Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology最新文献

This retrospective study evaluated two groups: patients receiving RFA for PVI, posterior wall isolation, mitral isthmus, and coronary sinus (CS) ablation with adjunctive VOM ethanol injection (VOM/RFA ALL (N = 53)), and patients receiving PVI with PFA using pentaspline catheter followed by mitral isthmus and CS ablation with RFA (PFA PV + PW/RFA MITRAL (N = 12)). We hypothesized that PFA for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) facilitates mitral block without adjunctive vein of Marshall (VOM) ethanol injection. Mitral block was achieved in 92.5% of VOM/RFA ALL patients and 83.3% of the PFA PV + PW/RFA MITRAL group (p = 0.31). Endocardial ablation time of the mitral isthmus and RF applications required to achieve a complete block were significantly shorter in the VOM/RFA ALL group (208 s vs 356 s, p < 0.01 and 14.5 vs 24.0, p < 0.01, respectively). Adjunctive VOM ethanol injection appears to still have a role for facilitation of mitral isthmus block in the new era of PFA.

Background: The radiofrequency (RF) lesions obtained using very high-power short-duration (vHPSD) are shallower compared to high-power sort-duration (HPSD) or conventional ablation settings. Thus, there is a possibility that vHPSD RF applications may not achieve transmurality at thick parts of the anterior aspects of the pulmonary vein (PV)-left atrial (LA) wall junction. The aim of the study was to compare acute efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using vHPSD versus HPSD guided by AI ablation at the anterior aspects of PV in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Methods: The A-Q-RATE POWER Trial was a prospective, dual-center, randomized study. Patients were assigned to receive vHPSD versus HPSD ablation delivered at the anterior aspects of PV. In both arms, the posterior parts of PV were ablated with vHPSD. The primary outcome was the need for additional RF applications at the anterior aspect of PVs to achieve complete PVI.

Results: Seventy patients were randomly assigned to vHPSD (n = 35) or HPSD (n = 35). The vHPSD group required more touch-up RF applications at the anterior aspects of PV than the HPSD group (46% vs 19%, p < 0.001), especially at the right PVs (57% vs 20%, p = 0.001) compared to the left PVs (34% vs 17%, p = 0.1). The median duration of the procedure, LA dwell time, and fluoroscopy time were similar in both groups (112 [IQR 90-130] min vs 107 [90-125] min, p = 0.58; 95 [70-106] min vs 90 [71-100] min, p = 0.55; and 28 [IQR 14-69] s vs 46 [IQR 0-89] s, p = 0.97,respectively).

Conclusion: The proposed hybrid strategy is associated with a significantly lower need for additional touch-up RF applications than vHPSD only, without extending procedural and fluoroscopy duration.

Background: Short-duration radiofrequency ablation is designed to enhance efficiency of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). We investigated the performance of a novel stability algorithm (STABILITY +).

Methods: In a prospective, single-center study, consecutive patients undergoing first-time PVI were included. Patients were categorized into four groups: Group 1, Hybrid (anterior, 50 W, 550 AI; posterior, 90 W 4 s) using Viistag; Group 2, Hybrid using STABILITY + ; Group 3, 90 W (anterior and posterior, 90 W 4 s) using Visitag; Group 4, 90 W using STABILITY + . Clinical, procedural and follow-up data were systematically collected.

Results: A total of 268 patients were included. In total, 130 patients had Hybrid ablation while 138 underwent 90-W ablation. Procedure time was comparable in Groups 1, 2, and 3 however was lower in Group 4 (65 min, 65 min, 70 min, 54 min, p < 0.001). RF-time was longer in Group 1 and 2 vs 3 and 4 (11.6 min, 9.7 min, 4.5 min, 5.2 min, p < 0.001). First-pass isolation rates were comparable between all 4 groups (88%, 91%, 83.9%, 90%, p = 0.480). Freedom from arrhythmia at 6 months was also comparable (9%, 9%, 16.6%, 10.4%, p = 0.341). Complications were comparable and low and restricted to vascular access-related complications (2%, 1%, 0%, 2%, p = 0.388).

Conclusions: Irrespective of the mode of ablation, the novel STABILITY + algorithm can be used in PVI ablations without compromising safety and efficiency and has the potential to improve first-pass isolation using 90-W HPSD ablation.

Background: The subcutaneous ICD established its role in the prevention of sudden cardiac death in recent years. The occurrence of premature battery depletion in a large subset of potentially affected devices has been a cause of concern. The incidence of premature battery depletion has not been studied systematically beyond manufacturer-reported data.

Methods: Retrospective data and the most recent follow-up data on S-ICD devices from fourteen centers in Europe, the US, and Canada was studied. The incidence of generator removal or failure was reported to investigate the incidence of premature S-ICD battery depletion, defined as battery failure within 60 months or less.

Results: Data from 1054 devices was analyzed. Premature battery depletion occurred in 3.5% of potentially affected devices over an observation period of 49 months.

Conclusions: The incidence of premature battery depletion of S-ICD potentially affected by a battery advisory was around 3.5% after 4 years in this study. Premature depletion occurred exclusively in devices under advisory. This is in line with the most recently published reports from the manufacturer.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04767516 .

Background: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a new modality for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF). PFA is performed under general anaesthetic (GA) or deep sedation with propofol, but this requires anaesthetic support in many countries, restricting use. No study has tested the feasibility of PFA under mild conscious sedation (MCS).

Methods: We prospectively recruited patients undergoing PFA PVI, offered the option of MCS delivered by electrophysiologists, and compared these with patients who opted for GA. MCS comprised intravenous midazolam and fentanyl. All procedures were performed under anaesthetic supervision in case of requirement to convert to GA, which formed the primary outcome.

Results: Twenty-three patients were recruited (8 MCS, 15 GA). One patient (1/8 [12.5%]) required conversion from MCS to GA. Total procedural times were similar between groups (MCS 92 ± 12.4 min vs. GA 101 ± 17.3 min; p = 0.199). High mean sedative doses were required in the MCS group (5.12 ± 0.83 mg midazolam and 209 ± 40 mcg fentanyl). Median intraprocedural pain perception by the patient, rated from 0 to 100 was 45 (IQR 22.5-72.5) in the MCS group. Post-procedural groin pain (0 [0-0] vs. 5 [0-35]; p = 0.027) and throat pain (0 [0-0] vs. 10 [5-40]; p = 0.001) were lower in the MCS group.

Conclusion: PFA under MCS is feasible in selected patients but pain and tolerance may be suboptimal, and high sedative doses are required.

Background: The pace-and-ablate strategy is second -line therapy to obtain rate control in patients with persistent symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) when other treatment options fail. This study aims to evaluate long-term effects on clinical outcomes following pace-and-ablate strategy in AF patients.

Methods: This retrospective study includes patients who underwent successful pacemaker implantation (right ventricular pacing (RVP) or cardiac re-synchronization therapy (CRT)) followed by atrioventricular node ablation (AVNA) between 2010 and 2020. Patients were treated according to the prevailing guidelines. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause mortality and heart failure hospitalization (HFH). Secondary endpoints were individual outcomes of all-cause mortality, HFH, and left-ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) change.

Results: Two hundred ninety-eight patients were included, 162 undergoing RVP, and 136 receiving CRT, with a median follow-up of 5.8 years [4.1-8.0]. The primary endpoint occured in 47% of the RVP group and 49% of the CRT group (p = 0.206). All-cause mortality occurred in 36% of the RVP group and in 45% of the CRT group (p = 0.005). HFH occurred in 22% of the RVP group and in 15% of the CRT group (p = 0.328), with 17(10%) upgrades to CRT in the RVP group. Median LVEF in the RVP group remained stable (56% [49-60] to 53% [43-57]; p = 0.081), while it improved in the CRT group (31% [22-38] to 43% [32-51]; p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Mortality and HFH in patients with AF managed through a pace-and-ablate strategy are high. Reassuringly, LVEF deterioration requiring upgrade to CRT is uncommon in patients undergoing RVP with normal baseline LVEF before AVNA. CRT improves LVEF in patients with reduced LVEF before AVNA.

Introduction: The optimal reimplantation strategies following the removal of infected cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) remain inadequately understood. Given the limitations and risks associated with traditional approaches, the investigation of alternative devices, such as leadless pacemakers (LPs), has gained attention due to their potentially lower infection risk.

Methods: We reviewed literature sources including PubMed, Scopus, and Embase, utilizing a combination of search terms. The inclusion criterion was leadless pacemaker (LP) implantation following lead removal (LR) of infected CIEDs, while the exclusion criterion was LR for noninfectious indications. Study endpoints encompassed patient outcomes during follow-up.

Results: Our literature review yielded 827 articles, of which 22 met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a cohort of 657 patients who underwent LR followed by LP implantation. A total of 295 (44.9%) patients underwent concurrent LP implantation during the LR procedure. The rest underwent delayed procedures, and the overall duration between LR of infected CIED and LP implantation was 4.32 ± 3.9 days. A total of 194 (29.5%) patients had systemic CIED infections, whereas 153 (23.3%) had isolated pocket infections. In our patient cohort, procedural complications were scarce. Over a mean follow-up period of 13.3 ± 9.4 months, pacemaker syndrome was observed in 4 patients (0.61%), and 3 patients (0.46%) experienced persistent or recurrent infections.

Conclusion: Our review finds both concurrent and delayed LP implantation after infected CIED extraction to be safe, with low reinfection rates and minimal complications. LPs could also serve as a bridge to CRT re-implantation minimizing the use of temporary pacing systems.