Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Safety and efficacy of multipolar pulmonary vein ablation catheter vs. irrigated radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a randomized multicentre trial.
The current challenge in atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment is to develop effective, efficient, and safe ablation strategies. This randomized controlled trial assesses the medium-term efficacy of duty-cycled radiofrequency ablation via the circular pulmonary vein ablation catheter (PVAC) vs. conventional electro-anatomically guided wide-area circumferential ablation (WACA). ⋯ NCT00678340.
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Recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is frequently observed after AF catheter ablation. However, the predictive value of echocardiographic parameters associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) has not been well studied. ⋯ Early results of the catheter ablation, but not the late rhythm outcome, are influenced by an impaired mitral inflow pattern, which is associated with LVDD.
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Review Meta Analysis
An individual patient-based meta-analysis of the effects of dronedarone in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Dronedarone is a non-iodinated benzofuran derivative with antiarrhythmic properties. In placebo-controlled atrial fibrillation (AF) trials, the drug was found to have divergent effects on endpoints such as cardiovascular death or hospitalization. The objective of this meta-analysis of all placebo-controlled studies was to provide insights on possible reasons for these divergent effects. ⋯ This meta-analysis demonstrates significant heterogeneity of dronedarone treatment effects across the placebo-controlled randomized trials. The most important predictor of a harmful effect of dronedarone on cardiovascular death and heart failure hospitalization was the presence of permanent AF.
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Atrial fibrillation (AF) patients treated according to a rate-control strategy seem to have excellent outcomes as long as their ventricular response is kept low. However, the stringency of the rate control to adopt with pharmacologic agents is not clearly defined. In particular, the clinical importance of preserving a heart rate (HR) reserve (HRR) during exercise has not yet been investigated. ⋯ An impaired HRR in patients with permanent AF treated according to a strict rate-control strategy is associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for heart failure.
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Comparative Study
The budget impact of left atrial appendage closure compared with adjusted-dose warfarin and dabigatran etexilate for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation.
Major practice changes require both clinical and economic rationale, especially where a novel device replaces an established pharmaceutical therapy. Recent studies have reported the clinical benefits of percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) relative to standard warfarin anticoagulation, but little is published on the cost implications of LAAC. This analysis sought to quantify the budget impact of LAAC compared with warfarin and dabigatran etexilate for stroke prevention in AF. ⋯ The majority of LAAC costs are borne in the first year, while costs for pharmaceutical strategies continue to accrue year on year. Thus, LAAC represents an opportunity for savings to healthcare systems in the long term. This is an important consideration for payers in evaluating lifetime treatment strategies in AF.