Simultaneous Catheter and Epicardial Ablations Enable a Comprehensive Atrial Fibrillation Procedure

Author(s):  
Andy C. Kiser ◽  
Mark D. Landers ◽  
Ker Boyce ◽  
Matjaž šinkovec ◽  
Andrej Pernat ◽  
...  

Objective Transmural and contiguous ablations and a comprehensive lesion pattern are difficult to create from the surface of a beating heart but are critical to the successful treatment of persistent, isolated atrial fibrillation. A codisciplinary simultaneous epicardial (surgical) and endocardial (catheter) procedure (Convergent procedure) addresses these issues. Methods Patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation who failed medical treatment were evaluated. Using only pericardioscopy, the surgeon performed near-complete epicardial isolation of the pulmonary veins and a “box” lesion on the posterior left atrium using unipolar radiofrequency ablation. Simultaneous endocardial catheter radiofrequency ablation completed pulmonary vein isolation, performed a mitral annular and cavotricuspid isthmus line of block, and debulked the coronary sinus. Twelve-month results for the Convergent procedure were compared with 12-month results for concomitant and pericardioscopic (stand-alone transdiaphragmatic/thoracoscopic) atrial fibrillation procedures using unipolar radiofrequency ablation. Results Sixty-five patients underwent the Convergent procedure (mean age, 62 y; mean body surface area, 2.17 m2; mean atrial fibrillation duration, 4.8 y; mean left atrial size, 5.2 cm). Ninety-two percent were in persistent or long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. At 12 months, evaluation with 24-hour Holter monitors found 82% of patients in sinus rhythm, while only 47% of pericardioscopic and 77% of concomitant patients treated with unipolar radiofrequency ablation were in sinus rhythm. Conclusions Simultaneous epicardial and endocardial ablation improves outcomes for patients with persistent or longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation. This successful collaboration between cardiac surgeon and electrophysiologist is an important treatment option for patients with large left atriums and chronic atrial fibrillation.

EP Europace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Lepillier ◽  
X Copie ◽  
W Escande ◽  
M Niro ◽  
O Paziaud ◽  
...  

Abstract .  Background: Dedicated ablation strategies for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) have shown a limited success rate with frequent atrial tachycardia (AT) occurrence. Recent studies suggest that atrial arrhythmogenic sites are related to tissular heterogeneities and increased fibrosis can be identified as reduced bipolar voltage areas. . Purpose: Targeting low voltage areas (LVA) in addition to PVI may represent an efficient strategy for the ablation of persistent AF, and may limit the risk of AT recurrence. . Methods: We prospectively included consecutive patients with symptomatic persistent AF. The ablation strategy consisted of the following steps: circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI), Sinus rhythm restoration by electrical cardioversion, voltage map performed in sinus rhythm. Complementary RFA was guided by low voltage areas (0.2-0.4 mV). Success was defined as freedom from AF/ atrial flutter or atrial arrhythmia at 12 months or more. . Results:  101 patients (mean age: 62.5 +/- 10.4 years, men 73%) were included with persistent AF or long standing AF (7%). Procedure time was: 154 ± 25 min and fluoroscopy time: 184 ± 90 sec. Time of RFA was 44.7 +/- 12 min. Mean LA volume was 182 +/- 38 mL. LVA were found in 50 patients (49.5%). The distribution of these areas was:  30 anterior wall 29.7%), 21 septum (20.7%), 19 roof (18.8%), 5 inferior (4.9%), 11 left appendage (10.8%), 6 posterior (5.9%), 3 mitral isthmus (3%). RF ablation was realized for all LVA and homogenisation was attempt. After a single procedure at a mean FU of 12 months, 72.3% of patients were free of symptomatic AF. 27 patients had recurrence of atrial AF: 7 permanent, 15 persistent and 5 paroxysmal AF. Predictive factors of recurrence of AF were: long standing persistent AF, large left atrial volume (> 205 mL), shorts AF cycle length (< 168 ms) and reduce LEVF (< 45%). Atrial tachycardia occurred in 5 patients (4,9%). Mechanisms of AT were: typical cavo-tricuspid flutter in one patient, peri-mitral flutter in 2 patients, and atrial focal tachycardia (close to pulmonary veins) in 2 patients. . Conclusion: These results suggest that PVI with complementary RF ablation guided on low voltage areas is an efficient strategy for symptomatic persistent AF, and reduce the recurrence of AT following this ablation strategy.


2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 38-47
Author(s):  
M. G Bubnova ◽  
D. M Aronov ◽  
M. M Makhinova

The purpose of this article is to discuss the issues related to the treatment of patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). The article discusses the indications for patients with radiofrequency catheter (RFC) ablation of the mouths of the pulmonary veins and based on the results of randomized clinical trials analyzed the clinical effects of this procedure, depending on the type of AF. The article discusses the initiation of antiarrhythmic therapy and the duration of its application after RFC.


Author(s):  
V.V. Boiko ◽  
◽  
S.V. Rybchynskyi ◽  
D.O. Lopin ◽  
A.S. Vnukova ◽  
...  

This article describes the first in Ukraine clinical experience of alcohol ablation of Marshall’s vein in the complex interventional treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). Current scientific data suggest that when drug therapy is ineffective, ablation of AF substrate is a most important stage in the treatment of arrhythmia, as well as optimal method of control and prevention of further cardiovascular events. The standard treatment for paroxysmal AF is radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVI). However, due to the involvement of other pathogenetic mechanisms, a sole PVI is less effective in persistent forms of arrhythmia. For example, in persistent AF forms pathological electrical activity often occurs beyond the pulmonary veins. In particular, it can be observed in the area of ​​the posterior wall of the left atrium and mitral isthmus resulting in perimitral atrial flutter. RFA in this area can reduce the rate of arrhythmia recurrence. However, achieving a stable bidirectional conduction block in the area of ​​lateral mitral isthmus with endocardial RFA is technically challenging. An option to improve the effectiveness of RFA in this case, apart from epicardial RFA in the distal coronary sinus, is an alternative method, i.e. alcoholic ablation of Marshall’s vein by introducing ethanol into its lumen, occluded by a balloon. The presented clinical case shows combined variant of persistent AF minimally invasive treatment using alcoholic Marshall’s vein ablation and RFA with PVI target. Key words: atrial fibrillation, radiofrequency ablation, alcoholic ablation, Marshall vein, clinical case.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. e244484
Author(s):  
Nina Dhillon ◽  
Nick Baniak ◽  
Shravan Nosib

A 63-year-old man with hypertension was referred for catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation. He was diagnosed with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation approximately 6 years prior. Over the previous 12 months, his atrial fibrillation had become persistent despite medication optimisation for rate control and elective cardioversion. Sinus rhythm was restored briefly. The decision was made to pursue catheter ablation and isolation of the pulmonary veins. On anaesthetic induction, the patient suffered from a hypertensive crisis. The procedure was aborted, and the patient was admitted to hospital for investigations of secondary hypertension. Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with bilateral pheochromocytomas. This case outlines the diagnostic challenges and cardiac comorbidities associated with bilateral pheochromocytomas.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4S) ◽  
pp. 82-88
Author(s):  
E. A. Khomenko ◽  
S. E. Mamchur ◽  
K. A. Kozyrin ◽  
R. S. Tarasov ◽  
K. V. Bakovsky

Aim. Evaluation of short- and mid-term (up to one year) results of aт atrial fibrillation thoracoscopic radiofrequency ablation (TRFA) combined with left atrial appendage resection.Methods. 10 patients with persistent AF were included in the study. In 5 cases surgical ablation was performed as the primary intervention and in 5 cases surgery were preceded by two unsuccessful catheter procedures. Age of the patients was 54.4 (41; 63) years, duration of arrhythmic anamnesis – 5.6 (4.8; 6.8) years, anteroposterior size of the left atrium – 4.7 (45; 51 mm), LV ejection fraction – 63 (58; 68) %. TRFA included an isolation of right and left pulmonary veins, ablation lines along the roof and base of posterior wall of the left atrium, left atrial appendage resection.Results. In all cases of TRFA exit-block from the pulmonary veins was achieved. Among 10 procedures, a stable sinus rhythm was documented in 6 patients. In the remaining 4 patients AF was observed only in one case, and the other three demonstrated atypical atrial flutter, that given us a reason to repeat catheter procedures. In three cases of left atrial flutter, catheter ablation led to sinus rhythm restoration, and in case of AF and total sclerosis of left atrium a decision to refuse RF ablation was made. Complications were presented by a single case of bilateral phrenic nerve palsy, which required plication of the diaphragm, and two spontaneously resolved pulmonary atelectasis.Conclusion. The efficacy of atrial fibrillation thoracoscopic radiofrequency ablation during the follow-up period of one year was 90% regarding selective hybrid approach (thoracoscopic + catheter procedure). Procedure safety of TRFA was much lower than that of catheter ablation: the total number of small and big complications was 30%.


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