National Heart Foundation of Australia consensus statement on catheter ablation as a therapy for atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is estimated to affect 1%-2% of the population. It is increasing in prevalence and is associated with excess mortality, considerable morbidity and hospitalisations. AF is responsible for a significant and growing societal financial burden. Catheter ablation is an increasingly used therapeutic strategy for the management of AF; however, some confusion exists among those caring for patients with this condition about the role and optimal use of ablative treatments for AF. Our aim in this consensus statement is to provide recommendations on the use of primary catheter ablation for AF in Australia, on the basis of current evidence. Our consensus is that the primary indication for catheter ablation of AF is the presence of symptomatic AF that is refractory or intolerant to at least one Class 1 or Class 3 antiarrhythmic medication. In selecting patients for catheter ablation of AF, consideration should be given to the patient's age, duration of AF, left atrial size and the presence of significant structural heart disease. Best results are obtained in younger patients with paroxysmal AF, no structural heart disease and smaller atria. Ablation techniques for patients with persistent AF are still undergoing evaluation. Discontinuation of warfarin or equivalent therapies is not considered a sole indication for this procedure. After AF ablation, anticoagulation therapy is generally recommended for all patients for at least 1-3 months. Discontinuation of warfarin or equivalent therapies after ablation is generally not recommended in patients who have a CHADS 2 score (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes, 1 point each; prior stroke or transient ischaemic attack, 2 points) of ≥ 2.

Permanent pacing for late-onset atrioventricular block in patients with heart transplantation: a single center experience.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence, mechanisms, clinical associations, and outcomes in patients with late-onset (>3 months) atrioventricular (AV) block following heart transplantation are not well known. This study will characterize late-onset AV block following cardiac transplantation. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our databases to identify patients who required pacemakers for late-onset AV block postheart and heart-lung transplantation from January 1990 to December 2007. Orthotopic heart and heart-lung transplantation were separately analyzed. RESULTS: This study included 588 adults who received cardiac transplants over a 17-year period at our center (519 orthotopic, 64 heart-lung transplants, and five heterotopic heart transplants). Of the 519 patients with orthotopic heart transplant, 39 required pacing (7.5%), 17 (3.3%) within 3 months posttransplant, 11 (2.1%) for late-onset sinus node dysfunction (SND), 11 (2.1%) for late-onset AV block. Also, five patients (7.8%) out of 64 heart-lung transplants required pacemakers, two (3.1%) for late-onset SND, three (4.7%) for late-onset AV block. None of the five patients who underwent heterotopic transplant required cardiac pacing prior to or posttransplant. CONCLUSIONS: Late-onset AV block occurs in 2.4% of patients with orthotopic heart transplant or heart-lung transplant. AV block is predominantly intermittent and, often, does not progress to permanent AV block. There are no predictable factors for its onset.