Impact of atrial fibrillation phenotype and left atrial volume on outcome after pulmonary vein isolation.

AIMS: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is increasingly performed in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Both AF phenotype and left atrial (LA) volume have been shown to influence ablation outcome. The inter-relationship of the two is incompletely understood. We aimed to investigate the impact of AF phenotype vs. LA volume on outcome after PVI. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a retrospective analysis of a prospective registry of patients undergoing a first PVI, the association of AF phenotype and LA volume index (LAVI) was assessed as well as their impact on AF recurrence during follow-up. Overall, 476 patients were enrolled (median age 63 years, 29% females, 65.8% paroxysmal AF). Obesity, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure were all significantly more frequent in persistent AF. After 1 year, single-procedure, freedom from arrhythmia recurrence was 61.5%. Patients with paroxysmal AF had better outcomes compared with patients with persistent AF (65.6 vs. 52.7%, P = 0.003), as had patients with no/mild vs. moderate/severe LA dilation (LAVI <42 mL/m2 67.1% vs. LAVI ≥42 mL/m2 53%, P < 0.001). The combination of both parameters refined prediction of 1-year recurrence (P < 0.001). After adjustment for additional clinical risk factors in multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis, both AF phenotype and LAVI ≥42 mL/m2 contributed significantly towards the prediction of 1-year recurrence. CONCLUSION: Atrial fibrillation phenotype and LA volume are independent predictors of outcome after PVI. Persistent AF with no/mild LA dilation has a similar risk of recurrence as paroxysmal AF with a moderate/severe LA dilation and should be given similar priority for ablation.

Eliminating transseptal sheath exchange for pulsed field ablation procedures using a direct over-the-needle transseptal access with the Faradrive sheath.

AIMS: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) combines the benefits of high procedural efficacy and safety. Transseptal puncture (TSP) to obtain left atrial (LA) access during PVI remains an important source of complications during LA procedures. For PFA procedures, TSP is generally performed using a standard transseptal sheath that is then exchanged over the wire for a dedicated PFA sheath, which might be a potential source for air embolism. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the feasibility and safety of a simplified workflow using the PFA sheath (Faradrive, Boston Scientific) directly for TSP. METHODS AND RESULTS: We prospectively enrolled 100 patients undergoing PVI using PFA at two centres. TSP was performed using the PFA sheath and a standard 98 cm transseptal needle under fluoroscopic guidance. TSP via the PFA sheath was successfully performed in all patients and no complications occurred. The median time from the first groin puncture to the completed LA access was 12 min (IQR 8-16 min). CONCLUSION: An over-the-needle TSP directly with the PFA sheath proved feasible and safe in our study. This simplified workflow has the potential to reduce the risk of air embolism, to shorten procedure time, and to reduce cost.

Pulsed-field ablation for repeat procedures after failed prior thermal ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Background: Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) is a novel nonthermal ablation technology. Its potential value for repeat procedures after unsuccessful thermal ablation for atrial fibrillation has not been assessed. Objective: The purpose of this study was to summarize our initial experience with patients undergoing repeat procedures using PFA. Methods: Consecutive patients with arrhythmia recurrences after a prior thermal ablation undergoing a repeat procedure using a multipolar PFA catheter from May 2021 and December 2022 were included. After 3-dimensional electroanatomic mapping, reconnected pulmonary veins (PVs) were reisolated and veins with only ostial isolation wither ablated to widen antral PV isolation. Posterior wall ablation was performed if all PVs were durably isolated or in case of low-voltage areas on the posterior wall at the discretion of the operator. Patients underwent follow-up with 7-day Holter electrocardiography after 3, 6, and 12 months. Results: A total of 186 patients undergoing a repeat procedure using PFA were included. The median number of previous ablations was 1 (range 1-6). The prior ablation modality was radiofrequency in 129 patients (69.4%), cryoballoon in 51 (27.4%), and epicardial ablation in 6 (3.2%). At the beginning of the procedure, 258 of 744 PVs (35%) showed reconnections. Additional antral ablations were applied in 236 of 486 still isolated veins (49%). Posterior wall ablation was added in 125 patients (67%). Major complications occurred in 1 patient (transient ischemic attack 0.5%). Freedom from arrhythmia recurrence in Kaplan-Meier-analysis was 78% after 6 months and 54% after 12 months. Conclusion: PFA is a versatile and safe option for repeat procedures after failed prior thermal ablation.

Pulmonary vein isolation durability and lesion regression in patients with recurrent arrhythmia after pulsed-field ablation.

BACKGROUND: A novel multipolar pulsed-field ablation (PFA) catheter has recently been introduced for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Pre-market data showed high rates for PVI-durability during mandatory remapping studies. OBJECTIVE: To present post-market data in patients with recurrent arrhythmias. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing a redo procedure after an index PFA PVI using a bipolar-biphasic PFA system were included. 3-D electro-anatomical maps (3D-EAM) on redo procedure were compared to the 3D-EAM acquired after ablation during the index procedure. PVI durability was assessed on a per-vein and per-patient level and the sites of reconnections were identified. Furthermore, lesion extent around veins with durable isolation was compared to study lesion regression. RESULTS: Of 341 patients treated with a PFA PVI, 29 (8.5%) underwent a left atrial redo ablation due to arrhythmia recurrence. At the end of the index procedure, 110/112 veins (98%, four common ostia) were isolated. On redo procedures performed a median of 6 months after the first ablation, 3D-EAM identified 69/110 (63%) PVs with durable isolation. In 6 (21%) patients, all PVs were durably isolated. Reconnections were more often found on the right-sided veins and on the anterior aspects of the upper veins. Only minor lesion regression was observed between the index and redo procedure (a median of 3 mm (0 - 9.5) on the posterior wall). CONCLUSION: In patients with arrhythmia recurrence after PFA PVI using a first-generation PFA device, durable isolation was observed in 63% of the veins and 21% of the patients showed durable isolation of all previously isolated veins.

Pulsed-field vs. cryoballoon vs. radiofrequency ablation: a propensity score matched comparison of one-year outcomes after pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) has shown favourable data in terms of safety and procedural efficiency for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). We sought to compare procedural and 1-year follow-up data of patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing PVI using PFA, cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). METHODS: Consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing a first PVI with PFA at our institution were included. For comparison, patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing a first PVI with CBA and RFA were selected using a 1:2:2 propensity score matching. The PFA group followed the standard 32-applications lesion-set protocol, the CBA group a time-to-effect plus 2-min strategy, and the RFA group the CLOSE protocol. Patients were followed with 7d-Holter ECGs 3, 6, and 12 months after ablation. The primary endpoint was recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATa) following a blanking period of 3 months. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients were included (PFA n = 40; CBA n = 80; RFA n = 80). Median procedure times were shortest with CBA (75 min) followed by PFA (94 min) and RFA (182 min; p < 0.001). Fluoroscopy dose was lowest with RFA (1.6Gycm2) followed by PFA (5.0Gycm2) and CBA (5.7Gycm2; p < 0.001). After a 1-year follow-up, freedom from ATa recurrence was 85.0% with PFA, 66.2% with CBA and 73.8% with RFA (p = 0.12 PFA vs. CBA; p = 0.27 PFA vs. RFA). CONCLUSION: In a propensity score matched analysis of patients with paroxysmal AF, freedom from any ATa 1 year after PVI using PFA was favourable and at least as good as for PVI with CBA or RFA.

Risk of Cardiac Arrhythmias Among Climbers on Mount Everest.

Importance: Arterial hypoxemia, electrolyte imbalances, and periodic breathing increase the vulnerability to cardiac arrhythmia at altitude. Objective: To explore the incidence of tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias in healthy individuals at high altitudes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study involved healthy individuals at altitude (8849 m) on Mount Everest, Nepal. Recruitment occurred from January 25 to May 9, 2023, and data analysis took place from June to July 2023. Exposure: All study participants underwent 12-lead electrocardiogram, transthoracic echocardiography, and exercise stress testing before and ambulatory rhythm recording both before and during the expedition. Main Outcome: The incidence of a composite of supraventricular (>30 seconds) and ventricular (>3 beats) tachyarrhythmia and bradyarrhythmia (sinoatrial arrest, second- or third-degree atrioventricular block). Results: Of the 41 individuals recruited, 100% were male, and the mean (SD) age was 33.6 (8.9) years. On baseline investigations, there were no signs of exertional ischemia, wall motion abnormality, or cardiac arrhythmia in any of the participants. Among 34 individuals reaching basecamp at 5300 m, 32 participants climbed to 7900 m or higher, and 14 reached the summit of Mount Everest. A total of 45 primary end point-relevant events were recorded in 13 individuals (38.2%). Forty-three bradyarrhythmic events were documented in 13 individuals (38.2%) and 2 ventricular tachycardias in 2 individuals (5.9%). Nine arrhythmias (20%) in 5 participants occurred when climbers were using supplemental bottled oxygen, whereas 36 events (80%) in 11 participants occurred at lower altitudes when no supplemental bottled oxygen was used. The proportion of individuals with arrhythmia remained stable across levels of increasing altitude, while event rates per 24 hours numerically increased between 5300 m (0.16 per 24 hours) and 7300 m (0.37 per 24 hours) before decreasing again at higher altitudes, where supplemental oxygen was used. None of the study participants reported dizziness or syncope. Conclusion and Relevance: In this study, more than 1 in 3 healthy individuals experienced cardiac arrhythmia during the climb of Mount Everest, thereby confirming the association between exposure to high altitude and incidence of cardiac arrhythmia. Future studies should explore the potential implications of these rhythm disturbances.

Durability of CLOSE-Guided Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: A Prospective Remapping Study.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is presumably caused by pulmonary vein (PV) reconnections. However, there is little data available on the durability of PVI and incidence of arrhythmia recurrence in patients with persistent AF. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the lesion durability by means of an a priori planned remapping procedure in patients with persistent AF undergoing CLOSE-guided PVI. METHODS: In a prospective study, we included patients with symptomatic, persistent AF undergoing CLOSE-guided radiofrequency ablation. Irrespective of AF recurrence, a redo procedure was mandated 6 months following the index procedure to evaluate PV reconnections. The outcome of AF ablation was based on clinical recurrence and 7-day Holter electrocardiogram 3 and 6 months after the index procedure and 3, 6, and 12 months after the redo procedure. RESULTS: Of 30 patients included, 26 (81% men; median age 68 years) underwent the planned remapping study a median of 6 months after the index procedure, whereas 4 patients without recurrence refused a repeat procedure. In total, 78 of 102 (76%) PVs showed durable isolation and 15 patients (58%) presented complete isolation of all PVs. Beyond the blanking period, 6 of 26 patients (23%) had arrhythmia recurrence before the redo procedure. Recurrence had occurred in 33% of patients with complete isolation of all veins and in 9% of patients with PV reconnections (P = 0.197). After re-PVI in patients with PV reconnections and additional ablation in patients with recurrence but durable PVI, 17 of 26 patients (65%) were free of arrhythmia after 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with persistent AF, CLOSE-guided PVI resulted in durable rate of PVI on a per-vein and per-patient level of 76% and 58%, respectively. Arrhythmia recurrence was numerically higher in patients with durable PVI compared with patients without.

Pulsed-field vs cryoballoon vs radiofrequency ablation: Outcomes after pulmonary vein isolation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) has shown promising data in terms of safety and procedural efficiency for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), with similar long-term outcomes compared to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryoballoon ablation (CBA) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare the procedural and long-term outcomes in patients with persistent AF undergoing PVI using PFA, CBA, or RFA. METHODS: Consecutive patients with persistent AF undergoing first PVI with PFA, CBA, or RFA were included. Patients underwent 7-day Holter electrocardiography at 3, 6, and 12 months postablation. The primary outcome was recurrence of any atrial arrhythmia after a 90-day blanking period. Safety outcomes included the composite of in-hospital major adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 533 patients with persistent AF underwent PVI using PFA (n = 214, 39%), CBA (n = 190, 36%), or RFA (n = 129, 24%). Procedures with PFA guided by fluoroscopy were shorter than those with CBA (median 60 minutes; interquartile range [IQR] 53-80 minutes vs 84 minutes; IQR 68-101 minutes; P ≤ .001), and procedures with PFA in combination with 3-dimensional electroanatomic mapping were shorter than those with RFA (median 101 minutes; IQR 85-126 minutes vs 171 minutes; IQR 141-204 minutes; P < .001). Acute safety events occurred in 2.3%, 2.6%, and 0.8% in the PFA, CBA, and RFA groups, respectively (P = .545). The 1-year confounder-adjusted estimate for freedom from atrial arrhythmias was 62.1% for CBA, 55.3% for PFA, and 48.3% for RFA (CBA vs PFA: P = .79; CBA vs RFA: P = .009; PFA vs RFA: P = .010). CONCLUSION: In patients with persistent AF undergoing first PVI, 1-year confounder-adjusted outcomes are better with PFA and CBA than with RFA.

Red Flags Suggesting Cardiac Transthyretin Amyloidosis (ATTR) in Clinical Practice.

Cardiac wtATTR is caused by extracellular deposition of misfolded proteins in the heart. It mostly affects elderly men and is still clearly underdiagnosed. Recognizing red flags suggesting wtATTR is key for a timely diagnosis, enabling the patient to profit from effective therapies. If general practitioners suspect cardiac amyloidosis, it is crucial to rapidly exclude AL-amyloidosis by immunoelectrophoresis, immunofixation as well as light-chain assay, because AL-amyloidosis needs urgent hematologic therapy. After that, the patient should be referred to the cardiologist for further assessment.