Leadless pacemaker with transcatheter aortic valve implantation: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: The safety and efficacy of leadless pacemakers (LP) in transcatheter aortic valve implant (TAVI) patients is not well known due to paucity of data. Herein, we compared outcomes between leadless pacemakers to traditional dual chamber pacemakers (DCP) following TAVI. METHODS: A single-center retrospective study was conducted, including a total of 27 patients with LP and 33 patients with DCP after TAVI between November 2013 and May 2021. We compared baseline demographics, pacemaker indications, complication rates, percent pacing, and ejection fractions. RESULTS: Leading indications for pacemaker implant were complete heart block (74% LP, 73% DCP) and high degree atrioventricular block (26% LP, 21% DCP). Twenty-two (82%) LP patients had devices implanted in the right ventricular septal-apex. Three (9%) DCP patients required rehospitalization for pocket related complications. Zero pacemaker-related mortality was observed in both groups. Frequency of ventricular pacing and ejection fraction was similar between LP and DCP groups. CONCLUSION: From this single-center retrospective study, LP implant was feasible following TAVI and was found to have comparable performance to DCPs. LPs may be a reasonable alternative in TAVI patients where single ventricular pacing is indicated. Larger studies are required to validate these findings.

Resolution of Hypoxia and Ascites With Percutaneous Intervention of Mustard Baffle Obstruction and Leak.

A 45-year-old man with history of Mustard repair for transposition of the great arteries, cirrhosis, and chronic hypoxemic respiratory failure presented for subacute worsening of his chronic symptoms, which were found to be secondary to a previously unrecognized baffle stenosis and leak. Percutaneous intervention resolved his ascites and hypoxia. (Level of Difficulty: Intermediate.).

Retrospective review of Arctic Front Advance Cryoballoon Ablation: a multicenter examination of second-generation cryoballoon (RADICOOL trial).

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) via catheter ablation is an approved therapy for patients with drug-refractory and symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). Furthermore, cryoballoon is now considered to be as effective as focal radiofrequency catheter ablation. This study examines the second-generation cryoballoon performance in a US multicenter review of real-world practices. METHODS: By retrospective chart collections, the long-term efficacy and safety of the cryoballoon procedure were assessed in 15 US centers. All patients had a history of drug-refractory symptomatic paroxysmal AF and were treated with a cryoballoon PVI strategy at the index ablation. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-two patients were evaluated, and acute PVI was achieved in 99% of patients by cryoballoon catheter ablation. In 0.88% of patients (4/452), an additional focal ablation catheter was used to achieve acute PVI during the ablation procedure. Average procedure time was 128 (range 82 to 260) min, using an average of 17 (range 1 to 19) min of fluoroscopy. The most frequent adverse event was transient phrenic nerve injury (1.5%; 7/452 patients) which all resolved by the end of the procedure with no diaphragmatic dysfunction at discharge. There were no strokes, transient ischemic attacks, cardiac tamponade, atrioesophageal fistulas, or deaths during the study. At the 12-month efficacy endpoint, single-procedure success of freedom from atrial arrhythmia was 87% (393/452 patients). CONCLUSIONS: This real-world examination of the US practice demonstrates that second-generation cryoballoon ablation by PVI strategy is safe and effective among patients with paroxysmal AF.

Plasma Exchange for Urgent Apixaban Reversal in a Case of Hemorrhagic Tamponade after Pacemaker Implantation.

We report the case of an 82-year-old man in whom hemorrhagic pericardial effusion occurred one week after pacemaker implantation, while he was taking apixaban. Few therapies exist for reversing the anti-Xa effect of apixaban. To reverse anticoagulation, our patient underwent plasma exchange, which facilitated pericardiocentesis and prevented possible surgical intervention. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the use of plasmapheresis to reverse the anticoagulant effect of apixaban.

An uncommon case of heart failure.

A 55-year-old man evaluated for syncope had mild and gradually progressive left ventricular systolic dysfunction on initial workup. Although not identified initially, repeat cardiac magnetic resonance one year later demonstrated the presence of trabeculations in the left ventricle consistent with the diagnosis of isolated non-compaction of the left ventricular myocardium. This case highlights the need for increased awareness of this entity among primary care physicians, cardiologists, and radiologists in order to enhance its identification. This case also demonstrates the advantages of cardiac magnetic resonance for diagnosis and provides insight into this rare type of cardiomyopathy in adults.

Lower loop reentry as a mechanism of clockwise right atrial flutter.

BACKGROUND: Right atrial reentrant tachycardia resulting from lower loop reentry (LLR) around the inferior vena cava (IVC) has been described recently. However, all reported cases of LLR in the literature have negative flutter waves on the inferior surface ECG leads similar to that of counterclockwise typical atrial flutter around the tricuspid annulus (TA). Right atrial flutter with positive flutter waves in the inferior ECG leads has been assumed to rotate as a single reentrant activation wave front around the TA, and the role of LLR in those patients is not known. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twelve consecutive patients with flutter wave morphology on surface ECG consistent with clockwise atrial flutter were studied. The endocardial activation pattern recorded from conventional multipolar electrode catheters was characteristic of clockwise atrial flutter around the TA. Entrainment pacing in all 12 patients and 3D activation sequence mapping in 7 patients, however, revealed clockwise LLR involving the lower right atrium around the IVC in 7 patients, figure-of-8 double-loop reentry around both the IVC and TA in 4, and single reentrant loop around the TA in 1. Linear radiofrequency ablation in the isthmus between the TA and IVC (TI isthmus) terminated the tachycardia in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Surface ECG flutter wave morphology and limited recording intracardiac sites proved insufficient to delineate the precise mechanism of the TI isthmus-dependent clockwise right atrial flutters. Most right atrial flutters with positive flutter wave on surface ECG may be supported by a reentrant circuit around the IVC or a figure-of-8 double-loop reentry involving both the IVC and TA.