Pulmonary vein isolation by irreversible electroporation: an efficacy and safety study in 20 patients with atrial fibrillation

EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Loh ◽  
MHA Groen ◽  
K Taha ◽  
FHM Wittkampf ◽  
PA Doevendans ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Abbott Background Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a promising new non-thermal ablation technology for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). First in human studies demonstrated the feasibility and safety of IRE PVI. Objective Further investigate the safety of IRE PVI. Methods Twenty patients with symptomatic AF underwent IRE PVI under conscious sedation. Oral anticoagulation was uninterrupted and heparin was administered to maintain activated clotting time at 300-350 seconds. Non-arcing, non-barotraumatic 6 ms, 200 J IRE applications were delivered via a custom non-steerable 8 F, 14-polar circular IRE ablation catheter with a variable hoop diameter (16-27 mm). Voltage mapping  of the left atrium and the PVs was performed before and after ablation with a conventional circular mapping catheter. For both catheters a single transseptal access (8 F introducer, Agilis NxTTM) was used. Adenosine testing was performed after a 30-minute waiting period. On day 1 after ablation, patients underwent esophagoscopy and brain MRI (DWI/FLAIR). If abnormalities were detected, examinations were repeated in due time. Results In 20 patients, all 80 PVs could be successfully isolated with a mean of 11,8 ± 1,4 IRE applications per patient. Average time from first to last IRE application was 22 ± 5 minutes, total procedure duration was 107 ± 13 minutes and total fluoroscopy time was 23 ± 5 minutes. One PV reconnection occurred during adenosine testing, re-isolation was achieved with 2 additional IRE pulses. No periprocedural complications were observed. Brain MRI on day 1 after ablation showed punctate asymptomatic lesions in 3/20 patients (15%). At follow-up MRI the lesion disappeared in 1 patient while in the other 2 patients 1 lesion persisted. Esophagoscopy on day 1 showed an asymptomatic esophageal lesion in 1/20 patients (5%), at repeat esophagoscopy on day 22 the lesion had resolved completely. Conclusion Acute electrical PV isolation could be achieved safely and rapidly by IRE ablation under conscious sedation in 20 patients with symptomatic AF. Acute silent cerebral lesions were detected in 3/20 patients (15%) and may be due to ablation or to changes of therapeutic and diagnostic catheters over a single transseptal access.

Author(s):  
Yue Song ◽  
Jingjing Zheng ◽  
Lianhui Fan

Background Esophageal ulceration and fistula are severe complications of pulmonary vein isolation using thermal ablation. Nonthermal irreversible electroporation (NTIRE) is a promising new technology for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation. NTIRE ablation technology has been used to treat atrial fibrillation; however, the effects of NTIRE on esophageal tissue have not been clearly described. Methods and Results A typical NTIRE electrical protocol was directly applied to esophagi in 84 New Zealand rabbits. Finite element modeling and histological analysis with 120 slices were used to analyze electric field intensity distribution and subsequent tissue changes. A parameter combination of 2000 V/cm multiplied by 90 pulses output is determined to be an effective ablation parameters combination. Within 16 weeks after ablation, no obvious lumen stenosis, epithelial erythema, erosion, ulcer, or fistula was observed in the esophageal tissue. NTIRE effectively results in esophageal cell ablation to death, and subsequently, signs of recovery gradually appear: creeping replacement and regeneration of epithelial basal cells, repair and regeneration of muscle cells, structural remodeling of the muscle layer, and finally the restoration of clear anatomical structures in all layers. Conclusions Monophasic, bipolar NTIRE delivered using plate electrodes in a novel esophageal injury model demonstrates no histopathologic changes to the esophagus at 16 weeks. Data of this study suggest that electroporation ablation is a safe modality for pulsed electroporation ablation near the esophagus.


EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Futyma ◽  
L Zarebski ◽  
A Wrzos ◽  
M Futyma ◽  
P Kulakowski

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


Circulation ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 118 (suppl_18) ◽  
Author(s):  
kiyotake Ishikawa ◽  
Yukihiko Yoshida ◽  
Sumio Morita ◽  
Kenji Furusawa ◽  
Noriyoshi Kanemura ◽  
...  

Background: Left atrium (LA) dilation plays an important role in development and persistence of atrial fibrillation (AF). Some cases show structural reverse remodeling of LA after catheter ablation of AF. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical significance of LA reverse remodeling. Method and Results: Echocardiographic data before and after ablation was obtained in 173 cases who underwent pulmonary vein isolation from January 2006 to April 2008 (74.0% men, 61.0±11 years old; paroxysmal AF 114, persistent AF 34, permanent AF 25). Mean atrial diameter before ablation was 39.0±6.1mm (paroxysmal 37.7±5.6mm, persistent 40.7±5.3mm, and permanent 43.0±6.8mm) and LA reverse remodeling was defined as 10% decrement of LA transverse diameter. Half of the cases were taking anti-arrhythmic drugs after ablation, and AF recurrence occurred in 16.8% (29/173) during mean follow up period of 8.5±6.3 months. Reverse remodeling of LA was seen in 34.1% (59/173) and AF recurrence rate in this group was 11.9% (7/59), whereas 19.3% (22/114) without reverse remodeling (P=0.29). However, limited in patients with LA diameter over 40mm (44.5%; 77/173), 3.2% (1/31) of AF recurrence was seen in those with reverse remodeling, while 21.7% (10/46) without reverse remodeling (P=0.04). LA reverse remodeling was observed significantly frequent in patients without history of hypertension(41.5% without hypertension vs 25.6% with hypertension, P=0.036). Conclusion: LA reverse remodeling after catheter ablation of AF in dilated LA patient is a simple and useful predictor for non-recurrence of AF. Hypertension could be a disturbance for LA reverse remodeling.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 38
Author(s):  
Philipp S. Lange ◽  
Natasa Mihailovic ◽  
Eliane Esser ◽  
Gerrit Frommeyer ◽  
Alicia J. Fischer ◽  
...  

Purpose: To evaluate retinal and optic nerve head (ONH) perfusion in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) before and after catheter ablation of AF with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Methods: 34 eyes of 34 patients with AF and 35 eyes of 35 healthy subjects were included in this study. Flow density data were obtained using spectral-domain OCT-A (RTVue XR Avanti with AngioVue, Optovue, Inc, Fremont, California, USA). The data of the superficial and deep vascular layers of the macula and the ONH (radial peripapillary capillary network, RPC) before and after PVI were extracted and analysed. Results: The flow density in the superficial OCT-angiogram (whole en face) and the ONH (RPC) in patients with AF was significantly lower compared to healthy controls (OCT-A superficial: study group: 48.77 (45.19; 52.12)%; control group: 53.01 (50.00; 54.25)%; p < 0.001; ONH: study group: 51.82 (48.41; 54.03)%; control group: 56.00 (54.35; 57.70)%; p < 0.001;). The flow density in the ONH (RPC) improved significantly in the study group following PVI (before: 51.82 (48.41; 54.03)%; after: 52.49 (50.34; 55.62)%; p = 0.007). Conclusions: Patients with AF showed altered ocular perfusion as measured using OCTA when compared with healthy controls. Rhythm control using PVI significantly improved ocular perfusion as measured using OCT-A. Non-contact imaging using OCTA provides novel information about the central global microperfusion of patients with AF.


2019 ◽  
pp. 49-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Vesela ◽  
P. Osmancik ◽  
D. Herman ◽  
R. Prochazkova

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone in the treatment of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). Some research has suggested studies have shown that modification of ganglionated plexuses (GP), performed with PVI, could lead to even better outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of PVI on the autonomic system. Heart rate variability (HRV) was used as a marker of autonomic system activity. Twenty-six PAF patients underwent PVI (PVI group) and twenty patients underwent PVI plus a GP ablation (GP group). In each group, 5 min long ECG signals obtained before and after the electrophysiology EP study were analyzed. Time and frequency domain parameters were evaluated. Vagal responses during ablation were observed in 15 (58 %) patients in the PVI group and in 12 (60 %) patients in the GP group. The change in normalized power in the low frequency (LF) and in the LF/HF ratio, before and after ablation, was statistically significant in both groups (LF/HF 2.6+/-1.6 before vs. 1.4+/-1.7 after ablation in PVI group and LF/HF 3.3+/-2.6 before vs. 1.8+/-1.9 after ablation in the GP group). Relative to heart rate variability parameters, there were no differences between PVI and PVI + plus GP ablation.


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