Esophageal Endoscopy After Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Using Ablation-Index Guided High-Power: Frankfurt AI-HP ESO-I.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to investigate the safety profile of a novel ablation index-guided high-power short-duration (AI-HP) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in terms of endoscopic esophageal lesions. BACKGROUND: The risk of esophageal injury during PVI is a major concern while ablating the posterior wall for patients with atrial fibrillation. Luminal esophageal temperature (LET) rise during ablation is a surrogate for esophageal lesion development. METHODS: A total of 122 consecutive symptomatic atrial fibrillation patients underwent AI-HP PVI (50 W throughout the ablation, AI anterior wall/posterior wall: 550/400). All patients were under LET monitoring (cutoff LET 39°C) during the ablation procedure, and patients with LET rise received esophageal endoscopy examination 1 to 3 days after the ablation. Ablation lesion data of the sites with LET rise were analyzed. RESULTS: Procedural PVI success rate was 100%. Per procedure, the mean radiofrequency ablation time, procedural time, and fluoroscopic time were 11.9 ± 2.7 min, 54.8 ± 9 min, and 5.5 ± 1.6 min. The incidence of LET >39°C was 47%, and the mean peak LET was 41.2 ± 1.8°C. The rate of endoscopic detected lesion was 2 of 57 (3.5%). No perforation or atrial-esophageal fistula was found. The mean contact force, application duration, impedance drop, and AI values at the sites with LET rise were 22.1 ± 8.9 g, 7 ± 2.4 s, 9.4 ± 4.6 Ω, and 419 ± 44.6. CONCLUSIONS: AI-HP (50 W) ablation appears to be a highly efficient ablation technique for PVI. The incidence of esophageal injury during AI-HP PVI seems markedly low. AI-HP ablation targeting AI 400 in combination with multisensor esophageal temperature monitoring for the left atrial posterior wall appears safe and efficient.

Cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation in treating atrial fibrillation using different freeze protocols: The "ICE-T 4 minutes vs 3 minutes" propensity-matched study (Frankfurt ICE-T 4 vs. 3).

BACKGROUND: Time-to-isolation (TTI) guided second-generation cryoballoon (CB2) ablation has been shown to be effective for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to compare the safety and clinical outcome of CB2 PVI using the TTI guided 4 minutes vs 3 minutes freeze protocol. METHODS: This was a propensity-matched study based on an institutional database. Symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who underwent CB2 PVI and systematic follow-up were consecutively included. RESULTS: A total of 573 patients were identified, of them 214 (107 matched-pairs) symptomatic AF (paroxysmal AF: 61%, persistent AF: 39%) patients (age: 67.7 ± 11.2 years) were analyzed. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. Procedural time was significantly longer in the 4 minutes group compared to 3 minutes group (67.2 ± 21.8 vs 55.9 ± 16.9 minutes, P < .0001). During a mean follow-up of 2 years, the 4 minutes group was associated with a significantly higher rate of freedom from arrhythmia recurrence compared with the 3 minutes group (66.4% vs 56.1%, P = .009), which was mainly driven by patients with persistent AF. The multivariate regression showed that the 4 minutes freeze was the independent predictor of freedom from arrhythmia recurrence. During the repeat procedure, the 4 minutes group was associated with a significantly higher rate of durable PVI. There was no difference regarding procedural adverse events between the two groups. CONCLUSION: As compared with the 3 minutes freeze, the TTI guided 4 minutes freeze is associated with a significantly higher rate of arrhythmia-free and durable PVI without compromising the safety profile, patients with persistent AF may benefit from the TTI guided 4 minutes freeze more pronouncedly.

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation using ablation index-guided high power (50 W) for pulmonary vein isolation with or without esophageal temperature probe (the AI-HP ESO II).

BACKGROUND: High-power, short-duration ablation for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) facilitates the procedure and improve effectiveness; however, esophageal injury remains a safety concern. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of luminal esophageal temperature (LET) monitoring during high-power ablation for PVI in terms of endoscopic esophageal lesion. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic AF underwent ablation index-guided high-power (AI-HP) PVI (50 W; AI anterior wall/posterior wall: 550/400). In the first consecutive set of patients, an insulated esophageal temperature probe was used for LET monitoring (cutoff LET >39°C) (group A). In the second consecutive set of patients, the probe was not used (group B). All patients were scheduled to undergo esophageal endoscopy 1-3 days after ablation. RESULTS: A total of 120 patients (60 group A; 60 group B) were included in the study (mean age 67.8 years; 64% male). Baseline characteristics and procedural outcomes were similar between the 2 groups. Procedural PVI was achieved in all patients. First-pass PVI rate was 96.6%. Mean procedural radiofrequency (RF) time was 11.5 minutes, mean procedural time was 55.5 minutes, and fluoroscopic time was 5.6 minutes. Mean contact force at the LA posterior wall was 23 g, and mean RF ablation time at the LA posterior wall was 3.2 minutes. Two patients in group A and 1 patient in group B had endoscopic small esophageal lesions (P = .99). No serious procedural adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: Among patients undergoing AI-HP (50 W) PVI, the incidences of ablation-related endoscopic esophageal lesion in patients with and those without use of a temperature probe for LET monitoring (cutoff 39°C) were comparably low.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure in the presence of thrombus: A feasibility report.

BACKGROUND: Patients with a left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) despite oral anticoagulation (OAC) are at high risk of thromboembolism (TE) and a relevant proportion of LAAT do not resolve under continued OAC. Left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in the presence of LAAT was anecdotally described as a therapeutic option to prevent TE in the patients. OBJECTIVE: To describe the feasibility of LAAC despite LAAT in consecutive patients. METHODS: We searched the LAAC database of our center to identify patients in whom a LAAC was performed despite evidence of a thrombus in the LAA. All procedures were performed under transesophageal echocardiography guidance, no angiographies were performed to avoid LAAT dislocation. An Amulet Occluder device was preferred to allow proximal implantation and sealing of the LAA. RESULTS: Nine patients were identified. The mean age was 68.1 ± 10.7 years, four were female, mean CHADSVASC and HASBLED were 3.6 ± 1.7 and 3.0 ± 1.0. Eight of nine patients were on OAC, one patient was under lone aspirin therapy because of bleeding. The mean distance between the LAAT and the estimated landing zone was 18 ± 6 mm, the minimal distance was 11 mm. The mean landing zone was 21 ± 3 mm, devices with a mean size of 25 ± 4 mm were chosen for implantation. All implantation succeeded, only two patients required an intraprocedural replacement. No procedural complication nor short term thromboembolic complication during a follow up of 138 ± 149 days were recorded. CONCLUSION: In the presented series a percutaneous LAAC despite a LAAT resulted to be feasible and safe.

Ablation index-guided 50 W ablation for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation: Procedural data, lesion analysis, and initial results from the FAFA AI High Power Study.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency high-power ablation appears to be a novel concept for atrial fibrillation (AF). The ablation index (AI) value has been associated with durability of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to report the procedural data and initial results of a combined ablation technique using AI-guided high-power (AI-HP; 50 W) ablation for PVI. METHODS: Symptomatic AF patients were consecutively enrolled and underwent wide-area contiguous circumferential PVI. Contact-force catheters were used, ablation power was set to 50 W targeting AI values (550 anterior and 400 posterior). Esophageal temperature was monitored during procedure, all patients underwent postablation esophageal endoscopy. RESULTS: PVI was achieved in all (n = 50, mean age: 68 ± 9 years, female: 60%) patients, rate of first-round PVI was 92%. A total of N = 2105 AI-guided ablation lesions were analyzed. Comparing left anterior wall vs left posterior wall and right anterior wall vs right posterior wall, mean ablation time (s) per lesion was 20.5 ± 8 vs 8.6 ± 3 and 12.2 ± 4 vs 9.3 ± 3; mean contact force (g): 17.1 ± 12 vs 25.4 ± 14 and 33.7 ± 13 vs 21.0 ± 11; mean AI: 547 ± 48 vs 445 ± 55 and 555 ± 56 vs 440 ± 47 (all P < .0001). Procedure and fluoroscopy time (minute) were 55.6 ± 6.6 and 6 ± 1.7, respectively. Only one (2%) patient had a minimal esophageal lesion. During In-hospital and 1-month follow-up no major complications such as death, stroke, tamponade, or atriaesophageal fistula (AE) occurred. Preliminary 6-month follow-up showed 48 of 50 (96%) patients were free from clinical AF/atrial tachycardia recurrence. CONCLUSION: AI-HP (50 W) ablation appears to be a feasible, safe, fast, and effective ablation technique for PVI.

Analysis of procedural data of pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation with the second-generation laser balloon.

BACKGROUND: The procedural data of pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) for patients with atrial fibrillation using the second-generation laser balloon (LB2), which became available recently, remains unclear and were evaluated. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients (116 PVs) underwent PVI using LB2 (LB2 group) and were matched to 30 patients (116 PVs) treated with the first-generation laser balloon (LB1 group). The left atrial isolated surface area (ISA) (ratio of the total isolated antral surface area excluding PV to the total isolated antral surface area including the posterior wall) was also measured after LB2 PVI. RESULTS: PVI was achieved in 103/116 (89%) PVs and 108/116 (93%) PVs in the LB2 and LB1 groups, respectively, after the initial circular ablation (P = 0.360) and in 115/116 (99%) PVs and 116/116 (100%) PVs in the LB2 and LB1 groups, respectively, at the end of the procedure (P = 1.000). PV occlusion grade, categorized by the degree of PV occlusion, was significantly better in the LB2 group than in the LB1 group (P < 0.001). Zero rotational maneuver was applicable in 23/116 (20%) PVs and 8/116 (7%) in the LB2 and LB1 groups, respectively (P = 0.007). There was no significant difference in the procedural time, fluoroscopic time, or complications. The mean ISA after LB2 PVI was 53 ± 14%. The application number was the only independent predictor of successful PVI after initial circular LB2 ablation (adjusted odds ratio 0.860; 95% confidence interval 0.764-0.968; P = 0.013). CONCLUSION: LB2 displays favorable PV occlusion characteristics and enables more zero rotational maneuvers.

HEartLight guided - PUre Pulmonary Vein Isolation Regardless of Concomitant Atrial Substrate: HEURECA Study.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear whether left atrial low-voltage area (LALVA) affects atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence after laser balloon pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF). We prospectively evaluated the outcome of laser balloon PVI in patients with and without LALVA (≤ 0.5 mV) together with surface/intracardiac electrophysiological criteria. METHODS: One hundred consecutive paroxysmal/persistent AF patients underwent laser balloon PVI. The relative extent of LALVA (extent of LALVA/left atrial surface area × 100 [%]: rLALVA), total p-wave duration in lead II (PWD), and time interval from the beginning of p-wave to the local activation in left atrial appendage (TTLAA) were assessed. Patients were divided into patients with LALVA (group A: 23 patients) and those without LALVA (group B: 77 patients). The primary endpoint was freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia after the blanking periods. RESULTS: Complete PVI was achieved in 99/100 (99%) patients. PWD and TTLAA were longer in group A (both, P < 0.001). During 12 months' follow-up, survival free from atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence was lower in group A (12/23 [52%] patients vs 67/77 [87%] patients, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified rLALVA as the only independent predictor of atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence. rLALVA correlated with PWD and TTLAA (r = 0.41, P < 0.001 and r = 0.60, P < 0.001, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic curve for rLALVA revealed PWD of 122 ms and TTLAA of 92 ms as the optimal cut-off value. CONCLUSION: LALVA was associated with poorer outcome after laser balloon PVI. Patients may be identified by longer PWD and TTLAA.

Feasibility of percutaneous left atrial appendage closure using a novel LAmbre occluder in patients with atrial fibrillation: Initial results from a prospective cohort registry study.

BACKGROUND: The LAmbre™ occluder is a novel device for percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC). The presented study aimed to report the initial experience in implantation of the novel LAmbre for LAAC in patients with nonvalvular AF. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, observational, cohort registry study to evaluate the feasibility of percutaneous LAAC using the LAmbre system. RESULTS: Thirty patients (15 female, mean age 77.6 ± 8.9 years) who had high risks of stroke and contraindications for oral anticoagulation were prospectively enrolled in this registry study. The mean CHA2DS2-VaSc was 3.9 ± 1.5, and the mean HAS-BLED score was 4.1 ± 1.0. Twenty (66.7%) patients had chicken-wing LAA morphology. The implant success rate was 100%. The mean fluoroscopic time and procedure time were 3.5 ± 1.9 and 29.0 ± 10.1 minutes, respectively. No significant procedure-related complications were observed during in-hospital and acute clinical follow-up. CONCLUSION: In this preliminary study, the LAmbre occluder showed an excellent implant success rate, favorable implant property, and very low incidence of complications. Larger sample, randomized studies are further warranted.