Genetic testing in children with Brugada syndrome: results from a large prospective registry.

AIMS: A pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) variant in SCN5A is found in 20-25% of patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS). However, the diagnostic yield and prognosis of gene panel testing in paediatric BrS is unclear. The aim of this study is to define the diagnostic yield and outcomes of SCN5A gene testing with ACMG variant classification in paediatric BrS patients compared with adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: All consecutive patients diagnosed with BrS, between 1992 and 2022, were prospectively enrolled in the UZ Brussel BrS registry. Inclusion criteria were: (i) BrS diagnosis; (ii) genetic analysis performed with a large gene panel; and (iii) classification of gene variants following ACMG guidelines. Paediatric patients were defined as ≤16 years of age. The primary endpoint was ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). A total of 500 BrS patients were included, with 63 paediatric patients and 437 adult patients. Among children with BrS, 29 patients (46%) had a P/LP variant (P+) in SCN5A and no variants were found in 34 (54%) patients (P-). After a mean follow-up of 125.9 months, 8 children (12.7%) experienced a VA, treated with implanted cardioverter defibrillator shock. At survival analysis, P- paediatric patients had higher VA-free survival during the follow-up, compared with P+ paediatric patients. P+ status was an independent predictor of VA. There was no difference in VA-free survival between paediatric and adult BrS patients for both P- and P+. CONCLUSION: In a large BrS cohort, the diagnostic yield for P/LP variants in the paediatric population is 46%. P+ children with BrS have a worse arrhythmic prognosis.

Feasibility and safety of left atrial posterior wall isolation with a new Cryoballoon technology in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial posterior wall isolation (LAPWI) is often performed in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in the setting of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new cryoballoon ablation system in achieving PVI + LAPWI isolation. METHODS: The study was a prospective, non-randomized, single center study. Forty consecutive patients, undergoing PVI + LAPWI with the novel POLARx™, were compared to 40 consecutive patients who underwent the same procedure with the established Arctic Front Advance PRO™. RESULTS: Acute isolation was achieved in all PVs in both groups and left posterior wall isolation (LAPWI) was achieved in 38 patients (95%) in the POLARx group and in 36 patients (90%) in Arctic Front group. Procedural outcomes were similar between both groups, except for lower temperatures during cryoenergy in the POLARx group, for both pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and LAPWI. CONCLUSION: LAPWI + PVI with the novel POLARx™ Cryoballoon is feasible and safe; the results are comparable with the Arctic Front Advance PRO™ system.

High vagal tone predicts pulmonary vein reconnection after cryoballoon ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation is an established treatment for paroxysmal drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). High parasympathetic tone and reconnection of PVs have demonstrated to be possible culprits of AF recurrence after ablation. Our aim was to investigate the association between parasympathetic tone and reconnected PVs in patients with paroxysmal AF. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent a redo catheter ablation procedure for atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence by means of 3D electroanatomic mapping with documentation of presence or absence of PVs reconnection following an initial procedure of cryoballoon (CB) ablation for symptomatic drug-refractory paroxysmal AF were screened for the study. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients were included, of whom 50 (54.35%) were males. Reconnected PVs were found in 64 (69%) patients. PVs reconnection could be predicted by DC (C-statistic = .770), by SDNNI (C-statistic = .714) and by absolute VLF power (C-statistic = .722), while right-sided PVs reconnection could be better predicted by DC (C-statistic = .848) and by SDNNI (C-statistic = .761). In multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, a DC value ≥6.45 ms and an absolute VLF power value ≥160 ms2 were associated with three times and five times higher odds of PVs reconnection, respectively. On a vein-per-vein analysis, absolute VLF power ≥160 ms2 was associated with three times higher odds, while reaching of -40°C within 60 s was associated with three times lower odds of PVs reconnection. CONCLUSION: High parasympathetic tonus accurately predicts PVs reconnection. On a vein-per-vein analysis, parasympathetic markers along with biophysical parameters predicted PVs reconnection. On a case-by-case analysis, parasympathetic markers were the only predictors of PVs reconnection, thus being a robust PVs reconnection prediction tool.

Genetic Testing in Brugada Syndrome: A 30-Year Experience.

BACKGROUND: A pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant can be found in 20% to 25% of patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) and a pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant in SCN5A is associated with a worse prognosis. The aim of this study is to define the diagnostic yield of a large gene panel with American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics variant classification and to assess prognosis of SCN5A and non-SCN5A variants. METHODS: All patients with BrS, were prospectively enrolled in the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel registry between 1992 and 2022. Inclusion criteria for the study were (1) BrS diagnosis; (2) genetic analysis performed with a large gene panel; (3) classification of variants following American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Patients with a pathogenic/likely pathogenic variant in SCN5A were defined as SCN5A+. Patients with a reported variant in a non-SCN5A gene or with no reported variants were defined as patients with SCN5A-. All variants were classified as missense or predicted loss of function. RESULTS: A total of 500 BrS patients were analyzed. A total of 104 patients (20.8%) were SCN5A+ and 396 patients (79.2%) were SCN5A-. A non-SCN5A gene variant was found in 75 patients (15.0%), of whom, 58 patients (77.3%) had a missense variant and 17 patients (22.7%) had a predicted loss of function variant. At a follow-up of 84.0 months, 48 patients (9.6%) experienced a ventricular arrhythmia (VA). Patients without any variant had higher VA-free survival, compared with carriers of a predicted loss of function variant in SCN5A+ or non-SCN5A genes. There was no difference in VA-free survival between patients without any variant and missense variant carriers in SCN5A+ or non-SCN5A genes. At Cox analysis, SCN5A+ or non-SCN5A predicted loss of function variant was an independent predictor of VA. CONCLUSIONS: In a large BrS cohort, the yield for SCN5A+ is 20.8%. A predicted loss of function variant carrier is an independent predictor of VA.

Pulmonary Vein Remodeling Between Atrial Fibrillation Subtypes: A Matched Comparison Cardiac Computed Tomography-Based Study Between Patients With Paroxysmal and Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Although pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, no data exist comparing PV anatomy between AF subtypes directly. We aimed to compare PV anatomic characteristics between paroxysmal (PAF) and persistent AF (PeAF) in a matched population using cardiac computed tomography (CCT). Fifty-eight PeAF patients (with CCT prior first AF ablation procedure, absence of valvular disease/previous cardiac intervention), and 58 age-, sex-, body surface area-matched PAF patients were evaluated for left atrial (LA) and PV anatomy: ostial area, ovality index (OVI), transverse/frontal angles. In PeAF vs PAF group, beside higher LA volume index (LAVI), PVs' ostial areas were significantly larger (between 64 - 101 mm2, P < 0.001 for all PVs; remaining valid after LAVI adjustment for left superior [LS], left inferior [LI], and right inferior [RI]PV); left PVs were less oval (0.7 - 0.11 OVI decrease, P =0.039 for LSPV; P = 0.012 for LIPV); LSPV (P = 0.019), LIPV (P < 0.001), RIPV (P = 0.029) were more posteriorly directed; whereas LSPV (P = 0.002), and right superior PV (P = 0.043) were more superiorly directed. Incidence of anatomic variations or early branching was not different. This study showed significant anatomical PV differences between patients with PeAF and PAF, in terms of PV orientation, ostial size and ovality. Anticipating such anatomical differences may aid in choosing the adequate catheter design and technology for PeAF ablation.

Impact of anesthetic management on catheter ablation for premature ventricular complexes: insights during the COVID-19 outbreak.

BACKGROUND: The influence of divergent anesthesia types during ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) is not known. While previously performed under general anesthesia (GA) at our institution, these procedures were exclusively performed under local anesthesia (LA) ± minimal sedation during the COVID-19 outbreak for logistic reasons. METHODS: One hundred and eight consecutive patients (82 GA versus 26 LA) undergoing PVC ablation at our center were evaluated. Intraprocedural PVC burden (over 3 min) pre-ablation was measured twice: (1) at the start (before GA induction) and (2) before catheter insertion (after GA induction). Upon cessation of ablation and after a waiting period of ≥ 15 min, acute ablation success (AAS) was defined as absence of PVCs until the end of the recording period. RESULTS: Intraprocedural PVC burden was not significantly different between LA versus GA group: (1) 17.8 ± 3% vs 12.7 ± 2%, P = 0.17 and (2) 10.0 ± 3% vs 7.4 ± 1%, P = 0.43, respectively. Activation mapping-based ablation was performed significantly more in the LA vs GA group (77% vs 26% of patients, P < 0.001, respectively). AAS was significantly higher in LA vs GA group: 22/26 (85%) vs 41/82 (50%), respectively, P < 0.01. After multivariable analysis, LA was the only independent predictor for AAS (OR 13, 95% CI 1.57-107.4, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Ablation of PVC under LA presented significantly higher AAS rate compared to GA. The procedure under GA might be complicated by PVC inhibition (after catheter insertion/during mapping) and PVC disinhibition post-extubation.

Genetics in Probands With Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND: Different genes have been associated with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF); however, there are no studies correlating genotype with phenotype. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to define the genetic background of probands with IVF using large gene panel analysis and to correlate genetics with long-term clinical outcomes. METHODS: All consecutive probands with a diagnosis of IVF were included in a multicenter retrospective study. All patients had: 1) IVF diagnosis throughout the follow-up; and 2) genetic analysis with a broad gene panel. All genetic variants were classified as pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P+), variants of unknown significance (VUS) or no variants (NO-V), following current guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology. The primary endpoint was occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias (VA). RESULTS: Forty-five consecutive patients were included. A variant was found in 12 patients, 3 P+ and 9 VUS carriers. After a mean follow-up time of 105.0 months, there were no deaths and 16 patients (35.6%) experienced a VA. NO-V patients had higher VA free survival during the follow-up, compared with both VUS (72.7% vs 55.6%, log-rank P < 0.001) and P+ (72.7% vs 0%, log-rank P = 0.013). At Cox analysis, P+ or VUS carrier status was a predictor of VA occurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In probands with IVF, undergoing genetic analysis with a broad panel, the diagnostic yield for P+ is 6.7%. P+ or VUS carrier status is a predictor of VA occurrence.

Cryoballoon ablation beyond pulmonary vein isolation in the setting of persistent atrial fibrillation.

INTRODUCTION: Catheter ablation has been demonstrated to be a safe and an effective treatment for drug resistant atrial fibrillation (AF); electrical isolation of pulmonary veins (PVI) is the main strategy in paroxysmal AF, since pulmonary vein triggers have a pivotal role in its pathogenesis; non-paroxysmal AF is a complex arrhythmia that results from the interplay of a substrate, namely AF-induced electrical and structural atrial remodeling, and a trigger that can be often found outside pulmonary veins, namely non-pulmonary veins triggers. AREAS COVERED: The aim of this review is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of non-pulmonary veins triggers with special focus on cryoballoon (CB) catheter ablation. EXPERT OPINION: Besides PVI, CB catheter ablation of non-pulmonary veins triggers is a novel and promising strategy for non-paroxysmal AF.

First experience with a transseptal puncture using a novel transseptal crossing device with integrated dilator and needle.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of an innovative "all in one" integrated transseptal crossing device to achieve transseptal puncture (TSP). METHODS: Twenty patients (10 males, mean age 65.65 ± 9.25 years), indicated to supraventricular left side tachyarrhythmia ablation, underwent TSP using a new-generation integrated crossing device, and a control cohort of twenty patients (10 males, mean age 65.5 ± 10.12 years) underwent TSP using the traditional TSP system. RESULTS: In all the study patients, the novel TSP device led to a successful and safe access to the left atrium (LA). The mean transseptal time, defined as the time occurring between the groin puncture and the advancing of the guidewire into the left superior pulmonary vein (PV), was 3 min 33 s ± 44 s, 7 min 5 s ± 36 s in the control cohort. Additionally, we compared the cost of the two systems. No acute complications related to the TSP were noted in both cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: TSP performed with the new integrated transseptal system is feasible and safe.

Predictors of late arrhythmic events after generator replacement in Brugada syndrome treated with prophylactic ICD.

Introduction: Predictors of late life-threatening arrhythmic events in Brugada syndrome (BrS) patients who received a prophylactic ICD implantation remain to be evaluated. The aim of the present long-term multicenter study was to assess the incidence and clinical-electrocardiographic predictors of late life-threatening arrhythmic events in BrS patients with a prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and undergoing generator replacement (GR). Methods: The study population included 105 patients (75% males; mean age 45 ± 14years) who received a prophylactic ICD and had no arrhythmic event up to first GR. Results: The median period from first ICD implantation to last follow-up was 155 (128-181) months and from first ICD Implantation to the GR was 84 (61-102) months. During a median follow-up of 57 (38-102) months after GR, 10 patients (9%) received successful appropriate ICD intervention (1.6%/year). ICD interventions included shock on ventricular fibrillation (n = 8 patients), shock on ventricular tachycardia (n = 1 patient), and antitachycardia pacing on ventricular tachycardia (n = 1 patient). At survival analysis, history of atrial fibrillation (log-rank test; P = 0.02), conduction disturbances (log-rank test; P < 0.01), S wave in lead I (log-rank test; P = 0.01) and first-degree atrioventricular block (log-rank test; P = 0.04) were significantly associated with the occurrence of late appropriate ICD intervention. At Cox-regression multivariate analysis, S-wave in lead I was the only independent predictor of late appropriate ICD intervention (HR: 9.17; 95%CI: 1.15-73.07; P = 0.03). Conclusions: The present study indicates that BrS patient receiving a prophylactic ICD may experience late appropriate intervention after GR in a clinically relevant proportion of cases. S-wave in lead I at the time of first clinical evaluation was the only independent predictor of persistent risk of life-threatening arrhythmic events. These findings support the need for GR at the end of service regardless of previous appropriate intervention, mostly in BrS patients with conduction abnormalities.

Catheter Ablation versus Medical Therapy of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Heart Failure: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) often coexist and synergistically contribute to an increased risk of hospitalization, stroke, and mortality. Objective: To compare the efficacy of catheter ablation (CA) versus medical therapy (MT) in HF patients with AF. Methods: Electronic databases were queried for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of CA versus MT of AF in patients with HF. Risk ratios (RRs), mean differences (MDs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were measured using the Mantel−Haenszel method. Results: A total of nine RCTs enrolling 2155 patients met the inclusion criteria. Compared to MT, CA led to a significant reduction in the composite of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalization (24.6% vs. 37.1%; RR: 0.65 (95% CI: 0.53−0.80); p < 0.0001), all-cause mortality (8.8% vs. 13.6%; RR: 0.65 (95% CI: 0.51−0.82); p = 0.0005), HF hospitalization (15.4% vs. 22.4%; (RR: 0.67 (95% CI: 0.54−0.82); p = 0.0001), AF recurrence (31.8% vs. 77.0%; RR: 0.36 (95% CI: 0.24−0.54); p < 0.0001), and cardiovascular (CV) death (4.9% vs. 8.4%; RR: 0.58 (95% CI: 0.39−0.86); p = 0.007). CA improved the left ventricular ejection fraction (MD:4.76% (95% CI: 2.35−7.18); p = 0.0001), 6 min walk test (MD: 20.48 m (95% CI: 10.83−30.14); p < 0.0001), peak oxygen consumption (MD: 3.1 2mL/kg/min (95% CI: 1.01−5.22); p = 0.004), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire score (MD: −6.98 (95% CI: −12−03, −1.93); p = 0.007), and brain natriuretic peptide levels (MD:−133.94 pg/mL (95% CI: −197.33, −70.55); p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In HF patients, AF catheter ablation was superior to MT in reducing CV and all-cause mortality. Further significant benefits occurred within the ablation group in terms of HF hospitalizations, AF recurrences, the systolic function, exercise capacity, and quality of life.

Corrigendum: Predictors of late arrhythmic events after generator replacement in Brugada syndrome treated with prophylactic ICD.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.964694.].

Long-Term Outcomes of Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients With Brugada Syndrome and Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Pharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the setting of Brugada syndrome (BrS) is challenging. In addition, patients with BrS with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) might experience inappropriate shocks for fast AF. Long-term outcome of pulmonary vein isolation in BrS has not been well established yet, and it is still unclear whether pulmonary vein triggers are the only pathophysiological mechanism of AF in BrS. The aim of the study is to assess the long-term outcomes in patients with BrS undergoing pulmonary vein isolation for paroxysmal AF compared with a matched cohort of patients without BrS. Methods and Results Sixty patients with BrS undergoing pulmonary vein isolation with cryoballoon catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF were matched with 60 patients without BrS, who underwent the same procedure. After a mean follow-up of 58.2±31.7 months, freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmias was achieved in 61.7% in the BrS group and in 78.3% in the non-BrS group (log-rank P=0.047). In particular, freedom from AF was 76.7% in the first group and in 83.3% in the second (P=0.27), while freedom from atrial tachycardia/atrial flutter was 85% and 95% (P=0.057). In the BrS group, 29 patients (48.3%) had an ICD and 8 (27.6%) had a previous ICD-inappropriate shock for fast AF. In the BrS cohort, ICD-inappropriate interventions for AF were significantly reduced after ablation (3.4% versus 27.6%; P=0.01). Conclusions Pulmonary vein isolation in patients with BrS was associated with higher rate of arrhythmic recurrence. Despite this, catheter ablation significantly reduced inappropriate ICD interventions in BrS patients and can be considered a therapeutic strategy to prevent inappropriate device therapies.

Single procedural outcomes in the setting of percutaneous ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation: a propensity-matched score comparison between different strategies.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation (persAF) is associated with less favorable outcomes than for paroxysmal AF. To improve success rates, left atrial (LA) substrate modification is frequently performed in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). The purpose of the study was to compare 4 different ablation approaches using radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) or cryoballoon ablation (CB-A) for persAF and to evaluate the respective outcomes on a midterm follow-up of 12 months. METHODS: We did a propensity score-matched comparison of 30 patients undergoing PVI + LA posterior wall isolation (LAPWI) with CB-A, 30 patients who underwent PVI + linear ablation (roof and mitral lines) using RFCA, 60 patients with PVI alone using CB-A, and 60 patients who had PVI alone using RFCA. The endpoint was recurrence of documented atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATas) > 30 s at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: After 12 months, freedom from ATas after a single procedure was 83.3% in the PVI + LAPWI group, 46.7% in the PVI + linear ablation group, 58.3% in the PVI-alone CB-A group, and 61.6% PVI-alone RFCA (p = 0.03). Moreover, freedom from ATas was significantly higher comparing the PVI + LAPWI group with each of the other groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this propensity-matched comparison of strategies for persAF, LAPW ablation in addition to PVI with CB-A seems to improve 1-year outcome in comparison to PVI + linear ablation using RFCA and to PVI alone using RFCA or CB-A. Randomized comparisons are eagerly awaited.

Ajmaline-Induced Abnormalities in Brugada Syndrome: Evaluation With ECG Imaging.

Background The rate of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in Brugada syndrome (BrS) is ≈1%/y. Noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging is a noninvasive mapping system that has a role in assessing BrS depolarization and repolarization abnormalities. This study aimed to analyze electrocardiographic imaging parameters during ajmaline test (AJT). Methods and Results All consecutive epicardial maps of the right ventricle outflow tract (RVOT-EPI) in BrS with CardioInsight were retrospectively analyzed. (1) RVOT-EPI activation time (RVOT-AT); (2) RVOT-EPI recovery time, and (3) RVOT-EPI activation-recovery interval (RVOT-ARI) were calculated. ∆RVOT-AT, ∆RVOT-EPI recovery time, and ∆RVOT-ARI were defined as the difference in parameters before and after AJT. SCD-BrS patients were defined as individuals presenting a history of aborted SCD. Thirty-nine patients with BrS were retrospectively analyzed and 12 patients (30.8%) were SCD-BrS. After AJT, an increase in both RVOT-AT [105.9 milliseconds versus 65.8 milliseconds, P<0.001] and RVOT-EPI recovery time [403.4 milliseconds versus 365.7 milliseconds, P<0.001] was observed. No changes occurred in RVOT-ARI [297.5 milliseconds versus 299.9 milliseconds, P=0.7]. Before AJT no differences were observed between SCD-BrS and non SCD-BrS in RVOT-AT, RVOT-EPI recovery time, and RVOT-ARI (P=0.9, P=0.91, P=0.86, respectively). Following AJT, SCD-BrS patients showed higher RVOT-AT, higher ∆RVOT-AT, lower RVOT-ARI, and lower ∆RVOT-ARI (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.007, P=0.002, respectively). At the univariate logistic regression, predictors of SCD-BrS were the following: RVOT-AT after AJT (specificity: 0.74, sensitivity 1.00, area under the curve 0.92); ∆RVOT-AT (specificity: 0.74, sensitivity 0.92, area under the curve 0.86); RVOT-ARI after AJT (specificity 0.96, sensitivity 0.58, area under the curve 0.79), and ∆RVOT-ARI (specificity 0.85, sensitivity 0.67, area under the curve 0.76). Conclusions Noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging can be useful in evaluating the results of AJT in BrS.

Hybrid-Approach Ablation in Drug-Refractory Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy.

Management of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) beyond implantable cardioverter-defibrillator positioning in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is challenging. Catheter ablation of the ventricular substrate often requires a combination of endocardial and epicardial approaches, with disappointing outcomes due to the progressive nature of the disease. We report the Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel experience through a case series of 16 patients with drug-refractory ARVC, who have undergone endocardial and/or epicardial catheter ablation of VAs with a thoracoscopic hybrid-approach. After a mean follow-up time of 5.16 years (SD 2.9 years) from the first hybrid-approach ablation, VA recurrence was observed in 5 patients (31.25%): among these, patients 4 patients (80%) received a previous ablation and 1 of 11 patients (9.09%) who had a hybrid ablation as first approach had a VA recurrence (80% vs 9.09%; log-rank p = 0.04). Despite the recurrence rate of arrhythmic events, all patients had a significant reduction in the arrhythmic burden after ablation, with a mean of 4.65 years (SD 2.9 years) of freedom from clinically significant arrhythmias, defined as symptomatic VAs or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-delivered therapies. In conclusion, our case series confirms that management of VAs in patients with ARVC is difficult because patients do not always respond to antiarrhythmic medications and can require multiple invasive procedures. A multidisciplinary approach involving cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and cardiac electrophysiologists, together with recent cardiac mapping techniques and ablation tools, might mitigate these difficulties and improve outcomes.

Incidence and Predictors of Cardiac Arrhythmias in Patients With COVID-19.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a systemic disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Arrhythmias are frequently associated with COVID-19 and could be the result of inflammation or hypoxia. This study aimed to define the incidence of arrhythmias in patients with COVID-19 and to correlate arrhythmias with pulmonary damage assessed by computed tomography (CT). Methods: All consecutive patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis hospitalized at Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Belgium, between March 2020 and May 2020, were screened. All included patients underwent a thorax CT scan and a CT severity score, a semiquantitative scoring system of pulmonary damage, was calculated. The primary endpoint was the arrhythmia occurrence during follow-up. Results: In this study, 100 patients were prospectively included. At a mean follow-up of 19.6 months, 25 patients with COVID-19 (25%) experienced 26 arrhythmic episodes, including atrial fibrillation in 17 patients, inappropriate sinus tachycardia in 7 patients, atrial flutter in 1 patient, and third-degree atrioventricular block in 1 patient. No ventricular arrhythmias were documented. Patients with COVID-19 with arrhythmias showed more often need for oxygen, higher oxygen maximum flow, longer QTc at admission, and worse damage at CT severity score. In univariate logistic regression analysis, significant predictors of the primary endpoint were: the need for oxygen therapy (odds ratio [OR] 4.59, 95% CI 1.44-14.67, p = 0.01) and CT severity score of pulmonary damage (OR per 1 point increase 1.25, 95% CI 1.11-1.4, p < 0.001). Conclusions: In a consecutive cohort of patients with COVID-19 the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias was 25%. The need for oxygen therapy and CT severity score were predictors of arrhythmia occurrence during follow-up.

High-density epicardial mapping in Brugada syndrome: Depolarization and repolarization abnormalities.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of Brugada syndrome (BrS) and consequently of abnormal electrograms (aEGMs) found in the epicardium of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT-EPI) is controversial. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze aEGM from high-density RVOT-EPI electroanatomic mapping (EAM). METHODS: All patients undergoing RVOT-EPI EAM with the HD-Grid catheter for BrS were retrospectively included. Maps were acquired before and after ajmaline, and all patients had concomitant noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging with annotation of RVOT-EPI latest activation time (RVOTat). High-frequency potentials (HFPs) were defined as ventricular potentials occurring during or after the far-field ventricular EGM showing a local activation time (HFPat). Low-frequency potentials (LFPs) were defined as aEGMs occurring after near-field ventricular activation showing fractionation or delayed components. Their activation time from surface ECG was defined as LFPat. RESULTS: Fifteen consecutive patients were included in the study. At EAM before ajmaline, 7 patients (46.7%) showed LFPs. All patients showed HFPs before and after ajmaline and LFPs after ajmaline. Mean HFPat (134.4 vs 65.3 ms, P <.001), mean LFPat (224.6 vs 113.6 ms, P <.001), and mean RVOTat (124.8 vs 55.9 ms, P <.001) increased after ajmaline. RVOTat correlated with HFPat before (ρ = 0.76) and after ajmaline (ρ = 0.82), while RVOTat was shorter than LFPat before (P <.001) and after ajmaline (P <.001). BrS patients with history of aborted sudden cardiac death had longer aEGMs after ajmaline. CONCLUSION: Two different types of aEGMs are described from BrS high-density epicardial mapping. This might correlate with depolarization and repolarization abnormalities.

Procedural Safety and Efficacy for Pulmonary Vein Isolation with the Novel Polarx™ Cryoablation System: A Propensity Score Matched Comparison with the Arctic Front™ Cryoballoon in the Setting of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: The novel Polarx™ cryoablation system is currently being studied for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. To the best of our knowledge, no study comparing the novel cryoablation system with the standard Arctic Front™ cryoballoon is available in today's literature. This study aims to compare Polarx™ and Arctic Front™ cryoballoon in terms of safety and efficacy. METHODS: From a total cohort of 202 patients who underwent pulmonary vein (PV) isolation for paroxysmal AF through cryoablation, a population of 30 patients who used Polarx™ were compared with 30 propensity-score matched patients who used Arctic Front™. RESULTS: Pulmonary vein occlusion and electrical isolation were achieved in all (100%) veins with a mean number of 1.09 ± 0.3 occlusion per vein using Polarx™ and 1.19 ± 0.5 occlusion per vein using Arctic Front™ (p = 0.6). Shorter procedure and fluoroscopy time were observed with Polarx™ group (60.5 ± 14.23 vs 73.43 ± 13.26 mins, p = 0.001; 12.83 ± 6.03 vs 17.23 ± 7.17 mins, p = 0.01, respectively). Lower cumulative freeze duration per vein was also observed with Polarx™ (203.38 ± 72.03 vs 224.9 ± 79.35 mins, p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in isolation time between the two groups (34.47 ± 21.23 vs 34.18 ± 26.79 secs, p = 0.9). CONCLUSIONS: The novel Polarx™ cryoablation system showed similar efficacy in vein occlusion and isolation and safety profile when compared to Arctic Front™ cryoablation system. Procedure time, fluoroscopy time, and cumulative freeze duration were significantly lower with Polarx™ cryoablation system.