Role of three-dimensional imaging integration in atrial fibrillation ablation.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia and in symptomatic patients with a drug-refractory form, catheter ablation aimed at electrically disconnecting the pulmonary veins (PVs) has proved more effective than use of antiarrhythmic drugs in maintaining sinus rhythm during follow-up. On the other hand, this ablation procedure is complex, requires specific training and adequate clinical experience. A main challenge is represented by the need for accurate sequential positioning of the ablation catheter around each veno-atrial junction to deliver point-by-point radiofrequency energy applications in order to achieve complete and persistent electrical disconnection of the PVs. Imaging integration is a new technology that enables guidance during this procedure by showing a three-dimensional, pre-acquired computed tomography or magnetic resonance image and the relative real-time position of the ablation catheter on the screen of the electroanatomic system. Reports in the literature suggest that imaging integration provides accurate visual information with improvement in the procedure parameters and/or clinical outcomes of the procedure.

Left ventricular giant rhabdomyoma in an infant with no tuberous sclerosis: accidental finding and complex management.

The accidental finding of a giant left ventricular rhabdomyoma in a female infant with no tuberous sclerosis is described herein. This is the first report of a huge cardiac rhabdomyoma occluding the left ventricular cavity, which was not associated with tuberous sclerosis. The clinical management of the baby and the difficult therapeutical choices involved both pediatricians and pediatric cardiologists.

Role of echocardiography on the evaluation of patent ductus arteriosus in newborns.

The echocardiogram is the preferred procedure in confirming the diagnosis and characterizing PDA. Doppler echocardiography proved more efficient than clinical examination in grading PDA and becomes essential in the evaluation of clinically significant ductal shunting. Four patterns of PDA shunt can be identified using pulsed Doppler echocardiography: pulmonary hypertension, growing pattern, pulsatile pattern, closing pattern. In this review we confirm that echocardiography can provide a reasonable as well as accurate prediction of the development of later clinically significant PDA by a combination of variables that are easy to measure and compare.

Lead extraction: a new effective tool to overcome fibrous binding sites.

We report the case of a 50 year-old woman referred for extraction of an infected biventricular implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) who underwent device and leads extraction. Due to adhesions at the level of the subclavian-innominate vein angle, manual traction with locking stylet was ineffective. A new mechanical sheath provided with a stainless steel bladed tip, the Evolution Mechanical Dilator Sheath (Cook Medical), was successfully used to complete lead extraction. As far as we know, this is the first report on the use of this new tool; its safety should be ascertained by increasing the number of cases but its simple use and its low cost make the Evolution Mechanical Dilator Sheath a new interesting tool that can be added to the instruments available for lead extraction.

Residual fibrous tissue floating in the right atrium after percutaneous pacemaker lead extraction: an unusual complication early detected by intracardiac echocardiography.

Extraction of pacemaker leads represents the optimal therapy in patients with endocarditis involving the pacemaker leads. The percutaneous approach is becoming popular. However, complications of percutaneous extraction are not rare and incomplete removal of the vegetations with embolization in the pulmonary arteries has been described. This case report describes for the first time a case of incomplete removal of the fibrous sheath covering the lead, with residual tissue floating in the right atrium after pacemaker/ICD extraction. ICE monitoring was essential for early detection and correct diagnosis of this complication.