Comparison of robotic magnetic navigation-guided and manual catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias arising from the papillary muscles.

Aims: Due to the complex anatomy of the left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) papillary muscles (PMs), PM ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) can be challenging to target with ablation. We sought to compare the outcomes of robotic magnetic navigation-guided (RMN) ablation and manual ablation of VAs arising from the LV and RV PMs. Methods and results: We evaluated 35 consecutive patients (mean age 65 ± 12 years, 69% male) who underwent catheter ablation of 38 VAs originating from the LV and RV PMs as confirmed by intracardiac echocardiography. Catheter ablation was initially performed using RMN-guidance in 24 (69%) patients and manual guidance in 11 (31%) patients. Demographic and procedural data were recorded and compared between the two groups. The VA sites of origin were mapped to 20 (53%) anterolateral LV PMs, 14 (37%) posteromedial LV PMs, and 4 (11%) RV PMs Acute successful ablation was achieved for 20 (74%) VAs using RMN-guided ablation and 8 (73%) VAs using manual ablation (P = 1.000). Fluoroscopy times were significantly lower among patients undergoing RMN ablation compared to patients undergoing manual ablation [median 7.3, interquartile range (IQR) 3.9-18 vs. 24 (16-44) min; P = 0.005]. Retrograde transaortic approach was used in 1 (4%) RMN patients and 5 (46%) manual patients (P = 0.005). No procedural complications were seen in study patients. Conclusion: Use of an RMN-guided approach to target PM VAs results in comparable success rates seen with manual ablation but with lower fluoroscopy times and decreased use of transaortic retrograde access.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy associated with chronic hypertension: diagnostic and management implications.

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a rare variant of HCM in the non-Japanese population (1% to 2%). Diagnostic dilemma occurs when this type of HCM is newly discovered in a patient previously diagnosed with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) secondary to hypertension. We describe an atypical presentation of an apical HCM in the setting of chronic hypertension (HTN) and review the literature of this rare variant of HCM. Our patient presented with chest pain and was found to have apical HCM with inducible apical ischemia and an abnormal blood pressure response to exercise. Multimodality imaging approach is proposed to evaluate the LVH when both apical HCM and hypertension are present given the impact of an accurate diagnosis on prognosis and management.

Role of Cardiac Imaging in Evaluating Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a major cause of death from cardiovascular disease. Our ability to predict patients at the highest risk of developing lethal ventricular arrhythmias remains limited. Despite recent studies evaluating risk stratification tools, there is no optimal strategy. Cardiac imaging provides the opportunity to assess left ventricular ejection fraction, strain, fibrosis, and sympathetic innervation, all of which are pathophysiologically related to SCD risk. These modalities may play a role in the identification of vulnerable anatomic substrates that provide the pathophysiologic basis for SCD. Further studies are required to identify optimal imaging platform for risk assessment.

Late recurrence of gastric cancer with isolated brain metastasis.

A 70-year-old woman presented to our clinic in 2007 after an evaluation for dysphagia revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophogeal junction. Workup for metastatic disease was negative at presentation. She had a complete response to treatment, which was completed in November 2007. She continued to follow up regularly until 2011 when she presented again with neurologic symptoms and was found to have an isolated brain metastasis. She underwent resection of the lesion, and pathology was consistent with her originally diagnosed gastric cancer. The patient received adjuvant radiation therapy, however, unfortunately had rapid progression of disease 1 month later and was transitioned to hospice. Here, we report a rare case of late recurrence of gastric cancer with isolated brain metastasis with a review of literature.