The relevance of focal triggers in persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF) and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) has not been previously investigated.
We prospectively evaluated the ...prevalence and distribution of AF triggers in patients referred for catheter ablation of PerAF and LSPAF.
We analyzed consecutive patients undergoing first time AF ablation who underwent a standardized trigger protocol including cardioversion of induced or spontaneous AF and infusion of up to 20 μg of isoproterenol for 15-20 minutes either before or after pulmonary vein (PV) isolation accomplished. Triggers were defined as AF/sustained atrial tachyarrhythmia or repetitive atrial premature depolarizations.
A total of 2168 patients were included (mean age 57 ± 11 years; 1636 75% men), with 1531 patients having paroxysmal AF (PAF) (71%), 496 having PerAF (23%), and 141 having LSPAF (7%). PV triggers were found in 1398 patients with PAF (91%), 449 patients with PerAF (91%), and 129 patients with LSPAF (91%) (P = .856 for comparison across groups). Non-PV triggers were elicited in a total of 234 patients (11%), and the prevalence was similar across the different types of AF (PAF, 165 11%; PerAF, 54 11%; LSPAF, 15 11%; P = .996 for comparison across groups).
PVs are the main AF trigger site in patients with PerAF and LSPAF, with an overall prevalence similar to that found in patients with PAF. These results support the current recommendations for PV isolation as the cornerstone of catheter ablation to eliminate AF triggers in PerAF and LSPAF.
ACC/AHA Task Force Members Glenn N. Levine, MD, FACC, FAHA, Chair Patrick T. O’Gara, MD, MACC, FAHA, Chair-Elect Jonathan L. Halperin, MD, FACC, FAHA, Immediate Past Chair¶ Sana M. Al-Khatib, MD, ...MHS, FACC, FAHA Joshua A. Beckman, MD, MS, FAHA Kim K. Birtcher, MS, PharmD, AACC Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA¶ Ralph G. Brindis, MD, MPH, MACC¶ Joaquin E. Cigarroa, MD, FACC Anita Deswal, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA Lesley H. Curtis, PhD, FAHA¶ Lee A. Fleisher, MD, FACC, FAHA Federico Gentile, MD, FACC Samuel Gidding, MD, FAHA¶ Zachary D. Goldberger, MD, MS, FACC, FAHA Mark A. Hlatky, MD, FACC, FAHA John Ikonomidis, MD, PhD, FAHA José A. Joglar, MD, FACC, FAHA Laura Mauri, MD, MSc, FAHA Barbara Riegel, PhD, RN, FAHA Susan J. Pressler, PhD, RN, FAHA¶ Duminda N. Wijeysundera, MD, PhD¶Former Task Force member; current member during the writing effort.Table of Contents Preamblee93 Introductione95 1.1.Methodology and Evidence Reviewe95 1.2.Organization of the Writing Committeee95 1.3.Document Review and Approvale95 1.4.Scope of the Guidelinee97 1.5.Abbreviationse99 2. Evidence Gaps and Future Research Needse182 Appendix 1 Author Relationships With Industry and Other Entities (Relevant)e214 Appendix 2 Reviewer Relationships With Industry and Other Entities (Comprehensive)e216 Preamble Since 1980, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) have translated scientific evidence into clinical practice guidelines with recommendations to improve cardiovascular health. Adherence to recommendations can be enhanced by shared decision-making between healthcare providers and patients, with patient engagement in selecting interventions based on individual values, preferences, and associated conditions and comorbidities.Methodology and Modernization The ACC/AHA Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines (Task Force) continuously reviews, updates, and modifies guideline methodology on the basis of published standards from organizations including the Institute of Medicine (P-1,P-2) and on the basis of internal reevaluation. Publication of new, potentially practice-changing study results that are relevant to an existing or new medication, device, or management strategy will prompt evaluation by the Task Force, in consultation with the relevant guideline writing committee, to determine whether a focused update should be commissioned.
Objectives The aim of this multicenter study was to evaluate the safety of discontinuing oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) after apparently successful pulmonary vein isolation. Background Atrial ...fibrillation (AF) is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events (TE) and often requires OAT. Pulmonary vein isolation is considered an effective treatment for AF. Methods We studied 3,355 patients, of whom 2,692 (79% male, mean age 57 ± 11 years) discontinued OAT 3 to 6 months after ablation (Off-OAT group) and 663 (70% male, mean age 59 ± 11 years) remained on OAT after this period (On-OAT group). CHADS2 (congestive heart failure, hypertension, age 75 years and older, diabetes mellitus, and a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack) risk scores of 1 and ≥2 were recorded in 723 (27%) and 347 (13%) Off-OAT group patients and in 261 (39%) and 247 (37%) On-OAT group patients, respectively. Results During follow-up (mean 28 ± 13 months vs. 24 ± 15 months), 2 (0.07%) Off-OAT group patients and 3 (0.45%) On-OAT group patients had an ischemic stroke (p = 0.06). No other thromboembolic events occurred. No Off-OAT group patient with a CHADS2 risk score of ≥2 had an ischemic stroke. A major hemorrhage was observed in 1 (0.04%) Off-OAT group patient and 13 (2%) On-OAT group patients (p < 0.0001). Conclusions In this nonrandomized study, the risk–benefit ratio favored the suspension of OAT after successful AF ablation even in patients at moderate-high risk of TE. This conclusion needs to be confirmed by future large randomized trials.
ACC/AHA Task Force Members Glenn N. Levine, MD, FACC, FAHA, Chair Patrick T. O’Gara, MD, MACC, FAHA, Chair-Elect Jonathan L. Halperin, MD, FACC, FAHA, Immediate Past Chair¶ Sana M. Al-Khatib, MD, ...MHS, FACC, FAHA Joshua A. Beckman, MD, MS, FAHA Kim K. Birtcher, MS, PharmD, AACC Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA¶ Ralph G. Brindis, MD, MPH, MACC¶ Joaquin E. Cigarroa, MD, FACC Anita Deswal, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA Lesley H. Curtis, PhD, FAHA¶ Lee A. Fleisher, MD, FACC, FAHA Federico Gentile, MD, FACC Samuel Gidding, MD, FAHA¶ Zachary D. Goldberger, MD, MS, FACC, FAHA Mark A. Hlatky, MD, FACC, FAHA John Ikonomidis, MD, PhD, FAHA José A. Joglar, MD, FACC, FAHA Laura Mauri, MD, MSc, FAHA Barbara Riegel, PhD, RN, FAHA Susan J. Pressler, PhD, RN, FAHA¶ Duminda N. Wijeysundera, MD, PhD¶Former Task Force member; current member during the writing effort.Table of Contents Preamble1679 Introduction1681 1.1.Methodology and Evidence Review1681 1.2.Organization of the Writing Committee1682 1.3.Document Review and Approval1682 1.4.Scope of the Guideline1682 1.5.Abbreviations1684 2. Evidence Gaps and Future Research Needs1725 Appendix 1 Author Relationships With Industry and Other Entities (Relevant)1742 Appendix 2 Reviewer Relationships With Industry and Other Entities (Comprehensive)1744 Preamble Since 1980, the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) have translated scientific evidence into clinical practice guidelines with recommendations to improve cardiovascular health. Adherence to recommendations can be enhanced by shared decision-making between healthcare providers and patients, with patient engagement in selecting interventions based on individual values, preferences, and associated conditions and comorbidities.Methodology and Modernization The ACC/AHA Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines (Task Force) continuously reviews, updates, and modifies guideline methodology on the basis of published standards from organizations including the Institute of Medicine (P-1,P-2) and on the basis of internal reevaluation. Publication of new, potentially practice-changing study results that are relevant to an existing or new medication, device, or management strategy will prompt evaluation by the Task Force, in consultation with the relevant guideline writing committee, to determine whether a focused update should be commissioned.
Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) frequently coexist, and each complicates the course and treatment of the other. Recent population-based studies have ...demonstrated that the 2 conditions together increase the risk of stroke, heart failure hospitalization, and all-cause mortality, especially soon after the clinical onset of AF. Guideline-directed pharmacological therapy for HFrEF is important; however, although there are various treatment modalities for AF, there is no clear consensus on how best to treat AF with concomitant HFrEF. This in-depth review discusses the available data for the treatment of AF in the setting of HFrEF, focuses on areas where more investigation is necessary, examines the clinical implications of randomized and observational clinical trials, and presents suggestions for individualized treatment strategies for specific patient groups.
COVID-19 and cardiac arrhythmias Bhatla, Anjali; Mayer, Michael M; Adusumalli, Srinath ...
Heart rhythm,
09/2020, Volume:
17, Issue:
9
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Early studies suggest that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with a high incidence of cardiac arrhythmias. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection may cause injury ...to cardiac myocytes and increase arrhythmia risk.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk of cardiac arrest and arrhythmias including incident atrial fibrillation (AF), bradyarrhythmias, and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) in a large urban population hospitalized for COVID-19. We also evaluated correlations between the presence of these arrhythmias and mortality.
We reviewed the characteristics of all patients with COVID-19 admitted to our center over a 9-week period. Throughout hospitalization, we evaluated the incidence of cardiac arrests, arrhythmias, and inpatient mortality. We also used logistic regression to evaluate age, sex, race, body mass index, prevalent cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and intensive care unit (ICU) status as potential risk factors for each arrhythmia.
Among 700 patients (mean age 50 ± 18 years; 45% men; 71% African American; 11% received ICU care), there were 9 cardiac arrests, 25 incident AF events, 9 clinically significant bradyarrhythmias, and 10 NSVTs. All cardiac arrests occurred in patients admitted to the ICU. In addition, admission to the ICU was associated with incident AF (odds ratio OR 4.68; 95% confidence interval CI 1.66-13.18) and NSVT (OR 8.92; 95% CI 1.73-46.06) after multivariable adjustment. Also, age and incident AF (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02-1.09) and prevalent heart failure and bradyarrhythmias (OR 9.75; 95% CI 1.95-48.65) were independently associated. Only cardiac arrests were associated with acute in-hospital mortality.
Cardiac arrests and arrhythmias are likely the consequence of systemic illness and not solely the direct effects of COVID-19 infection.
Voltage Criteria for Left Atrial Scar
Background
Criteria have not been established for identifying LA scar using electroanatomic mapping (EAM). It is also unclear if voltage criteria using EAM may ...assist in identifying areas of pulmonary vein (PV) reconnection in patients undergoing repeat AF ablation.
Objectives
To characterize left atrial (LA) voltage in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.
Methods
An LA shell was created and bipolar voltage amplitude (in mV) at each point was measured. The shell was divided into 8 regions. Bipolar voltage values lower than the amplitude of 95% of sampled points was used as the upper cutoff value. Delayed enhancement (DE) cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) sequences were performed to validate voltage cutoffs.
Results
Twenty patients participated. A mean of 141 ± 12 points constituted the LA map that was created during sinus rhythm (SR). In patients undergoing initial AF ablation, mean bipolar LA voltage was 1.44 ± 1.27 mV. In patients undergoing repeat AF ablation, scar along the posterior wall and LA–PV junction was identified using a voltage cutoff <0.2 mV, whereas a cutoff <0.45 mV best identified scar at other locations. This voltage range (0.2–0.45 mV) was useful to identify areas of reconnection around the PVs. On DE CMRI, a bipolar voltage cutoff of 0.27 mV performed best for delineating scar (sensitivity: 90%, specificity: 83%).
Conclusions
In patients undergoing AF ablation, EAM derived LA bipolar voltage shows regional variation. For maps acquired during SR, a voltage range of 0.2–0.45 mV can accurately demarcate LA scar distribution. This can be helpful in identifying PV reconnection in patients undergoing repeat AF ablation.
Ventricular tachycardia (VT), which can lead to sudden cardiac death, occurs frequently in patients with myocardial infarction. Catheter-based radiofrequency ablation of cardiac tissue has achieved ...only modest efficacy, owing to the inaccurate identification of ablation targets by current electrical mapping techniques, which can lead to extensive lesions and to a prolonged, poorly tolerated procedure. Here we show that personalized virtual-heart technology based on cardiac imaging and computational modelling can identify optimal infarct-related VT ablation targets in retrospective animal (5 swine) and human studies (21 patients) and in a prospective feasibility study (5 patients). We first assessed in retrospective studies (one of which included a proportion of clinical images with artifacts) the capability of the technology to determine the minimum-size ablation targets for eradicating all VTs. In the prospective study, VT sites predicted by the technology were targeted directly, without relying on prior electrical mapping. The approach could improve infarct-related VT ablation guidance, where accurate identification of patient-specific optimal targets could be achieved on a personalized virtual heart prior to the clinical procedure.
The impact of catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) on all-cause mortality remains unknown.
The purpose of this study was to examine the association between VT recurrence after ablation ...and survival in patients with scar-related VT.
Analysis of 2061 patients with structural heart disease referred for catheter ablation of scar-related VT from 12 international centers was performed. Data on clinical and procedural variables, VT recurrence, and mortality were analyzed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate freedom from recurrent VT, transplant, and death. Cox proportional hazards frailty models were used to analyze the effect of risk factors on VT recurrence and mortality.
One-year freedom from VT recurrence was 70% (72% in ischemic and 68% in nonischemic cardiomyopathy). Fifty-seven patients (3%) underwent cardiac transplantation, and 216 (10%) died during follow-up. At 1 year, the estimated rate of transplant and/or mortality was 15% (same for ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy). Transplant-free survival was significantly higher in patients without VT recurrence than in those with recurrence (90% vs 71%, P<.001). In multivariable analysis, recurrence of VT after ablation showed the highest risk for transplant and/or mortality hazard ratio 6.9 (95% CI 5.3-9.0), P<.001. In patients with ejection fraction <30% and across all New York Heart Association functional classes, improved transplant-free survival was seen in those without VT recurrence.
Catheter ablation of VT in patients with structural heart disease results in 70% freedom from VT recurrence, with an overall transplant and/or mortality rate of 15% at 1 year. Freedom from VT recurrence is associated with improved transplant-free survival, independent of heart failure severity.
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