Efficacy and safety of anticoagulant therapy in real clinical practice in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation after interventional treatment

Aim. To study the efficacy and safety of anticoagulant therapy in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) after interventional treatment during 36 months of follow-up.Material and methods. The study included 135 patients (78 men and 58 women) in the age from 31 to 80 years (mean age 61.0 [55; 66]) with persistent AF who underwent catheter treatment. All patients were treated in the arrhythmia department of the Research Institute of Cardiology (Tomsk National Research Medical Center from 01.01.2017 to 31.12.2017.Results. In patients with persistent AF, the effectiveness of catheter treatment was 60% after 12 months of follow-up (81 patients had no documented AF during this period) and 63.7 % (n=86) - after 24 and 36 months. No fatal outcomes, myocardial infarction, or ischemic stroke were observed within 12 months after catheter treatment in patients with an effective procedure. During 36 months of follow-up, the incidence of ischemic stroke on the background of receiving anticoagulant therapy and effective catheter treatment of persistent AF was significantly lower than in patients with unsuccessful ablation (1.16% and 10%, respectively), even though not all patients from the first group received prescribed medication.Conclusion. Successful radiofrequency procedure/cryo-ablation of AF persistent form significantly reduced the risk of ischemic stroke from 10% to 1.16% and almost eliminated the likelihood of other thromboembolic complications, while the invasive strategy did not increase the risk of large and small bleeding in this group of patients.

Cardiac calcified amorphous tumor with sustained ventricular tachycardia

Cardiac calcified amorphous tumors are rare non-neoplastic intracavitary masses with unknown cause. A 60-year-old man presented with sustained ventricular tachycardia. Transthoracic echocardiography and contrast-enhanced angio-computed tomography demonstrated an expanding 73 × 40 mm sized calcified mass in the left ventricle. He underwent successful total removal of the mass and cryo-ablation at the normal myocardial border. Histopathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of cardiac calcified amorphous tumors. The postoperative course was uneventful, without ventricular tachycardia recurrence. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of confirmed cardiac calcified amorphous tumors causing ventricular tachycardia and treated by surgical resection combined with cryo-ablation.

Micro-embolic risks during radiofrequency and cryoballoon-ablation of atrial fibrillation -analysis from real-time carotid artery doppler monitoring-

Background Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with risks of silent cerebral events. However, the timing of intraprocedural micro-embolic events or differences between open-irrigated radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon (Cryo) ablation are unclear. Newly developed real-time carotid artery Doppler is a simple non-invasive method to detect micro-embolic signals (MESs) during ablation. Objective We investigated the timing of detecting MESs during RF and Cryo ablation of AF. Methods During the first pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) session of AF, MESs were monitored by real-time carotid artery Doppler monitoring throughout the procedure. The MES counts were collected and evaluated separately during the different steps of the procedure (Figure). Results Thirty-three AF patients (RF/Cryo: 22/11 cases, 9 females, 69.5±11.6 y.o) were included. PVI was successfully accomplished in all patients with no major complications. The MES count was significantly greater in the RF group than Cryo group (table). In both groups, left atrial (LA) access (interatrial puncture) and sheaths insertion to the LA generated a significant number of MESs (RF: 1690 of 9116 MESs [18.5% of the total MESs], Cryo: 793 of 2285 MESs [34.7%]). In the RF group, MESs were observed incessantly during PVI (Figure). The LA dwell time was significantly longer in the RF group than Cryo group (table). In the RF group, the MES count was significantly greater in the longer LA dwell time group (LA dwell time >130min) than the shorter group (464.2±179.7 vs 302.6±138.2: P=0.049). During the cryo-applications in the Cryo group, the MESs were greatest during the first cryoballoon application (625 of 2285 MESs [27.4%]). Conclusions There were more MESs during RF ablation than cryoablation. MESs were recorded during a variety of steps throughout the procedure. In the RF group, most of MESs were recorded incessantly during radiofrequency ablation and greater number of MESs were recorded in patients with longer LA dwell time. In the Cryo group, most of MESs occurred during phases with a high probability of gaseous emboli. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Improving pulmonary vein isolation during cryoballoon ablation using the re-look angiography technique

Background Cryoballoon ablation for pulmonary vein (PV) antral isolation is contact-dependent. Currently, occlusion assessment using the cryoballoon is most commonly performed using contrast venogram prior to ablation. However, there is a known difference in balloon size/shape between the inflated and ablation state, due to significant increase in cryoballoon pressure, which can cause potential undetected leak and, thus, failure of PV isolation. This phenomenon is currently not detected using standard techniques and effectiveness of mitigation techniques have not been assessed. Purpose We hypothesize that repeat injection of contrast five seconds after the initiation of cryoballoon ablation can be used to assess changes in shape and confirm ongoing occlusion during ablation; the re-look angiography technique. The incidence of PVI leak and the ability for the relook angiography to remedy the leak is assessed. Methods A total of 125 patients (440 PVs) undergoing cryoballoon ablation (Medtronic Arctic Front Advance Balloon™) were assessed using the re-look angiography technique unless they required occlusion with a segmental approach. Fifteen patients were excluded from contrast use due to renal insufficiency. Results Successful single occlusion was seen in 330 (75%) PVs and the re-look angiography technique was employed in each of those events. In 180 of the 330 (55%) single PV occlusions, a new PV leak undetected during the initial PV angiogram was identified. This prompted repositioning of the balloon to achieve complete PV isolation in 85 of 180 of the PV cases, with 95 of the cases requiring additional segmental ablation to complete full PV isolation. Conclusion A significant amount of insufficient PV antral contact during cryo-ablation may not be detected with conventional single PV angiography and may explain inadequate PV isolation. The re-look angiography technique is a simple tool to confirm robust balloon contact and guide repositioning as well as identify the need for additional segmental ablation. Additional follow up is needed for translation to improved clinical outcomes. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None