Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology
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Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Oct 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialCharacterization of fractionated atrial electrograms critical for maintenance of atrial fibrillation: a randomized, controlled trial of ablation strategies (the CFAE AF trial).
Whether ablation of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAE) modifies atrial fibrillation (AF) by eliminating drivers or atrial debulking remains unknown. This randomized study aimed to determine the effect of ablating different CFAE morphologies compared with normal electrograms (ie, debulking normal tissue) on the cycle length of persistent AF (AFCL). ⋯ URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00894400.
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Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Oct 2011
Intraventricular conduction delay in a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram as a predictor of mortality in the general population.
Prolonged duration of QRS complex in a 12-lead ECG is associated with adverse prognosis in patients with cardiac disease, but its significance is not well established in the general population. In particular, there is a paucity of data on the prognostic significance of nonspecific intraventricular conduction delay in apparently healthy subjects. ⋯ Prolonged QRS duration in a standard 12-lead ECG is associated with increased mortality in a general population, with intraventricular conduction delay being most strongly associated with an increased risk of arrhythmic death.
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Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Oct 2011
Influence of race on atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.
Despite having fewer risk factors for atrial fibrillation (AF), white patients have a greater prevalence of AF in the community than black patients, and a genetic basis has been postulated. However, it is unknown whether occurrence of new-onset AF after cardiac surgery is different in white versus black patients, and secondarily, other non-Caucasian patients. ⋯ White patients had a markedly higher risk of postoperative AF than black and other non-Caucasian patients. The cause for racial differences of arrhythmic risk is unknown, but a genetic predisposition is plausible. Our results have implications for risk stratification and mechanistic understanding of postoperative AF.
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Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Oct 2011
Very low risk of thromboembolic events in patients undergoing successful catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation with a CHADS2 score ≤3: a long-term outcome study.
Long-term cessation of oral anticoagulation (OAC) after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been deemed controversial. The safety of this management strategy in patients without recurrent AF and with historically elevated risks for thromboembolism remains largely unknown. In this study, we sought to evaluate the long-term results of OAC cessation after successful catheter ablation of AF. ⋯ No significant thromboembolic-related morbidity is observed when AADs and OAC are discontinued after successful catheter ablation of AF in patients with a CHADS(2) score ≤3 who are maintained on antiplatelet therapy during long-term follow-up.
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Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Oct 2011
Outcomes of cardiac perforation complicating catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias.
Cardiac perforation is a recognized complication of catheter ablation procedures, most commonly encountered during ablation of atrial fibrillation. The study aims to investigate the incidence, management, and hospital outcomes of cardiac perforation complicating catheter ablation for ventricular arrhythmias. ⋯ Ventricular perforation and tamponade occurs in 1% of ventricular ablation procedures and in this series, occurred only in patients without a history of prior cardiac surgery. More than half the patients required surgical repair. Perforation is often associated with steam pops and emergent surgical repair is often required when perforation occurs after a steam pop.