Stepwise endo-/epicardial catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: the Mediterranea approach

Abstract Background Outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) among patients with non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) are largely disappointing. Purpose We sought to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of a single-stage stepwise endo-/epicardial approach in patients with persistent/longstanding-persistent AF. Methods We enrolled 25 consecutive patients with symptomatic persistent (n=4) or longstanding-persistent (n=21) AF and at least one prior endocardial procedure, who underwent CA using an endo-/epicardial approach. Our anatomical stepwise protocol included multiple endocardial as well as epicardial (Bachmann's bundle [BB] and ligament of Marshall ablations) components, and entailed ablation of atrial tachycardias emerging during the procedure. The primary outcome was freedom from any AF/atrial tachycardia episode after a 3-month blanking period. The secondary outcome was patients' symptom status during follow-up. Results The stepwise endo-/epicardial approach allowed sinus rhythm restoration in 72% of patients, either directly (n=6, 24%) or after AF organization into atrial tachycardia (n=12, 48%). BB's ablation was commonly implicated in arrhythmia termination. After a median follow-up of 266 days (interquartile range, 96 days), survival free from AF/atrial tachycardia was 88%. Antiarrhythmic drugs could be discontinued in 22 patients (88%). As compared to baseline, more patients were asymptomatic at 9-month follow-up (0% vs- 56%, p=0.02). Five patients (20%) developed mild medical complications, whereas one subject (4%) had severe kidney injury requiring dialysis. Conclusion A single-stage endo-/epicardial CA resulted in favorable rhythm and symptom outcomes in a cohort of patients with symptomatic persistent/longstanding-persistent AF and one or more prior endocardial procedures. Epicardial ablation of BB was commonly implicated in procedural success. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

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Stepwise Endo-/Epicardial Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: the Mediterranea Approach

10.22541/au.161292691.18108504/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Giuseppe De Martino ◽

Paolo Compagnucci ◽

Carmine Mancusi ◽

Enrico Vassallo ◽

Claudia Calvanese ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Catheter Ablation ◽

Atrial Tachycardia ◽

Antiarrhythmic Drugs ◽

Kidney Injury ◽

Single Stage ◽

Secondary Outcome ◽

Symptom Status ◽

Procedural Success

Background: Outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) among patients with non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) are largely disappointing. Objective: We sought to evaluate the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of a single-stage stepwise endo-/epicardial approach in patients with persistent/longstanding-persistent AF. Methods: We enrolled 25 consecutive patients with symptomatic persistent (n=4) or longstanding-persistent (n=21) AF and at least one prior endocardial procedure, who underwent CA using an endo-/epicardial approach. Our anatomical stepwise protocol included multiple endocardial as well as epicardial (Bachmann’s bundle [BB] and ligament of Marshall ablations) components, and entailed ablation of atrial tachycardias emerging during the procedure. The primary outcome was freedom from any AF/atrial tachycardia episode after a 3-month blanking period. The secondary outcome was patients’ symptom status during follow-up. Results: The stepwise endo-/epicardial approach allowed sinus rhythm restoration in 72% of patients, either directly (n=6, 24%) or after AF organization into atrial tachycardia (n=12, 48%). BB’s ablation was commonly implicated in arrhythmia termination. After a median follow-up of 266 days (interquartile range, 96 days), survival free from AF/atrial tachycardia was 88%. Antiarrhythmic drugs could be discontinued in 22 patients (88%). As compared to baseline, more patients were asymptomatic at 9-month follow-up (0% vs- 56%, p=0.02). Five patients (20%) developed mild medical complications, whereas one subject (4%) had severe kidney injury requiring dialysis. Conclusion: a single-stage endo-/epicardial CA resulted in favorable rhythm and symptom outcomes in a cohort of patients with symptomatic persistent/longstanding-persistent AF and one or more prior endocardial procedures. Epicardial ablation of BB was commonly implicated in procedural success.

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Safety and acute clinical outcomes of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation in octogenarians: a multicentre evaluation with a matched younger cohort

EP Europace ◽

10.1093/europace/euab116.235 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

N Karim ◽

N Kozhuharov ◽

J Jarman ◽

S Furniss ◽

R Veasey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Catheter Ablation ◽

De Novo ◽

Lv Function ◽

P Value ◽

Complication Rates ◽

Success Rates ◽

Af Ablation ◽

Funding Sources ◽

Procedural Success

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. OnBehalf Sven Knecht and the International Octogenarian AF ablation group Background Octogenarians are a fast-growing demographic with a high burden of atrial fibrillation (AF). There are limited data on procedural safety and acute outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) for AF in this group. Purpose Investigation of complications & outcomes in octogenarians undergoing CA for AF. Methods Data on all octogenarian patients who underwent AF ablation at nine European cardiology centres between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively analysed and matched with control patients aged <80 years. The characteristics used for matching were type of AF, type of procedure (de novo or redo), & the year of procedure. Results 216 octogenarians (81.9 ± 1.9 years; 52.8% females) underwent an AF ablation procedure, and were matched with 216 patients aged <80 years (62.4 ± 9.5 years, 34.7% females), p <0.001 for both. The proportion of paroxysmal and persistent AF was 43.5% & 56.5% respectively in both groups, and 79.3% of the procedures were de novo. RF ablation made up 75.4% & 75.9% (p = 0.90) procedures in octogenarians and controls respectively. 17 complications occurred in 14 (7.9%) octogenarian patients and 11 in 11 (5.1%) patients in the younger matched cohort (p = 0.07). There were 4.2% & 1.9% major complications (p= 0.17) and 3.7% & 3.2% minor complications (p= 0.77) in the octogenarian & younger cohorts respectively. Complications in octogenarians consisted of groin complications (n = 6), pneumonia (n = 3), pericardial effusion (n = 2), phrenic nerve injury (n = 2), pulmonary oedema (n = 1), gastroparesis (n = 1), stroke (n = 1). Acute procedural success rates were 99.1% & 99.5% (p = 0.62) The complication rates were similar for RF; 6.0% vs 5.4% (p = 0.79) and Cryoballoon; 14.0% vs 4.1% (p = 0.09) in both octogenarians and younger cohort respectively. Conclusion In spite of significantly higher overall risk profile of octogenarians undergoing AF ablation, there is no difference in acute procedural success and complication rates as compared to younger patients Catheter ablation of AF in octogenerians Octogenarians n = 216 Matched Controls (aged < 80yrs) n = 216 P value Age (yrs), mean (SD)s 81.9 (1.9) 62.4(9.5) < 0.0001 Females, (%) 52.8 34.7 0.0002 CHA2DS2-VASc, mean (SD) 3.6 (1.2) 1.4 (1.3) < 0.0001 Mean LA size, mm 42.8 ± 8.3mm 45.8 ± 16.2 0.062 Impaired LV function, (%) 23.7 17.9 0.206 IHD, (%) 20.7 5.9 < 0.0001 Procedural time (mins), mean (sd) 150.6 (69.7) 148.9 (64.4) 0.914 All complications, n (%) 17 (7.9) 11 (5.1) 0.073

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Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation without pulmonary vein isolation

EP Europace ◽

10.1093/europace/euab116.258 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽

Author(s):

P Futyma ◽

L Zarebski ◽

A Wrzos ◽

M Futyma ◽

P Kulakowski

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Catheter Ablation ◽

Pulmonary Vein ◽

Pulmonary Vein Isolation ◽

Superior Vena ◽

Vena Cava ◽

Funding Sources ◽

The Right ◽

Ganglionated Plexus

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a cornerstone for catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF), however, long-term efficacy of PVI is frequently below expectations. PVI is invasive, expensive and may be associated with devastating complications. It has been postulated that vagally-mediated AF can be treated by attenuation of parasympathetic drive to the heart using cardioneuroablation by means of radiofrequency CA (RFCA) of the right anterior ganglionated plexus (RAGP), however, data in literature and guidelines are lacking. Purpose To examine the efficacy of RFCA targeting RAGP without PVI in management of vagal AF. Methods We included consecutive 9 male patients with vagal AF who underwent RFCA of RAGP without PVI. RAGP was targeted anatomically from the right atrium (RA) at the postero-septal area below superior vena cava (SVC) and from the left atrium (LA) if needed. The aim was to achieve >30% increase in heart rate (HR) . The follow up consisted of regular visits and Holter ECG conducted every 3 months. Results A total number of 9 patients (age 52 ± 13) with vagally-mediated AF underwent RFCA of RAGP (mean RAGP RF time 147 ± 85, max power 34 ± 8W). The mean procedure time was 60 ± 29min. HR increase >30% was achieved in 8 (89%) patients (pre-RF vs post-RF: 58 ± 8bpm vs 87 ± 12bpm, p = 0.00002) . Transseptal to reach RAGP also from the LA was needed in 2 (22%) patients. There were no major complications during the procedures. The follow up lasted 6 ± 2 months. Antiarrhythmic drugs were discontinued in 8 (89%) patients. There was 1 (11%) AF recurrence in the patient in whom targeted HR acceleration during RFCA was not achieved. B-blockers were administered in 6 (67%) patients due to increased HR and such treatment was well tolerated by all. Conclusions Catheter ablation of RAGP without performing PVI is feasible and can be effective in majority of patients with vagally-mediated AF. Increased HR after such cardioneuroablation can be well controlled using b-blockers and is usually associated with mild symptoms. The role of cardioneuroablation for treatment of vagally-mediated AF needs to be determined in prospective trials. Abstract Figure. Cardioneuroablation in vagal AF

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P-085 Long term follow-up after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: Role of clinical presentation, acute procedural success and absence of early recurrence as predictors of arrhythmia free survival

EP Europace ◽

10.1016/s1099-5129(03)91837-x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. B86-B87 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M CASELLA

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Catheter Ablation ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

Early Recurrence ◽

Free Survival ◽

Long Term Follow Up ◽

Procedural Success

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P2834Diagnostic yield of holter recording after atrial fibrillation ablation - detection of asymptomatic recurrences during a one-year follow-up period

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/ehz748.1144 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

S P G Van Vugt ◽

R H J A Volleberg ◽

S W Westra ◽

J Thannhauser ◽

R Evertz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Catheter Ablation ◽

Diagnostic Yield ◽

Holter Monitoring ◽

Implantable Devices ◽

Cryoballoon Ablation ◽

Procedural Success ◽

One Year ◽

The One

Abstract Background Strategies to detect recurrences after atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation vary widely. Whereas a symptom-based approach may overestimate procedural success due to asymptomatic recurrences, continuous invasive monitoring with implantable devices may be refused by patients and is not routinely recommended. In trial settings, Holter monitoring is recommended at one year after ablation, though more frequent and intensive follow-up is encouraged for more accurate detection of arrhythmia recurrences. Purpose To study the diagnostic yield of Holter monitoring in the detection of asymptomatic recurrent arrhythmias after cryoballoon catheter ablation for AF. Methods Prospective registry on AF patients who underwent cryoballoon ablation with subsequent follow-up in our centre. Follow-up comprised routine (i.e. at 3, 6, and 12 months) and symptom-driven electrocardiographic (ECG) registrations after a three-month blanking period. In addition, patients were scheduled for six-day Holter monitoring shortly after the blanking period, at six months and at the end of the one-year follow-up period. For the current analysis, we studied the Holter recordings of the patients without previously detected arrhythmia recurrence and determined the proportion of asymptomatic recurrences at each respective monitoring period. Results We studied 364 patients with a median age of 60 years (IQR 54–66) and a median CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1 (IQR 1–2). One-year recurrences were documented in 119 (32.7%) patients, of which 90 were initially detected on Holter recording and 39 on ECG registrations (Table). A total of 34 patients did not report symptoms during the documentation of recurrent arrhythmia and comprised 28.6% (34/119) of all recurrences and 37.8% (34/90) of the Holter-detected recurrences. At the three-month Holter registration, 33.3% of the patients with recurrences did not report symptoms, which was 29.4% and 62.5% at the six- and twelve-month registrations, respectively (Figure). Timing and detection of recurrences Time after ablation 3 months 3–6 months 6 months 6–12 months 12 months Patients with Holter-detected recurrences 57/119 (47.9%) 17/119 (14.3%) 16/119 (13.4%) Patients with ECG-documented recurrences 18/119 (15.1%) 11/119 (9.2%) Proportions of asymptomatic recurrences Conclusions In this cohort of AF patients with serial six-day Holter monitoring after cryoballoon ablation, up to one-third of the patients had asymptomatic recurrences. Whereas Holter monitoring shortly after the blanking period detected nearly half of all one-year recurrences, the proportion of asymptomatic detected recurrences was higher in recordings at one year and seems therefore important in the detection of asymptomatic recurrences after catheter ablation.

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