scholarly journals Comparing single approaches success in index atrial fibrillation ablation

EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Caldeira Da Rocha ◽  
R Carvalho ◽  
A Ferreira ◽  
T Rodrigues ◽  
G Silva ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Atrial Fibrillation (AF) ablation can be performed by inducing pulmonary vein electrical isolation. There are two widely used approaches: point-by-point and single-shot.  Catheter AF ablation is effective in restoring and maintaining sinus rhythm. However, efficacy is limited by high rate of AF recurrence, after an initially successful procedure. Purpose To evaluate AF index ablation successfulness using single-shot techniques and compare them to conventional one (point-by-point using irrigated- tip ablation catheter). Methods We analyzed, from a single center, all patients submitted to an index AF ablation procedure and its successfulness. The last was defined as AF, atrial tachycardia or flutter recurrence (with a duration superior to 30seconds) event- free survival, determined by holter and/or event recorder. These exams were performed after 6 and 12months and then annually, until 5years post procedure were accomplished. Results From November 2004 to November 2020, 821patients were submitted to first AF ablation (male patients 67,2%(N = 552), mean age of 59 ± 12years old). Paroxysmal AF(PAF) was present in 62,9%(N = 516), with short-duration persistent AF in 21,8%(N = 179) and long-standing persistent in 15,3%(N = 126). Ablation techniques were irrigated tip catheter point-by-point (PbP)ablation in 266 patients (32,4%) and single-shot (SS)techniques on the remaining 555(67,6%), including PVAC in 294(35,8%),225(27,4%) submitted to cryoablation and 36(4,4%) to nMARQ. Globally, AF ablation had one-year success rate of 72,5%, and 56,2% at 3 years. A significant difference between AF duration type was found: Arrhythmic recurrence risk was 58% higher in persistent AF(PeAF) (HR 1.58;95%IC 1,22-2,04; p < 0.001). In patients presenting with PAF prior to the procedure, success was significantly higher in those submitted to SS technique(HR:0.69;95%CI 0,47-0,90;p = 0.046), while those with PeAF had similar results. Conclusion In this single center analysis almost three-quarters had achieved one-year event-free survival, and more than a half reached long-term freedom from atrial arrhythmia. Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation submitted to single-shot procedure presented with a higher success-rate. Moreover, our study confirmed previous data on the importance of atrial fibrillation classification to postprocedural outcomes. Abstract Figure. Survival Curves

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_G) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Magnocavallo ◽  
Domenico Giovanni Della Rocca ◽  
Carlo Lavalle ◽  
Cristina Chimenti ◽  
Gianni Carola ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Despite advances in success rate of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) ablation, outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in patients with persistent AF are highly variable. Early persistent AF (EPsAF) is defined as AF that is sustained beyond 7 days but is less than 3 months in duration. Arrhythmia-free survival data after RFCA in this specific population are still limited. We sought to report the outcomes of RFCA in the subgroup of patients with EPsAF, compared to those with PAF and with ‘late’ persistent AF (LPsAF) lasting between 3 and 12 months. Methods and results Data from 1143 consecutive AF patients receiving their first RFCA were prospectively collected. Patients with EPsAF (n = 190) were compared with PAF (n = 531) and LPsAF (n = 422) patients. All patients received pulmonary vein antrum isolation + posterior wall and sustained non-pulmonary vein (PV) trigger ablation. Non-sustained non-PV triggers were ablated based on operator discretion. Non-PV triggers were defined as sites of firing leading to sustained (>30 s) or non-sustained arrhythmias (<30 s, including premature atrial contractions ≥10 beats/min) with earliest activation outside the PVs. Mean age of the population was 64 ± 11 years. Female patients were more in PAF group (39%) compared to EPsAF (26%) and LPsAF (28%) (P < 0.001). There was no difference in other clinical characteristics among populations. Non-PV triggers were detected more in EPsAF [127 (66.8%)], and LPsAF [296 (70.1%)] patients compared to PAF [185 (34.8%)] (P < 0.001).One-year arrhythmia-free survival rate after a single procedure was 75.0% (398), 74.2% (141), and 64.5% (272) in PAF, EPsAF, and LPsAF, respectively. Success rate was significantly higher in PAF {[HR: 0.67 (0.53, 0.84), P = 0.001] and EPsAF [HR: 0.67 (0.49, 0.93)], P = 0.015} compared to LPsAF. Conclusions In patients with EPsAF, RFCA may result in significantly better freedom from atrial arrhythmias, compared to LPsAF. In this cohort, ablation might be reasonable as first line approach to improve outcomes and prevent AF progression.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
E Pagourelias ◽  
V Vassilikos ◽  
C Blomstrom-Lundqvist ◽  
J Kautzner ◽  
A.P Maggioni ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Catheter ablation has emerged as an effective therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Despite high success rates of the method, there is still heterogeneity of outcomes and complications across Europe. A center's volume of AF ablations performed per year might also play an important role in the success rate of the procedure as compared to other confounding factors which may be different among centers (such as type of AF ablated, patient selection criteria, referral bias and/or ablation strategy). Purpose Aim of the study was to investigate differences in clinical outcomes and complication rates among European AF ablation centers related to the volume of ablations performed annually. Methods Data for this analysis were extracted from the European AF Ablation Long-Term Study, a prospective registry designed to describe the clinical epidemiology of patients undergoing AF ablation. Based on 33th and 67th percentiles of number of AF ablations performed, the participating centers were classified into high volume (HV) (≥180 procedures/year), medium volume (MV) (<180 and ≥74/year) and low volume (LV) (<74/year). One-year success was defined as patient survival free from any atrial arrhythmia, from the end of the 3-month blanking period to 12 months following the ablation procedure. Results A total of 91 centers in 26 European countries enrolled 3368 patients. There was a significantly higher reporting of cardiovascular complications in LV centers (5.2%), especially pericarditis and cardiac perforation, while the HV and MV centers reported cardiovascular complications in 3.0 and 4.3% of cases, respectively (p=0.039). Additionally, stroke incidence after ablation was significantly higher in LV centers (0.5% of cases vs 0% in HV and MV centers, p=0.008). One-year success after AF ablation ranged from 77.8% in HV vs 70.5% in LV vs 77.3% in MV centers (p<0.001). Despite these unadjusted differences, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis based on adjusted data demonstrated, however, that there were not significant differences in complication and recurrence rates according to volume's center (p=0.328 and p=0.476 accordingly, Figure A). This result was mainly driven by a proportional increase in severity/risk of cases ablated (as evidenced by CHA2DS2-VASc score and AF type) in relation to a center's procedural volume (Figure B). Conclusions Low volume centers present slightly higher cardiovascular complications' and stroke incidence and a lower unadjusted success rate after AF ablation. On the other hand, adjusted overall complication and recurrence rates are non-significantly different among different volume centers, a fact reflecting inhomogeneity of patient and procedural profiles and a counterbalance between expertise and risk level among participating centers. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shengli Shen ◽  
Yingjin Wang ◽  
Xudong He ◽  
Ning Ma ◽  
Feng Gao ◽  
...  

Background: Endovascular treatment for intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) has been developed. However, the intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) presents a particular challenge due to the location and tortuous route, and the outcomes of endovascular treatment in patients with stenosis of the intracranial ICA still have not been reported. This article retrospectively investigated the 30-day and 1-year outcomes of tailored endovascular treatment for patients with severe intracranial ICA stenosis from a single center.Methods: Between June 2014 and December 2017, 96 consecutive patients with severe atherosclerotic stenosis (70–99%) of the intracranial ICA were managed with endovascular treatment in Beijing Tiantan Hospital. Three different kinds of treatments [angioplasty with balloon dilatation alone (BD group), balloon-mounted stent (BMS group), and self-expanding stent (SES group)] were performed according to the characteristics of the lesions. The primary endpoints included any stroke or death within 30 days and ipsilateral ischemic stroke afterwards within 1 year. Secondary endpoints included the revascularization success rate (residual stenosis <30%) and the restenosis rate (stenosis ≥ 50%) within 1 year.Results: The 30-day death rate was 0, and the stroke rate of all patients was 7.3% (7/96). The stroke rate was higher in the BD group (15.8%) and SES group (9.8%) than in the BMS group (0%) (p = 0.047). Thirteen (13.5%) patients suffered at least one onset of ischemic stroke in the ipsilateral ICA territory within 1 year, and there was no significant difference among the three groups (p = 0.165). The overall revascularization success rate was 93.8%, and the revascularization success rate was significantly higher in the SES group (100%) than in the BD group (78.9%) (p = 0.006). The restenosis rate of all patients within 12 months was 20.8%, and there was no significant difference among the three groups. Patients with Mori type C target lesions were more likely to suffer stroke within 30 days (25%) and restenosis within 1 year (31.3%).Conclusions: Both the 30-day and 1-year outcomes of tailored endovascular treatments seemed to be acceptable in the treatment of symptomatic atherosclerotic stenosis of the intracranial ICA. However, this needs to be confirmed by further investigation, preferably in large multicenter randomized controlled clinical trials.


Author(s):  
Tauseef Akhtar ◽  
Usama Daimee ◽  
Bhradeev Sivasambu ◽  
Thomas Boyle ◽  
Armin Arbab-Zadeh ◽  
...  

Background: Data related to electrophysiologic characteristics of atypical atrial flutter (AFL) following atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and its prognostic value on repeat ablation success are limited. Methods: We studied consecutive patients undergoing a repeat LA ablation for either recurrent AF or atypical AFL, following 3 months after index AF ablation, between January 2012 and July 2019. The demographics, procedural data, complications, and 1-year arrhythmia-free survival rates were recorded for each subject after the first repeat ablation. Results: Of the total 336 included patients, 102 underwent a repeat ablation for atypical AFL and 234 for recurrent AF. The mean age was 63.7  10.7 years, and 72.6 % of patients were male. The atypical AFL cohort had significantly higher LA diameters (4.6 vs. 4.4 cm, p=0.04) and LA volume indices (LAVi; 85.1 vs. 75.4 ml/m2, p=0.03) compared to AF patients at repeat ablation. Atypical AFLs were roof-dependent in 35.6% and peri-mitral in 23.8% of cases. Major complications at repeat ablation occurred in 0.9 % of the total cohort. Arrhythmia-free survival at one year was significantly higher in the recurrent atypical AFL than the recurrent AF cohort (75.5 vs. 65.0 %, p=0.04). Conclusion: In our series, roof-dependent flutter is the most common form of atypical atrial flutter post AF ablation. Patients developing atypical AFL after index AF ablation have greater LA dimensions than patients with recurrent AF. The success rate of first repeat ablation is significantly higher among patients with recurrent atypical AFL compared to recurrent AF after index AF ablation.


Author(s):  
Martin Aguilar ◽  
Laurent Macle ◽  
Marc W. Deyell ◽  
Robert Yao ◽  
Nathaniel Hawkins ◽  
...  

Background: Various non-invasive intermittent rhythm monitoring strategies have been used to assess arrhythmia recurrences in trials of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. We determined whether a frequency and duration of non-invasive rhythm monitoring could be identified that accurately detects arrhythmia recurrences and approximates the AF burden derived from continuous monitoring using an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM). Methods: The rhythm history of 346 patients enrolled in the CIRCA-DOSE trial was reconstructed. Using computer simulations, we evaluated event-free survival, sensitivity, negative predictive value, and AF burden of a range of non-invasive monitoring strategies, including those used in contemporary AF ablation trials. Results: A total of 126,290 monitoring days were included in the analysis. At 12 months, 164 patients experienced atrial arrhythmia recurrence as documented by the ICM (1-year event-free survival 52.6%). Most non-invasive monitoring strategies used in AF ablation trials had poor sensitivity for detecting arrhythmia recurrence. Sensitivity increased with the intensity of monitoring, with serial (3) short-duration monitors (24-/48-hour ECG monitors) missing a substantial proportion of recurrences (sensitivity 15.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) 8.9-20.7%] and 24.5% [95% CI 16.2-30.6%], respectively). Serial longer-term monitors (14-day ECG monitors) more closely approximated the gold-standard ICM (sensitivity 64.6% [95% CI 53.6-74.3%]). AF burden derived from short-duration monitors significantly over-estimated the true AF burden in patients with recurrences. Increasing monitoring duration resulted in improved correlation and concordance between non-invasive estimates of the invasive AF burden (R2 = 0.85 and interclass correlation coefficient = 0.91 for serial [3] 14-day ECG monitors vs ICM). Conclusions: Detection of arrhythmia recurrence following ablation is highly sensitive to the monitoring strategy employed, between-trial discrepancies in outcomes may reflect different monitoring protocols. Based on measures of agreement, serial long-term (7-14 day) intermittent monitors accumulating at least 28 days of annual monitoring provide estimates of AF burden comparable to ICM. However, ICMs outperform intermittent monitoring for arrhythmia detection, and should be considered the gold standard for clinical trials.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Matsunaga ◽  
Y Egami ◽  
M Yano ◽  
M Yamato ◽  
R Shutta ◽  
...  

Abstract Background It has been reported that frequent use of touch-up focal ablation catheters was related to worse outcomes after cryoballoon (CB) atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. It is unknown whether non-use of touch-up focal ablation catheters strategy affects the outcome of AF ablation. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether non-use of touch-up focal ablation catheters strategy improve clinical outcome after AF ablation using CB. Methods A total of 151 consecutive patients who received CB ablation from February 2017 to August 2019 were enrolled. Non-use of a touch-up focal ablation catheters strategy was started from February 2018. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the type of strategy. In the non-touch-up group, pulmonary veins were isolated without touch-up focal ablation catheters as much as possible and in conventional group, touch-up focal ablation catheters were used as required. The 1-year atrial tachyarrhythmia free survival without class 1 or 3 antiarrhythmic drugs after a 90-day blanking period was assessed between the 2 groups. Results The conventional group consisted of 76 patients and the non-touch-up group consisted of 75 patients. Baseline characteristics were comparable between 2 groups. Touch-up focal ablation catheters were used more in the conventional group (11 patients, 14%) than non-touch-up group (0 patients, 0%) (p<0.001). Pulmonary isolation was achieved in all patients of both groups. Atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence occurred more frequently in the non-touch-up group (15/75 patients, 20%) than conventional group (7/76 patients, 9%) (p=0.045). Conclusion Non-use of a touch-up focal ablation catheters strategy may be related to worse outcome after CB AF ablation. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


2014 ◽  
Vol 8s1 ◽  
pp. CMC.S15036 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Dewire ◽  
Irfan M. Khurram ◽  
Farhad Pashakhanloo ◽  
David Spragg ◽  
Joseph E. Marine ◽  
...  

Introduction Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after ablation is associated with left atrial (LA) fibrosis on late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We sought to determine pre-ablation, clinical characteristics that associate with the extent of LA fibrosis in patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF. Methods and Results Consecutive patients presenting for catheter ablation of AF were enrolled and underwent LGE-MRI prior to initial AF ablation. The extent of fibrosis as a percentage of total LA myocardium was calculated in all patients prior to ablation. The cohort was divided into quartiles based on the percentage of fibrosis. Of 60 patients enrolled in the cohort, 13 had <5% fibrosis (Group 1), 15 had 5-7% fibrosis (Group 2), 17 had 8-13% fibrosis (Group 3), and 15 had 14-36% fibrosis (Group 4). The extent of LA fibrosis was positively associated with time in continuous AF, and the presence of persistent or longstanding persistent AF. However, no statistically significant difference was observed in the presence of comorbid conditions, age, BMI, LA volume, or family history of AF among the four groups. After adjusting for diabetes and hypertension in a multivariable linear regression model, paroxysmal AF remained independently and negatively associated with the extent of fibrosis (-4.0 ± 1.8, P = 0.034). Conclusion The extent of LA fibrosis in patients undergoing AF ablation is associated with AF type and time in continuous AF. Our results suggest that the presence and duration of AF are primary determinants of increased atrial LGE.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 180-181
Author(s):  
L. Chatzis ◽  
V. Pezoulas ◽  
A. Goules ◽  
I. Stergiou ◽  
C. Mavragani ◽  
...  

Background:Sjögren’s Syndrome (SS) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, carrying the highest lymphoma risk among autoimmune diseases, with significant impact on mortality and morbidity of patients.Objectives:To describe: i) the clinical phenotype of SS, ii) the histologic type, stage, treatment options regarding lymphomas and iii) the prognosis of patients with SS related lymphoproliferative disorders.Methods:Eight hundred and fifteen consecutive SS patients’ records from a single center fulfilling the 2016 ACR/EULAR were reviewed retrospectively for the purpose of this study. One hundred twenty-one patients with a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) were identified and enrolled in the study population. Cumulative clinical, laboratory and histologic data were recorded and overall survival as well as event free survival curves were constructed using the Kaplan-Meier method. An event was defined as a disease progression, lymphoma relapse, treatment failure, histologic transformation, development of a 2nd lymphoma or death from any cause.Results:From 121 pSS patients with lymphoma the most common histologic type encountered was MALT lymphoma (92/121, 76,0%) followed by DLBCL (11/121, 9.0%) and NMZL (8/119, 6.6%). The remaining 10 patients had various lymphomas of B (follicular, lymphoplasmacytic, chronic lymphocytic leukemia} and T cell origin (peripheral T cell lymphoma not otherwise specified, primary cutaneous T cell lymphoma, angioimmunoblastic t-cell lymphoma). Permanent salivary gland enlargement (66.1%, 80/121), palpable purpura (34,7% 42/121), peripheral nervous involvement (9,9%, 12/121), interstitial lung disease (8,2%, 10/121) presence of serum cryoglobulins (38,7%, 43/111) and C4 hypocomplementemia (69,8% 81/116) present at least 1 year before the development of lymphoma were the main pSS related features. The median age at lymphoma diagnosis was 58 years old (range 29-82) while MALT lymphomas developed earlier compared to DLBCL from pSS diagnosis (8 vs 3 OR= 3.84, 95%CI: 0.29 to 10.46; p=0.0266). The commonest biopsy proven extranodal sites included the labial minor salivary (43,8% patients) and parotid glands (30,5%) while 11% of patients had more than 1 extranodal sites affected. Bone marrow involvement was evident in 24,3% of patients (29/119) while nodal involvement in 35,5% (42/118). The majority of patients (65%) had limited disease (stage I or II). A watch and wait therapeutic policy was chosen in 40 patients while the rest received rituximab with or without chemotherapy. The 10-year survival and event free rates were 79% and 45,5% for MALT lymphomas, 40,9% and 24,2% for DLBCL and 46% and 31% for NMZL respectively (Figure 1). The Mantel-Cox log-rank comparison of the overall survival curves revealed a statistically significant difference (p=0.0016) among lymphoma subtypes.Figure 1.Overall and event free survival of SS-associated lymphoma patients. A. Kaplan-Meier overall survival analysis. B. A Kaplan-Meier event free survival analysis.Conclusion:This is the largest single center series of SS- associated lymphoma patients, providing a detailed description of SS and lymphoma related features, combined with a 10-year survival and event free curves for the first time in the literature.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.


EP Europace ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
ANL Hermans ◽  
P Van Duijnhoven ◽  
DVM Verhaert ◽  
S Philippens ◽  
M Lahaije ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background. Nowadays frequently deployed invasive catheter ablation therapy in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) is unfortunately associated with distress such as preoperative anxiety. Improving preoperative patient information may lower anxiety towards AF ablation procedures. Purpose. To evaluate whether a lifelike 360˚ virtual reality (VR) patient information video decreases anxiety levels and improves patient preparation towards AF ablation as compared to standard preoperative patient information. Methods. Consecutive patients planned for AF ablation were recruited from the outpatient AF clinic and were randomized into two groups: the control group and the intervention group (VR group). The control group received standard preoperative information through oral counselling and information leaflets, the VR group received the standard information as well as a short dedicated 360˚ VR video (via in-hospital VR headset and disposable cardboard VR glasses for home use). Online questionnaires (aimed at information provision, anxiety and procedural experience) were administered both pre- and post-ablation. Results. A total of 103 patients (39.8% female, age 64 [58-71] years) were included in the analysis. The VR group (n = 58) reported to be clearly better informed about catheterization laboratory environment (78% vs. 73%) and the course of the procedure (82% vs. 78%), indicated fewer concerns about the procedure (47% vs. 55%) and were eager to learn even more (82% vs. 74%) as compared to controls (n = 45). However, there was no significant difference in the anxiety scores between the VR group and controls (10 [8-12] vs. 10 [8-14], p = 0.548). Home use of the video was satisfactory and resulted in discussion with relatives. Patient overall satisfaction was higher in VR group as compared to controls (84% vs. 81%). Conclusions. This study shows that a dedicated 360˚ VR video reduces concerns but does not reduce anxiety scores. Though, it easily improves procedural knowledge, patient information and patient satisfaction. Especially in times of remote patient care, this new way of informing patients may be of added value.


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.


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