Metabolic heterogeneous zone assessed by 18 FDG-PET is predictive of postablation mortality in patients with ventricular tachycardia.

PURPOSE: We sought to study the predictive value of the metabolic heterogeneous zone (HZ) as determined by 18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (18 FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) viability studies in ventricular tachycardia (VT) patients. METHODS: PET studies utilizing 82 Rubidium (82 Rb) tracer for perfusion and 18 FDG tracer for viability were analyzed using PMOD (PMOD Technologies) and further analyzed using 684-segment plots. 18 FDG uptake was normalized to the area with maximal perfusion on the rest 82 Rb study. Metabolic scar, HZ, and healthy segments were defined with perfusion-normalized 18 FDG uptake between 0%-50%, 50%-70%, and >70%, respectively. RESULTS: Thirty-four VT patients (age, 63 ± 12 years) were evaluated with 18 FDG-PET viability study. Most (n = 31) patients underwent VT ablation. Patients were categorized to HZ < median versus HZ ≥ median based on a median HZ area size of 21.0 cm2 . HZ size was significantly larger in the deceased group than the alive group (35.2 cm2 vs. 18.1 cm2 , p = .01). Deaths were significantly higher in HZ ≥ 21 cm2 group than HZ < 21 cm2 group (58.8% vs. 11.8%, p = .005). Survival analysis showed significantly higher mortality in the HZ ≥ 21 cm2 group than the HZ < 21 cm2 group (HR = 4.1, 95% CI: 1.3-12.6, p = .016). In a multivariable analysis, HZ was found to be an independent predictor for all-cause mortality (HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.02-1.12, p = .01) CONCLUSIONS: Increased HZ size of myocardium was associated with increased mortality. Metabolic HZ quantification may be of value in risk stratification and management of ischemic and nonischemic patients with VT.

Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in patients with prior cardiac surgery: An analysis from the International VT Ablation Center Collaborative Group.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with prior cardiac surgery may represent a subgroup of patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) that may be more difficult to control with catheter ablation. METHODS: We evaluated 1901 patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy who underwent VT ablation at 12 centers. Clinical characteristics and VT radiofrequency ablation procedural outcomes were assessed and compared between those with and without prior cardiac surgery. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate freedom from recurrent VT and survival. RESULTS: There were 578 subjects (30.4%) with prior cardiac surgery identified in the cohort. Those with prior cardiac surgery were older (66.4 ± 11.0 years vs. 60.5 ± 13.9 years, p < .01), with lower left ventricular ejection fraction (30.2 ± 11.5% vs. 34.8 ± 13.6%, p < .01) and more ischemic heart disease (82.5% vs. 39.3%, p < .01) but less likely to undergo epicardial mapping or ablation (9.0% vs. 38.1%, p<.01) compared to those without prior surgery. When epicardial mapping was performed, a significantly greater proportion required surgical intervention for access (19/52 [36.5%] vs. 14/504 [2.8%]; p < .01). Procedural complications, including epicardial access-related complications, were lower (5.7% vs. 7.0%, p < .01) in patients with versus without prior cardiac surgery. VT-free survival (75.1% vs. 74.1%, p = .805) and survival (86.5% vs. 87.9%, p = .397) were not different between those with and without prior heart surgery, regardless of etiology of cardiomyopathy. VT recurrence was associated with increased mortality in patients with and without prior cardiac surgery. CONCLUSION: Despite different clinical characteristics and fewer epicardial procedures, the safety and efficacy of VT ablation in patients with prior cardiac surgery is similar to others in this cohort. The incremental yield of epicardial mapping in predominant ischemic cardiomyopathy population prior heart surgery may be low but appears safe in experienced centers.

2019 HRS/EHRA/APHRS/LAHRS expert consensus statement on catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias: executive summary.

Ventricular arrhythmias are an important cause of morbidity and mortality and come in a variety of forms, from single premature ventricular complexes to sustained ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. Rapid developments have taken place over the past decade in our understanding of these arrhythmias and in our ability to diagnose and treat them. The field of catheter ablation has progressed with the development of new methods and tools, and with the publication of large clinical trials. Therefore, global cardiac electrophysiology professional societies undertook to outline recommendations and best practices for these procedures in a document that will update and replace the 2009 EHRA/HRS Expert Consensus on Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias. An expert writing group, after reviewing and discussing the literature, including a systematic review and meta-analysis published in conjunction with this document, and drawing on their own experience, drafted and voted on recommendations and summarized current knowledge and practice in the field. Each recommendation is presented in knowledge byte format and is accompanied by supportive text and references. Further sections provide a practical synopsis of the various techniques and of the specific ventricular arrhythmia sites and substrates encountered in the electrophysiology lab. The purpose of this document is to help electrophysiologists around the world to appropriately select patients for catheter ablation, to perform procedures in a safe and efficacious manner, and to provide follow-up and adjunctive care in order to obtain the best possible outcomes for patients with ventricular arrhythmias.

Ventricular arrhythmia ablation lesions detectability and temporal changes on cardiac magnetic resonance.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) characteristics of ventricular radiofrequency ablation (RFA) lesions have only been incompletely defined. AIM: To determine the detectability and imaging characteristics of ventricular RFA lesions in an unselected patient cohort undergoing ventricular arrhythmia ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective chart review (n = 249) identified 36 patients with either pre-/postablation CMR (n = 14) or only postablation CMR (n = 22). Ablation lesions could be identified in 50% (n = 18) of patients. Nonvisualized lesions had more preexisting transmural late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) >75% at the ablation sites (21% vs 0.0%, P = .042), more prevalent ICD artifact (50% vs 0%, P = .001), and lower ejection fraction (35.8 ± 14.2% vs 45.3 ± 13.4%, P = .048). Early CMR imaging demonstrated a central "black" signal void (microvascular obstruction [MVO], n = 12, 67%) up to 32 days post-RFA, whereas late imaging showed a homogenously "white" gadolinium enhancement pattern (n = 6, 33%). MVO was only observed in nonfibrotic myocardium without preexisting LGE (n = 12) but was not observed in the scar with preexisting LGE (n = 3, P = .002) suggesting different wash-in/wash-out kinetics in scar/nonscar myocardium. Signal intensity (1909 vs 2534, P = .009) and contrast-to-noise ratio (-7.8 vs 16.3, P = .009) were significantly different between MVO and LGE lesions, respectively. CONCLUSION: Ventricular ablation lesions visualization is negatively affected by preexisting transmural scar, ICD artifact, and low ejection fraction. The transition of "black" MVO appearance to "white" LGE appearance on CMR occurs around 1 month following ablation, suggesting a change in histological characteristics of ablation lesions. This may affect the utility of CMR in the evaluation of the ventricular lesions, when undergoing real-time or repeat VT ablations.

2019 HRS/EHRA/APHRS/LAHRS expert consensus statement on catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias.

Ventricular arrhythmias are an important cause of morbidity and mortality and come in a variety of forms, from single premature ventricular complexes to sustained ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. Rapid developments have taken place over the past decade in our understanding of these arrhythmias and in our ability to diagnose and treat them. The field of catheter ablation has progressed with the development of new methods and tools, and with the publication of large clinical trials. Therefore, global cardiac electrophysiology professional societies undertook to outline recommendations and best practices for these procedures in a document that will update and replace the 2009 EHRA/HRS Expert Consensus on Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias. An expert writing group, after reviewing and discussing the literature, including a systematic review and meta-analysis published in conjunction with this document, and drawing on their own experience, drafted and voted on recommendations and summarized current knowledge and practice in the field. Each recommendation is presented in knowledge byte format and is accompanied by supportive text and references. Further sections provide a practical synopsis of the various techniques and of the specific ventricular arrhythmia sites and substrates encountered in the electrophysiology lab. The purpose of this document is to help electrophysiologists around the world to appropriately select patients for catheter ablation, to perform procedures in a safe and efficacious manner, and to provide follow-up and adjunctive care in order to obtain the best possible outcomes for patients with ventricular arrhythmias.

Left atrial thrombus two years after placement of a left atrial appendage closure device: Unexplored area of the Watchman.

A 72-year-old man who underwent a left atrial appendage (LAA) closure device 2 years ago presented with atrial flutter with rapid ventricular rate and was referred for cardioversion. Precardioversion transesophageal echocardiogram showed left atrial thrombus and therefore the procedure was aborted. Currently, there is no guideline on imaging surveillance or anticoagulation in patients with LAA closure device who develop intracardiac thrombus after the initial 6-month surveillance period.

Validation of a novel CARTOSEG™ segmentation module software for contrast-enhanced computed tomography-guided radiofrequency ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

INTRODUCTION: Visualization of left atrial (LA) anatomy using image integration modules has been associated with decreased radiation exposure and improved procedural outcome when used for guidance of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. We evaluated the CARTOSEG™ CT Segmentation Module (Biosense Webster, Inc.) that offers a new CT-specific semiautomatic reconstruction of the atrial endocardium. METHODS: The CARTOSEG™ CT Segmentation Module software was assessed prospectively in 80 patients undergoing AF ablation. Using preprocedural contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CE-CT), cardiac chambers, coronary sinus (CS), and esophagus were semiautomatically segmented. Segmentation quality was assessed from 1 (poor) to 4 (excellent). The reconstructed structures were registered with the electroanatomic map (EAM). PVI was performed using the registered 3D images. RESULTS: Semiautomatic reconstruction of the heart chambers was successfully performed in all 80 patients with AF. CE-CT DICOM file import, semiautomatic segmentation of cardiac chambers, esophagus, and CS was performed in 185 ± 105, 18 ± 5, 119 ± 47, and 69 ± 19 seconds, respectively. Average segmentation quality was 3.9 ± 0.2, 3.8 ± 0.3, and 3.8 ± 0.2 for LA, esophagus, and CS, respectively. Registration accuracy between the EAM and CE-CT-derived segmentation was 4.2 ± 0.9 mm. Complications consisted of one perforation (1%) which required pericardiocentesis, one increased pericardial effusion treated conservatively (1%), and one early termination of ablation due to thrombus formation on the ablation sheath without TIA/stroke (1%). All targeted PVs (n  =  309) were successfully isolated. CONCLUSIONS: The novel CT- CARTOSEG™ CT Segmentation Module enables a rapid and reliable semiautomatic 3D reconstruction of cardiac chambers and adjacent anatomy, which facilitates successful and safe PVI.

Location, variations, and predictors of epicardial fat mapping using multidetector computed tomography to assist epicardial ventricular tachycardia ablation.

BACKGROUND: A significant number of ventricular tachycardia circuits are located close to the epicardial surface and are amendable to epicardial ablation. Epicardial fat often interferes with substrate mapping and ablation, though little is known regarding the distribution of fat and its fluctuation with the cardiac cycle. METHODS: We studied 40 patients who underwent a 64-slice multidetector computed tomography in order to describe patterns of epicardial fat distribution, variation during cardiac cycle, and clinical predictors of epicardial fat. Multiplanar reconstructions were analyzed during systole and diastole in six cross-sections. Epicardial fat thickness was measured across multiple wall segments in each view. RESULTS: Epicardial fat was found to be thicker in areas overlying coronary vasculature (7.8 ± 2.6 mm vs 3.5 ± 0.9 mm, P = 0.001), along with the right ventricular wall (3.9 ± 0.8 mm vs 2.6 ± 0.6 mm, P = 0.001) and the ventricular base (6.1 ± 1.7 mm vs 4.6 ± 1.6 mm, P < 0.01). Epicardial fat thickness increased 27% during systole as compared to diastole (4.9 ± 2.7 mm vs 6.2 ± 3.0 mm, P = 0.04). Variation with cardiac cycle was most evident along the right ventricular wall (3.9 ± 0.8 mm vs 5.0 ± 1.3 mm, P = 0.001) and nonvascular areas (P = 0.001), especially at the ventricular base (3.7 ± 1.1 mm vs 5.3 ± 1.5 mm, P = 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression, we found that age >50 years (P = 0.031) and coronary artery disease (P = 0.023) were statistically correlated with epicardial fat >5-mm thickness and body mass index > 33 (P = 0.052) nearly so. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline epicardial fat thickness >5 mm is common in areas typically targeted during epicardial ablation and further increases during the cardiac cycle. Simple clinical characteristics can identify patients with >5 mm epicardial fat in which preprocedural computed tomography imaging and three-dimensional fat map reconstruction may facilitate epicardial ablation.

Nuclear Imaging Guidance for Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias.

Due to an increase in the number of patients with heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia ablation has a growing clinical role. Long-term success rates remain suboptimal and require creating a detailed electroanatomic map during the procedure to identify fibrotic areas responsible for arrhythmias. Nuclear imaging can identify areas of abnormal myocardial perfusion, metabolism, and innervation, which all may enhance our ability to identify ablation targets, thus decreasing procedure time and improving success rates. Myocardial scar, as assessed by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) perfusion imaging, has been shown to correlate with abnormal areas found during electroanatomic mapping. Abnormal metabolism as identified by (18)fluorodeoxyglucose-positron-emission tomography (PET) imaging has been shown to predict successful ablation sites and help correct errors made in the creation of the electroanatomic map. Abnormal cardiac sympathetic innervation can be identified using the purpose (123)I-meta-iodobenzylguanidine SPECT imaging, which may help in identifying triggers that initiate ventricular tachycardia and also predict successful ablation sites within an otherwise normal myocardium. In conclusion, these imaging modalities can not only offer new insights into the pathophysiology of ventricular arrhythmias but also have the potential to improve outcomes from ventricular tachycardia ablation procedures.

Cardiac sarcoidosis: electrophysiological outcomes on long-term follow-up and the role of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to identify the predictors of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and to evaluate the role of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in this patient population. BACKGROUND: ICD implantation is a class IIA recommendation for patients with CS. However, some indications for ICD implantation in CS patients are still unclear and not enough data are available to establish predictors of malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias in this group of patients. METHODS: We retrospectively identified all consecutive patients who were diagnosed with CS, during the period from March 2002 to April 2010. Cardiac rhythm devices were regularly interrogated and clinical data recorded during follow-up visits. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (17 male) with CS were identified. The mean age was 53 ± 11. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 41 ± 18%. Thirty patients received an ICD. Twelve patients (36.3%) had sustained ventricular arrhythmias. Eleven patients received appropriate therapies and 9 patients received inappropriate shocks, representing 36.7% and 30.0% of the ICD population, respectively. Patients who received appropriate ICD therapies were younger with mean age 47.4 ± 7.8, and had a lower mean LVEF 33.0 ± 12.0 compared to those who did not receive ICD therapies (P = 0.0301 and 0.0341, respectively). There were no other demographic, clinical, electrocardiographic, electrophysiological, or imaging markers that predicted the future occurrence of appropriate ICD therapies in our cohort of patients. CONCLUSIONS: CS is strongly associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. No specific predictors of such tachyarrhythmias emerged, other than young age and low LVEF.

Assessment of ventricular tachycardia scar substrate by intracardiac echocardiography.

BACKGROUND: Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is increasingly used to guide complex ablation procedures. This study aimed to assess the scar substrate of ventricular tachycardia (VT) by ICE in patients undergoing VT ablation. METHODS: In 22 patients undergoing VT ablation (10 ischemic, 12 nonischemic), the Biosense CARTOSOUND module (Biosense Webster, Diamond Bar, CA, USA) was used for three-dimensional reconstruction of the ventricles. The characteristics and appearance with ICE imaging of voltage-defined scar zones (bipolar voltage <0.5 mV), border zones (0.5-1.5 mV), and normal myocardium (>1.5 mV) on electroanatomic maps were evaluated. The standard image analysis software Image J (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA) was used to analyze signal intensity (mean pixel signal intensity unit [SIU]) and heterogeneity (standard deviation of signal intensity in analyzed area) on ICE images. RESULTS: A total of 83 myocardial areas were analyzed from two-dimensional ICE images (15 scars, 31 border zones, and 37 normal). Voltage-defined scar zones had increased signal intensities compared to border zones (149 SIU vs 104 SIU, P < 0.0001) and normal myocardium (88 SIU, P < 0.0001). Border zones were more likely to have heterogeneous densities compared to normal myocardium (standard deviation of signal intensity 20 SIU vs 12 SIU, P < 0.0001). In receiver-operator characteristic analyses, signal intensity ≥ 137 SIU differentiated scar from nonscar zones (area under curve 0.91, P < 0.0001). Software-based color enhancement of areas with signal intensity ≥ 137 SIU allowed identification of the VT substrate in all 15 patients with voltage-defined scar zones. CONCLUSIONS: ICE provides important information about the VT anatomical substrate and may have potential to identify areas of scarred myocardium.

Impact of ICD artifact burden on late gadolinium enhancement cardiac MR imaging in patients undergoing ventricular tachycardia ablation.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) is the gold standard for myocardial scar evaluation. Although ideal for substrate assessment in ventricular tachycardia (VT), most patients have an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) at presentation for ablation. This study evaluates the ICD artifact burden during standard late gadolinium enhancement CMRI (LGE-CMRI) evaluation of myocardial scar in VT patients with ICDs. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with ICD and cardiomyopathy underwent LGE-CMRI using 1.5-T magnetic resonance scanner before VT ablation. Using the American Heart Association (AHA) 17-segment model, short-axis LGE series were analyzed for artifact burden localization and assessment. RESULTS: Preablation CMRI was performed in 31 patients with single chamber (n = 13), dual chamber (n = 11), and biventricular (n = 7) ICDs. Pre- and post-MRI ICD parameters were unchanged. All patients had susceptibility artifact and 51.6% (256 of 496) of segments were affected by artifact. The artifact area (178 ± 136 cm(2) ) resulted in an artifact burden of 54 ± 21% of the LV myocardial area (327 ± 15 cm(2) ). The anterior wall was most affected by artifact (89%) compared with 52%, 49%, and 23% in the lateral, septal, and inferior walls, respectively (P < 0.0001). The apical segments had more artifact burden (66%) than the mid (49%) and basal (44%) segments (P = 0.0005). Artifact area correlated with ICD-heart distance on anteroposterior chest radiograph (r = 0.42, P = 0.021) and body mass index (r = -0.48, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Current clinical LGE-CMRI scar imaging protocols produce ICD artifacts that affect >50% of the LV myocardium and correlate with the ICD-heart distance. This significantly limits the application of CMRI for image-guided VT ablation.

Impact of fluoroscopy unit on the accuracy of a magnet-based electroanatomic mapping and navigation system: an in vitro and in vivo validation study.

INTRODUCTION: During mapping and ablation procedures, the movement of large ferromagnetic items (i.e., fluoroscopic equipment) introduce heterogeneities in the electromagnetic field, which may affect the accuracy of electromagnet-based navigation. We aimed to assess the impact of common periprocedural fluoroscopic equipment movement on the accuracy of an electromagnet-based navigation system. METHODS AND RESULTS: The impact of fluoroscopic equipment movement on the accuracy of the Carto® 3 System (Biosense Webster, Inc., Diamond Bar, CA, USA) was assessed both in vitro (n = 20 patients, phantom model) and in vivo (n = 18 patients). Location recordings were obtained with unchanged catheter position for fluoroscopic equipment rotational movements (RMs) and maximal to closest distance (MD to CD) to phantom/patient. The effects of both single- and biplane fluoroscopy were assessed. In vitro, the movement of fluoroscopic equipment resulted in an average catheter location estimation error of 0.8 mm (interquartile range 0.3-1.3). The maximal location estimation errors with MD to CD movement and RM were 2.3 mm and 1.3 mm, respectively. Changing from single-plane to biplane setup resulted in an average location estimation change of 1.5 mm (maximum 2.1). Larger location changes were observed in vivo (2.9 mm vs 0.8 mm, P < 0.0001) with 28.7% of these exceeded 4 mm versus none of the in vitro measurements (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Although fluoroscopy manipulation affected the accuracy of the Carto® 3 System, the in vitro data suggest that these inaccuracies are likely of limited clinical consequences. The larger in vivo inaccuracies are most likely due to nonferromagnetic interferences, such as respiratory or cardiac movements.

Premature ventricular complexes: Assessing burden density in a large national cohort to better define optimal ECG monitoring duration.

BACKGROUND: Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) burden is a risk factor for heart failure and cardiovascular death in patients with structural heart disease. Long-term electrocardiographic monitoring can have a significant impact on PVC burden evaluation by further defining PVC distribution patterns. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to ascertain the optimal duration of electrocardiographic monitoring to characterize PVC burden and to understand clinical characteristics associated with frequent PVCs and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in a large US cohort. METHODS: Commercial data (iRhythm's Zio patch) from June 2011 to April 2022 were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years, PVC burden ≥5%, and wear period ≥13 days. PVC burden cutoffs were determined on the basis of AHA/ACC/HRS guidelines for very frequent PVCs (10,000-20,000 during 24 hours). Patients were assigned to categories by PVC densities: low, <10%; moderate, 10% to <20%; and high, ≥20%. Mean measured error was assessed at baseline and daily until the wear period's end for overall PVC burden and different PVC densities. RESULTS: Analysis of 106,705 patch monitors revealed a study population with mean age of 70.6 ± 14.6 years (33.6% female). PVC burden was higher in male patients and those >65 years of age. PVC burden mean error decreased from 2.9% at 24 hours to 1.3% at 7 days and 0.7% at 10 days. Number of ventricular tachycardia episodes per patient increased with increasing PVC burden (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Extending ambulatory monitoring beyond 24 hours to 7 days or more improves accuracy of assessing PVC burden. Ventricular tachycardia frequency and duration vary by initial PVC density, highlighting the need for prolonged cardiac monitoring.

The potential role of iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging for identifying sustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with cardiomyopathy.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) significantly reduce mortality in patients with depressed left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and heart failure (HF). However, shortcomings of LVEF to accurately identify those at greatest risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias have led to the pursuit of alternative means to refine qualification criteria for ICD implantation. It is well established that imaging the cardiac nervous system with(123)I meta-iodobenzylguanidine ((123)I-mIBG) provides incremental prognostic value in patients with HF beyond LVEF. Whether (123)I-mIBG will also play an important role for identifying and/or predicting sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with cardiomyopathy and determining those who may benefit from ICD implantation is currently under investigation. Novel imaging approaches that pinpoint the site of ventricular arrhythmias and guide ventricular tachycardia ablation are presented.