Transesophageal echocardiography guided transseptal puncture and nadir temperatures in cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation.

Introduction: Cryoballoon (CB) guided pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is an established procedure in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Transseptal access is an indispensable step during PVI and may be associated with severe complications. For specific interventions, specific puncture sites of the fossa ovalis are advantageous. Here, we analyzed the potential impact of a transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) guided transseptal puncture on nadir temperatures in CB PVI. Methods and Results: We retrospectively analyzed 209 patients undergoing CB PVI in our hospital. The use of TOE had been at the operator's discretion. No TOE-related complications such as perforation of the pharynx or esophagus or loss of teeth were noted. Concerning the applied freezes, we found significantly lower nadir temperatures in all PVs in the TOE group than in the non-TOE group. Procedure time and fluoroscopy time and complications were similar in both groups. Conclusion: TOE-guided TSP in CB PVI is safe and feasible. Our study found significantly lower nadir temperatures of CB freezes after TOE-guided TSP which potentially underscores the value of a more infero-anterior puncture site.

Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Used as a Telemonitoring System in a Real-Life Heart Failure Unit Setting.

BACKGROUND: In patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) who are at risk of sudden cardiac death, a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) is recommended as a bridge to the recovery of LVEF or as a bridge to the implantation of a device. In addition to its function to detect and treat malignant arrhythmia, WCD can be used via an online platform as a telemonitoring system to supervise patients' physical activity, compliance, and heart rate. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 173 patients with regard to compliance and heart rate after discharge. RESULTS: Mean WCD wearing time was 59.75 ± 35.6 days; the daily wearing time was 21.19 ± 4.65 h. We found significant differences concerning the patients' compliance. Men showed less compliance than women, and younger patients showed less compliance than patients who were older. Furthermore, we analyzed the heart rate from discharge until the end of WCD prescription and found a significant decrease from discharge to 4, 8, or 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: WCD can be used as a telemonitoring system to help the involved heart failure unit or physicians attend to and adjust the medical therapy. Furthermore, specific patient groups should be educated more intensively with respect to compliance.

Influence of excess weight and obesity on performance and outcome of pulmonary vein isolation with the cryoballoon.

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has become a cornerstone therapy in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients with overweight or obesity suffer more often from AF, and studies investigating the safety and feasibility of PVI in these patients have shown varying results. In this study we analyzed PVI performed with the 2nd generation cryoballoon (CB) with regard to safety, procedure and fluoroscopy time in patients with normal weight, overweight and obesity. We analyzed 228 consecutive patients treated with CB PVI in our hospital in 2018 and 2019. Fifty nine (25.88%) patients presented with normal weight (body mass index (BMI) of <25), 115 (50.44%) patients with overweight (BMI between 25 and 29.9) and 54 (23.68%) were obese patients (BMI >30). All pulmonary veins (PV) were isolated successfully. Concerning procedural parameters, neither complications, procedural time, nor fluoroscopy time differed significantly. There was a significant increase of dose area product (DAP) in obese patients compared to normal weight and overweight patients (2035.5 ± 1930.1 µGym2 vs. 975.3 ± 814.9 vs. 1325.1 ± 2081.3, p = 0.001) but no significant difference between overweight and normal weight patients (p = 0.611). Our follow-up data of 168 patients (73.68%) observed for 12 months showed no differences in the recurrence of AF in the three BMI groups [80.9% vs. 83.3% (p = 0.733) vs. 86.55% (p = 0.460)]. In conclusion, CB PVI in overweight and obese patients is safe with similar levels of complications and recurrence of AF as patients of normal weight. However, obese patients and operators are exposed to higher radiation doses.

Evasion maneuver for transseptal approach during cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation.

PURPOSE: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a cornerstone therapy in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation. One current method is performing a PVI using a cryoballoon (CB). The CB is inserted into the left atrium via a steerable sheath. However, at times, passing of the interatrial septum by the sheath is hindered, e.g., due to septal fibrosis. Here we report our experience with an evasion maneuver to facilitate this approach using a 6F multipolar and steerable coronary Sinus catheter (CS) for predilatation of the interatrial septum. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report 10 patients undergoing a CB-PVI, where the investigator experienced difficulties in passing the interatrial septum with the CB sheath. In these cases, after three conventional abortive attempts, we predilated the transseptal puncture site using both the CS catheter and the dilatator of the CB sheath. Thereafter access of the CB sheath to the left atrium could be achieved instantly and without further resistance. CONCLUSION: We report a safe and feasible maneuver to facilitate transseptal access with the CB steerable sheath in cases complicated by excessive interatrial resistance.

Percutaneous retrieval of a shard of metal from the right ventricular apex after an industrial accident.

A 29-year-old man suffered from an industrial accident as a piece of metal of a die-cutter burst and shards of metal penetrated his right upper arm. One shard was localized via x-ray and computer tomography within the apex of the right ventricle. Here we report on a successful retrieval of this shard of metal by aspirating it via a 6F multipurpose (MP) catheter.

Electromagnetic Interference Between Left Ventricular Assist Device and a Three-Dimensional Mapping System Overcome by "Hot Mapping".

The number of patients with implanted left ventricular assist devices is constantly increasing. Numerous patients suffer from drug-resistant ventricular tachycardias. Only a few studies and reports about ablation therapy in this cohort of patients are available. Electromagnetic interferences between the left ventricular assist device and the three-dimensional mapping system which is used for ablation has been described as disabling the investigator to create a proper map of the left ventricle. We observed that this interference is interrupted by "hot mapping" meaning that one pretends an ablation with only 5 W, permitting the creation of a clear map in areas of interference.