Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation recurrence after redo procedure-ablation modality impact.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation recurrence (AFR) is common after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), and the rate does not differ between radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon (CB) ablation. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the ablation modality used at the index PVI on the outcome after redo PVI in patients with paroxysmal AF. METHODS: In this prospective, single-center, non-randomized study, consecutive patients with paroxysmal AF who have undergone the index PVI with either RF ablation (RF group) or 2nd-generation CB (CB group) were included. The primary endpoint was freedom from recurrence of atrial arrhythmia lasting > 30 s. RESULTS: A total of 105 patients undergoing redo PVI for paroxysmal AF were included (median age 61 years; 24% female; left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) 57 ± 8%; left atrial volume index (LAVI) 34 ± 11 mm). Index PVI was done either with focal RF (n = 81) or with CB (n = 24) and redo PVI only with focal RF. Total procedure time (139 vs. 113 min, p = 0.10) and RF delivery time (1017 vs. 870 s, p = 0.33) of the redo PVI were not significantly different. After a median follow-up of 371 (185-470) days, there were no differences between the RF and CB groups regarding the AFR rate after the second PVI (24 vs. 23%, p = 0.89). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no difference between the groups regarding AFR freedom time (p = 0.81). In multivariable logistic regression, only coronary artery disease was identified as an independent long-term predictor of AFR (OR 4.15, 95% CI 1.17-14.71, p = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: The ablation modality used at the index PVI has no impact on long-term outcome after redo PVI in patients with paroxysmal AF.

Recommendations for Perioperative Management of Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices.

Four thousand cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) are implanted yearly in Croatia with constant increase. General anesthesia and surgery carry some specific risk for the patients with implanted CIEDs. Since most of the surgical procedures are performed in institutions without reprogramming devices available, or in the periods when they are unavailable, these guidelines aim to standardize the protocol for perioperative management of these patients. With this protocol, most of the procedures can be performed easily and, more importantly, safely in the majority of surgical patients.

The Patterns of Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulants (NOACs) Use in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation in Seven Balkan Countries: a Report from the BALKAN-AF Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Data on management of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the Balkan Region are scarce. To capture the patterns in AF management in contemporary clinical practice in the Balkan countries a prospective survey was conducted between December 2014 and February 2015, and we report results pertinent to the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). METHODS: A 14-week prospective, multicenter survey of consecutive AF patients seen by cardiologists or internal medicine specialists was conducted in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia (a total of about 50 million inhabitants). RESULTS: Of 2712 enrolled patients, 2663 (98.2%) had complete data relevant to oral anticoagulant (OAC) use (mean age 69.1 ± 10.9 years, female 44.6%). Overall, OAC was used in 1960 patients (73.6%) of whom 338 (17.2%) received NOACs. Malignancy [odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.06, 1.20-3.56], rhythm control (OR 1.64, 1.25-2.16), and treatment by cardiologists were independent predictors of NOAC use (OR 2.32, 1.51-3.54) [all p < 0.01)], whilst heart failure and valvular disease were negatively associated with NOAC use (both p < 0.01). Individual stroke and bleeding risk were not significantly associated with NOAC use on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: NOACs are increasingly used in AF patients in the Balkan Region, but NOAC use is predominantly guided by factors other than evidence-based decision-making (e.g., drug availability on the market or reimbursement policy). Efforts are needed to establish an evidence-based approach to OAC selection and to facilitate the optimal use of OAC, thus improving the outcomes in AF patients in this large region.