) as triggers for VF and the safety and feasibility of catheter ablation in these patients., Methods: Six patients (2 male; age, 40 ± 11 years; 5 with a normal structural heart and 1 with nonischemic cardiomyopathy) with history of VF resulting in repetitive implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks, despite antiarrhythmic drug therapy, and a papillary muscle focus of PVCs triggering VF were included and underwent mapping and ablation of PVCs., Results: PVCs were observed to trigger VF and localized by mapping the earliest activation point that matched pace mapping of the same area. In 2 patients, PVCs originated from the left ventricle at the posteromedial papillary muscle; in 4 patients, PVCs originated from the right ventricle, at the posterolateral papillary muscle. Elimination of the triggering PVC was obtained in these areas after 19 ± 12 minutes by radiofrequency application. During a follow-up of 58 ± 11 months using ambulatory monitoring and defibrillator memory interrogation, no patients had recurrence of symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias., Conclusion: Papillary muscles from both ventricles represent an anatomic structure potentially involved in the onset of VF, also in normal structural heart. PVCs arising from this area can be successfully eliminated by radiofrequency ablation, resulting in freedom from recurrent VF at long-term follow-up., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Impact of catheter ablation on exercise performance, quality of life (QoL) and symptom perception in asymptomatic longstanding persistent AF (LSP-AF) patients has not been reported yet., Methods and Results: Sixty-one consecutive patients (mean age 62 ±13 years, 71% males) with asymptomatic LSP-AF undergoing first catheter ablation were enrolled. Extended pulmonary vein antrum isolation plus ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms and nonpulmonary vein triggers was performed in all. QoL survey was taken at baseline and 12-months postablation, using Short Form-36 (SF-36). Information on arrhythmia perception was obtained using a standard questionnaire and corroborating symptoms with documented evidence of arrhythmia. Exercise tests were performed on 38 patients at baseline and 5 months after procedure. Recurrence was assessed using event recorder, cardiology evaluation, electrocardiogram, and 7-day holter monitoring. After 20 ± 5 months follow-up, 36 (57%) patients remained recurrence-free off-AAD. Of the 25 patients experiencing recurrence, 21 (84%) were symptomatic. Compared to baseline, follow-up SF-36 scores improved significantly in many measures. For patients with successful ablation, physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) demonstrated substantial improvement (, Mcs: 64.2 ± 22.3 to 70.1 ± 18.6 [P = 0.041]; PCS: 62.6 ± 18.4 to 70.0 ± 14.4 [P = 0.032]). Postablation exercise study in recurrence-free patients showed significant reduction in resting and peak heart rate (75 ± 11 vs. 90 ± 17 and 132 ± 20 vs. 154.5 ± 36, respectively, P < 0.001), increase in peak oxygen pulse (13.4 ± 3 vs. 18.9 ± 16 mL/beat, Δ5.5 ± 15, P = 0.001), peak VO2 /kg (19.7 ± 5 to 23.4 ± 13 mL/kg/min [Δ 3.7 ± 10, P = 0.043]), and corresponding MET (5.6 ± 1 to 6.7 ± 4 [Δ1.1 ± 3, P = 0.03]). No improvement was observed in patients with failed procedures., Conclusion: Successful ablation improves exercise performance and QoL in asymptomatic LSP-AF patients., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are well-known independent risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. This study evaluated ablation outcome in AF patients with coexistent MS and OSA and influence of lifestyle modifications (LSM) on arrhythmia recurrence., Methods and Results: We included 1,257 AF patients undergoing first catheter ablation (30% paroxysmal AF). Patients having MS + OSA were classified into Group 1 (n = 126; 64 ± 8 years; 76% male). Group 2 (n = 1,131; 62 ± 11 years; 72% male) included those with either MS (n = 431) or OSA (n = 112; no CPAP users) or neither of these comorbidities (n = 588). Patients experiencing recurrence after first procedure were divided into 2 subgroups; those having sporadic events (frequency < 2 months) remained on previously ineffective antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) and aggressive LSM, while those with persistent arrhythmia (incessant or ≥2 months) underwent repeat ablation. After 34 ± 8 months of first procedure, 66 (52%) in Group 1 and 386 (34%) in Group 2 had recurrence (P < 0.001). Recurrence rate in only-MS, only-OSA, and without MS/OSA groups were 40%, 38%, and 29%, respectively. Patients with MS + OSA experienced substantially higher recurrence compared to those with lone MS or OSA (52% vs. 40% vs. 38%; P = 0.036). Of the 452 patients having recurrence, 250 underwent redo-ablation and 194 remained on AAD and LSM. At 20 ± 6 months, 76% of the redo group remained arrhythmia-free off AAD whereas 74% of the LSM group were free from recurrence (P = 0.71), 33% of which were off AAD., Conclusions: MS and OSA have additive negative effect on arrhythmia recurrence following single procedure. Repeat ablation or compliant LSM increase freedom from recurrent AF., (© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)