Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology
-
Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Feb 2014
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyIncidence and significance of early recurrences of atrial fibrillation after cryoballoon ablation: insights from the multicenter Sustained Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (STOP AF) Trial.
Early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (ERAF) is common after radiofrequency catheter ablation for AF. We sought to determine the incidence and prognostic significance of ERAF after cryoballoon ablation. Moreover, the benefit of early reablation for ERAF after cryoballoon ablation is undetermined. ⋯ ERAF after cryoballoon ablation occurs in ≈50% of patients and is strongly associated with LR. Early reablation for ERAF is associated with excellent long-term freedom from recurrent AF.
-
Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Feb 2014
Review Meta AnalysisImpact of programming strategies aimed at reducing nonessential implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapies on mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Patients who receive implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapies are at higher risk of death versus those who do not. Programmed settings to reduce nonessential implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapies (therapy reduction programming) have been developed but may have adverse effects. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the relationship between therapy reduction programming with the risks of death from any cause, implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks, and syncope. ⋯ Therapy reduction programming results in a large, significant, and consistent reduction in mortality, with no apparent increase in the risk of syncope.
-
Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Feb 2014
Cellular mechanism underlying hypothermia-induced ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation in the setting of early repolarization and the protective effect of quinidine, cilostazol, and milrinone.
Hypothermia has been reported to induce ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VT/VF) in patients with early repolarization (ER) pattern. This study examines the cellular mechanisms underlying VT/VF associated with hypothermia in an experimental model of ER syndrome and examines the effectiveness of quinidine, cilostazol, and milrinone to prevent hypothermia-induced arrhythmias. ⋯ Hypothermia leads to VT/VF in the setting of ER by exaggerating repolarization abnormalities, leading to development of phase 2 reentry. Quinidine, cilostazol, and milrinone suppress the hypothermia-induced VT/VF by reversing the repolarization abnormalities.
-
Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Dec 2013
Comparative StudyIntracardiac echocardiography for detection of thrombus in the left atrial appendage: comparison with transesophageal echocardiography in patients undergoing ablation for atrial fibrillation: the Action-Ice I Study.
Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is the gold standard for the exclusion of thrombi in the left atrial appendage (LAA) before ablation for atrial fibrillation. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is used to assist atrial fibrillation ablation; however, it can also be used for LAA imaging. The aim of our study was to determine whether ICE could replace TEE and to identify the optimal ICE placement for LAA visualization. ⋯ URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01371279.
-
Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Dec 2013
Epicardial ablation of ventricular tachycardia in ischemic heart disease.
Epicardial approaches have increased ablation success in nonischemic cardiomyopathy, but the use for postinfarction ventricular tachycardias (VT) is less clear. We report the findings for epicardial VT ablation in postinfarct patients. ⋯ Epicardial ablation is potentially useful in ≥6% of the postinfarction VT population, but the number could be substantially greater because more than two thirds of patients selected for epicardial mapping after failed ablation had an epicardial VT target. Successful epicardial ablation of a VT was not predictable from infarct location or other patient characteristics.