Genetic Testing in Brugada Syndrome: A 30-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND: A pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant can be found in 20% to 25% of patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) and a pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant in SCN5A is associated with a worse prognosis. The aim of this study is to define the diagnostic yield of a large gene panel with American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics variant classification and to assess prognosis of SCN5A and non-SCN5A variants. METHODS: All patients with BrS, were prospectively enrolled in the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel registry between 1992 and 2022. Inclusion criteria for the study were (1) BrS diagnosis; (2) genetic analysis performed with a large gene panel; (3) classification of variants following American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Patients with a pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant in SCN5A were defined as SCN5A+. Patients with a reported variant in a non-SCN5A gene or with no reported variants were defined as patients with SCN5A-. All variants were classified as missense or predicted loss of function. RESULTS: A total of 500 BrS patients were analyzed. A total of 104 patients (20.8%) were SCN5A+ and 396 patients (79.2%) were SCN5A-. A non-SCN5A gene variant was found in 75 patients (15.0%), of whom, 58 patients (77.3%) had a missense variant and 17 patients (22.7%) had a predicted loss of function variant. At a follow-up of 84.0 months, 48 patients (9.6%) experienced a ventricular arrhythmia (VA). Patients without any variant had higher VA-free survival, compared with carriers of a predicted loss of function variant in SCN5A+ or non-SCN5A genes. There was no difference in VA-free survival between patients without any variant and missense variant carriers in SCN5A+ or non-SCN5A genes. At Cox analysis, SCN5A+ or non-SCN5A predicted loss of function variant was an independent predictor of VA. CONCLUSIONS: In a large BrS cohort, the yield for SCN5A+ is 20.8%. A predicted loss of function variant carrier is an independent predictor of VA.

Pulsed field ablation of the right superior pulmonary vein prevents vagal responses via anterior right ganglionated plexus modulation.

BACKGROUND: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is selective for the myocardium. However, vagal responses and reversible effects on ganglionated plexi (GP) are observed during pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Anterior-right GP ablation has been proven to effectively prevent vagal responses during radiofrequency-based PVI. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that PFA-induced transient anterior-right GP modulation when targeting the right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV) before any other pulmonary veins (PVs) may effectively prevent intraprocedural vagal responses. METHODS: Eighty consecutive paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients undergoing PVI with PFA were prospectively included. In the first 40 patients, PVI was performed first targeting the left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV-first group). In the last 40 patients, RSPV was targeted first, followed by left PVs and right inferior PV (RSPV-first group). Heart rate (HR) and extracardiac vagal stimulation (ECVS) were evaluated at baseline, during PVI, and postablation to assess GP modulation. RESULTS: Vagal responses occurred in 31 patients (78%) in the LSPV-first group and 5 (13%) in the RSPV-first group (P <.001). Temporary pacing was needed in 14 patients (35%) in the LSPV-first group and 3 (8%) in the RSPV-first group (P = .003). RSPV isolation was associated with similar acute HR increase in the 2 groups (13 ± 11 bpm vs 15 ± 12 bpm; P = .3). No significant residual changes in HR or ECVS response were documented in both groups at the end of the procedure compared to baseline (all P >.05). CONCLUSION: PVI with PFA frequently induced vagal responses when initiated from the LSPV. Nevertheless, an RSPV-first approach promoted transient HR increase and reduced vagal response occurrence.

Impact of anesthetic management on catheter ablation for premature ventricular complexes: insights during the COVID-19 outbreak.

BACKGROUND: The influence of divergent anesthesia types during ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) is not known. While previously performed under general anesthesia (GA) at our institution, these procedures were exclusively performed under local anesthesia (LA) ± minimal sedation during the COVID-19 outbreak for logistic reasons. METHODS: One hundred and eight consecutive patients (82 GA versus 26 LA) undergoing PVC ablation at our center were evaluated. Intraprocedural PVC burden (over 3 min) pre-ablation was measured twice: (1) at the start (before GA induction) and (2) before catheter insertion (after GA induction). Upon cessation of ablation and after a waiting period of ≥ 15 min, acute ablation success (AAS) was defined as absence of PVCs until the end of the recording period. RESULTS: Intraprocedural PVC burden was not significantly different between LA versus GA group: (1) 17.8 ± 3% vs 12.7 ± 2%, P = 0.17 and (2) 10.0 ± 3% vs 7.4 ± 1%, P = 0.43, respectively. Activation mapping-based ablation was performed significantly more in the LA vs GA group (77% vs 26% of patients, P < 0.001, respectively). AAS was significantly higher in LA vs GA group: 22/26 (85%) vs 41/82 (50%), respectively, P < 0.01. After multivariable analysis, LA was the only independent predictor for AAS (OR 13, 95% CI 1.57-107.4, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Ablation of PVC under LA presented significantly higher AAS rate compared to GA. The procedure under GA might be complicated by PVC inhibition (after catheter insertion/during mapping) and PVC disinhibition post-extubation.

Genetic testing in children with Brugada syndrome: results from a large prospective registry.

AIMS: A pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variant in SCN5A is found in 20-25% of patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS). However, the diagnostic yield and prognosis of gene panel testing in paediatric BrS is unclear. The aim of this study is to define the diagnostic yield and outcomes of SCN5A gene testing with ACMG variant classification in paediatric BrS patients compared with adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: All consecutive patients diagnosed with BrS, between 1992 and 2022, were prospectively enrolled in the UZ Brussel BrS registry. Inclusion criteria were: (i) BrS diagnosis; (ii) genetic analysis performed with a large gene panel; and (iii) classification of gene variants following ACMG guidelines. Paediatric patients were defined as ≤16 years of age. The primary endpoint was ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). A total of 500 BrS patients were included, with 63 paediatric patients and 437 adult patients. Among children with BrS, 29 patients (46%) had a P/LP variant (P+) in SCN5A and no variants were found in 34 (54%) patients (P-). After a mean follow-up of 125.9 months, 8 children (12.7%) experienced a VA, treated with implanted cardioverter defibrillator shock. At survival analysis, P- paediatric patients had higher VA-free survival during the follow-up, compared with P+ paediatric patients. P+ status was an independent predictor of VA. There was no difference in VA-free survival between paediatric and adult BrS patients for both P- and P+. CONCLUSION: In a large BrS cohort, the diagnostic yield for P/LP variants in the paediatric population is 46%. P+ children with BrS have a worse arrhythmic prognosis.

Evaluation of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation: a non-invasive FFR computed tomography study.

To evaluate coronary artery disease (CAD) with computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA)-derived fractional flow reserve (FFR) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) requiring ablation. The study population consisted of 151 patients who underwent CTCA before AF ablation (AF group), and a control group of 151 patients from the outpatient clinic who underwent CTCA without any history of AF (non-AF group), matched for age, sex, BMI, and angina symptomatology. All study patients underwent CTCA with subdivision of coronary lesion type into severe (≥ 70% luminal narrowing), moderate (50% ≤ luminal narrowing < 70%), and mild stenosis (< 50% luminal narrowing). In patients with ≥ 1 moderate or severe stenosis, non-invasive FFR was calculated from CTCA (FFRCT). Baseline characteristics and CAD risk factors were similar between the 2 groups. During CTCA, 38% of the patients in the AF group were in ongoing atrial arrhythmia (either AF or regular atrial tachycardia). The number of patients with severe (10 (6.6%) vs 10 (6.6%), P = 1.00), moderate (14 (9.5%) vs 10 (6.7%), P = 0.4), and mild stenosis (43 (28.5%) vs 56 (37.1%), P = 0.11) was not significantly different between the 2 groups. Performance of FFRCT was feasible in 32/44 patients (73%), and failed in 27% of the patients (7 and 5 patients in the AF and non-AF group, respectively, P = 0.74). No difference was observed in the prevalence of hemodynamically significant stenosis (FFRCT ≤ 0.80) (15 (9.9%) vs 12 (7.9%), P = 0.85). Our study showed technical feasibility of CTCA in all patients of both groups, including the patients with AF as presenting rhythm. The FFRCT add-on analysis failed equally frequent in patients of the AF versus non-AF group. An equal rate of CAD was observed in the AF group and non-AF group, favoring the concept of shared associated risk factors for CAD and AF.

Predictors of late pulmonary vein reconnection in patients with arrhythmia recurrence after cryoballoon ablation-per vein analysis including cardiac computed tomography-based anatomic factors.

AIMS: To identify predictors of individual late pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection after second-generation cryoballoon (CB2) ablation. Anatomic indicators of late pulmonary vein reconnection (LPVR) post-CB2 ablation have not yet been studied on an individual PV level, nor weighed against clinical and procedural factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: Clinical, procedural, and PV anatomic data from 125 patients with a repeat procedure for arrhythmia recurrence after index CB2 ablation were analyzed. Preprocedural computed tomography (CT) evaluated 486 PVs for measurement of size; shape (ovality index); carina width; and orientation angle in frontal (superior/inferior) and transversal (anterior/posterior) plane (with horizontal line 0° as reference and upper/lower half circle as positive/negative value, respectively). Durable isolation in all PVs was demonstrated in 50/125 (40%) patients. Late reconnection rates at the different PVs were as follows: 16% left superior (LS), 12% left inferior (LI), 17% right superior (RS), and 31% right inferior (RI) PV. Multivariable analysis performed per vein showed following independent determinants predicting LPVR: ovality index [odds ratio (OR) 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-2.41, P = 0.022] and carina width (OR 0.75, CI 0.59-0.96, P = 0.024) for LSPV; carina width (OR 0.71, CI 0.53-0.95, P = 0.020) for LIPV; frontal angle (OR 0.91, CI 0.87-0.95, P < 0.001) for RIPV; and transversal angle (OR 1.15, CI 1.03-1.31, P = 0.032) for RSPV. CONCLUSION: Cardiac CT-based evaluation of anatomic PV characteristics presented higher predictive value compared to clinical and procedural variables for individual LPVR after CB2 ablation. Pre-procedural identification of unfavourable PV anatomy might be important to tailor the ablation approach.

First experience with a transseptal puncture using a novel transseptal crossing device with integrated dilator and needle.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of an innovative "all in one" integrated transseptal crossing device to achieve transseptal puncture (TSP). METHODS: Twenty patients (10 males, mean age 65.65 ± 9.25 years), indicated to supraventricular left side tachyarrhythmia ablation, underwent TSP using a new-generation integrated crossing device, and a control cohort of twenty patients (10 males, mean age 65.5 ± 10.12 years) underwent TSP using the traditional TSP system. RESULTS: In all the study patients, the novel TSP device led to a successful and safe access to the left atrium (LA). The mean transseptal time, defined as the time occurring between the groin puncture and the advancing of the guidewire into the left superior pulmonary vein (PV), was 3 min 33 s ± 44 s, 7 min 5 s ± 36 s in the control cohort. Additionally, we compared the cost of the two systems. No acute complications related to the TSP were noted in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: TSP performed with the new integrated transseptal system is feasible and safe.

Hybrid-Approach Ablation in Drug-Refractory Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy.

Management of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) beyond implantable cardioverter-defibrillator positioning in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is challenging. Catheter ablation of the ventricular substrate often requires a combination of endocardial and epicardial approaches, with disappointing outcomes due to the progressive nature of the disease. We report the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel experience through a case series of 16 patients with drug-refractory ARVC, who have undergone endocardial and/or epicardial catheter ablation of VAs with a thoracoscopic hybrid-approach. After a mean follow-up time of 5.16 years (SD 2.9 years) from the first hybrid-approach ablation, VA recurrence was observed in 5 patients (31.25%): among these, patients 4 patients (80%) received a previous ablation and 1 of 11 patients (9.09%) who had a hybrid ablation as first approach had a VA recurrence (80% vs 9.09%; log-rank p = 0.04). Despite the recurrence rate of arrhythmic events, all patients had a significant reduction in the arrhythmic burden after ablation, with a mean of 4.65 years (SD 2.9 years) of freedom from clinically significant arrhythmias, defined as symptomatic VAs or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-delivered therapies. In conclusion, our case series confirms that management of VAs in patients with ARVC is difficult because patients do not always respond to antiarrhythmic medications and can require multiple invasive procedures. A multidisciplinary approach involving cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and cardiac electrophysiologists, together with recent cardiac mapping techniques and ablation tools, might mitigate these difficulties and improve outcomes.

Incidence and Predictors of Cardiac Arrhythmias in Patients With COVID-19.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a systemic disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Arrhythmias are frequently associated with COVID-19 and could be the result of inflammation or hypoxia. This study aimed to define the incidence of arrhythmias in patients with COVID-19 and to correlate arrhythmias with pulmonary damage assessed by computed tomography (CT). Methods: All consecutive patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis hospitalized at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Belgium, between March 2020 and May 2020, were screened. All included patients underwent a thorax CT scan and a CT severity score, a semiquantitative scoring system of pulmonary damage, was calculated. The primary endpoint was the arrhythmia occurrence during follow-up. Results: In this study, 100 patients were prospectively included. At a mean follow-up of 19.6 months, 25 patients with COVID-19 (25%) experienced 26 arrhythmic episodes, including atrial fibrillation in 17 patients, inappropriate sinus tachycardia in 7 patients, atrial flutter in 1 patient, and third-degree atrioventricular block in 1 patient. No ventricular arrhythmias were documented. Patients with COVID-19 with arrhythmias showed more often need for oxygen, higher oxygen maximum flow, longer QTc at admission, and worse damage at CT severity score. In univariate logistic regression analysis, significant predictors of the primary endpoint were: the need for oxygen therapy (odds ratio [OR] 4.59, 95% CI 1.44-14.67, p = 0.01) and CT severity score of pulmonary damage (OR per 1 point increase 1.25, 95% CI 1.11-1.4, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In a consecutive cohort of patients with COVID-19 the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias was 25%. The need for oxygen therapy and CT severity score were predictors of arrhythmia occurrence during follow-up.

Safety and long-term efficacy of cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation in octogenarians: a multicenter experience.

BACKGROUND: Cryoballoon technology (CB-A) has become a cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in terms of safety and efficacy. Data regarding CB-A in octogenarians are still scarce and limited to single center experiences. The present study sought to analyze the performances of index CB-A in patients older than 80 years-old referring to 3 high-volume European centers. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively enrolled 95 patients with a median age of 81 [80, 83] years. 62 (65.3%) patients presented with paroxysmal AF and 33 (33.7%) with persistent AF. Mean procedure and fluoroscopy times were 73.8 ± 25.2 and 15.3 ± 7.5 min, respectively. At 12 months and 24 months of follow-up, the overall freedom from AF was 81.1% and 66.6%, respectively. When divided for AF type, freedom from AF was higher in patients with paroxysmal AF (p = 0.007). Cryoballoon ablation was able to significantly improve AF-related symptoms as proven by the significant decrease in EHRA score during the follow-up (p < 0.0001). Phrenic nerve palsy occurred in 8 (8.5%) patients and always resolved during the procedure without affecting procedural outcome. Two major complications occurred (2.1%); one patient experienced pneumonia, successfully treated with antibiotics and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, the latter one experienced acute kidney failure secondary to urosepsis successfully treated by renal replacement therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that CB-A is a feasible and effective procedure among octogenarians with a low complication rate. Contemporarily, CB-A can help to alleviate arrhythmia-related symptoms also among this group of subjects.

Ajmaline-Induced Abnormalities in Brugada Syndrome: Evaluation With ECG Imaging.

Background The rate of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in Brugada syndrome (BrS) is ≈1%/y. Noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging is a noninvasive mapping system that has a role in assessing BrS depolarization and repolarization abnormalities. This study aimed to analyze electrocardiographic imaging parameters during ajmaline test (AJT). Methods and Results All consecutive epicardial maps of the right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT-EPI) in BrS with CardioInsight were retrospectively analyzed. (1) RVOT-EPI activation time (RVOT-AT); (2) RVOT-EPI recovery time, and (3) RVOT-EPI activation-recovery interval (RVOT-ARI) were calculated. ∆RVOT-AT, ∆RVOT-EPI recovery time, and ∆RVOT-ARI were defined as the difference in parameters before and after AJT. SCD-BrS patients were defined as individuals presenting a history of aborted SCD. Thirty-nine patients with BrS were retrospectively analyzed and 12 patients (30.8%) were SCD-BrS. After AJT, an increase in both RVOT-AT [105.9 milliseconds versus 65.8 milliseconds, P<0.001] and RVOT-EPI recovery time [403.4 milliseconds versus 365.7 milliseconds, P<0.001] was observed. No changes occurred in RVOT-ARI [297.5 milliseconds versus 299.9 milliseconds, P=0.7]. Before AJT no differences were observed between SCD-BrS and non SCD-BrS in RVOT-AT, RVOT-EPI recovery time, and RVOT-ARI (P=0.9, P=0.91, P=0.86, respectively). Following AJT, SCD-BrS patients showed higher RVOT-AT, higher ∆RVOT-AT, lower RVOT-ARI, and lower ∆RVOT-ARI (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.007, P=0.002, respectively). At the univariate logistic regression, predictors of SCD-BrS were the following: RVOT-AT after AJT (specificity: 0.74, sensitivity 1.00, area under the curve 0.92); ∆RVOT-AT (specificity: 0.74, sensitivity 0.92, area under the curve 0.86); RVOT-ARI after AJT (specificity 0.96, sensitivity 0.58, area under the curve 0.79), and ∆RVOT-ARI (specificity 0.85, sensitivity 0.67, area under the curve 0.76). Conclusions Noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging can be useful in evaluating the results of AJT in BrS.

High-density epicardial mapping in Brugada syndrome: Depolarization and repolarization abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of Brugada syndrome (BrS) and consequently of abnormal electrograms (aEGMs) found in the epicardium of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT-EPI) is controversial. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze aEGM from high-density RVOT-EPI electroanatomic mapping (EAM). METHODS: All patients undergoing RVOT-EPI EAM with the HD-Grid catheter for BrS were retrospectively included. Maps were acquired before and after ajmaline, and all patients had concomitant noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging with annotation of RVOT-EPI latest activation time (RVOTat). High-frequency potentials (HFPs) were defined as ventricular potentials occurring during or after the far-field ventricular EGM showing a local activation time (HFPat). Low-frequency potentials (LFPs) were defined as aEGMs occurring after near-field ventricular activation showing fractionation or delayed components. Their activation time from surface ECG was defined as LFPat. RESULTS: Fifteen consecutive patients were included in the study. At EAM before ajmaline, 7 patients (46.7%) showed LFPs. All patients showed HFPs before and after ajmaline and LFPs after ajmaline. Mean HFPat (134.4 vs 65.3 ms, P <.001), mean LFPat (224.6 vs 113.6 ms, P <.001), and mean RVOTat (124.8 vs 55.9 ms, P <.001) increased after ajmaline. RVOTat correlated with HFPat before (ρ = 0.76) and after ajmaline (ρ = 0.82), while RVOTat was shorter than LFPat before (P <.001) and after ajmaline (P <.001). BrS patients with history of aborted sudden cardiac death had longer aEGMs after ajmaline. CONCLUSION: Two different types of aEGMs are described from BrS high-density epicardial mapping. This might correlate with depolarization and repolarization abnormalities.

Procedural Safety and Efficacy for Pulmonary Vein Isolation with the Novel Polarx™ Cryoablation System: A Propensity Score Matched Comparison with the Arctic Front™ Cryoballoon in the Setting of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: The novel Polarx™ cryoablation system is currently being studied for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. To the best of our knowledge, no study comparing the novel cryoablation system with the standard Arctic Front™ cryoballoon is available in today's literature. This study aims to compare Polarx™ and Arctic Front™ cryoballoon in terms of safety and efficacy. METHODS: From a total cohort of 202 patients who underwent pulmonary vein (PV) isolation for paroxysmal AF through cryoablation, a population of 30 patients who used Polarx™ were compared with 30 propensity-score matched patients who used Arctic Front™. RESULTS: Pulmonary vein occlusion and electrical isolation were achieved in all (100%) veins with a mean number of 1.09 ± 0.3 occlusion per vein using Polarx™ and 1.19 ± 0.5 occlusion per vein using Arctic Front™ (p = 0.6). Shorter procedure and fluoroscopy time were observed with Polarx™ group (60.5 ± 14.23 vs 73.43 ± 13.26 mins, p = 0.001; 12.83 ± 6.03 vs 17.23 ± 7.17 mins, p = 0.01, respectively). Lower cumulative freeze duration per vein was also observed with Polarx™ (203.38 ± 72.03 vs 224.9 ± 79.35 mins, p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in isolation time between the two groups (34.47 ± 21.23 vs 34.18 ± 26.79 secs, p = 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: The novel Polarx™ cryoablation system showed similar efficacy in vein occlusion and isolation and safety profile when compared to Arctic Front™ cryoablation system. Procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and cumulative freeze duration were significantly lower with Polarx™ cryoablation system.

High vagal tone predicts pulmonary vein reconnection after cryoballoon ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is an established treatment for paroxysmal drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). High parasympathetic tone and reconnection of PVs have demonstrated to be possible culprits of AF recurrence after ablation. Our aim was to investigate the association between parasympathetic tone and reconnected PVs in patients with paroxysmal AF. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent a redo catheter ablation procedure for atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence by means of 3D electroanatomic mapping with documentation of presence or absence of PVs reconnection following an initial procedure of cryoballoon (CB) ablation for symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were screened for the study. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients were included, of whom 50 (54.35%) were males. Reconnected PVs were found in 64 (69%) patients. PVs reconnection could be predicted by DC (C-statistic = .770), by SDNNI (C-statistic = .714) and by absolute VLF power (C-statistic = .722), while right-sided PVs reconnection could be better predicted by DC (C-statistic = .848) and by SDNNI (C-statistic = .761). In multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, a DC value ≥6.45 ms and an absolute VLF power value ≥160 ms2 were associated with three times and five times higher odds of PVs reconnection, respectively. On a vein-per-vein analysis, absolute VLF power ≥160 ms2 was associated with three times higher odds, while reaching of -40°C within 60 s was associated with three times lower odds of PVs reconnection. CONCLUSION: High parasympathetic tonus accurately predicts PVs reconnection. On a vein-per-vein analysis, parasympathetic markers along with biophysical parameters predicted PVs reconnection. On a case-by-case analysis, parasympathetic markers were the only predictors of PVs reconnection, thus being a robust PVs reconnection prediction tool.

Repeat procedures for recurrent persistent atrial fibrillation: A propensity-matched score comparison between left atrial linear ablation with radiofrequency and posterior wall isolation with the cryoballoon.

AIMS: To evaluate the clinical outcome in patients undergoing repeat procedures for recurrent persistent atrial fibrillation following an index cryoballoon (CB-A) pulmonary vein isolation ablation on a mid-term follow-up of 12 months. METHODS: In this propensity score-matched comparison, 50 patients undergoing left atrial posterior wall isolation (LAPWI) with the CB-A were matched to 50 patients treated with additional linear ablation using radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). RESULTS: Meantime to repeat the procedure was 9.74 ± 4.36 months. At 12 months follow-up freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATas) was achieved in 82% of patients in the LAPWI group and in 62% of patients in the linear ablation group (P = .03). Regression analysis demonstrated that relapses during the blanking period and LA dimensions were independent predictors of ATas recurrences following the repeat procedure. CONCLUSION: LAPWI using CB-A is associated with a significantly higher freedom from atrial arrhythmias when compared with the RFCA mediated left atrial linear lesions on a mid-term follow-up of 12 months in patients with persAF undergoing a redo procedure.

Phrenic nerve palsy during right-sided pulmonary veins cryoapplications: new insights from pulmonary vein anatomy addressed by computed tomography.

PURPOSE: There is still sparse information regarding phrenic nerve palsy (PNP) during the cryoablation of both right-sided pulmonary vein (PV) and its anatomical predictors. METHODS: Consecutive patients who had undergone pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using CB-A and suffered PNP during both right-sided PVs were retrospectively included in our study. Two other groups were then selected among patients who experienced PNP during RIPV application only (group 2) and RSPV application only (group 3). RESULTS: The incidence of PNI during both right-sided PVs cryoapplications was 2.1%, (32 of 1542 patients). There were no significant clinical differences between the 3 groups. Time from basal temperature to -40 °C significantly differed among the groups for both RIPV (p = 0.0026) and RSPV applications (p = 0.0382). Patients with PNP occurring during RSPV applications had significantly larger RSPV cross-sectional area compared to patients without PNP (p = 0.0116), while in patients with PNP during RIPV application, the angle of RIPV ostium on the transverse plane was significantly smaller compared to patients without PNP (p = 0.0035). The carina width was significantly smaller in patients with PNP occurring during both right-sided PVs cryoapplications compared to patients in which PNP occurred only during one right-sided PV application (p < 0.0001); a cutoff value of 8.5 mm had a sensitivity of 87.3% and a specificity of 75.0%. CONCLUSION: PNP in both right-sided PVs applications is a complication that occurred in 2.1% of cases during CB-A. Pre-procedural evaluation of right PVs anatomy might be useful in evaluating the risk of PNP.

Novel noncontact charge density map in the setting of post-atrial fibrillation atrial tachycardias: first experience with the Acutus SuperMap Algorithm.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of the new high-resolution mapping algorithm SuperMap (Acutus Medical, CA, USA) in identifying and guiding ablation in the setting of regular atrial tachycardias following index atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. METHODS: Seven consecutive patients who underwent a radiofrequency catheter ablation guided by the novel noncontact charge density (CD) SuperMap for atrial tachycardia were prospectively enrolled in our study. RESULTS: Arrhythmogenic substrate was identified in all seven patients. Mean number of EGM per map was 5859.7 ± 4348.5 points. Three patients (43%) exhibited focal tachycardia mechanisms in the left atrium, alternating from anteroseptal right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV), posterior in proximity of left inferior pulmonary vein (LIPV), and interarial septum in proximity of fossa ovalis, respectively. Four patients exhibited macroreentrant mechanism. In 3 of these patients, SuperMap detected mitral isthmus-dependent flutters with tachycardia cycle lengths of 240, 270 and 420 ms, respectively. In one patient, the mechanism was a macroreentrant tachycardia with the critical isthmus located between the crista terminalis and atriotomy. The mean ablation time (min) was 18.2 ± 12.5 and the mean procedural duration time was 56.4 ± 12.1 min. No minor or major complications occurred. CONCLUSION: The novel high-resolution mapping algorithm SuperMap proved to be safe, fast, and feasible in identifying and guiding ablation in the setting of regular atrial tachycardias following index AF ablation.

Pulmonary veins anatomical determinants of cooling kinetics during second-generation cryoballoon ablation.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the role of anatomical characteristics of the pulmonary veins (PVs) determining cooling kinetics during second-generation cryoballoon ablation (CbA). METHODS AND RESULTS: we enrolled all consecutive patients who underwent CbA for symptomatic atrial fibrillation in our center from January 2019 to March 2019. All patients had complete computed tomography scans of the heart before the ablation. Anatomical characteristics were tested for prediction of a nadir temperature (NT) ≤ -48°C. Significant differences were noted among PV max diameter (20.8 ± 2.8 vs 18.5 ± 2.5 mm; P < .001); PV minimum diameter (15.2 ± 3.0 vs 13.0 ± 3.1 mm; P < .001); PV area (268.1 ± 71.9 vs 206.2 ± 58.7 mm2 ; P < .001); PV ovality (1.4 ± 0.3 vs 1.5 ± 0.3; P = .005); and PV trunk length (27.4 ± 7.4 vs 21.3 ± 6.5 mm; P < .001). A scoring system was created by assigning one point each ranging from 0 (best anatomical combination) to 5. In the group with a score of 0, 94.0% of the CbA could reach a NT ≤ -48°C whereas with a score of 5, only 29.0% (P < .001). Left superior pulmonary vein with short trunk length and acute angle of PV branch was significantly associated with warmer NT (11.8% satisfactory CbA; P = .003). Regarding right inferior pulmonary vein, trunk length (P = .004), maximum diameter (P = .044), and transverse angle (P = .008) were independently associated with good NT. CONCLUSION: Anatomical PV features are associated with cooling kinetics and an anatomical score could predict lower NT during second-generation CbA. Specific characteristics were identified for inferior PV. Although heart imaging is not mandatory prior CbA, it can be a useful tool to predict cooling kinetics.

Anatomic predictors of late right inferior pulmonary vein reconnection in the setting of second-generation cryoballoon ablation.

INTRODUCTION: The right inferior pulmonary vein (RIPV) accounts as the most frequently reconnected vein after pulmonary vein isolation using second-generation cryoballoon ablation (CB-A). Our objective was to assess anatomic predictors of late RIPV reconnection based on preprocedural computed tomography scan. METHODS: Patients with a repeat procedure for atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence after index CB-A procedure were included. A total of 129 RIPVs were evaluated for ostial diameters, ostial area, and branching pattern. Interior angle between RIPV and horizontal line in the frontal/transversal plane was used to measure the RIPV orientation: RIPV frontal/transversal angle, respectively. In addition, interior angle between RIPV and the line perpendicular on the septal intersection line at the level of the fossa ovalis, estimated as trans-septal (TS) puncture site, was measured in the frontal/transversal view: RIPV-TS frontal/transversal angle, respectively. RESULTS: Late vein reconnection was present in 36/129 RIPVs (28%). Warmer balloon nadir temperature (P = .01), more inferior (P < .001) and posterior (P < .01) RIPV orientation (ie, more positive RIPV frontal and RIPV transversal angle, respectively), and sharper RIPV-TS frontal angle (P < .001) were associated with late RIPV reconnection on univariate analysis. Independent variables after multivariate analysis were nadir temperature (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-1.23; P = .013) and RIPV frontal angle (OR, 1.13, CI, 1.07-1.19; P < .001). CONCLUSION: Frontal RIPV orientation could significantly predict late RIPV electrical reconnection after CB-A. Therefore, preprocedural anatomic assessment of the RIPV might be useful to plan the correct ablation strategy.