Real World Data from Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardias and Premature Ventricular Complexes in a Tertiary Care Center.

Background: Catheter ablation in patients with ventricular arrhythmias (VA), such as ventricular tachycardias (VT) or frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVC), is increasingly considered an effective and safe therapy when performed in experienced centers. This study sought to determine acute success rates and complication rates of ablation procedures for patients with VA in a Swiss tertiary care center. Methods: All patients who underwent ablation therapy for VT and PVC at the University Heart Center in Zurich, Switzerland, between March 2012 and April 2017 were included in this analysis. Results: A total of 120 patients underwent catheter ablation for VT and PVC (69 and 51, respectively). Seventy percent of patients were male, and the mean age was 55.3 years. The most common indication for ablation was high PVC burden (47.5%), followed by paroxysmal VT (38.3%), ICD shocks (23.3%), incessant VT (12.5%), electrical storm (7.5%), and syncope (3.3%). Acute success rates for VT and PVC ablations were 94.2% and 92.2%, respectively. Rates for complications (including major and minor) for VT and PVC were 10.1% and 7.8%, respectively. Complications occurred only in patients with structural heart disease; no complications were noted in structurally normal hearts. Conclusions: Our results suggest that catheter ablation for VT and PVC has high acute success rates with a reasonable risk for complications in the setting of tertiary care centers, comparable to those reported in other studies.

[The "Mickey Mouse Heart"]. / Das «Mickey-Mouse-Herz¼.

The "Mickey Mouse Heart" Abstract. The "Mickey Mouse Heart" describes patients with a combination of HFpEF, massive biatrial dilatation and dilatation of the mitral- and tricuspid annulus, atrial fibrillation and severe mitral- and tricuspid regurgitation. Most frequently elderly patients with HFpEF are affected by this syndrome. The underlying molecular mechanisms or risk factors for the typical biatrial dilatation are unknown. The guideline-directed heart failure therapy as well as the evaluation of early rhythm control for atrial fibrillation and the treatment of mitral- and tricuspid regurgitation are recommended.

Systematic, early rhythm control strategy for atrial fibrillation in patients with or without symptoms: the EAST-AFNET 4 trial.

AIMS: Clinical practice guidelines restrict rhythm control therapy to patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). The EAST-AFNET 4 trial demonstrated that early, systematic rhythm control improves clinical outcomes compared to symptom-directed rhythm control. METHODS AND RESULTS: This prespecified EAST-AFNET 4 analysis compared the effect of early rhythm control therapy in asymptomatic patients (EHRA score I) to symptomatic patients. Primary outcome was a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, stroke, or hospitalization with worsening of heart failure or acute coronary syndrome, analyzed in a time-to-event analysis. At baseline, 801/2633 (30.4%) patients were asymptomatic [mean age 71.3 years, 37.5% women, mean CHA2DS2-VASc score 3.4, 169/801 (21.1%) heart failure]. Asymptomatic patients randomized to early rhythm control (395/801) received similar rhythm control therapies compared to symptomatic patients [e.g. AF ablation at 24 months: 75/395 (19.0%) in asymptomatic; 176/910 (19.3%) symptomatic patients, P = 0.672]. Anticoagulation and treatment of concomitant cardiovascular conditions was not different between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The primary outcome occurred in 79/395 asymptomatic patients randomized to early rhythm control and in 97/406 patients randomized to usual care (hazard ratio 0.76, 95% confidence interval [0.6; 1.03]), almost identical to symptomatic patients. At 24 months follow-up, change in symptom status was not different between randomized groups (P = 0.19). CONCLUSION: The clinical benefit of early, systematic rhythm control was not different between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients in EAST-AFNET 4. These results call for a shared decision discussing the benefits of rhythm control therapy in all patients with recently diagnosed AF and concomitant cardiovascular conditions (EAST-AFNET 4; ISRCTN04708680; NCT01288352; EudraCT2010-021258-20).

Anticoagulation, therapy of concomitant conditions, and early rhythm control therapy: a detailed analysis of treatment patterns in the EAST - AFNET 4 trial.

AIMS: Treatment patterns were compared between randomized groups in EAST-AFNET 4 to assess whether differences in anticoagulation, therapy of concomitant diseases, or intensity of care can explain the clinical benefit achieved with early rhythm control in EAST-AFNET 4. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cardiovascular treatment patterns and number of visits were compared between randomized groups in EAST-AFNET 4. Oral anticoagulation was used in >90% of patients during follow-up without differences between randomized groups. There were no differences in treatment of concomitant conditions between groups. The type of rhythm control varied by country and centre. Over time, antiarrhythmic drugs were given to 1171/1395 (84%) patients in early therapy, and to 202/1394 (14%) in usual care. Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation was performed in 340/1395 (24%) patients randomized to early therapy, and in 168/1394 (12%) patients randomized to usual care. 97% of rhythm control therapies were within class I and class III recommendations of AF guidelines. Patients randomized to early therapy transmitted 297 166 telemetric electrocardiograms (ECGs) to a core lab. In total, 97 978 abnormal ECGs were sent to study sites. The resulting difference between study visits was low (0.06 visits/patient/year), with slightly more visits in early therapy (usual care 0.39 visits/patient/year; early rhythm control 0.45 visits/patient/year, P < 0.001), mainly due to visits for symptomatic AF recurrences or recurrent AF on telemetric ECGs. CONCLUSION: The clinical benefit of early, systematic rhythm control therapy was achieved using variable treatment patterns of antiarrhythmic drugs and AF ablation, applied within guideline recommendations.

Early Rhythm-Control Therapy in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Despite improvements in the management of atrial fibrillation, patients with this condition remain at increased risk for cardiovascular complications. It is unclear whether early rhythm-control therapy can reduce this risk. METHODS: In this international, investigator-initiated, parallel-group, open, blinded-outcome-assessment trial, we randomly assigned patients who had early atrial fibrillation (diagnosed ≤1 year before enrollment) and cardiovascular conditions to receive either early rhythm control or usual care. Early rhythm control included treatment with antiarrhythmic drugs or atrial fibrillation ablation after randomization. Usual care limited rhythm control to the management of atrial fibrillation-related symptoms. The first primary outcome was a composite of death from cardiovascular causes, stroke, or hospitalization with worsening of heart failure or acute coronary syndrome; the second primary outcome was the number of nights spent in the hospital per year. The primary safety outcome was a composite of death, stroke, or serious adverse events related to rhythm-control therapy. Secondary outcomes, including symptoms and left ventricular function, were also evaluated. RESULTS: In 135 centers, 2789 patients with early atrial fibrillation (median time since diagnosis, 36 days) underwent randomization. The trial was stopped for efficacy at the third interim analysis after a median of 5.1 years of follow-up per patient. A first-primary-outcome event occurred in 249 of the patients assigned to early rhythm control (3.9 per 100 person-years) and in 316 patients assigned to usual care (5.0 per 100 person-years) (hazard ratio, 0.79; 96% confidence interval, 0.66 to 0.94; P = 0.005). The mean (±SD) number of nights spent in the hospital did not differ significantly between the groups (5.8±21.9 and 5.1±15.5 days per year, respectively; P = 0.23). The percentage of patients with a primary safety outcome event did not differ significantly between the groups; serious adverse events related to rhythm-control therapy occurred in 4.9% of the patients assigned to early rhythm control and 1.4% of the patients assigned to usual care. Symptoms and left ventricular function at 2 years did not differ significantly between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Early rhythm-control therapy was associated with a lower risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes than usual care among patients with early atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular conditions. (Funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research and others; EAST-AFNET 4 ISRCTN number, ISRCTN04708680; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01288352; EudraCT number, 2010-021258-20.).

Atrial Fibrillation: A New Indicator for Advanced Colorectal Neoplasia in Screening Colonoscopy.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common and potentially preventable malignancy. Evidence has emerged that coronary artery disease patients are at increased risk for developing CRC by shared risk factors. Here we investigated an association between CRC and atrial fibrillation (AF), a surrogate marker of cardiovascular risk, in the setting of routine screening colonoscopy. METHODS: We investigated 1949 asymptomatic participants (median age 61 [54-67] years, 49% females) undergoing screening colonoscopy within the SAKKOPI registry (Salzburg Colon Cancer Prevention Initiative). Forty-six participants with AF (2.4%) were identified, and colonoscopy findings were compared to non-AF participants. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was used to create 1:1 and 3:1 age- and gender-matched couples. RESULTS: Abnormal findings on screening colonoscopy (any form of adenoma or carcinoma) were more common in AF participants with an odds ratios (OR) of 2.4 [1.3-4.3] in the unmatched analysis, and 2.6 [1.1-6.3] and 2.0 [1.1-4.0] in the 1:1 and 3:1 matched groups, respectively. Correspondingly, the odds of finding advanced adenomas or carcinomas was elevated about three-fold across the different matched and unmatched analyses (OR 3.3 [1.1-10.8] for 3:1 matched participants). At the same time, the prevalence and number of colonic lesions were significantly higher in AF participants (63.0% vs. 33.4% for 3:1 matched participants, p < 0.001). Non-CRC related findings on colonoscopy, like diverticulosis, were non-different between groups. CONCLUSION: Participants with AF had a higher burden of advanced premalignant adenomas and CRC in routine colonoscopy screening. Our data suggest that practitioners should monitor the CRC screening status, especially in AF patients.

Clinical Characteristics of Patients with a Right Ventricular Thrombus in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Thrombus formation within the left ventricle (LV) is a well-known clinical entity and is often associated with underlying myocardial disease, whereas right ventricular (RV) thrombi are rarely observed. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with arrhythmogenic RV cardiomyopathy (ARVC) who developed an RV thrombus. METHODS AND RESULTS: This study included patients with an RV thrombus from the ARVC databases of the University Heart Center in Zurich, Switzerland, and the Fuwai Hospital in Beijing, China. In total, there were 13 ARVC patients who had an RV thrombus detected. The mean age was 33 ± 15 (range: 11-51) years. Eight patients (62%) were male. The mean Task Force score was 6 ± 1. Nine of these patients (69%) had an RV thrombus only whereas four patients had biventricular thrombi. All 13 ARVC patients had a severely impaired RV function (RV fractional area change 16 ± 9% and RV ejection fraction 15 ± 4%); LV ejection fraction (LVEF) was 40 ± 15%. ARVC patients with an additional LV thrombus had a lower LVEF than the others (24 ± 11 vs. 47 ± 11, p = 0.02). Under therapeutic anticoagulation, complete thrombus resolution was observed in 9/13 patients (69%). CONCLUSION: RV thrombus formation is a potential complication of ARVC with impaired RV function. In patients with biventricular involvement, thrombi may also occur within the LV. Anticoagulation is generally effective to dissolve RV thrombi. This study highlights the need for awareness during cardiac imaging to detect this rare complication of ARVC.

Feasibility of zero or near zero fluoroscopy during catheter ablation procedures.

BACKGROUND: Awareness of risks associated with radiation exposure to patients and medical staff has significantly increased. It has been reported before that the use of advanced three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping (EAM) system significantly reduces fluoroscopy time, however this study aimed for zero or near zero fluoroscopy ablation to assess its feasibility and safety in ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) and other tachyarrhythmias in a "real world" experience of a single tertiary care center. METHODS: This was a single-center study where ablation procedures were attempted without fluoroscopy in 34 consecutive patients with different tachyarrhythmias under the support of EAM system. When transseptal puncture (TSP) was needed, it was attempted under the guidance of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE). RESULTS: Among 34 patients consecutively enrolled in this study, 28 (82.4%) patients were referred for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of AF, 3 (8.8%) patients for ablation of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) ventricular extrasystole (VES), 1 (2.9%) patient for ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT), 2 (5.9%) patients for typical atrial flutter ablation. In 21 (62%) patients the en- tire procedure was carried out without the use of fluoroscopy. Among 28 AF patients, 15 (54%) patients underwent ablation without the use of fluoroscopy and among these 15 patients, 10 (67%) patients required TSP under ICE guidance while 5 (33%) patients the catheters were introduced to left atrium through a patent foramen ovale. In 13 AF patients, fluoroscopy was only required for double TSP. The total procedure time of AF ablation was 130 ± 50 min. All patients referred for atrial flutter, AVNRT, and VES of the RVOT ablation did not require any fluoroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the feasibility of zero or near zero fluoroscopy procedure including TSP with the support of EAM and ICE guidance in a "real world" experience of a single tertiary care center. When fluoroscopy was required, it was limited to TSP hence keeping the radiation dose very low.

Right coronary anomaly in a patient with myocarditis and cardiac arrest: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Management of coronary anomalies continues to be a controversial topic in medicine, for which only in specific clinical scenarios recommendations for management are clearly defined. We are presenting a previously healthy 18-year-old patient who survived sudden cardiac death (SCD). Multiple potential aetiologies were evaluated, including malignant coronary anomaly, acute myocarditis, potential Brugada type 3 electrocardiographic pattern, and urine drug screening positive for lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). CASE PRESENTATION: Malignant right coronary anomaly with interarterial course and acute angle takeoff was diagnosed with coronary computed tomography angiography. Signs of acute myocarditis were detected in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and endomyocardial biopsy. Due to potential Brugada type 3 electrocardiographic pattern flecainide provocation testing was performed to rule out Brugada Syndrome. Confirmatory chromatography revealed that prior LSD drug screening was false positive. Ultimately, the patient underwent cardiothoracic surgery with unroofing of the right coronary artery. Subsequent clinical course was favourable. DISCUSSION: Right coronary artery anomalies are more prevalent than left coronary anomalies but less often associated with SCD. Interarterial course and acute angle takeoff are risk factors for unfavourable outcomes. Myocarditis is a potential trigger of arrhythmias and SCD. In patients with Brugada type 2 and 3 electrocardiographic pattern (saddleback ST-segment elevation), provocation testing with flecainide, ajmalin, or procainamide can be used to unmask Brugada type 1 electrocardiographic pattern. Due to the proarrythmic potential of many recreational drugs, screening for these substances can be useful in young adults presenting after cardiac arrest; cross-reaction of substances as in our patient have to be considered.

Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients With MitraClip Device: Preliminary Findings.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with mitral regurgitation are increasingly treated by percutaneous implantation of a MitraClip device (Abbott Park, IL, USA). We investigate the feasibility and safety of the transmitral catheter route for catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in these patients. METHODS: The mitral valve with the MitraClip in situ was crossed under transesophageal 3-dimensional echocardiographic and fluoroscopic guidance using a steerable sheath for ablation of the left ventricle. RESULTS: Five patients (all males, median age 74.0 ± 16.0 years) who had previously a MitraClip implanted were referred for catheter ablation of VT. The left ventricular ejection fraction was 29.0% ± 24.0%. One patient had both an atrial septal defect and a left atrial appendage occluder device in addition to a MitraClip. The duration between MitraClip implantation and ablation was 1019.0 ± 783.0 days. After transseptal puncture, ablation catheter was successfully steered through the mitral valve with the use of fluoroscopy. A complete high-density map of the substrate in sinus rhythm could be obtained in all patients using multipolar mapping catheters. In 1 patient, mapping was carried out using a mini-basket catheter. Procedural endpoints, noninducibility of all VTs, and abolition of all late potentials were achieved in all patients. Procedure time was 255.0 ± 52.5 minute, fluoroscopy time was 23.0 ± 7.3, and the radiation dose was 61.0 ± 37.5 Gycm2 . No mitral insufficiency or worsening of regurgitation was documented after the procedure. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report demonstrating the feasibility and safety of VT ablation in patients with a MitraClip device using the anterograde transmitral catheter route.

Intrathoracic pressure swings induced by simulated obstructive sleep apnoea promote arrhythmias in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: There is preliminary evidence for a link between obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and arrhythmias such as paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) and sudden cardiac death but underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this interventional crossover study, we evaluated whether intrathoracic pressure changes, induced by simulated OSA, trigger premature cardiac beats, and alter measures of ventricular repolarization [QTc and Tpeak-to-Tend (TpTec) intervals] in patients with PAF. 12-Lead-electrocardiograms were recorded continuously in 44 patients, while simulating obstructive apnoea (Mueller manoeuvre, MM), obstructive hypopnoea (inspiration through a threshold load, ITH), end-expiratory central apnoea (AP), and during normal breathing (NB) in randomized order. The prevalence of OSA in these 44 patients was assessed by a sleep study. Atrial premature beats (APBs) occurred more frequently during MM (55% of patients) and ITH (32%), but not during AP (14%), compared with NB (9%) (P < 0.001, P = 0.006 and P = 0.688, respectively). Mueller manoeuvre led to a significant prolongation of QTc and TpTec intervals (+17.3 ms, P < 0.001 and +4.3 ms, P = 0.005). Inspiration through a threshold load significantly increased QTc (+9.6 ms, P < 0.001) but not TpTec. End-expiratory central apnoea did not alter QTc and TpTec intervals. According to the sleep study, 56% of patients had OSA (apnoea hypopnoea index ≥5). CONCLUSION: Simulated OSA induces APBs which may be important in patients with PAF, because the majority of episodes of PAF has been shown to be triggered by APBs. Simulated OSA leads to a significant prolongation of ventricular repolarization.

Electrocardiographic features of disease progression in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia.

BACKGROUND: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is considered a progressive cardiomyopathy. However, data on the clinical features of disease progression are limited. The aim of this study was to assess 12-lead surface electrocardiographic (ECG) changes during long-term follow-up, and to compare these findings with echocardiographic data in our large cohort of patients with ARVC/D. METHODS: Baseline and follow-up ECGs of 111 patients from three tertiary care centers in Switzerland were systematically analyzed with digital calipers by two blinded observers, and correlated with findings from transthoracic echocardiography. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 4 years (IQR 1.9-9.2 years). ECG progression was significant for epsilon waves (baseline 14% vs. follow-up 31%, p = 0.01) and QRS duration (111 ms vs. 114 ms, p = 0.04). Six patients with repolarization abnormalities according to the 2010 Task Force Criteria at baseline did not display these criteria at follow-up, whereas in all patients with epsilon waves at baseline these depolarization abnormalities also remained at follow-up. T wave inversions in inferior leads were common (36% of patients at baseline), and were significantly associated with major repolarization abnormalities (p = 0.02), extensive echocardiographic right ventricular involvement (p = 0.04), T wave inversions in lateral precordial leads (p = 0.05), and definite ARVC/D (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data supports the concept that ARVC/D is generally progressive, which can be detected by 12-lead surface ECG. Repolarization abnormalities may disappear during the course of the disease. Furthermore, the presence of T wave inversions in inferior leads is common in ARVC/D.

Incidence and prognosis of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with congenital left ventricular aneurysms or diverticula.

BACKGROUND: Patients with congenital left ventricular aneurysms and diverticula may present with arrhythmia. The incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and the clinical outcome of these patients have not been reported to date. METHODS: Among 250 consecutive patients with congenital left ventricular aneurysms and diverticula detected by echocardiography, the clinical outcome of patients who presented with ventricular arrhythmias or associated symptoms was investigated. RESULTS: Of 250 patients with congenital left ventricular aneurysms and diverticula, 30 had ventricular arrhythmias or syncope at initial presentation. During a follow-up of 85 months, spontaneous ventricular tachycardia occurred in 17 of these patients (57%). Ventricular tachycardia was sustained in 13, with a monomorphic pattern in 9 patients. In 82% (11 patients), ventricular tachycardia was inducible during electrophysiologic testing. In 7 patients a sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia with a right bundle branch block pattern similar to the clinical tachycardia was induced. Twenty patients were treated with antiarrhythmic agents. Eleven patients received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Appropriate device discharges were observed in 73% during a follow-up of 61 months. One patient underwent surgical resection of a congenital left ventricular aneurysm. Three patients underwent successful catheter ablation for incessant ventricular tachycardia. Of these, 2 were free of any clinically relevant arrhythmia during follow-up. Three patients died (10, 41, and 89 months after initial presentation). In 2 of them, the cause of death was attributed to ventricular arrhythmia. CONCLUSION: The clinical outcome of patients with congenital left ventricular aneurysms and diverticula and arrhythmia is variable. Clinical ventricular tachycardia in these patients is often monomorphic and usually inducible during electrophysiologic study, indicating a role for this test in risk stratification. Appropriate discharges are frequent in implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients with congenital left ventricular aneurysms and diverticula.