Sinus node sparing novel hybrid approach for treatment of inappropriate sinus tachycardia/postural sinus tachycardia: multicenter experience.

BACKGROUND: The ideal treatment of inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) still needs to be defined. Medical treatments yield suboptimal results. Endocardial catheter ablation of the sinus node (SN) may risk phrenic nerve damage and open-heart surgery may be accompanied by unjustified invasive risks. METHODS: We describe our first multicenter experience of 255 consecutive patients (235 females, 25.94 ± 3.84 years) having undergone a novel SN sparing hybrid thoracoscopic ablation for drug-resistant IST (n = 204, 80%) or POTS (n = 51, 20%). As previously described, the SN was identified with 3D mapping. Surgery was performed through three 5-mm ports from the right side. A minimally invasive approach with a bipolar radiofrequency clamp was used to ablate targeted areas while sparing the SN region. The targeted areas included isolation of the superior and the inferior caval veins, and a crista terminalis line was made. All lines were interconnected. RESULTS: Normal sinus rhythm (SR) was restored in all patients at the end of the procedure. All patients discontinued medication during the follow-up. After a blanking period of 6 months, all patients presented stable SR. At a mean of 4.07 ± 1.8 years, normal SN reduction and chronotropic response to exercise were present. In the 51 patients initially diagnosed with POTS, no syncope occurred. During follow-up, pericarditis was the most common complication (121 patients: 47%), with complete resolution in all cases. Pneumothorax was observed in 5 patients (1.9%), only 3 (1.1%) required surgical drainage. Five patients (1.9%) required a dual-chamber pacemaker due to sinus arrest > 5 s. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results of this multicenter experience with a novel SN sparing hybrid ablation of IST/POTS, using surgical thoracoscopic video-assisted epicardial ablation combined with simultaneous endocardial 3D mapping may prove to be an efficient and safe therapeutic option in patients with symptomatic drug-resistant IST and POTS. Importantly, in our study, all patients had a complete resolution of the symptoms and restored normal SN activity.

Inappropriate Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Therapy With the Use of an Underbody Electrosurgery Dispersive Electrode.

Perioperative management of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators is an important part of anesthetic care. Society recommendations and expert consensus statements exist to aid clinicians, and they have identified the umbilicus as an important landmark in decision-making. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator antitachycardia therapy may not need to be deactivated for infraumbilical surgery because electromagnetic interference is unlikely to occur. The authors present two cases in which inappropriate antitachycardia therapy occurred intraoperatively with use of an underbody dispersive electrode, even though both surgeries were infraumbilical. The authors also present two cadaver models to demonstrate how monopolar electrosurgery below the umbilicus is sensed using both traditional and underbody dispersive electrosurgical return electrodes.

Cardiac Tumor Masquerading as ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Cardiac tumors are rare, with primary tumors much rarer than secondary. They can present with a variety of symptoms, including cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, tamponade, and systemic embolism. There have been cases reported of patients having cardiac tumors presenting with ST elevations. While the exact pathophysiological mechanism for ST changes in patient with tumors is not known, proposed theories include tumor emboli to coronary artery, external compression of coronary arteries, stretching of cardiac muscle fibers, inflammatory reactions, and electrolyte transfer from necrotic tumor tissue to adjacent myocardium. We present a case in which the patient had no prior history of malignancy that are presented with cough, shortness of breath, lower extremity edema, ST elevation on electrocardiogram, and was found to have epithelioid tumor in his left ventricle. This case raises awareness of wide differential for ST changes on electrocardiogram besides myocardial infarction, especially in patients who do not present with classic ischemic symptoms.

Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy predicts atrial fibrillation independent of left ventricular mass.

BACKGROUND: Although left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) detected by electrocardiography (ECG-LVH) and echocardiography (echo-LVH) independently predict cardiovascular disease events, it is unclear if ECG-LVH and echo-LVH independently predict atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: This analysis included 4,904 participants (40% male; 85% white) from the Cardiovascular Health Study who were free of baseline AF and major intraventricular conduction delays. ECG-LVH was defined by Minnesota Code Classification from baseline ECG data. Echo-LVH was defined by sex-specific left ventricular mass values >95th sex-specific percentiles. Incident AF events were identified during the annual study ECGs and from hospitalization discharge data. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of ECG-LVH and echo-LVH with incident AF, separately. RESULTS: ECG-LVH was detected in 224 (4.6%) participants and echo-LVH was present in 231 (4.7%) participants. Over a median follow-up of 11.9 years, a total of 1,430 AF events were detected. In a multivariable Cox model adjusted for age, sex, race, education, income, smoking, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, body mass index, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspirin, antihypertensive medications, and cardiovascular disease, ECG-LVH (HR = 1.50; 95% CI = 1.18, 1.90) and echo-LVH (HR = 1.39; 95% CI = 1.09, 1.78) were independently associated with AF. When ECG-LVH (HR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.16, 1.87) and echo-LVH (HR = 1.36, 1.07, 1.75) were included in the same model, both were predictive of incident AF. CONCLUSION: The association of ECG-LVH with AF is not dependent on left ventricular mass detected by echocardiography, suggesting that abnormalities in cardiac electrophysiology provide a distinct profile in the prediction of AF.

Angiographic Efficacy of the Atriclip Left Atrial Appendage Exclusion Device Placed by Minimally Invasive Thoracoscopic Approach.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess long-term left atrial appendage (LAA) closure efficacy of the Atriclip applied via totally thoracoscopic (TT) approach with computed tomographic angiography. BACKGROUND: LAA closure is associated with a low risk for atrial fibrillation-related embolic stroke. The Atriclip exclusion device allows epicardial LAA closure, avoiding the need for post-operative oral anticoagulation. Previous data with Atriclip during open chest procedures show a high efficacy rate of closure >95%. METHODS: Three-dimensional volumetric 2-phase computed tomographic angiography ≥90 days post-implantation was independently assessed by chest radiology for complete LAA closure on all consented subjects identified retrospectively as having had a TT-placed Atriclip at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from June 13, 2011, to October 6, 2015. RESULTS: Complete LAA closure (defined by complete exclusion of the LAA with no exposed trabeculations, and clip within 1 cm from the left circumflex artery) was found in 61 of 65 subjects (93.9%). Four cases had incomplete closure (6.2%). Two clips were placed too distally, leaving a large stump with exposed trabeculae. Two clips failed to address a secondary LAA lobe. No major complications were associated with TT placement of the Atriclip. Follow-up over 183 patient-years revealed 1 stroke in a patient with complete LAA closure and no thrombus (hypertensive cerebrovascular accident). CONCLUSIONS: Angiographic LAA closure efficacy with a TT-placed Atriclip is high (93.9%). The clinical significance of a remnant stump is unknown. Confirmation of complete LAA occlusion should be made before cessation of systemic anticoagulation.

Staged versus Simultaneous Thoracoscopic Hybrid Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Does Not Affect Time to Recurrence of Atrial Arrhythmia.

INTRODUCTION: Totally thoracoscopic (TT) epicardial ablation combined with endocardial catheter ablation is an emerging treatment for persistent AF. The effects of timing of the TT and endocardial portion on AT/AF recurrence are not known. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients undergoing TT staged versus simultaneous hybrid AF ablation at our institution. Arrhythmia-free outcome was compared using time to recurrence (AF or AT greater than 30 seconds after a 3-month blanking period from endocardial ablation) at 12 months. All subjects had continuous ILR or PM monitoring. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients (52 same-day, 31 staged) underwent TT hybrid AF ablation. Recurrence was observed in 23 (29%) patients at a median time of 147 days (IQR 91,238). In univariate analysis, a staged approach significantly increased the likelihood of detecting incomplete PVI (OR 6 [95% CI 2-17] P = 0.001). However, only longstanding persistent AF (LSP-AF) status predicted recurrence (HR 4 [95% CI 1.4-12] P = 0.01). Neither a staged approach (HR 1.0 [95% CI 0.4-2.4] P = 0.9), nor detection of incomplete PVI (HR 0.9 [95% CI 0.4-2.3] P = 0.8) predicted time to first AF/AT recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Staged hybrid ablation of AF significantly increases the likelihood of discovering incomplete PVI at the time of endocardial mapping versus a same-day procedure. However, the staged approach did not improve time to first AT/AF recurrence.

High-risk lead removal by planned sequential transvenous laser extraction and minimally invasive right thoracotomy.

INTRODUCTION: Transvenous pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead extraction via mechanical or excimer laser sheath is typically safe and effective. Longer duration from implant, presence of large vegetations or thrombi, fractured leads, and prior failed extraction are risk factors predicting higher complication rates or incomplete or failed lead removal. Techniques developed for minimally invasive valve surgery were used in conjunction with laser extraction to refine a "hybrid" technique for lead extraction. We assessed the outcomes of high-risk lead extraction using this hybrid lead extraction technique. METHODS AND RESULTS: Retrospective assessment of clinical parameters and procedural outcomes in patients undergoing planned hybrid lead extraction from February 2008 to September 2012 was performed. We report 8 cases of hybrid lead extraction performed at our institution. We extracted 21 leads with average lead age of 13.8 years since implant. All leads were removed with complete clinical and radiographic success. There were no intraprocedure complications. One patient died of continued sepsis and 1 other had symptoms consistent with pulmonary embolism. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid lead extraction using this technique is a safe and effective approach for removal of high-risk chronic pacemaker or ICD leads. This method extends the range of approachable leads resulting in complete removal without median sternotomy. Hybrid lead extraction can be scheduled electively facilitating complete lead removal with a low complication rate and short postoperative recovery time, mitigating the risks inherent in midline sternotomy or emergent cardiac surgical rescue.

Adhesive epicardial corticosteroids prevent postoperative atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative atrial fibrillation remains a common cause of morbidity. Although epicardial drug delivery can increase efficacy and reduce side effects, it is impractical for postoperative atrial fibrillation because pericardial bleeding/effusion and drainage cause rapid drug elimination. Fibrin glue sprayed on the epicardium is vigorously adherent, allowing an admixed drug to remain in contact with the heart. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate a novel corticosteroid-fibrin glue mixture applied to the atrial epicardium at the time of surgery for prevention of postoperative atrial tachyarrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS: Talc was instilled into the pericardium in 15 dogs to simulate postoperative inflammation. Pacemakers were implanted to monitor arrhythmias. A mixture of triamcinolone and fibrin glue (Tisseel) was sprayed onto the atria of the treatment animals (n=9), whereas control animals (n=6) received Tisseel or nothing. After 1 week, pacemaker interrogation quantified postoperative atrial tachyarrhythmias (atrial rate >200 bpm) burden. Excised hearts underwent histological examination and tensile strength testing. postoperative atrial tachyarrhythmias occurred in 100% of control animals but only 33% of treatment animals (P=0.027). The median time (25th percentile, 75th percentile) in tachycardia was 5.5 hours (2.7, 12.6) per day in the control group, compared with 0 hours (0, 0.2) in the treatment group (P=0.001). Severe inflammation was present in 6 of 6 control animals and 1 of 9 treatment animals (P=0.001). The tensile strength of a healing left atriotomy was not significantly different between groups. Steroid levels at the time the animals were killed were very low (median of 0.22 µg/dL [0.18, 0.23]). CONCLUSIONS: A mixture of triamcinolone and fibrin glue sprayed onto the atria reduced postoperative atrial tachyarrhythmias and reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. There was no change in the tensile strength of a healing atriotomy and plasma steroid levels were low. Clinical trials of this approach are warranted.