Implementation of a Patient Decision Aid for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Improves Patient Procedural Knowledge but Does Not Impact Perceived Involvement With the Shared Decision-Making Process.

Purpose: Shared decision-making (SDM) is a method for a patient and physician to cooperatively consider a diagnostic or therapeutic option, ultimately empowering the patient to make an informed decision. Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is a procedure that would benefit from SDM given the risk of serious adverse events, the high rate of arrhythmia recurrence, and alternative treatment options. Implementing a patient decision aid (PDA) may help facilitate AF ablation SDM by succinctly conveying important information to patients. Methods: Patients scheduled for initial AF catheter ablation were randomized to a virtual SDM visit utilizing a PDA, which covered procedural risks and benefits, or a virtual control visit with a tool outlining periprocedural processes. Preoperatively, patients completed a questionnaire assessing procedural risk and benefit knowledge, as well as perceived involvement with the decision-making process. Unpaired t-tests were used to compare groups. Results: The SDM group scored significantly better overall on knowledge-based questions compared to the control group (69% correct [n=34] vs 53% [n=32]; P=0.00013). In particular, the SDM group was significantly more likely to answer questions correctly about stroke risk (P=0.01), anticoagulation (P=0.01), and potential need for additional procedures (P=0.03 and P=0.03). Perceived involvement in the decision-making process was overall not improved with PDA use (4.7 vs 4.6 out of 5; P=0.72). Conclusions: The addition of a PDA for AF ablation significantly improved procedural knowledge but did not impact patients' perceived involvement in the decision-making process compared to traditional preprocedural discussion alone.

Robotic-enhanced hybrid ablation for persistent and long-standing atrial fibrillation: Early assessment of feasibility, safety, and efficacy.

Objectives: To assess feasibility, safety, and early efficacy of robotic-enhanced epicardial ablation (RE-EA) as first stage of a hybrid approach to patients with persistent (PsAF) and long-standing atrial fibrillation (LSAF). Methods: Single-center, retrospective analysis of patients with documented PsAF and LSAF who underwent RE-EA followed by catheter-guided endocardial ablation. Postoperatively, patients were monitored for major adverse events and underwent rhythm follow-up at 3 and 12 months. Results: Between January 2021 and June 2023, we performed RE-EA in 64 patients (73.5% male, CHA2DS2-VASc 2.7 ± 1.6, BMI 34.1 ± 6.3 kg/m2). Mean AF preoperative duration and left atrial volume index were, respectively, 85 months and 47.5 mL/m2. Through the robotic approach, the intended lesion set was completed in all patients without cardiopulmonary bypass support, conversion to thoracotomy/sternotomy, blood transfusions, or perioperative mortality. The average LOS was 1.7 days, with only 1 patient requiring intensive care unit admission and >65% of patients discharged within 24 hours. At follow-up, 2 (3.1%) patients experienced new left pleural effusion or hemidiaphragm paralysis requiring treatment. There were no readmissions related to AF, stroke, thromboembolic events, or deaths. The mean interval between the epicardial and endocardial stages of the procedure was 5.9 months. Rhythm follow-up showed AF resolution in 73.4% and 71.9% of patients at 3 and 12 months, respectively. Conclusions: RE-EA is a feasible and safe, first-stage approach for the treatment of patients with PsAF and LSAF. It improves exposure of the intended targets, favors short hospital stay, and facilitates return to activity with satisfactory AF treatment in the short term.

Tachyarrhythmia discriminator for implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in bundle branch block.

BACKGROUND: Inaccurate arrhythmia classification by implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) contributes to inappropriate shocks and increased health care utilization. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of a novel discriminator using far-field (FF) and near-field (NF) right ventricular lead electrograms (EGMs) to differentiate ventricular tachycardia (VT) from supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in patients with underlying conducted narrow QRS, right bundle branch block (RBBB), and left bundle branch block (LBBB). METHODS: ICD interrogations were reviewed, identifying subjects with tachycardia events at least 5 beats in duration with stable morphology and cycle length. FF to NF (FF-NF) EGM intervals during tachycardia and baseline conducted rhythm were measured using digital calipers. Events with uncertain tachycardia rhythm mechanism were excluded. RESULTS: Ninety-five subjects were included. Mean FF-NF interval during tachycardia was significantly lower during SVT than VT (25.8 ± 12.0 ms vs 91.0 ± 37.2 ms; P <.001). Participants with LBBB (n = 22) and RBBB (n = 21) had significantly lower mean FF-NF intervals during SVT compared with VT (LBBB 25.6 ± 7.26 ms vs 93.1 ± 41.5 ms; P <.001; RBBB 30.0 ± 16.6 ms vs 101.7 ± 34.3 ms; P <.001). In this cohort, FF-NF interval cutoff of 100 ms was 100% specific for VT discrimination regardless of underlying QRS morphology, with sensitivity of 46%, 50%, and 38% for LBBB, RBBB, and narrow QRS, respectively. CONCLUSION: Prolonged FF-NF interval on intracardiac EGM during tachycardia is a highly specific discriminator for VT, regardless of baseline QRS morphology.

Republished original article: Resident-initiated interventions to improve inpatient heart-failure management.

BACKGROUND: Third-year internal medicine residents participating in a quality improvement rotation identified gaps between the Joint Commission's ORYX quality guidelines and clinical practices for the inpatient management of heart failure (HF) at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. Residents focused on the performance metrics associated with tobacco-cessation counselling documentation, ejection fraction assessment and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker prescriptions. METHODS: After analysing data collected by the External Peer Review Program, residents reviewed the institution's admissions and discharge processes with the aim of improving quality and compliance. In redesigning these processes, residents created an admissions template and a discharge face sheet, and compared specific ORYX measure compliance rates before and after institution-wide implementation. RESULTS: Following implementation of the tobacco-cessation admissions template, 100% of HF patients who used tobacco received documented cessation counselling, compared with 59% prior to intervention (p<0.01, n=32). Following implementation of the mandatory discharge face sheet, 97% of HF patients (compared with 92% preintervention, p>0.05) received comprehensive discharge instruction; LV function assessment went from 98% to 100% (p>0.05); and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker prescription for left ventricular systolic dysfunction at discharge (or documentation of a contra-indication) went from 82% to 100% (p<0.01, n=48). DISCUSSION: By implementing a standardised admissions template and a mandatory discharge face sheet, the hospital improved its processes of documentation and increased adherence to quality-performance measures. By strengthening residents' learning and commitment to quality improvement, the hospital created a foundation for future changes in the systems that affect patient care.

Decreased cardiac functional reserve in heart failure with preserved systolic function.

BACKGROUND: Heart failure in patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function (HFpEF) is a prevalent disease characterized by exercise intolerance with poorly understood pathophysiology. We hypothesized that recruitable contractility is impaired in HFpEF, accounting for the appearance of symptoms with exertion. METHODS AND RESULTS: Echocardiographic analysis of myocardial performance was performed at baseline and after a modified dobutamine protocol (max dose 16 µg/kg/min) in participants with known HFpEF and age- and gender-matched controls. The primary outcome variable was change in contractile reserve, measured as a change in ejection fraction (EF). Recruitable contractility was decreased in HFpEF participants compared with control subjects (HFpEF 0.4 ± 1.9% vs control 19.0 ± 1.4%; P < .001). During dobutamine infusion, velocities increased in control participants but remained unchanged in the HFpEF group, yielding a significant difference between groups (P < .05) for both longitudinal displacement and velocity. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HFpEF have an impaired contractile response to adrenergic stimulation. The blunted response to adrenergic stimulation in the HFpEF group suggests that these patients may be unable to respond to periods of increased cardiac demand. This inability to increase contractility appropriately suggests abnormalities of systolic function in this disease and may contribute to exertional intolerance in HFpEF.

Resident-initiated interventions to improve inpatient heart-failure management.

BACKGROUND: Third-year internal medicine residents participating in a quality improvement rotation identified gaps between the Joint Commission's ORYX quality guidelines and clinical practices for the inpatient management of heart failure (HF) at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital. Residents focused on the performance metrics associated with tobacco-cessation counselling documentation, ejection fraction assessment and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker prescriptions. METHODS: After analysing data collected by the External Peer Review Program, residents reviewed the institution's admissions and discharge processes with the aim of improving quality and compliance. In redesigning these processes, residents created an admissions template and a discharge face sheet, and compared specific ORYX measure compliance rates before and after institution-wide implementation. RESULTS: Following implementation of the tobacco-cessation admissions template, 100% of HF patients who used tobacco received documented cessation counselling, compared with 59% prior to intervention (p<0.01, n=32). Following implementation of the mandatory discharge face sheet, 97% of HF patients (compared with 92% preintervention, p>0.05) received comprehensive discharge instruction; LV function assessment went from 98% to 100% (p>0.05); and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker prescription for left ventricular systolic dysfunction at discharge (or documentation of a contra-indication) went from 82% to 100% (p<0.01, n=48). DISCUSSION: By implementing a standardised admissions template and a mandatory discharge face sheet, the hospital improved its processes of documentation and increased adherence to quality-performance measures. By strengthening residents' learning and commitment to quality improvement, the hospital created a foundation for future changes in the systems that affect patient care.

The immediate impact of the Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation (COURAGE) trial on the management of stable angina.

BACKGROUND: The Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation (COURAGE) trial confirmed that percutaneous coronary intervention is no better than optimal medical therapy for the prevention of major adverse cardiac events in patients with stable angina. The impact of these findings on clinical practice remains unknown. HYPOTHESIS: Clinicians may more frequently opt for medical rather than procedural therapy of stable angina in response to the COURAGE trial. METHODS: Clinical information was collected from patients with stable angina referred to our hospital for cardiac catheterization between January 1, 2007 and June 18, 2007 (n = 332). Catheterization referral volume and the use of medications and coronary revascularization were compared before and after the release of the COURAGE trial. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in anti-ischemia medication use prior to catheterization referral following the COURAGE trial (mean = 1.31 [SD 0.83] medications pre-COURAGE, mean = 1.54 [SD 0.84] medications post-COURAGE, P = 0.012). Among 217 patients with coronary disease on catheterization, treatment with medication rather than percutaneous or surgical revascularization increased after COURAGE (11.1% pre-COURAGE vs 23.0% post-COURAGE, P = 0.03). There was also a significant decrease in referral volume following the COURAGE trial (3.12 referrals/day pre-COURAGE vs 2.51 referrals/day post-COURAGE, P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: The COURAGE trial immediately impacted the management of stable angina. Catheterization referral volume decreased, medication use increased, and the use of medical therapy rather than revascularization increased among patients with coronary disease.