Gender-related differences in patient selection for and outcomes after pace and ablate for refractory atrial fibrillation: insights from a large multicenter cohort

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background A pace & ablate strategy may be performed in cases of severe refractory atrial arrhythmias. Purpose We aimed to assess gender related differences in patient selection and clinical outcomes after pace & ablate. Methods In a retrospective multicenter study, patients undergoing AV-junction-ablation between 2011 and 2019 were studied. Gender-related differences in terms of baseline characteristics, device-related complications, heart failure (HF) hospitalisations and death were assessed. Results Overall, 513 patients underwent AV-junction-ablation (median age 75 years, 50% males). At baseline, male patients were younger (72 vs. 78 years, p < 0.001), more frequently had non-paroxysmal AF (82% vs. 72%, p = 0.006), a lower LVEF (35% vs. 55%, p < 0.001) and more often received biventricular stimulation (75% vs. 25%, p < 0.001). Interventional complications were rare in both gender (1.2% vs 1.6%, p = 0.72). Following AV-junction-ablation, improvement of EHRA-class by ≥1 and of LVEF by ≥5% occurred in 44% and 19% of patients respectively, without gender differences (p = 0.66 and p = 0.38). Patients were followed for a median of 42 months in survivors (IQR 22-62). Lead-related complications (11 patients, 2.1%), infections (1 patient, 0.2%) and upgrade to ICD or CRT (18 patients, 3.5%) were rare. In Kaplan Meier analysis, HF hospitalisations during 4 years of follow-up were more common in men (22% vs 11%, p = 0.02), as were death (28% vs 21%, p = 0.02) and the combination of death or HF hospitalisation (37% vs. 26%, p = 0.008, Figure). Gender remained an independent predictor of the combined endpoint of death or HF hospitalisation after adjustment for age, LVEF and type of stimulation. Conclusion A Pace & Ablate strategy is safe and results in improvement of EHRA class and LVEF in a substantial number of patients. We found significant gender differences in patient selection for pace & ablate. Female patients had a more favorable clinical course after AV-junction-ablation, which was independent of age, EF and type of stimulation. Abstract Figure. Comb. endpoint of death or heart failure

A case report of simultaneous His pacemaker implantation and atrioventricular junction ablation following unsuccessful treatment of atrial fibrillation

Background Atrial fibrillation can contribute to heart failure. Frequently, rhythm control is unachievable. Atrioventricular (AV) junction ablation and pacemaker implantation remain to be a therapeutic option for rate control in atrial fibrillation. Interventricular asynchrony is a potential downside of right ventricular pacing. However, cardiac resynchronization therapy and His pacing restore physiological activation sequences of the ventricles. Case summary The reported patient had undergone several interventions to cure atrial fibrillation without sufficient rhythm control and experienced deleterious effects of recurrent arrhythmias. Finally, we decided to ablate the AV junction simultaneously with the implantation of a His bundle pacemaker. Atrioventricular junction ablation had to be repeated following conduction recurrence. A left-sided transaortic approach was required to create a permanent effect and to avoid distal lesions. His pacing was not affected by the AV junction ablation at all. The pre-existing widened QRS was normalized by His pacing, the patient became free of any complaints with full restoration of exertion capability. Discussion His pacing has the potential to contribute to a revival of the ‘ablate-and-pace’ concept for incurable atrial fibrillation by restoring physiological ventricular activation, thereby overcoming the particular drawbacks of continuous ventricular pacing. Atrioventricular junction ablation simultaneously with the pacemaker implantation procedure is safe and feasible. His pacing is at least an alternative for cardiac resynchronization therapy. The implantation procedure is sometimes challenging.

Long-term follow-up after catheter-ablation of atrioventricular junction and pacemaker implantation in patients with uncontrolled atrial fibrillation and heart failure

Introduction. Atrioventricular (AV) junction ablation coupled with pacemaker implantation is an effective therapeutic option for rate control in atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). However, there is controversy regarding the long-term outcome of the procedure, since right ventricular stimulation can lead to left ventricular remodelling and HF. Objective. The aim of the study was to determine a 5-year outcome of the procedure on survival, HF control and myocardial function in patients with HF and uncontrolled AF. Methods. All patients with AF and HF who underwent AV-junction ablation with pacemaker implantation in our institution were followed after the procedure. HF diagnosis was established if ?2 of the following criteria were present: 1) ejection fraction (EF) ?45%; 2) previous episode of congestive HF (CHF); 3) NYHA-class ?2; and 4) use of drug-therapy for HF. Results. Study included 32 patients (25 males; 53.4?9.6 years). The mean heart rate was 121?25 bpm before and 75?10 bpm after ablation (p=0.001). Over the follow-up of 5.0?4.0 years nine patients (28.1%) died (five died suddenly, three of terminal CHF and one of stroke). After the procedure, CHF occurrence was reduced (p=0.001), as well as the annual number of hospitalizations (p=0.001) and the number of drugs for CHF (p=0.028). In addition, NYHA-class and EF were improved, from 3.3?0.7 to 1.6?0.8 (p<0.001) and from 39?11% to 51?10% (p<0.001), respectively. Conclusion. In HF patients with uncontrolled AF, 5-year mortality after AV-junction ablation and pacemaker implantation was 28%. In the majority of these patients good rate of AF and HF control were achieved, as well as the improvement of functional status and myocardial contractility.