Prolonged PR intervals are associated with epicardial adipose tissue and recurrence after catheter ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation.

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been reported to promote myocardial fibrosis and to affect intracardiac conduction. The PR interval reflects the conduction from the atria to the Purkinje fibers and may be associated with the EAT volume, especially in persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the EAT and PR interval in patients with persistent AF. We enrolled 268 persistent AF patients who underwent catheter ablation (CA) and divided the patients into two groups: the normal PR interval group (PR interval less than 200 ms: Group N) and long PR interval group (PR interval 200 ms or more: Group L). We then analyzed the association between the total EAT volume around the heart and PR interval and calculated the ratio of the duration of the P wave (PWD) to the PR interval (PWD/PR interval). Moreover, we investigated whether a long PR interval was associated with the outcomes after ablation. The total EAT volume was significantly larger in Group L than Group N (Group N: 131.4 ± 51.8 ml vs. Group L: 151.3 ± 63.3 ml, p = 0.039). A positive correlation was also observed between the PWD/PR interval and EAT volume in Group L (r = 0.345, p = 0.039). A multivariate analysis also revealed that a long PR interval was independently associated with AF recurrence after CA (hazard ratio [HR] 2.071, p = 0.032). The total EAT volume was associated with a long PR interval, and a long PR interval was a significant risk factor for recurrence after ablation in persistent AF patients.

Impact of Lipoprotein (a) on Long-Term Outcomes in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) is a complex circulating lipoprotein, and there is increasing evidence it is a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). This study aimed to investigate the influence of Lp(a) serum levels on long-term outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods and Results: Between January 2015 and January 2018, we enrolled 262 patients with AMI who underwent coronary angiography within 24 h of the onset of chest pain and had available Lp(a) data enabling subdivision into 2 groups: high Lp(a) (≥32 mg/dL: n=76) and low Lp(a) (<32 mg/dL: n=186). The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which was defined as a composite of cardiac death, nonfatal MI, and readmission for heart failure. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of MACE. The incidence of MACE was significantly higher in the high Lp(a) group than in the low Lp(a) group (32.8% vs. 19.6%, P=0.004). Multivariate analysis showed that Lp(a) ≥32 mg/dL was an independent predictor of MACE (hazard ratio 2.84, 95% confidence interval 1.25-6.60, P=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: High Lp(a) levels were associated with worse long-term outcomes after AMI, so Lp(a) may be useful for risk assessment.

Low-molecular-weight dextran-induced anaphylactic shock immediately after intracoronary imaging.

Dextran has been frequently used during intracoronary imaging, such as in optical coherence tomography, optical frequent domain imaging, and coronary angioscopy. We report a case of dextran-induced anaphylaxis in a 70-year-old male with chronic coronary disease. Upon admission, we performed coronary angiography and coronary angioscopy on the patient. After the intracoronary imaging, the patient's blood pressure suddenly fell to 50 mmHg and a rash appeared on his chest. The patient was diagnosed as having dextran-induced anaphylactic shock. Epinephrine was administered repeatedly, and his blood pressure gradually recovered after administering a total of 6 mg epinephrine. There was no recurrence of the anaphylactic shock, and the patient was discharged 12 days later. The incidence of dextran-induced anaphylactic reactions is extremely low; however, they can be fatal. The possibility of anaphylactic shock induced by dextran should be kept in mind by all cardiovascular interventionalists performing intracoronary imaging. Learning objective: Dextran has been frequently used during intracoronary imaging. We report on a case of dextran-induced anaphylaxis in a 70-year-old male with chronic coronary disease. While the incidence of dextran-induced anaphylactic reactions is extremely low, it can lead to fatal events. The possibility of anaphylactic shock induced by dextran should be kept in mind by all cardiovascular interventionalists while performing intracoronary imaging.

New Minimally Invasive and Tailor-Made Strategy for Cryoballoon Ablation in Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: The optimal dosage for cryoballoon ablation (CBA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical implications of a reduction in the freezing duration to <180 seconds during CBA guided by the time to the target temperature. METHODS: This study enrolled 325 consecutive paroxysmal AF patients who underwent CBA. It was a retrospective observational study in a single centre. It compared 164 patients who underwent a tailor-made CBA procedure (group T) with 161 who had a standard CBA procedure (group S). In group T, the freezing duration was reduced to 150 seconds when the temperature reached ≤ -40 °C within 40 seconds. Furthermore, it was reduced to 120 seconds when it reached ≤ -50 °C within 60 seconds. In the other patients, the freezing duration was 180 seconds, except for excessive freezing of ≤ -60 °C and/or emergent situations while monitoring the oesophageal temperature, and for phrenic nerve injury, as in group S. RESULTS: In group T, 89 patients (83%) underwent CBA with a reduction in the freezing duration. The total freezing time for each pulmonary vein was significantly shorter in group T than group S, and the total procedure time in group T decreased by an average of 4 minutes compared with group S. The rate of requiring additional radio frequency ablation following the CBA was significantly lower in group T than group S. The AF-free survival rate during the follow-up period (median, 366 days) was similar between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The safety and efficacy of the new CBA strategy were non-inferior to the standard procedure.

Comparison between cryoballoon and hot balloon ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

PURPOSE: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation using balloon ablation was developed as a technique for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). While most studies examined cryoballoon ablation (CBA), there have also been many reports on hot balloon ablation (HBA). We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes between HBA and CBA. METHODS: In a total of 103 consecutive patients with PAF who underwent catheter ablation, 60 propensity score-matched (30 CBA and 30 HBA) patients were enrolled. The procedural differences and clinical outcomes between the two groups were analyzed. RESULTS: The requirement for additional touch-up ablation was more frequent in the left superior pulmonary vein (LSP) in the HBA group than in the CBA group. Pre-procedural computed tomography (CT) images showed that a thicker left pulmonary vein ridge and larger cross-sectional area of the LSPV were significantly associated with residual PV potentials after HBA. However, post-procedural CT images showed that PV stenosis (> 25%) was higher in the HBA group (33%) than in the CBA group (0%). PV stenosis after HBA was observed most frequently in the right superior PV (50%). The atrial fibrillation/atrial tachycardia-free survival rate during follow-up (365 ± 102 days) was similar between the two groups (CBA vs. HBA, 83% vs. 90%). CONCLUSIONS: Although both balloon modalities can relieve atrial arrhythmia after the procedure, careful attention is required during HBA procedures, especially for the right superior PV, to avoid PV stenosis.

Diabetes and Endocrine Disorders (Hyperthyroidism/Hypothyroidism) as Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation.

Risk factors including cardiometabolic and endocrine disorders have a significant impact on atrial remodeling causing atrial fibrillation (AF). Diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism are strong independent risk factors for AF and worsen outcomes of rhythm control strategies. An early diagnosis and intervention for these risk factors combined with rhythm control strategies may improve the overall cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about the AF risk factors diabetes mellitus and thyroid disease, and discusses the impact of the modification of these risk factors on primary and secondary prevention of AF.

Refractoriness to subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator after frequent therapies for ventricular fibrillation storms in a Brugada syndrome case.

BACKGROUND: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) is an alternative to the transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator for the prevention of sudden cardiac death. Here, we report a rare case of refractoriness to an S-ICD after frequent therapies for ventricular fibrillation (VF) storms. CASE PRESENTATION: A 24-year-old man underwent a bout of syncope with vomiting and incontinence at home. He was brought to the emergency room and was witnessed to spontaneously go into VF successfully converted by external defibrillation. Previously, he was diagnosed with a type I Brugada electrocardiogram pattern by a pilsicainide administration test in another hospital. Although he had a family history of sudden cardiac death in 3 relatives, including his brother, he was followed closely without any therapies because he had never had an episode of syncope. He was implanted with an S-ICD without any trouble. Seven months later, frequent S-ICD shocks for VF storms occurred. His VF was controlled by using intravenous amiodarone, which was converted to an oral preparation. However, his VF recurred after another 2 months. The analysis of his S-ICD data revealed that 4 consecutive shock deliveries could not terminate his VF and the final shock delivered could fortunately terminate it because of a high defibrillation threshold test (DFT) due to an increasing shock impedance (64 to 90 Ω). First, we performed an epicardial Brugada syndrome ablation and subsequently replaced and repositioned the S-ICD lead from a left to a right parasternal site. After the re-implantation of the S-ICD, the DFT test improved to within normal range. According to the pathological analysis, infiltration of inflammatory cells and extensive fibrosis were confirmed in the subcutaneous tissue around the shock lead and S-ICD body. CONCLUSION: Frequent S-ICD shocks for VF storms might cause various pathological changes around the device and lead to a high DFT.

Cryoballoon Ablation for Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia in clinical practice and induces cardiac dysfunction and stroke. The development of AF requires a trigger and also an electroanatomic substrate capable of both initiating and perpetuating AF. In the past decade, ectopic beats originating from the pulmonary veins (PV) have been identified as a source of paroxysmal AF. Thus, strategies that target the PV, including the PV antrum, are the cornerstone of most AF ablation procedures. Recently, alternative technologies to radiofrequency catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF such as balloon ablation modalities have been developed. The purpose of this review is to discuss cryoballoon ablation for paroxysmal AF.

Primary pericardial abscess caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection without a predisposing condition.

A 75-year-old man presented to the hospital with a low-grade fever and worsening dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiogram and contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed a 20 × 20 mm lesion adjacent to the left ventricle with pericardial effusion. We suspected pericardial abscess, but no bacteria were detected even after 6 consecutive blood cultures. Ultimately, we drained 500 mL serosanguinous fluid from the pericardial effusion on the 4th hospital day; a subsequent culture grew methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. Although we performed percutaneous and surgical drainage and intravenous administration of antibiotics, he developed constrictive pericarditis, and died due to multi-organ failure on the 21st hospital day. On histological examination, neutrophil infiltration was noted in the thickened pericardium and the myocardium. To our knowledge, a purulent pericarditis complicated pericardial abscess can occur without bacteremia, and early diagnosis and aggressive management are necessary for a good prognosis. .

Head-to-head comparison of the heart rate variability between the bisoprolol transdermal patch and bisoprolol fumarate tablet.

AIM: The bisoprolol transdermal patch is a newly developed ß-blocker designed to deliver its pharmaceutical ingredient through the skin surface. We aimed to compare the bisoprolol transdermal patch and bisoprolol fumarate tablet using the heart rate variability (HRV). METHOD: Eligible hypertensive patients received a 2-week administration with a 2.5 mg bisoprolol fumarate tablet, followed by 24-hour Holter monitoring. The tablet was then switched to a 4 mg bisoprolol transdermal patch, and after 2 weeks of its administration, the Holter monitoring was repeated. Both drugs were given once daily. Endpoint was any alteration in the HRV caused by a change in the administration route for bisoprolol. RESULTS: There was no difference in the 24-hour time-domain and frequency-domain HRV measurements before and after the drug switching among patients recruited (N = 30). However, the switching significantly altered the time-course curves of the hourly HRV measurements, including the mean normal-to-normal (NN) interval (P = .004), standard deviation of the NN index (P < .001), high frequency component (P = .01), and low frequency component (P = .003). Those alternations were attributed to the slower heart rate and more decreased short-term autonomic fluctuation resulting from the administration of the bisoprolol transdermal patch, which were observed later than 12 hours after the drug initiation. No adverse events were noted throughout the study period. CONCLUSION: The pattern of the autonomic modulation may vary depending on either a transdermal or oral administration even though an equivalent dose of bisoprolol is given.

Comparison of radial, brachial, and femoral accesses using hemostatic devices for percutaneous coronary intervention.

Some studies have suggested that radial access (RA) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) reduces vascular complications and bleeding compared to femoral access (FA). The purpose of this study was to investigate the routine use of hemostatic devices and bleeding complications among RA, brachial access (BA), and FA. Between January 2015 and December 2015, 298 patients treated for PCI with RA were compared with 158 patients using BA and 206 patients using FA. The radial sheath was routinely removed with ADAPTY, the brachial sheath with BLEED SAFE, and the femoral sheath with Perclose ProGlide. In-hospital bleeding complications were investigated. Cardiogenic shock was most frequent in patients in the femoral group (RA 1.3%, BA 2.5%, FA 9.2%, p < 0.0001). The rate of major bleeding was highest in the femoral group (RA 1.0%, BA 2.5%, FA 5.3%, p = 0.01). Blood transfusion rates were highest in the femoral group (RA 0.7%, BA 1.3%, FA 4.4%, p = 0.01). Retroperitoneal bleeding was observed in 1.9% of patients in the femoral group. Patients in the brachial group had large hematomas (RA 0.7%, BA 4.4%, FA 1.5%, p = 0.01). Pseudoaneurysm formation needing intervention occurred most frequently in the brachial group (RA 0%, BA 1.3%, FA 0%, p = 0.04). In conclusion, compared to the brachial and femoral approaches, the radial approach appears to be the safest technique to avoid local vascular bleeding complications. The brachial approach has the highest risk of large hematoma and pseudoaneurysm formation among the three groups.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation is effective for atrial fibrillation patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy by decreasing left atrial pressure.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) refractory to medical therapy remains controversial in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM); the acute effects on the direct left atrial (LA) pressure are not completely understood. METHODS: We consecutively studied patients with HCM (n=15) and without HCM (NHCM, n=106) who underwent extensive encircling pulmonary vein isolation for drug-refractory AF. We compared clinical parameters, echocardiographic parameters, electrophysiological parameters, LA pressures using hemodynamic catheterization and recurrence rate in both groups. RESULTS: The LA volume index was significantly higher (51.9±13.6 mL/m2 vs. 41.6±12.7 mL/m2, p=0.02) in the HCM group than the NHCM group. The pre-ablation mean LA pressure was significantly higher in the HCM group than the NHCM group. Among the AF patients, the mean LA pressure decreased more significantly in the HCM group than the NHCM group (post-ablation minus pre-ablation pressures: 4.2±3.7 mmHg vs. 0.9±4.1 mmHg, p=0.03). The early recurrence rate (within 30 days after ablation) tended to be higher in the HCM group than the NHCM group (20% vs. 5.7%, p=0.08), but the rates of late recurrences (>30 days after ablation) were similar (13.3% vs. 7.6%, p=0.83). Discontinuation of antiarrhythmic drugs occurred at rates of 13% and 62% in the HCM and NHCM groups, respectively (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The LA pressure in the HCM group decreased immediately after AF RFCA. Patients with HCM and drug-refractory AF may benefit from RFCA.

Idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia following atrioventricular conduction block by rapid atrial tachycardia.

The present case demonstrated a rare situation alternating between a repetitive atrial tachycardia (AT) and ventricular tachycardia (VT). A unique induction mechanism was noted in which the VT was induced after Wenckebach AV node conduction block following the repetitive rapid AT.

Usefulness of HATCH score in the prediction of new-onset atrial fibrillation for Asians.

The HATCH score (hypertension <1 point>, age >75 years <1 point>, stroke or transient ischemic attack <2 points>, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease <1 point>, and heart failure <2 points>) was reported to be useful for predicting the progression of atrial fibrillation (AF) from paroxysmal to persistent or permanent AF for patients who participated in the Euro Heart Survey. The goal of the current study was to investigate whether the HATCH score was a useful scheme in predicting new-onset AF. Furthermore, we aimed to use the HATCH scoring system to estimate the individual risk in developing AF for patients with different comorbidities. We used the "Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database." From January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2001, a total of 670,804 patients older than 20 years old and who had no history of cardiac arrhythmias were enrolled. According to the calculation rule of the HATCH score, 599,780 (score 0), 46,661 (score 1), 12,892 (score 2), 7456 (score 3), 2944 (score 4), 802 (score 5), 202 (score 6), and 67 (score 7) patients were studied and followed for the new onset of AF. During a follow-up of 9.0 ± 2.2 years, there were 9174 (1.4%) patients experiencing new-onset AF. The incidence of AF was 1.5 per 1000 patient-years. The incidence increased from 0.8 per 1000 patient-years for patients with a HATCH score of 0 to 57.3 per 1000 patient-years for those with a HATCH score of 7. After an adjustment for the gender and comorbidities, the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of each increment of the HATCH score in predicting AF was 2.059 (2.027-2.093; P < 0.001). The HATCH score was useful in risk estimation and stratification of new-onset AF.