Long-Term Renal Function after Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with the development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study evaluated the impact of long-term rhythm outcome after catheter ablation (CA) of AF on renal function. Methods and results: The study group included 169 consecutive patients (the mean age was 59.6 ± 10.1 years, 61.5% were males) who underwent their first CA of AF. Renal function was assessed by eGFR (using the CKD-EPI and MDRD formulas), and by creatinine clearance (using the Cockcroft-Gault formula) in each patient before and 5 years after index CA procedure. During the 5-year follow-up after CA, the late recurrence of atrial arrhythmia (LRAA) was documented in 62 patients (36.7%). The mean eGFR, regardless of which formula was used, significantly decreased at 5 years following CA in patients with LRAA (all p < 0.05). In the arrhythmia-free patients, the mean eGFR at 5 years post-CA remained stable (for the CKD-EPI formula: 78.7 ± 17.3 vs. 79.4 ± 17.4, p = 0.555) or even significantly improved (for the MDRD formula: 74.1 ± 17.0 vs. 77.4 ± 19.6, p = 0.029) compared with the baseline. In the multivariable analysis, the independent risk factors for rapid CKD progression (decline in eGFR > 5 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year) were the post-ablation LRAA occurrence (hazard ratio 3.36 [95% CI: 1.25-9.06], p = 0.016), female sex (3.05 [1.13-8.20], p = 0.027), vitamin K antagonists (3.32 [1.28-8.58], p = 0.013), or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists' use (3.28 [1.13-9.54], p = 0.029) after CA. Conclusions: LRAA after CA is associated with a significant decrease in eGFR, and it is an independent risk factor for rapid CKD progression. Conversely, eGFR in arrhythmia-free patients after CA remained stable or even improved significantly.

Risk factors for late reconnections after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation guided by lesion size index - Data from repeat invasive electrophysiology procedure.

Background: Late reconnections (LR) of pulmonary veins (PVs) after wide antral circumferential ablation (WACA) using point-to-point radiofrequency (RF) ablation are common. Lesion size index (LSI) is a novel marker of lesion quality proposed by Ensite Precision mapping system, expected to improve PV isolation durability. This study aimed to assess the durability of LSI-guided PVI and the risk factors for LR of PVs. Methods: The prospective study included 33 patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) who underwent (1) the index LSI-guided WACA procedure (with target LSI of 5.5-6.0 for anterior and 5.0-5.5 for posterior WACA segments) and (2) the 3-month protocol-mandated re-mapping procedure in all patients, irrespective of AF recurrence after the index procedure. Ablation parameters reported by Ensite mapping system were collected retrospectively. The inter-lesion distance (ILD) between all adjacent WACA lesions was calculated off-line. Association between index ablation parameters and the LRs of PVs at 3 months was analyzed. Results: The median patient age was 61 (IQR: 53-64) years and 55% of them were males. At index procedure, the first-pass WACA isolation rate was higher for the left PVs than the right PVs (64 vs. 33%, p = 0.014). In addition, a low acute reconnection rates were observed, as follows: in 12.1% of patients, in 6.1% of WACA circles, in 3.8% of WACA segments and in 4.5% of PVs. However, the 3-month remapping study revealed LR of PV in 63.6% of patients, 37.9% of WACA circles, 20.5% of WACA segments and 26.5% of PVs. The LRs were identified mostly along the left anterior WACA segment. Independent risk factors for the LR of WACA were left-sided WACA location (OR 3.216 [95%CI: 1.065-9.716], p = 0.038) and longer ILD (OR 1.256 [95%CI: 1.035-1.523] for each 1-mm increase, p = 0.021). The ILD of > 8.0 mm showed a predictive value for the LR of WACA, with the sensitivity of 84% and specificity of 46%. A single case of cardiac tamponade occurred following the re-mapping invasive procedure. No other complications were encountered. Conclusion: Although the LSI-guided PVI ensures a consistent PVI during the index procedure, LRs of PVs are still common. Besides the LSI, the PVI durability requires an optimal ILD between adjacent lesions, especially along the anterior lateral ridge.

Improvement of Maximal Exercise Performance After Catheter-Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation and Its Prognostic Significance for Long-Term Rhythm Outcome.

Background Rhythm control may improve functional capacity in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Long-term exercise tolerance improvement and its prognostic implications following catheter-ablation (CA) of paroxysmal and nonparoxysmal AF are underreported. Methods and Results Consecutive patients underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing just before and 12 months after their index CA of AF. Follow-up 24-hour Holter recordings were obtained at 6-month intervals post-CA, and any atrial arrhythmia >30 seconds detected after 3 months postprocedure was considered AF recurrence. Of 110 patients (mean age 57.5±10.6 years, 77.2% males) with paroxysmal AF (n=66) or nonparoxysmal AF (n=44), the 12-month exercise tolerance improved significantly in those who maintained sinus rhythm during the first 12 months post-CA (n=96), but not in patients with AF recurrence (n=14). After CA, the 12-month respiratory exchange ratio at maximal workload significantly increased in patients with paroxysmal AF, whereas those with nonparoxysmal AF significantly reduced their heart rate during the 12-month cardiopulmonary exercise testing (all P≤0.001). During the follow-up of 42.8±7.8 months, a total of 29 patients (26.3%) experienced recurrent AF. On multivariate analysis including patients without recurrent AF at 12 months after CA, the extent of work time improvement at follow-up cardiopulmonary exercise testing was independently associated with the rhythm outcome beyond 12 months postprocedure (hazard ratio of 0.936 [95% CI, 0.894-0.979] for each 10 seconds increase in the work time following ablation, P=0.004). Conclusions CA of AF was associated with recovery of exercise intolerance in patients with paroxysmal AF or nonparoxysmal AF. Inability to improve exercise capacity at 12 months post-CA was an independent risk factor for later AF recurrence.

A square root pattern of changes in heart rate variability during the first year after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and their relation with long­term arrhythmia recurrence.

BACKGROUND: An incidental lesion of the parasympathetic ganglia during circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) may affect heart rate variability (HRV). AIMS: We studied the pattern of changes in HRV parameters and the relationship between the 1­year HRV change following CPVI and the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: A total of 100 consecutive patients undergoing CPVI for paroxysmal AF were enrolled (mean [SD] age, 56 [11.2] years; 61 men). We measured HRV on the day before and after CPVI, and then at 1 month as well as 3, 6, and 12 months after CPVI using 24­hour Holter monitoring. RESULTS: During the median follow­up of 33 months, 38 patients experienced the late recurrence of AF (LRAF). Compared with the pre­CPVI values, HRV was significantly attenuated on day 1 after CPVI in all patients. However, at 3 to 6 months after CPVI, all HRV parameters remained significantly decreased in LRAF­free patients but not in those with LRAF. The multivariate Cox analysis showed that early AF recurrence within the blanking period (hazard ratio [HR], 4.87; 95% CI, 2.44­9.69; P <0.001) and a change in the standard deviation of normal­to­normal intervals (SDNN) observed 3 months after ablation (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98­1; P = 0.01) were associated with LRAF. The cumulative LRAF freedom after CPVI was greater in patients with an SDNN reduction of more than 25 ms reported 3 months after ablation than in those with a reduction of 25 ms or lower (log­rank P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Sustained parasympathetic denervation during 12 months after CPVI was a marker of successful CPVI, whereas a 3­month post­CPVI SDNN reduction of 25 ms or lower predicted LRAF.

The relationship of early recurrence of atrial fibrillation and the 3-month integrity of the ablation lesion set.

Early recurrence of atrial fibrillation (ERAF) after catheter-ablation (CA) can be a transient phenomenon due to inflammation, or a harbinger of late AF recurrence due to CA lesion (re)conduction. We studied the relationship between ERAF and the 3-month CA lesions integrity. Forty one consecutive AF patients who underwent a pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), roof line (RL) and mitral isthmus line (MIL) CA were enrolled. At 3 months all patients underwent invasive assessment of the lesion set integrity irrespective of ERAF. The PVI, RL and MIL ablation was successful in 100.0%, 95.1% and 82.9% patients, respectively. At the 3-month remapping, a gap in PVI-lesion(s), RL or MIL was identified in 61.0%, 31.7% and 36.6% patients, respectively. Patients with (n = 17, 41.5%) compared to those without ERAF (n = 24) had a significantly higher rate of any PV-reconnection (88.2% vs. 41.7%), the right PV(s)-reconnection (82.5% vs. 29.2%) and the RL gap (52.9% vs. 16.7%), as well as a higher number of reconnected right PVI-segments, all p < 0.05. On multivariate analysis, only the number of reconnected right PVI-segments was associated with ERAF (OR 4.26, p = 0.004). The ERAF following PVI + RL + MIL ablation was significantly related to 3-month PV-reconnections and the presence of RL gaps.

Manual versus target-controlled infusion of balanced propofol during diagnostic colonoscopy ­ A prospective randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: There is an increasing interest in balanced propofol sedation (BPS) for colonoscopy in outpatient settings. Propofol is a potent anesthetic agent for this purpose and has a narrow therapeutic range, which increases a risk of cardiovascular and respiratory complications in case of improper administration. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare patients' safety and comfort of endoscopists in two methods of BPS targeting deep sedation ­ propofol target-controlled infusion (TCI) and manual intravenous titration technique (MT) ­ during colonoscopy. Methods: This prospective randomized controlled trial included 90 patients (class I or II of the American Society of Anesthesiologists) deeply sedated with propofol, coadministered with small doses of midazolam and fentanyl. Propofol was given by MT technique (45 patients) or by TCI (45 patients). The following adverse effects were recorded: hypotension, hypertension, bradycardia, tachycardia, hypoxemia, bradypnea, apnea, hiccupping, and coughing, as well as endoscopist's comfort during colonoscopy by means of a questionnaire. Results: The MT group compared to the TCI group had a lower mean arterial pressure in the 10th minute after the beginning (p = 0.017), and at the end of colonoscopy (p = 0.006), higher oxygen saturation in the fifth minute (p = 0.033), and in the 15th minute (p = 0.008) after the beginning of colonoscopy, and lower heart rate at the beginning of the procedure (p = 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in adverse events. Endoscopist's comfort during colonoscopy was high 95.6% in the TCI group vs. 88.9% in the MT group (p = 0.069). Conclusion: MT is clinically as stable as TCI of propofol for deep sedation during colonoscopy, and endoscopists experienced the same comfort during colonoscopy in both groups. Thus, both combinations are suitable for deep sedation during diagnostic colonoscopy.

Acute renal failure and hepatocellular damage as presenting symptoms of type II aortic dissection.

Introduction: Pericardial effusion can be a consequence of a number of pathological conditions, and as such it can cause impaired left ventricular filling followed by decreased cardiac output and blood pressure. This kind of hemodynamic compromise and its consequences are extremely uncommon unless pericardial effusion causes tamponade. Case Outline: We describe a very rare case of a 30-year old male patient, with an acute aortic dissection type II causing pericardial effusion without clinical nor echocardiographic signs of tamponade, while presenting with an acute renal and hepatic failure. After initial diagnostic uncertainties, and following final diagnosis of an acute aortic dissection, this patient underwent surgical aortic valve replacement with a satisfactory outcome. Conclusion: It is important to underscore the significance of clinical situation of simultaneously existing acute renal and hepatic failures in the setting of a "non-tamponade" pericardial effusion, following a type II aortic dissection. Although most commonly aortic dissection presents itself with typical clinical symptoms or patient history data, it is not that unusual for it to be hidden in an entirely atypical clinical milieu as the one described in this case.

[Reductions in anesthesia direct costs is not the right way for racionalization of anesthesia costs].

INTRODUCTION: Anesthesia management is characterized by salary limiting and pressure for decreasing anesthetics and other drug budget. The aim of this paper is to determine the possibility of reducing the direct costs in anesthesia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This paper is a part ofa five-year (2005-2009), academic, pharmaco-economic retrospective- prospective study (phase IV). The study was done according to European Union Directive for Clinical Research. We retrospectively calculated and analyzed all anesthesia direct costs (personnel costs, anesthetics and other drug costs, materials, laboratory analyses, and machines) at the Institute For Ane- sthesia and Reanimation, Clinical Center of Serbia in relation to the costs refunded by National Health Insurance in all patients who underwent anesthesia in 2006. RESULTS: Out of 70 195 anesthesia services rendered to 32 267 patients in one-year period, 47% were general anesthesia, 23% were local anesthesia, and 30% were anesthetic procedures. Our results of highly significant association between personnel costs (r = 0.980, p = 0.000) and consumption of anesthetics and drugs (r = 0.885, p = 0.000) with the direct costs do not provide an opportunity for further cost reduction due to disassociation of direct costs and the "unit price" of National Health Insurance issued in terms of the restricted maximum budget for health. CONCLUSION: There is no space for direct cost reduction in anesthesia.