Definition of performance metrics and methods for screening for sudden cardiac arrest risk at a tertiary care medical center.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to describe the results of manual and automatic electronic medical record-based screening of patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) based on measurements of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). METHODS: Counseling regarding SCA risk and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy is underutilized in patients with reduced LVEF. We developed and implemented an electronic medical record (EMR)-based system for screening of such patients to improve care. In phase one, manual screening of electronic records and LVEF databases was initially performed by trained cardiac device nurses. In phase two, records were screened automatically by a customized program, and candidate patient records were sent to cardiac device nurses for final review and disposition. RESULTS: In phase one, 2,531 patients with LVEF ≤35% were identified over 398 days. Manual EMR review showed that 1,918 patients (76%) received appropriate counseling regarding SCA risk, received ICDs, or had disqualifying comorbidities. In phase two, 1,081 patients with LVEF ≤35% were identified after automatic screening of 44,672 echocardiograms and EMR over 251 days. Of these, 513 patients (58%) received appropriate counseling regarding SCA risk, received ICDs, or had disqualifying comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: These data detail the utilization of consultation regarding SCA risk and ICDs in patients with reduced LVEF at a tertiary care center with ready access to arrhythmia specialists. Notification of primary providers of reduced LVEF with recommendation for consultation was not effective in improving patient care.

Use of advanced mapping systems to guide ablation in complex cases: experience with noncontact mapping and electroanatomic mapping systems.

OBJECTIVE: This report describes our experience with noncontact mapping and electroanatomic mapping in complex ablations, which are defined as ablations done after failure of conventional ablation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients were included (N = 68; 49% with structural heart disease) in whom previous ablation failed and in whom a second procedure was done with advanced mapping. Non-contact mapping was used in 17 patients, electroanatomic mapping in 36, and both noncontact and electroanatomic mapping in 15. Arrhythmias included focal atrial tachycardia (n = 16), reentrant atrial tachycardia (n = 14), right ventricular outflow tachycardia (n = 10), post-myocardial infarction ventricular tachycardia (n = 9), and others (n = 19). RESULTS: Acute success at the second ablation was achieved in 79% of patients. At 20 +/- 9 months after the procedure, 69% of these patients reported having significantly fewer symptoms than before the second ablation, and 51% were free of symptoms. Only 16% were using antiarrhythmic medications. Complications included a small pericardial effusion in two patients, hypotension in one patient, and a femoral pseudoaneurysm in another. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced mapping is a useful and safe adjunct for catheter ablation after ablation has failed in patients with complex substrate.