scholarly journals Subjective identification and ablation of drivers in persistent atrial fibrillation

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Franco ◽  
C Lozano-Granero ◽  
R Matia ◽  
A Hernandez-Madrid ◽  
I Sanchez-Perez ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Ablation of drivers in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) has shown controversial results. Purpose To test the efficacy of a tailored approach for persistent AF ablation which includes pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) plus “subjective” identification and ablation of drivers. Methods From May 2017 to December 2019, selected patients with persistent AF and ongoing AF at the beginning of the ablation procedure were included. Conventional high-density mapping catheters (PentaRay NAV, IntellaMap Orion or Advisor HD Grid) were used. Drivers were subjectively identified as: a) fractionated continuous (or quasi-continuous) electrograms on 1–2 adjacent bipoles, without dedicated software (Figure 1A, dashed line; PR = PentaRay NAV); and b) sites with spatiotemporal dispersion (i.e. all the cycle length comprised within the mapping catheter) plus non-continuous fractionation on single bipoles (Figure 1B, arrows; in panels A and B: paper speed 200 mm/s; ORB = 24-pole ORBITER Woven catheter, blue bipoles around tricuspid annulus and green bipoles into the coronary sinus). Ablation included PVI + focal or linear ablation targeting sites with drivers. Ablation success was defined as conversion to sinus rhythm or atrial flutter during ablation. Follow-up included visits with 24h Holter ECG at 3–6–12 months. Survival free from atrial arrhythmias lasting >30 seconds was compared between patients ablated with this tailored approach, and all consecutive patients with persistent AF treated with a PVI-only strategy during the same period. Results 158 Patients received ablation: 35 with the tailored approach (61,7±10,2 years; 29% females) and 123 with only PVI (62,5±9,6 years; 25% females; 89% cryoablation). Basal characteristics were similar (Table 1). In the tailored-approach group, 14 patients (40%) presented 28 detectable sites with continuous fractionated electrograms, 26 on the left atrium and 2 on the right atrium, which was only mapped if ablation of drivers in the left atrium was not successful; 12 (43%) were located within the pulmonary vein antra. 27 patients (77%) showed 103 sites with spatiotemporal dispersion (4 [3–5] per patient). Ablation success was achieved in 17 patients (48%; conversion to sinus rhythm, n=7; conversion to atrial flutter, n=10) in the tailored-approach group and 1 patient (0,8%, sinus rhythm) in the PVI-only group. Excluding a 3-month blanking period, the tailored approach, compared to only PVI, improved one-year freedom from atrial arrhythmias (71% Vs 51%, p=0,05) and mean survival free from atrial arrhythmias (26±3 months; 95% CI 21–32 months Vs 18±2 months; 95% CI 15–22 months) (Figure 1C), at the cost of a longer median procedural time (246 [212–277] vs 108 [81–143] min, p<0,001) and fluoroscopy time (51 [36–76] vs 33 [21–45] min, p<0,001). Conclusion Subjective identification and ablation of drivers, added to PVI, improved freedom from atrial arrhythmias. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Table 1. Basal characteristics Figure 1

2013 ◽  
Vol 106 (10) ◽  
pp. 501-510 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frederic A. Sebag ◽  
Najia Chaachoui ◽  
Nick W. Linton ◽  
Sana Amraoui ◽  
James Harrison ◽  
...  

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan L Musat ◽  
Nicolle S Milstein ◽  
Jacqueline Pimienta ◽  
Advay Bhatt ◽  
Tina C Sichrovsky ◽  
...  

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedures to treat symptomatic AF. Ablation success is defined by absence of AF recurrence >30 seconds. However, reduction in AF burden (AFB) is also an important endpoint. Whether patients with paroxysmal (PAF) and persistent AF (PeAF) have similar reduction in AFB post-ablation is unknown. Objective: To compare the decrease in AFB following cryoballoon (CB) PVI in patients with PAF and PeAF. Methods: We enrolled consecutive pts with an implantable loop recorder (ILR) who subsequently underwent CB PVI. All patients were followed prospectively for at least one year, or until repeat ablation; we compared AFB pre and post-ablation. Results: The cohort included had 47 patients (66 ± 10 years; 32 [68%] male; PAF [n=23, 49%]; CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc 2.7 ± 1.7, 34 [72%] on AAD at the time of ablation). A median of 136 days [IQR 280, 73; minimum of 30 days] of ILR data pre-ablation were available. The median AFB for PAF was 4.7% [IQR 0.9, 14.8] and PeAF was 6.8% [IQR 1.1, 40.4]. After excluding a 3-month post-ablation blanking period, recurrent AF occurred in 12 (52%) PAF and 11 (46%) PeAF patients. The median AFB post-ablation for PAF and PeAF cohorts was 0.03%, [IQR 0, 0.3] and 0.04%, [IQR 0, 1.1], respectively. This represents a >99% reduction in AFB. Conclusion: Although 50% of patients undergoing CB PVI for PAF or PeAF had a recurrence of AF, there was >99% reduction in AFB in both groups. These data highlight the importance of using AFB burden as a marker of therapeutic efficacy post-AF ablation.


2010 ◽  
pp. 113-174
Author(s):  
Juan Carlos Kaski

Atrial fibrillation 114 New (acute)-onset atrial fibrillation 116 Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation 118 Persistent atrial fibrillation 120 Permanent atrial fibrillation 122 Secondary atrial fibrillation 124 Drugs used in electrical and chemical cardioversion 126 Antithrombotic treatment 128 Atrial flutter 132 Supraventricular (narrow complex) tachycardias 134 Landmark trials for atrial arrhythmias ...


Cardiology ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 134 (4) ◽  
pp. 394-397
Author(s):  
Sajid Ali ◽  
Justin Ugwu ◽  
Yousuf Kanjwal

Background: Left atrial appendage thrombus formation is a known major complication of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter which increases the risk of embolism and stroke. This risk of thrombosis is greatly increased with a lack of anticoagulation. After conversion to a normal sinus rhythm in these arrhythmias, the risk of thrombus formation in the left atrium persists through a phenomenon termed atrial myocardial stunning. Case: We present the case of a patient who previously underwent successful pulmonary vein isolation and was found to be in typical isthmus-dependent atrial flutter with a questionable recurrence of atrial fibrillation. The decision was made to return for atrial flutter ablation and for evaluation of prior pulmonary vein isolation. Initially, a transesophageal echocardiogram showed a normal ejection fraction, biatrial enlargement and no left atrial appendage thrombus. Ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus was successfully accomplished with documented bidirectional block. A transesophageal echocardiogram probe was still in place prior to planned transseptal puncture for the evaluation of pulmonary veins. A large thrombus was now observed filling the left atrial appendage. Conclusion and Objective: Atrial stunning is a transient atrial contractile dysfunction that occurs whether sinus rhythm is restored spontaneously, electrically, pharmacologically or by ablation. We know after conversion that there is higher propensity to increased spontaneous echogenic contrast and decreased velocities; however, we do not have documented knowledge of exactly how soon after the conversion to a sinus rhythm a thrombus may be seen. We demonstrate a case of acute left atrial appendage thrombus formation immediately following the successful ablation of isthmus-dependent atrial flutter. Our report validates the belief that strategies of not interrupting anticoagulation prior to the conversion of these arrhythmias should be implemented.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 13-20
Author(s):  
L. K. Kozlova ◽  
N. V. Sokolova ◽  
A. V. Sivkova ◽  
A. E. Kamyshanova ◽  
O. Y. Abramova ◽  
...  

Aim. To assess the effectiveness and safety of refralon based cardioversion on the experience of the cardiology department of Orenburg Regional Clinical Hospital.Methods. The archival medical histories of 14 patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and 2 patients with persistent atrial flutter (AFL) (overall 16 patients), who underwent an attempt to restore sinus rhythm with refralon, were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 51.7±10.4 years. The mean duration of AF/AFL since its last detection was 8.0±6.5 weeks (from 8 days to 8 months). Fifteen patients had hypertension, 3 of them had coronary artery disease (CAD), and 1 patient had CAD with type 2 diabetes mellitus. One of the patients had lone AF. Before cardioversion, all patients underwent the following examination: clinical and biochemical blood tests, clinical urine tests, electrocardiography (ECG), echocardiography (Echo), transesophageal Echo, Holter ECG, the determination of the level of thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyroxine, electrolytes, including potassium and magnesium.Results. According to Echo, initially, the transverse size of the left atrium in patients was 4.3±0.3 cm. Its increase was noted in 68.7% of patients (from 4.3 to 5.0 cm). Restoration of sinus rhythm after the first step of refralon administration at a dose of 10 μg/kg was achieved in 8 patients, after the second step of administration (total dose 20 μg/kg) - in 5 patients and after the third step (total dose 30 μg/kg) - in 2 patients. In 1 patient, restoration of sinus rhythm was not achieved after the administration of the third bolus. Out of 15 patients with restored sinus rhythm, AF recurrence occurred in three. In one of the patients with successful cardioversion, the sinus rhythm was restored the next day. The duration of the last episode of AF and the size of the left atrium did not significantly affect the effectiveness of cardioversion and amounted to 62±54 days and 4.3±0.35 cm, respectively, in patients with successful cardioversion, and with a recurrence of AF - 34.3±28 days and 4.2±0.35 cm (p=0.2; р=0.6). The efficacy of cardioversion with refralon was 71.4% in patients with AF, and 100% in patients with AFL. No adverse events of refralon were found in patients.Conclusion. At the time of discharge, sinus rhythm was recorded in 12 out of 16 patients (75%). The ineffectiveness of cardioversion with refralon was noted only in patients with AF; in all patients with AFL the sinus rhythm was restored.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 90-95
Author(s):  
Sergey A. Vachev ◽  
Sergey V. Korolev ◽  
Alexandr S. Zotov ◽  
Robert I. Khabazov ◽  
Alexander V. Troitskiy

The article presents two clinical cases of delayed restoration of the sinus rhythm in patients with long-term persistent atrial fibrillation after the procedure of thoracoscopic radiofrequency fragmentation of the left atrium. The necessity of continuing attempts to restore the sinus rhythm up to the end of the "blind period" (90 days) is discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Jiqiang Hu ◽  
Wu Kuang ◽  
Xiaoyun Cui ◽  
Yan Li ◽  
Yang Wu ◽  
...  

Introduction. A concealed pulmonary vein (PV) bigeminy (cPVB) may be found in some patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) during sinus rhythm (SR). The aim of this study was to investigate whether the presence of cPVB during SR is associated with a higher PV firing. Methods and Results. Seven hundred seventy-six PVs (excluding 5 right middle PVs and 8 left common trunks) were mapped in 198 patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF) who underwent circumferential PV isolation. cPVB with a mean coupling interval of 136 ± 16 ms during SR was observed prior to ablation in 22 (11%) patients. Focal firing was provoked prior to ablation in 144 (19%) PVs. The incidence of focal firing was greater in PVs exhibiting cPVB compared with PVs without cPVB (89% vs. 16%; P<0.001). Also, the number of radiofrequency applications required for isolation was greater in ipsilateral PVs, exhibiting cPVB compared with ipsilateral PVs without cPVB (21.6 ± 6.8 vs. 18.2 ± 5.6; P=0.024). During a follow-up of 32 ± 20 months, the single ablation success rate was 82%. Compared with patients without cPVB, patients with cPVB were associated with higher recurrence rate of AF (27% vs. 17%; p=0.032). Conclusion. cPVB during SR was observed prior to index ablation in 11% of PAF patients. Such a potential itself may be a PV firing in a concealed manner, which does not reactivate LA. The PV exhibiting cPVB required a greater number of radiofrequency applications for isolation. Compared to patients without cPVB, the recurrence rate of AF in patients with cPVB was greater.


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