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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The purpose of this survey was to assess the current practice in Europe regarding cryoablation for treatment of different cardiac arrhythmias. The data are based on an electronic questionnaire sent to members of the European Heart Rhythm Association Research Network. ⋯ There is reasonable consensus regarding clinical results and complications of cryoablation procedure. Some inter-centre variability with respect to patient selection and ablation strategy in cryoablation of atrial fibrillation was demonstrated, underscoring the need for further research.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Rationale and design of AXAFA-AFNET 5: an investigator-initiated, randomized, open, blinded outcome assessment, multi-centre trial to comparing continuous apixaban to vitamin K antagonists in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation catheter ablation.
Catheter ablation is the most efficacious rhythm control therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. There is growing evidence that catheter ablation procedures are best performed during continuous oral anticoagulation, but outcomes are variable depending on the anticoagulation strategy or agent chosen. Specifically, there is a need to evaluate the peri-procedural use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients undergoing catheter ablation of AF. The AXAFA-AFNET 5 trial will test whether peri-procedural anticoagulation therapy using apixaban is a safe alternative to vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy for patients undergoing catheter ablation of AF. ⋯ The results of AXAFA-AFNET 5 will provide evidence informing about the safety of apixaban in ablation patients and on its efficacy including effects on silent brain lesions. AXAFA - AFNET 5 is an investigator-initiated trial sponsored by AFNET. The trial is supported by the DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research) and by the BMBF (German Ministry of Education and Research) and by Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer Alliance.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Results from a multicentre comparison of cryoballoon vs. radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: is cryoablation more reproducible?
Cryoballoon ablation (Cryoballoon) has emerged as a new alternative for the treatment of symptomatic drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether the results of Cryoballoon are more reproducible than those of radiofrequency (RF) ablation remains to be proved. ⋯ Cryoballoon seems to be less operator-dependent and more reproducible than RF in the setting of paroxysmal AF ablation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Different impact of long-detection interval and anti-tachycardia pacing in reducing unnecessary shocks: data from the ADVANCE III trial.
A long-detection interval (LDI) (30/40 intervals) has been proved to be superior to a standard-detection interval (SDI) (18/24 intervals) in terms of reducing unnecessary implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapies. To better evaluate the different impact of LDI and anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) on reducing painful shocks, we assessed all treated episodes in the ADVANCE III trial. ⋯ The combination of LDI and ATP during charging is extremely effective and significantly reduces appropriate but unnecessary therapies. The use of LDI alone yielded a 39% reduction in appropriate but unnecessary therapies; ATP on top of LDI determined another 52% reduction in unnecessary shocks. The strategy of associating ATP and LDI could be considered in the majority of ICD recipients.
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The low efficacy rates reported for conventional catheter ablation of longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation (LPAF) have led to the development of alternative techniques such as minimal invasive surgical ablation, aiming for durable and contiguous transmural lesions. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of total thoracoscopic epicardial left atrial ablation (TELA-AF) procedures in a prospective study of severely symptomatic patients with either drug-resistant AF and/or failed attempts of catheter ablation. ⋯ The total thoracoscopic surgical ablation procedure is highly effective even in patients with LPAF, and it seems safe. The high rate of iatrogenic LA re-entrant tachycardia, however, warrants further improvement of the technique.