Abstract 16896: Electrogram Morphology Recurrence to Characterize Drivers of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Findings at Initial versus Redo Catheter Ablation

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghaith Zaatari ◽  
Jorge Bohorquez ◽  
Raul Mitrani ◽  
Jason Ng ◽  
Justin Ng ◽  
...  

Background: Electrogram (EGM) morphology recurrence (EMR) mapping of persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) quantifies consistency of activation at each site and is expected to be high and rapid near drivers of PeAF. Objective: To compare EMR in the left (LA) and right atrium (RA) in patients undergoing first- vs second-time PeAF catheter ablation (CA). Methods: Multisite bipolar EGM mapping of the LA (265±153 sites) and RA (224±148 sites) prior to CA for PeAF was performed in 40 patients (29 males, age 63±9 yrs, CHA2DS2-VASc 2.4±1.5, LVEF 48±12%) undergoing first (Group 1, n=31) or second-time (Group 2, n=9) CA. After cross-correlation of each automatically detected EGM with every other EGM in the recording, the most recurrent EGM morphology was identified and its frequency (Rec%) and cycle length of recurrence (CL R ) were computed (figure). The minimum CL R sites were identified. Results: In group 1, shortest CL R was in the LA in 26 patients (84%) and RA in 5 patients (16%). In the LA, there were 1 (n=23), 2 (n=2), or 3 (n=1) areas of shortest CL R , most commonly in the pulmonary veins (PV; n=19). In the RA, there was only 1 area of shortest CL R . Minimum CL R was 174.1±25.4 ms (LA-179.6±37.4 vs RA-207.9±34.5, p=0.0004), with Rec% 95±10%. In group 2, shortest CL R was in the LA in 5 patients and RA in 5 patients (56%)– one had both LA and RA. In the LA/RA, there were 1 (n=3/4) or 2 (n=2/1) areas of shortest CL R . The most common LA site was non-PV (6/7, 85.7%). The minimum CL R was 182.1±26.2ms (LA-190.8±36.2 vs RA-196.0±30.5, p=0.6), with Rec% 96±5%. Conclusion: In 61% of patients undergoing initial CA for PeAF, EMR identified LA drivers in the PVs which may explain why PV isolation has been reported to have 50-60% success rates in PeAF. In patients undergoing a 2 nd ablation for PeAF, EMR identified predominantly nonPV drivers with even distribution of shortest CL R between RA and LA and diminished CL R gradient between the LA and RA. EMR may be a useful mapping tool to characterize potential drivers of PeAF.

Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanghamitra Mohanty ◽  
CHINTAN G TRIVEDI ◽  
Faiz Baqai ◽  
Domenico G Della Rocca ◽  
Carola Gianni ◽  
...  

Background: Ablation strategy for long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) is highly variable with diverse outcomes. Objective: We evaluated the change in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) with different ablation approaches in LSPAF patients with heart failure (HF). Methods: Consecutive LSPAF patients with HF (LVEF <40%) undergoing their first catheter ablation at our center were included in the analysis. Based on the ablation strategy determined by the operators, patients were classified into two groups; group 1: received standard ablation (PV isolation+ isolation of left atrial posterior wall and superior vena cava) and group 2: standard ablation plus isolation of coronary sinus (CS) and left atrial appendage (LAA). High-dose isoproterenol challenge (20-30 μg for 10-15 min) was utilized to reveal LAA and CS triggers; electrical isolation was the procedural endpoint for LAA and CS ablation. If PVs were electrically silent due to presence of severe scar, LAA and CS were empirically isolated even in the absence of detectable triggers. LVEF was measured by transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) performed at baseline and 6 months post-ablation. Patients were monitored for arrhythmia-recurrence off-antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) as per our standard protocol. Results: Group 1 included 52 patients and group 2 had 106. Baseline characteristics were comparable across groups (age: 66.2 ± 7.3 and 64.4 ± 9.4; male: 41 (78.8%) and 87 (82.1%); BMI: 32.3 ± 6.8 and 30.4 ± 6.4 in group 1 and 2). Mean baseline LVEF (%) was 36.2±5.5 and 35.1±8.3 in group 1 and 2 respectively (p=NS). At the 6-month TEE, mean LVEF was significantly higher than the baseline value in group 2 (47.7±11 vs 35.1±8.3, p<0.001), whereas in group 1, although there was a positive trend, the change was statistically non-significant (39.4±10 vs. 36.2±5.5, p=0.36). A total of 7 (13.5%) patients from group 1 and 89 (84%) from group 2 were arrhythmia-free off-AAD at 1.5 year of follow-up (p<0.001). Conclusion: In our study population, ablation strategy including LAA and CS isolation along with the standard ablation resulted in significant improvement in the LVEF as well as higher rate of arrhythmia-free survival.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
YR Kim

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background This study aimed to identify the volume left atrium (LA) and left atrial appendage (LAA) calculated by multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is related to the long term out come of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial fibrillation(AF). Methods We analyzed data from 99 consecutive patients who referred for RFCA due to drug-refractory symptomatic AF (age 56 ± 10 years; 74% men; 64% paroxysmal AF). Prior to the procedure, all patients underwent ECG-gated 128 channels MDCT scan for assessment for pulmonary vein  anatomy, LA and LAA volume estimation, and electro-anatomical mapping integration.  Results The volume of LA and LAA calculated by CT was 142.6 ± 32.2 mL and 14.7 ± 6.0 mL, respectively. LA volume was smaller in paroxysmal AF(PAF) than persistent AF(PeAF) (133.9 ± 29.3 mL vs. 158.0 ± 31.4 mL, p &lt; 0.0001) but  LAA volume was not significantly different between PAF and PeAF(13.9 ± 5.0 mL vs. 16.3 ± 7.3 mL, p = 0.09). Patients were classified into 2 groups by the LA volume of 160mL; group 1  (LA volume &lt; 160mL,n = 73) and group 2 (LA volume ≥160mL, n = 26). After a mean follow up 12.6 ± 5.3 months, 78.8% of the patients maintained sinus rhythm after the index ablation. AF free survival was significantly greater in group  1 than group 2 (84.9% vs. 61.5% p = 0.017). No relationship was found between LAA volume and the outcome of RFCA. Multivariate analysis showed that the LA volume &gt;160mL was an independent predictor of arrhythmia-free after ablation (Hazard ration 2.55, 95% confidential interval 1.02-6.35, p = 0.045) Conclusion Higher LA volume is independent risk factor for AF recurrence after RFCA but not LAA volume. The LA volume quickly assessed by MDCT could be a good predictor of long term recurrence after AF ablation.


EP Europace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1197-1205
Author(s):  
Shu-Nan He ◽  
Ying Tian ◽  
Liang Shi ◽  
Yan-Jiang Wang ◽  
Bo-Qia Xie ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims Circumferential pulmonary vein isolation can be effective as sole treatment for persistent atrial fibrillation. However, identifying those patients who will respond to this therapy remains a challenge. We investigated the clinical value of the sequential low-dose ibutilide test for identifying patients with persistent atrial fibrillation in whom pulmonary vein isolation is effective as sole therapy. Methods and results In a prospective cohort of 180 consecutive patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, intravenous low-dose (0.004 mg/kg) ibutilide was administered 3 days before ablation and after the completion of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation. In patients in whom ibutilide did not terminate atrial fibrillation pre-procedurally, but successfully terminated it intraprocedurally, no further atrial substrate modification was performed. Pre-procedural low-dose ibutilide failed to terminate the arrhythmia in all patients with persistent atrial fibrillation, while pulmonary vein isolation ± low-dose ibutilide terminated persistent atrial fibrillation in 55 (30.6%) of them (PsAF group 1). The remaining 125 (69.4%) patients underwent electrogram-based ablation (PsAF Group 2). The control group comprised 379 consecutive patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who underwent pulmonary vein isolation over the same period. At 24 months follow-up, 39 (70.9%) patients in PsAF Group 1 and 276 (72.8%) patients in the control group were free from atrial tachyarrhythmias (P = NS); the arrhythmia-free rates in both groups were higher than that in PsAF group 2 (58.4%, P = 0.005). Conclusion The sequential low-dose ibutilide test is a simple method for identifying patients with persistent atrial fibrillation in whom pulmonary vein isolation alone is an appropriate treatment strategy.


Circulation ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (Suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ghaith Zaatari ◽  
Jorge Bohorquez ◽  
Raul Mitrani ◽  
Jason Ng ◽  
Justin Ng ◽  
...  

Background: While pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) is successful in approximately 50%, acute termination of PeAF is rarely observed. Prolongation of cycle length (CL) by 10% is often utilized as an indicator of successful catheter ablation (CA). Objective: To evaluate coronary sinus (CS) cycle length (CL) before and after CA for PeAF. Methods: CA for PeAF was performed in 31 patients (24males, age 63±9 yrs, CHA2DS2-VASc 2.3±1.7, LVEF 49±10%) with PVI, with 4 (13%) also having posterior wall isolation. A multielectrode catheter was placed in the CS and maintained throughout the procedure. CS electrograms were recorded for 10 seconds prior to CA and after completion of CA. No patient reverted to sinus rhythm during CA. CS CL was determined using customized software for activation detection and verified visually, excluding ventricular activation and low quality signals (n=3). The shortest CL among the recording electrodes was used for analysis. Results: CS CL pre- and post-CA were 182.4±23.0 and 191.6± 29.9 ms (p= 0.04) with change from baseline of 5.4±12.7%. The figure shows the histogram for change in CS CL from baseline. Only 7/28 (25%) of patients had CS CL prolongation >10%. Of ten patients who were free of AF off anti-arrhythmic drugs at 1 year, CS CL increased 4.0±6.1%; 2/10 had CS CL prolongation >10%. Of 6 patients with recurrent AF, CS CL increased 13.8±20.7%; 4/6 had CS CL prolongation >10%. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that CS CL prolongation >10% is not a useful marker of outcomes in patients undergoing catheter ablation for PeAF. This highlights the need to identify other indicators of acute ablation success.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Pogosova ◽  
AI Ovchinnikova ◽  
YM Yufereva ◽  
OY Sokolova ◽  
KV Davtyan ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Poor medication adherence is a major contributor to suboptimal health outcomes and increased costs in cardiovascular (CV) diseases including atrial fibrillation (AF). Purpose To assess the impact of different preventive counseling programs on medication adherence in AF patients (pts) after catheter ablation (CA). Methods A prospective randomized controlled study with 3 parallel groups of pts with paroxysmal AF after CA (radiofrequency or cryoablation).  Pts were randomized (1:1:1) into 3 groups. Before discharge, pts from all groups received 1 preventive counseling session with focus on their individual risk factors profile. After discharge both intervention groups received 6 sessions of biweekly remote preventive counseling by phone (Group 1) or via email(Group 2) for 3 months after enrollment. Group 3 received usual care. Medication adherence was assessed using the 4-item Morisky-Green scale at baseline and at 12 months.  Results A total of 135 pts aged 35 to 80 years were enrolled (mean age, 57.3 ± 9.1 years, men, 51.8%). The groups were well balanced according to demographic and clinical features. Baseline levels of non-adherenсe and partial adherence were high in all groups (53.4%, 71.1% and 73.3% respectively). At 1 year of follow-up pts from both intervention groups demonstrated a significant improvement of medication adherence vs control (table).  Conclusions Preventive counseling programs with remote support via phone or e-mail improve medication adherence in AF pts after CA. Мedication adherence 1 group (support via phone) 2 group (support via e-mail) Control group P for Group 1 vs. control at 12 months P for Group 2 vs. control at 12 months Baseline After 12 months Baseline After 12 months Baseline After 12 months Adherence,% 46.7 60 28.9 60 26.7 31.1 &lt;0.01 &lt;0.01 Partial adherence ,% 17.8 20 31.1 20 24.4 33.3 n/s n/s Non-adherence,% 35.6 60 40 20 48.9 35.6 n/s n/s


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-81
Author(s):  
Russell Mitchell ◽  
Cesar Augusto Bonilla Isaza

Catheter ablation has become the mainstream treatment of atrial fibrillation, but still remains a challenge in those patient with persistent and long standing persistent atrial fibrillation. In addition of isolation of the pulmonary veins, any other areas that can trigger or perpetuate atrial fibrillation need to be isolated. Current technologies may allow to effectively deliver permanently lasting lesions, and therefore improve clinical outcomes after ablation. The specialized conduction system including the Bachmann and septopulmonary bundles, are important substrate targets for the management of atrial fibrillation. The anatomical location of these fibers, and the corresponding approach for ablation are described in this case.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Pogosova ◽  
AI Ovchinnikova ◽  
AI Ovchinnikova ◽  
YM Yufereva ◽  
YM Yufereva ◽  
...  

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background Physical activity (PA) is associated with lower risk of all-cause death in atrial fibrillation (AF), so interventions to increase PA in AF patients (pts) has a potential to improve their outcomes. Purpose To assess the impact of different preventive counseling programs on PA in pts after catheter ablation (CA) of paroxysmal AF. Methods A prospective randomized controlled study with 3 parallel groups of pts with paroxysmal AF after CA (radiofrequency or cryoablation).  Pts were randomized (1:1:1) into 3 groups. Before discharge, pts from all groups received 1 preventive counseling session with focus on their individual risk factors profile. After discharge both intervention groups received 6 sessions of biweekly remote preventive counseling by phone (Group 1) or via email(Group 2) for 3 months after enrollment. Group 3 received usual care. PA was assessed using the International Questionnaire on Physical Activity (IPAQ) at baseline and after 12 months. Results A total of 135 pts aged 35 to 80 years were enrolled (mean age, 57.3 ± 9.1 years, men, 51.8%). The groups were well balanced according to demographic and clinical features and PA level. The baseline proportion of pts with sufficient (moderate or high) PA was high in all 3 groups (86.6%, 88.9% and 91.1%, respectively). At 1 year of follow-up both intervention groups had a significantly higher proportion of pts maintaining high PA levels vs control (table).  Conclusions Preventive counseling programs combining in-hospital and remote counseling via phone or e-mailsupport higher physical activity levels in AF pts after CA. Different counseling programs and PA Levels of physical activity 1 group (support via phone) 2 group (support via e-mail) Control group P for Group 1 vs. control at 12 Months P for Group 2 vs. control at 12 Months Baseline After 12 months Baseline After 12 months Baseline After 12 months Low,% 13.3 2.2 11.1 0 8.9 2.2 n/s n/s Moderate,% 62.2 71.1 71.1 82.2 60 93.3 &lt;0.01 n/s High,% 24.4 26.7 17.8 17.8 31.1 4.4 &lt;0.005 &lt;0.05


EP Europace ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 897-905 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neal K Bhatia ◽  
Albert J Rogers ◽  
David E Krummen ◽  
Samir Hossainy ◽  
William Sauer ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims  Persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) has been explained by multiple mechanisms which, while they conflict, all agree that more disorganized AF is more difficult to treat than organized AF. We hypothesized that persistent AF consists of interacting organized areas which may enlarge, shrink or coalesce, and that patients whose AF areas enlarge by ablation are more likely to respond to therapy. Methods and results  We mapped vectorial propagation in persistent AF using wavefront fields (WFF), constructed from raw unipolar electrograms at 64-pole basket catheters, during ablation until termination (Group 1, N = 20 patients) or cardioversion (Group 2, N = 20 patients). Wavefront field mapping of patients (age 61.1 ± 13.2 years, left atrium 47.1 ± 6.9 mm) at baseline showed 4.6 ± 1.0 organized areas, each separated by disorganization. Ablation of sites that led to termination controlled larger organized area than competing sites (44.1 ± 11.1% vs. 22.4 ± 7.0%, P &lt; 0.001). In Group 1, ablation progressively enlarged unablated areas (rising from 32.2 ± 15.7% to 44.1 ± 11.1% of mapped atrium, P &lt; 0.0001). In Group 2, organized areas did not enlarge but contracted during ablation (23.6 ± 6.3% to 15.2 ± 5.6%, P &lt; 0.0001). Conclusion  Mapping wavefront vectors in persistent AF revealed competing organized areas. Ablation that progressively enlarged remaining areas was acutely successful, and sites where ablation terminated AF were surrounded by large organized areas. Patients in whom large organized areas did not emerge during ablation did not exhibit AF termination. Further studies should define how fibrillatory activity is organized within such areas and whether this approach can guide ablation.


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