Mid-term outcomes of thoracoscopic and hybrid therapy of atrial fibrillation

Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of thoracoscopic and hybrid techniques in patients with various forms of atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods. The results of thoracoscopic ablation of 87 patients with AF were analyzed: 27 (31%) with paroxysmal form, 15 (17%) - with persistent, 45 (52%) - with long-term persistent form at follow-up 18.6±6.7 months. “Box-Lesion” treatments and amputation of left atrial appendage (LAA) were performed in 69 (79.3%) patients, “Box Lesion” without LAA amputation in 12 (13.7%). When atrial tachycardia was recorded for more than 30 seconds after a 3-month “blind” period, patients underwent hybrid catheter intervention.Results. Freedom from atrial arrhythmias in the group of paroxysmal AF was achieved in 84% of patients (21 of 25), in the group of persistent form - in 60% of patients (9 of 15), in the group of long-term persistent form - in 78% (32 of 41) at a given observation period. In the structure of postoperative atrial tachycardia, AF recurrence was 5 (6.25%), typical atrial flutter (AFL) - 3 (3.75%), atypical AFL - 10 (12.5%). The mean LA volume index in patients with stable sinus rhythm was 64.6±11.3 ml/m2 versus 74.65±15.4 ml/m2 in the atrial tachycardia group (Student’s t-test 0.53, p = 0.6). These patients underwent a hybrid intervention. At a follow-up period of 15.9±10.9 months, a stable sinus rhythm was maintained in 15 (83.3%) patients. The overall rate of intra- and postoperative complications of thoracoscopic ablation was 5.7%.Conclusion. Thoracoscopic and hybrid approaches are effective methods for various forms of AF treatment.

Incessant Automatic Atrial Tachycardia in a Neonate Successfully Treated with Nadolol and Closely Spaced Doses of Flecainide: A Case Report

Supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT) is the most common type of arrhythmia in childhood. Management can be challenging with an associated risk of mortality. A female neonate was diagnosed with episodes of SVT, controlled antenatally with digoxin. Flecainide was commenced prophylactically at birth. Despite treatment, the infant developed a narrow complex tachycardia at 5 days of age. The electrocardiogram features were suggestive of either re-entry tachycardia or of automatic atrial tachycardia (AAT). Following several unsuccessful treatments, a wide complex tachycardia developed. A transesophageal electrophysiological study led to a diagnosis of AAT. Stable sinus rhythm was finally achieved through increasing daily administrations of flecainide up to six times a day, in association with nadolol. The shortening of intervals to this extent has never been reported before and supports the evidence of a personal, age-specific variability in pharmacokinetics of flecainide. Larger studies are needed to better define the appropriate dose and timing of administration.

Incessant Automatic Atrial Tachycardia in a Neonate Successfully Treated with Nadolol and Closely Spaced Doses of Flecainide: A Case Report

Supraventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT) is the most common type of arrhythmia in childhood. Management can be challenging with an associated risk of mortality. A female neonate was diagnosed with episodes of SVT, controlled antenatally with digoxin. Flecainide was commenced prophylactically at birth. Despite treatment, the infant developed a narrow complex tachycardia at 5 days of age. The electrocardiogram features were suggestive of either re-entry tachycardia or of automatic atrial tachycardia (AAT). Following several unsuccessful treatments, a wide complex tachycardia developed. A transesophageal electrophysiological study led to a diagnosis of AAT. Stable sinus rhythm was finally achieved through increasing daily administrations of flecainide up to six times a day, in association with nadolol. The shortening of intervals to this extent has never been reported before and supports the evidence of a personal, age-specific variability in pharmacokinetics of flecainide. Larger studies are needed to better define the appropriate dose and timing of administration.

The effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation and repeated cardioversion in combination with antiarrhythmic drug therapy in maintaining stable sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure

Aim To compare the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and antiarrhythmic therapy (AAT) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic heart failure (CHF) during 12-month observation.Materials and methods This prospective, nonrandomized comparative observational study included 130 patients with AF (men, 65 %; mean age, 62.8±11.8 years) and CHF with left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) <50 %. Paroxysmal AF was observed in 60 (46 %) patients and persistent AF was observed in 70 (54 %) patients. According to results of transthoracic echocardiography (EchoCG) 107 (82 %) patients had intermediate LV EF (40–49 %) and 23 (18 %) patients had reduced LV EF (<40 %). RFA of AF was performed for 65 patients whereas 65 patients received an optimal AAT. The 24-h electrocardiogram monitoring, EchoCG, and assessment of the quality of life (QoL) with the SF-36 questionnaire were performed for all patients on admission and at 12 months of observation. Stability of sinus rhythm, EchoCG, QoL, and exercise tolerance were evaluated at 12 months of observation.Results 49 (75%) of patients in the RFA group and 26 (40%) of patients in the AAT group had stable sinus rhythm (SR) at 12 months. Repeated RFA for relapse of AF was performed for 6 (12 %) of 49 patients; repeated cardioversion was performed for 16 (61.5 %) of 26 patients. In the AAT group, there were more interventions for maintaining SR than in the RFA group (p<0.001). In patients with SR of the RFA group at 12 months of observation, LV EF was increased (р<0.001), left ventricular dimension (р<0.001) and volume (р<0.001) were decreased, and mental (р<0.001) and physical (p<0.001) components of health were improved according to the SF-36 questionnaire. In patients with SR of the AAT group, only improvement of mental (р<0.001) and physical (р<0.001) components of health was observed according to the SF-36 questionnaire.Conclusion RFA provided a considerable decrease in the frequency of AF relapse and improvement of LV EF in patients with CHF. The effectiveness of RFA did not depend on the type of arrhythmia. For 12 months of observation, the number of hospitalizations for decompensated CHF and interventions to maintain SR decreased in the RFA group compared to the AAT group.

Rate versus rhythm control therapy for atrial fibrillation

Based on data from several clinical trials, either rate control or rhythm control is an acceptable primary therapeutic strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation. However, since atrial fibrillation tends to recur no matter the therapy, rate control should almost always be a part of the treatment. If a rhythm control strategy is selected, it is important to recognize that recurrence of atrial fibrillation is common, but not clinical failure per se. Rather, the frequency and duration of episodes, as well as severity of symptoms during atrial fibrillation episodes should guide treatment decisions. Thus, occasional recurrence of atrial fibrillation despite therapy may well be clinically acceptable. However, for some patients, rhythm control may be the only strategy that is acceptable. In short, for most patients, either a rate or rhythm control strategy should be considered. However, for all patients, there are two main goals of therapy. One is to avoid stroke and/or systemic embolism, and the other is to avoid a tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. Also, because of the frequency of atrial fibrillation recurrence despite the treatment strategy selected, patients with stroke risks should receive anticoagulation therapy despite seemingly having achieved stable sinus rhythm. For patients in whom a rate control strategy is selected, a lenient approach to the acceptable ventricular response rate is a resting heart rate of 110 bpm or less, and probably 90 bpm or less. The importance of achieving and maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure remains to be clearly established.

Rate versus rhythm control therapy for atrial fibrillation

Based on data from several clinical trials, either rate control or rhythm control is an acceptable primary therapeutic strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation. However, since atrial fibrillation tends to recur no matter the therapy, rate control should almost always be a part of the treatment. If a rhythm control strategy is selected, it is important to recognize that recurrence of atrial fibrillation is common, but not clinical failure per se. Rather, the frequency and duration of episodes, as well as severity of symptoms during atrial fibrillation episodes should guide treatment decisions. Thus, occasional recurrence of atrial fibrillation despite therapy may well be clinically acceptable. However, for some patients, rhythm control may be the only strategy that is acceptable. In short, for most patients, either a rate or rhythm control strategy should be considered. However, for all patients, there are two main goals of therapy. One is to avoid stroke and/or systemic embolism, and the other is to avoid a tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy. Also, because of the frequency of atrial fibrillation recurrence despite the treatment strategy selected, patients with stroke risks should receive anticoagulation therapy despite seemingly having achieved stable sinus rhythm. For patients in whom a rate control strategy is selected, a lenient approach to the acceptable ventricular response rate is a resting heart rate of 110 bpm, and probably 90 bpm. The importance of achieving and maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure remains to be clearly established.