Safety and Efficacy of Transvenous Lead Extraction With a High-Frequency Excimer Laser　- A Single Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Transvenous lead extractions have been performed using 40-Hz laser sheaths. Recently, a new 80-Hz laser sheath became available, but only a few reports have compared the effectiveness of the 40- and 80-Hz laser sheaths. Methods and Results: This study included 215 patients. Lead extractions using only laser sheaths were analyzed. The clinical characteristics, extraction parameters, and extraction tools were evaluated. The procedures were performed with 40-Hz sheaths in 150 patients (group 1: 270 leads) and 80-Hz sheaths in 65 (group 2: 99 leads). No statistically significant differences were observed in the clinical parameters except for sex. The mean implant duration was 95.3±86.0 and 78.2±56.8 months in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P=0.07). The respective mean laser time and number of laser pulses were 48.5±52.1 and 48.1±56.1 s (P=0.96) and 2,035.0±2,384.0 and 3,955.1±2,339.3 pulses (P<0.0001). Complete removal was achieved for 97.4% of the leads and in 98.0% in both groups (P=0.38). Major complications occurred in 2.0% and 3.1% of the patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively (P=0.94). CONCLUSIONS: Transvenous lead extraction using high-frequency laser sheaths was as highly successful as with low-frequency laser sheaths in Japanese patients.

Left Atrial Appendage Thrombi Formation in Japanese Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Patients During Anticoagulation Therapy　- Warfarin vs. Direct Oral Anticoagulants.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia, associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality including thromboembolic events. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombi in Japanese non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients undergoing preprocedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during anticoagulation therapy, and to compare the efficacy of warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC).Methods and Results:This retrospective study reviewed records of 559 consecutive NVAF patients (445 men; age, 62±11 years) undergoing preprocedural TEE following at least 3 weeks of anticoagulation therapy. Of these, 275 patients had non-paroxysmal AF (49%). LAA thrombus was observed in 15 patients (2.7%). The prevalence of LAA thrombi was similar between the DOAC group (2.6%) and the warfarin group (2.8%, P=0.86). No patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score=0, or paroxysmal AF without prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, had LAA thrombi. On univariate analysis, non-paroxysmal AF, structural heart disease, antiplatelet therapy, larger left atrium, higher brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), reduced LAA flow, and higher CHA2DS2-VASc score were all associated with LAA thrombi. On multivariate analysis, BNP ≥173 pg/mL remained the only independent predictor of LAA thrombi. CONCLUSIONS: LAA thrombi were found in 2.7% of Japanese NVAF patients scheduled for procedures despite ongoing oral anticoagulation therapy. Incidence of thrombi was similar for patients on DOAC and on warfarin.