Heart rhythm : the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is increasingly used in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), but long-term outcomes are still unknown. ⋯ In patients with heart failure undergoing AF ablation, there is an initial short-term LVEF improvement related to baseline heart rate. However, long-term LVEF improvement is associated with rhythm outcome.
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Editorial Comment
Bilateral cardiac sympathetic denervation: the last resort?
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Ebstein's anomaly is associated with a high incidence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. The Cone procedure has become an effective hemodynamic intervention for this malformation. In response to two late postoperative sudden deaths in our early institutional Cone experience, a standardized plan for aggressive rhythm evaluation was instituted, including preoperative electrophysiologic studies (EPS) and intraoperative implantable loop recorder (ILR) placement. ⋯ Preoperative EPS has a high diagnostic and therapeutic yield in patients with Ebstein's anomaly undergoing the Cone operation. It is reasonable to recommend EPS as a routine preoperative test for this population.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Phased RF ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation.
Persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) often requires extensive and/or repeat radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedures. ⋯ Catheter ablation of persistent/long-standing persistent AF with the phased RF ablation system is effective with greater reduction of AF compared with MM. More intense anticoagulation strategies, careful attention to catheter placement relative to the pulmonary vein ostia, and elimination of electrode interaction are expected to reduce the risk of stroke, pulmonary vein stenosis, and asymptomatic cerebral emboli.