Lesion characteristics between cryoballoon ablation and radiofrequency ablation with a contact force-sensing catheter: Late-gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging assessment.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) lesions after cryoballoon ablation (CBA) are characterized as a wider and more continuous than that after conventional radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) without the contact force (CF)-sensing technology. However, the impact on the lesion characteristics of ablation with a CF-sensing catheter has not been well discussed. We sought to assess the lesions using late-gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI) and to compare the differences between the two groups (CB group vs. RF group). METHODS: A total of 30 consecutive patients who underwent PVI were enrolled (CB group, 18; RF group, 12). The RF applications were delivered with a target lesion size index (LSI) of 5. The PVI lesions were assessed by LGE-MRI 3 months after the PVI. The region around the PV was divided into eight segments: roof, anterior-superior, anterior carina, anterior inferior, bottom, posterior inferior, posterior carina, and posterior superior segment. The lesion width and visual gap of each segment were compared between the two groups. The visual gaps were defined as no-enhancement site of >4 mm. RESULTS: The mean LSI was 4.7 ± 0.7. The lesion width was significantly wider but the visual gaps were more frequently documented at the bottom segment of right PV in the CBA group (lesion width: 8.1 ± 2.2 vs. 6.3 ± 2.2 mm; p = .032; visual gap at the bottom segment or right PV: 39% vs. 0%; p = .016). CONCLUSIONS: The PVI lesion was wider after CBA, while the visual gaps were fewer after RFCA with a CF-sensing catheter.

Living Anatomy of the Ventricular Myocardial Crescents Supporting the Coronary Aortic Sinuses.

The aortic valvar sinuses are supported, in part, by ventricular myocardium, so-called myocardial crescents. We elucidated individual variation in the extent of the myocardial support. We assessed the extent of the crescents in 84 patients who underwent cardiac computed tomography. We measured their maximal width, their extent within the circumference of the aortic root, and the influence of rotation of the root itself within the ventricular base. The maximal widths, and rotational locations, of the crescents supporting the base of the left coronary aortic sinus were significantly smaller than those supporting the right coronary aortic sinus (2.9 ± 0.8 mm vs 6.4 ± 1.2 mm, P < 0.001; 54.2 ± 12.0° vs 70.4 ± 13.5°, P < 0.001, respectively). Overall, 42.7 ± 4.3% of the circumference of the virtual basal ring was supported by myocardium as opposed to fibrous tissue. Clockwise rotation of the aortic root was correlated with a decrease in the extent of myocardial crescent supporting the left coronary aortic sinus, but an increase in the myocardial support of the right coronary aortic sinus (R2 = 0.3899 and R2 = 0.2752, P < 0.001). Clockwise rotation of the root was correlated in negative fashion with the ratio of its myocardial as opposed to fibrous support (R2 = 0.0527, P = 0.0356). The extent of myocardial support of the left coronary aortic sinus, on average, is less than that of the right coronary aortic sinus. This difference becomes greater when the aortic root is rotated in clockwise fashion.

Lesion distribution after cryoballoon ablation and hotballoon ablation: Late-gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) lesions after cryoballoon ablation (CBA) are wide and continuous, however, the distribution can depend on the pulmonary vein (PV) size. We sought to assess the relationship between the lesion distribution and PV size after CBA and hotballoon ablation (HBA). METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 80 consecutive patients who underwent PVI were enrolled (40 with CBA). The lesions were visualized by late-gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging. The lesion width, lesion gaps, and distance from the PV ostium (PVos) to distal lesion edge (DLE) were assessed. If the DLE extended inside the PV, the value was expressed as a negative value. Although the lesion width was significantly wider in the CB group (7.8 ± 2.0 vs 4.9 ± 1.0 mm, P < .001), the number of lesion gaps was significantly less in the HB group (2.9 ± 2.4 vs 1.3 ± 1.4 gaps, P = .001). The distance from the PVos to DLE was a negative value in both groups, but the impact was significantly greater (-1.5 ± 1.8 vs -0.2 ± 1.2 mm, P < .001) and negatively correlated with PV size in the CB group, but not in HB group (r = -0.27, P = .007). The AF recurrence 12 months after the procedure did not differ (5 [12.5%] of 40 in the CB group vs 4 [10%] of 40 in the HB group, P = .695). CONCLUSIONS: The PVI lesions after HBA were characterized by (a) narrower, but (b) more continuous, (c) smaller lesion inside the PV, and (d) irrespective of PV size as compared to that after CBA.

A case of acute heart failure due to myocardial infiltration of mycosis fungoides.

Mycosis fungoides (MF) has been reported to be the most common cutaneous lymphoma with a good prognosis and myocardial infiltration is clinically rare. We hereby report a case of rapidly progressing acute heart failure due to myocardial infiltration by MF. Perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated a massive perfusion defect in the left ventricle (LV) where multiple nodular enhancement areas by delayed enhancement MRI could be documented in the postero-lateral wall of the LV, which resulted in a deterioration of the LV function and mitral regurgitation. Autopsy confirmed the myocardial infiltration by the MF, which corresponded with the MRI findings. .

Optimal reconstruction of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction before surgical myectomy in a case with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

We present optimally reconstructed three-dimensional computed tomography images of left ventricular outflow obstruction, comprehensive left ventriculography, and comparable intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography, as well as serial operative pictures, to facilitate the understanding of live-heart anatomy of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. As shown in this case, detailed morphological analysis around the left ventricular outflow tract using preoperative computed tomography would be feasible and useful. The present case highlights the importance of obtaining complete three-dimensional information present in the acquired computed tomography dataset because computed tomography is not entirely noninvasive or free of radiation exposure and contrast material.

A rare case of "subcommissural adhesive aortic stenosis": Triangular struggle of aortic valve area, hemodynamics, and calcium burden.

This report concerns an 83-year-old woman with aortic stenosis (AS) who had a history of repetitive hospitalization due to decompensated heart failure. Although her clinical history was compatible with significant AS, findings for aortic valve area, hemodynamics, and valvular calcium burden were discrepant. Multiplanar reconstruction images revealed the membranous structures attached to a subcommissural lesion, which resulted in severe stenosis. The patient had a favorable clinical course after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. This is the first reported case of severe AS due to the subcommissural adhesions, which were successfully visualized by means of echocardiography and computed tomography.