Differences in postablation cardiac MRI scar between radiofrequency and cryoballoon ablation: A DECAAF II subanalysis.

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using radiofrequency (RF) and cryoballoon (Cryo) ablation are standard approaches for rhythm control in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Both strategies create scars in the left atrium (LA). There have been few studies investigating the difference in scar formation between patients undergoing RF and Cryo using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. METHODS: The current study is a subanalysis of the control arm of the Delayed-Enhancement MRI Determinant of Successful Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation study (DECAAF II). The study was a multicenter, randomized, controlled, single-blinded trial that evaluated atrial arrhythmia recurrence (AAR) between PVI alone and PVI plus CMR atrial fibrosis-guided ablation. Preablation CMR and 3- to 6-month postablation CMR were obtained to assess baseline LA fibrosis and scar formation, respectively. RESULTS: Of the 843 patients randomized in the DECAAF II trial, we analyzed the 408 patients in the primary analysis control arm that received standard PVI. Five patients received combined RF and Cryo ablations, so they were excluded from this subanalysis. Of the 403 patients analyzed, 345 underwent RF and 58 Cryo. The average procedure duration was 146 min for RF and 103 min for Cryo (p = .001). The rate of AAR at ~15 months occurred in 151 (43.8%) patients in the RF group and 28 (48.3%) patients in the Cryo group (p = .62). On 3-month post-CMR, the RF arm had significantly more scar (8.8% vs. 6.4%, p = .001) compared to Cryo. Patients with ≥6.5% LA scar (p < .001) and ≥2.3% LA scar around the PV antra (p = .01) on 3-month post-CMR had less AAR independent of the ablation technique. Cryo caused a greater percentage of right and left pulmonary vein (PV) antral scar (p = .04, p = .02) and less non-PV antral scar (p = .009) compared to RF. On Cox regression, Cryo patients free of AAR had a greater percentage of left PV antral scar (p = .01) and less non-PV antral scar (p = .004) compared to RF free of AAR. CONCLUSION: In this subanalysis of the control arm of the DECAAF II trial, we observed that Cryo formed a more significant percentage of PV antral scar and less non-PV antral scar compared to RF. Post ablation LA scar ≥6.5% predicted freedom from AAR, independent of ablation technique. These findings may have prognostic implications in ablation technique selection and freedom from AAR.

Insidious Mass Within a Sinus.

A 75-year-old patient was incidentally found to have an intracardiac mass by echocardiography. Subsequent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and cardiac positron emission tomography confirmed a large and possibly malignant mass extending from the right atrium into the coronary sinus. The patient underwent an intracardiac echocardiography guided biopsy, which revealed diffuse B-cell lymphoma, and is currently undergoing rituximab, etoposide, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin (R-EPOCH)-based chemotherapy.

Atrial Fibrillation and Acute Ischemic Stroke: Evaluation of the Contemporary 2018 National Inpatient Sample Database.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is considered a binary entity regardless of AF type. We aim to investigate in-hospital morbidity and mortality among patients with nonparoxysmal AF-related AIS. Methods: Patients hospitalized for AIS with associated paroxysmal or persistent AF were identified from the 2018 national inpatient sample database. We compared in-hospital mortality, stroke-related morbidity, hospital cost, length of stay, and discharge disposition in patients hospitalized with paroxysmal or persistent AF. Results: A total of 26,470 patients were hospitalized for AIS with paroxysmal or persistent AF. Patient with AIS with persistent AF had a longer hospital length of stay (paroxysmal AF, mean [M] 5.7 days, standard deviation [SD] ±6.8 days; persistent AF, M 7.4 days, SD ±11.9 days, P < 0.001) and in-hospital costs (paroxysmal AF, M $15,449, SD ±$18,320; persistent AF, M $19,834 SD ±$23,312, P < 0.001). Patients with AIS with permanent AF had higher in-hospital mortality (paroxysmal AF, 4.6%, vs permanent AF, 6.2%, P < 0.001). Indirect markers of stroke-related disability, like intracranial hemorrhage (odds ratio [OR]: 1.9, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.6-2.2), need for gastrostomy (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.8-2.4), and tracheostomy (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 2.1-4.4) were more associated with AIS from persistent AF. Conclusions: Persistent AF is associated with poor in-hospital stroke-related outcome, possibly due to a worse thrombo-embolic phenomenon. AF pattern may be a harbinger of worse stroke-related morbidity.

Contexte: La fibrillation auriculaire (FA) dans l'accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC) ischémique aigu est considérée comme une entité binaire, quel que soit le type de FA. Nous voulons étudier la morbidité et la mortalité chez les patients hospitalisés pour un AVC ischémique aigu lié à une FA non paroxystique. Méthodologie: Des patients hospitalisés pour un AVC ischémique aigu accompagné d'une FA paroxystique ou persistante ont été répertoriés à partir d'une base de données d'échantillons de patients hospitalisés à l'échelle du pays en 2018. Nous avons comparé la mortalité à l'hôpital, la morbidité liée à l'AVC, le coût de l'hospitalisation, la durée du séjour et les dispositions du congé chez les patients hospitalisés pour une FA paroxystique ou persistante. Résultats: Au total, 26 470 patients ont été hospitalisés pour un AVC ischémique aigu accompagné d'une FA paroxystique ou persistante. Le séjour à l'hôpital était plus long pour les patients atteints d'un AVC ischémique aigu accompagné d'une FA persistante (FA paroxystique, moyenne [M] de 5,7 jours, écart-type [ET] ±6,8 jours; FA persistante, M de 7,4 jours, ET ±11,9 jours, p < 0,001) et les coûts d'hospitalisation ont été plus élevés dans ce groupe de patients (FA paroxystique, M de 15 449 $, ET ±18 320 $; FA persistante, M de 19 834 $, ET ±23 312 $, p < 0,001). La mortalité à l'hôpital était plus élevée chez les patients atteints d'un AVC ischémique aigu accompagné d'une FA permanente (FA paroxystique, 4,6 % vs FA permanente, 6,2 %, p < 0,001). Des marqueurs indirects d'incapacité liée à l'AVC, comme une hémorragie intracrânienne (rapport des cotes [RC] : 1,9, intervalle de confiance [IC] à 95 % : 1,6-2,2), la nécessité d'une gastrostomie (RC : 2,1, IC à 95 % : 1,8-2,4) ou d'une trachéostomie (RC : 3,1, IC à 95 % : 2,1-4,4) ont été davantage associés à l'AVC ischémique aigu découlant d'une FA persistante. Conclusions: La FA persistante est associée à une issue défavorable liée à l'AVC chez les patients hospitalisés, possiblement en raison d'un phénomène thrombo-embolique aggravé. La forme de la FA peut être annonciatrice d'une plus grande morbidité liée à l'AVC.

Long-Term Stroke Risk in Patients Undergoing Left Atrial Appendage Ablation With and Without Complete Isolation.

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF), may require ablation beyond the pulmonary veins. Prior data suggest that additional LA ablation, particularly left atrial appendage (LAA) ablation, may alter atrial function leading to increased risk of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (IS/TIA). We sought to study the long-term risk of IS/TIA in patients receiving ablation at the LAA compared to those receiving PVI alone and those receiving PVI with additional non-LAA locations. Methods: 350 patients who underwent CA for AF from 2008 to 2018 were included in the study. Locations of ablation in LA evaluated were the posterior wall, anterior wall, inferior wall, inter-atrial septum, lateral wall and the left atrial appendage (LAA). Patients undergoing LAA ablation were further divided as complete isolation (LAAi) and without complete isolation (LAAa). Results: Mean follow up of 4.8 years. In entire cohort, risk of IS/TIA was 1.62/100 patient-years (pys). The risk was highest in patients with LAAi (3.81/100 pys), followed by ablation LAAa (3.74/100 pys). Amongst all LA locations, only LAAi (HR 3.32, p = 0.03) and LAAa (HR 3.18, p = 0.02) were statistically significant predictors of IS/TIA after adjusting for OAC (Oral anticoagulant) use and baseline CHA2DS2VASc score. Conclusions: During long term follow-up, only ablation at the left atrial appendage with and without complete isolation was independently associated with an increased risk of IS/TIA in patients undergoing CA for AF. Potential strategies to reduce stroke risk, such as LAA closure, should be considered in these patients.

Acute Lesion Imaging in Predicting Chronic Tissue Injury in the Ventricles.

BACKGROUND: Chronic lesion formation after cardiac tissue ablation is an important indicator for procedural outcome. Moreover, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the features that predict chronic lesion formation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to determine whether acute lesion visualization using late gadolinium enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-MRI) can reliably predict chronic lesion size. METHODS: Focal lesions were created in left and right ventricles of canine models using either radiofrequency (RF) ablation or cryofocal ablation. Multiple ablation parameters were used. The first LGE-MRI was acquired within 1-5 h post-ablation and the second LGE-MRI was obtained 47-82 days later. Corview software was used to perform lesion segmentations and size calculations. RESULTS: Fifty-Five lesions were created in different locations in the ventricles. Chronic volume size decreased by a mean of 62.5 % (95% CI 58.83-67.97, p < 0.0005). Similar regression of lesion volume was observed regardless of ablation location (p = 0.32), ablation technique (p = 0.94), duration (p = 0.37), power (p = 0.55) and whether lesions were connected or not (p = 0.35). There was no significant difference in lesion volume reduction assessed at 47-54 days and 72-82 days after ablation (p = 0.31). Chronic lesion volume was equal to 0.32 of the acute lesion volumes (R2 = 0.75). CONCLUSION: Chronic tissue injury related to catheter ablation can be reliably modeled as a linear function of the acute lesion volume as assessed by LGE-MRI, regardless of the ablation parameters.

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and the risk of myocardial infarction: A population-based national study.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a systemic disease with bidirectional relationships with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a more severe subtype of NAFLD. Patients with NASH exhibit more intra and extrahepatic inflammation, procoagulant imbalances and proatherogenic lipid profiles. Whether NASH increases the risk of ischemic heart disease is currently unclear. AIM: To investigate the relationship between acute myocardial infarction (MI) and NASH in a large cohort of subjects in the United States. METHODS: We reviewed data from a large commercial database (Explorys IBM) that aggregates electronic health records from 26 large nationwide healthcare systems. Using systemized nomenclature of clinical medical terms (SNOMED CT), we identified adult with the diagnosis of NASH from 1999-2019. We included patients with the diagnosis of acute MI from 2018-2019. Comorbidities known to be associated with NASH and MI such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, smoking, male gender, and hypertension were collected. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to investigate whether NASH is independently associated with the risk of MI. RESULTS: Out of 55099280 patients, 43170 were diagnosed with NASH (0.08%) and 107000 (0.194%) had a MI within 2018-2019. After adjusting for traditional risk factors, NASH conferred greater odds of MI odds ratio (OR) 1.5 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40-1.62]. Hyperlipidemia had the strongest association with MI OR 8.39 (95%CI: 8.21-8.58) followed by hypertension OR 3.11 (95%CI: 3.05-3.17) and smoking OR 2.83 (95%CI: 2.79-2.87). NASH had a similar association with MI as the following traditional risk factors like age above 65 years OR 1.47 (95%CI: 1.45-1.49), male gender OR 1.53 (95%CI: 1.51-1.55) diabetes mellitus OR 1.89 (95%CI: 1.86-1.91). CONCLUSION: MI appears to be a prevalent disease in NASH. Patients with NASH may need early identification and aggressive cardiovascular risk modification.

The Risk of Cerebrovascular Accidents in Inflammatory Bowel Disease in the United States: A Population-Based National Study.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, but the risk of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) remains unknown. Hypercoagulability and systemic inflammation are two proposed mechanisms by which the presence of IBD might lead to the development of CVA. OBJECTIVE: To assess the risk of CVA in patients with IBD compared to those without IBD with known traditional risk factors for CVA. METHODS: We reviewed data from a large commercial database (Explorys, IBM) that aggregated records from 26 health-care systems nationwide. Using systemized nomenclature of medicine - clinical terms, we identified adult patients diagnosed with IBD (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease) between September 1994 and September 2019. We then examined the risk of CVA in these patients. Known risk factors such as age ≥65-years old, diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HTN), female gender, atrial fibrillation (Afib) were collected. A univariate binary logistic model was constructed using CVA as the dependent variable and other variables as independent variables. To adjust for possible confounding, a multivariable model adjusting for all covariates was created to test for CVA. RESULTS: A total of 52,176,550 patients were included in this analysis, and 261,890 had IBD. The prevalence of CVA was higher in IBD patients compared to non-IBD patients (6.24% versus 0.48%, p <0.0001). The univariate binary logistic regression showed 13.7 times higher odds of having CVA in IBD patients than without IBD (odds ratio (OR) 13.74, p <0.0001). In multivariate binary logistic regression, after adjusting for traditional risk factors for CVA (Afib, HTN, female gender, DM, age ≥65 years), odds ratio of CVA in IBD patients remained significantly higher (OR 8.07, 95% CI: 7.9-8.2, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: In our large cohort of patients, IBD appears to be an independent risk factor for CVA. Further prospective studies are needed to understand the underlying mechanisms by which IBD increases the risk of CVA. This may lead to early identification and intervention to reduce the risk of CVA in this highly heterogeneous group of patients.

Canakinumab: Promises and Future in Cardiometabolic Diseases and Malignancy.

Inflammation has proven in multiple studies to be responsible for the progression of cardiometabolic diseases and malignancies. The interleukin family has been critically associated with progression of atherosclerosis, insulin resistance, and various malignancies. Given the advent of pharmacologic interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibition, this pathway can potentially be targeted to improve outcomes. In the recently concluded Canakinumab Anti-inflammatory Thrombosis Outcomes Study (CANTOS) trial, investigators looked at the potential role of IL-1 (especially IL-1ß) inhibition in halting the progression of atherosclerosis. In the subset analysis of the data from this trial, IL-1ß inhibition with canakinumab was found to have beneficial effects in other cardiometabolic diseases characterized by inflammation, like diabetes, stroke, and chronic kidney disease, and also in patients with lung cancer. In this article, we will try to review the current literature on the role of canakinumab in the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases and malignancies.

Does the future of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy lie in the outpatient surgery center? A retrospective study of the safety of 3162 outpatient sleeve gastrectomies.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is a safe and effective procedure that can be performed as an outpatient procedure. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to determine whether same-day discharge LSG is safe when performed in an outpatient surgery center. SETTING: Outpatient surgery centers. METHODS: The medical records of 3162 patients who underwent primary LSG procedure by 21 surgeons at 9 outpatient surgery centers from January 2010 through February 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Three thousand one hundred sixty-two patients were managed with enhanced recovery after surgery protocol and were included in this analysis. The mean age and preoperative body mass index were 43.1 ± 10.8 years and 42.1 ± 7.1 kg/m2, respectively. Sleep apnea, type 2 diabetes, gastroesophageal reflux disease, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia were seen in 14.4%, 13.5%, 24.7%, 30.4%, and 17.6% patients, respectively. The mean total operative time was 56.4 ± 16.9 minutes (skin to skin). One intraoperative complication (.03%) occurred. The hospital transfer rate was .2%. The 30-day follow-up rate was 85%. The postoperative outcomes were analyzed based on the available data. The 30-day readmission, reoperation, reintervention, and emergency room visit rates were .6%, .6%, .2%, and .1%, respectively. The 30-day mortality rate was 0%. The total short-term complication rate was 2.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Same-day discharge seems to be safe when performed in an outpatient surgery center in selected patients. It would appear that outpatient surgery centers are a viable option for patients with minimal surgical risks.

Is pneumatic balloon dilation safe and effective primary modality of treatment for post-sleeve gastrectomy strictures? A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment of sleeve strictures has not been agreed upon at the current time. At our institution, we began using pneumatic balloon dilation to help resolve these obstructions in 2010. Herein we report our experience with pneumatic balloon dilation for the treatment of sleeve strictures. METHODS: From Jan 2010 to Dec 2016 we retrospectively reviewed our prospectively kept database for patients who developed a Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy (LSG) stricture within 90 days of surgery. If the stricture was found, then we dilated all our patients initially at 30 mm at 10 PSI for 10-20 min (14.5 min average) and increased the balloon size (30-40 mm) and duration (10-30 min) in subsequent sessions if the first session was unsuccessful. RESULTS: The review found that 1756 patients underwent either LSG or the first step of a Laparoscopic Duodenal Switch (LDS) (1409 LSG & 356 LDS). Of the 1756 patient 33 patients (24 underwent LSG, and 9 underwent LDS) developed a stricture as a complication of LSG. The average age of the patients was 46.4 (±9.6) years, and the average BMI was 43.7 (±6.4). The most common location for stricture was mid-body of the sleeve (54.5%). The average time from the primary surgery to diagnosis and first pneumatic dilation was 5.6 months (± 6.8) and 5.9 months (± 6.6) respectively. We successfully used pneumatic dilation in 31 (93.9%) of these patients to relieve the stricture. CONCLUSION: We conclude that pneumatic dilation is an effective procedure in patients with post sleeve gastrectomy stricture.

The incidence of complications associated with loop duodeno-ileostomy after single-anastomosis duodenal switch procedures among 1328 patients: a multicenter experience.

BACKGROUND: The single-anastomosis duodenal switch procedure is a type of duodenal switch that involves a loop anastomosis rather than traditional Roux-en-Y reconstruction. To date, there have been no multicenter studies looking at the complications associated with post-pyloric loop reconstruction. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to report the incidence of complications associated with loop duodeno-ileostomy (DI) following single-anastomosis duodenal switch (SADS) procedures. SETTING: Mixed of private and teaching facilities. METHODS: The medical records of 1328 patients who underwent primary SADS procedure (single-anastomosis duodeno-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy or stomach intestinal pylorus-sparing surgery) by 17 surgeons from 3 countries (United States, Spain, and Australia) at 9 centers over a 6-year period were retrospectively reviewed, and their results were compared with articles in the literature. RESULTS: Mean preoperative body mass index was 51.6 kg/m2. Of 1328 patients, 123 patients received a linear stapled duodeno-ileostomy (DI) and 1205 patients a hand-sewn DI. In the overall series, the anastomotic leak, ulcer, and bile reflux occurred in .6% (9/1328), .1% (2/1328), and .1% (2/1328), respectively. None of our patients experienced volvulus at the DI or an internal hernia. Overall, 5 patients (.3%) (3/123 [2.4%] with linear stapled DI versus 2/1205 [.1%] with hand-sewn DI [P<.05]) experienced stricture at the DI in this series. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of complications associated with loop DI was lower than the reported incidence of anastomotic complications after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch. SADS procedures may cause much fewer anastomotic complications compared with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch.