In this prospective, randomized controlled study, we aim to compare the performance outcomes of standard catheters with the radial artery–specific catheter. Over the past decade, transradial cardiac ...catheterization has gained widespread popularity because of its low complication rates compared with transfemoral access. Operators have the choice of using either standard catheters (used for both transfemoral and transradial approach, with need for separate catheter use for either right or left coronary artery engagement) or a dedicated radial artery catheter, which is specifically designed to engage both coronary arteries through radial artery access. A total of 110 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography at our institution from March 2015 to April 2015 were prospectively randomized to either radial artery–specific Tiger catheter (5Fr; Terumo Interventional Systems, Somerset, New Jersey) versus standard Judkins left and right catheters (5Fr R4, L4; Cordis Corporation, Miami, Florida). The end points of the study included fluoroscopy time, dose-area product, contrast volume used, and total procedure time for the coronary angiography. A total of 57 patients (52%) were randomized to radial artery–specific catheter and 53 (48%) to the standard catheter. Tiger catheter was associated with significantly lower fluoroscopy time (184 ± 91 vs 238 ± 131 seconds, p = 0.015), which was statistically significant. Other outcome measures such as dose-area product (2,882.4 ± 1,471.2 vs 3,524.6 ± 2,111.7 Gy·cm2 , p = 0.07), total contrast volume (48.1 ± 16.1 vs 53.4 ± 18.5 ml, p = 0.114), and total procedure time (337 ± 382 vs 434 ± 137 seconds, p = 0.085) were also lower in single-catheter group, but it did not reach statistical significance. A total of 8 patients (14%) were crossed over from radial-specific catheter arm to standard catheter arm because of substandard image quality and difficulty in coronary engagement. Six patients had to be switched to femoral access (3 in each group) secondary to radial artery spasm. In conclusion, the radial artery–specific catheter was shown to have significantly lower fluoroscopy times but higher failure rates compared with the standard catheters.
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.
Monomorphic ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs) have been found to initiate ventricular fibrillation (VF) or polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PMVT) in patients with and without ...structural heart disease.
The purpose of this study was to describe and characterize sites of origin of VPDs triggering VF and PMVT.
The distribution of mapping-confirmed VPDs, electrophysiology laboratory findings, and results of radiofrequency catheter ablation were analyzed.
Among 1132 consecutive patients who underwent ablation for ventricular arrhythmias, 30 patients (2.7%) with documented VF/PMVT initiation were identified. In 21 patients, VF/PMVT occurred in the setting of cardiomyopathy; in 9 patients, VF/PMVT was idiopathic. The origin of VPD trigger was from the Purkinje network in 9, papillary muscles in 8, left ventricular outflow tract in 9, and other low-voltage areas unrelated to Purkinje activity in 4. Each distinct anatomic area of origin was associated with VF/PMVT triggers in patients with and without heart disease. Acute VPD elimination was achieved in 26 patients (87%), with a decrease in VPDs in another 3 patients (97%). During median follow-up of 418 days (interquartile range IQR 144-866), 5 patients developed a VF/PMVT recurrence after a median of 34 days (IQR 1-259). Rare recurrence was noted in patients with and without structural disease and from each distinct anatomic origin. The total burden of VF/PMVT episodes/shocks was reduced from a median of 9 (IQR 2.5-22.5) in the 3 months before ablation to 0 (IQR 0-0, total range 0-2) during follow-up (P <.0001).
Catheter ablation of VPD-triggered VF/PMVT is highly successful. Left ventricular outflow tract and papillary muscles are common and are previously unrecognized sites of origin of these triggers in patients with and without structural heart disease.
Outflow tract ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs) can be associated with reversible left ventricular cardiomyopathy (LVCM). Limited data exist regarding the outcome after ablation of outflow ...tract VPDs from the LV and the impact of residual VPDs or preexisting LVCM prior to the diagnosis of VPDs on recovery of LV function.
To examine the safety, efficacy, and long-term effect of radiofrequency ablation on LV function in patients with LVCM and frequent outflow tract VPDs and examine the effect of ablation in patients with LVCM known to precede the onset of VPDs and the impact of residual VPD frequency on recovery of LV function.
Sixty-nine patients (43 men; age 51 ± 16 years) with nonischemic LVCM (left ventricular ejection fraction LVEF 35% ± 9%, left ventricular diastolic diameter LVDD 5.8 ± 0.7 cm) were referred for ablation of frequent outflow tract VPDs (29% ± 13%).
VPDs originated in the right ventricular outflow tract in 27 (39%) patients and the left ventricular outflow tract in 42 (61%) patients. After follow-up of 11 ± 6 months, 44 (66%) patients had rare (<2%) VPDs, 15 (22%) had decreased VPD burden (>80% reduction and always <5000 VPDs), and 8 (12%) had no clinical improvement with persistent (5 patients) or recurrent (3 patients) VPDs. Only patients with either rare or decreased VPD burden had a significant improvement in LVEF (ΔLVEF 14% ± 9% vs 13% ± 7% vs -3% ± 6%, respectively, P <.001) and LVDD (ΔLVDD -4 ± 5 vs -2 ± 4 vs 0 ± 4, respectively, P = .038), regardless of chamber of origin. The magnitude of LVEF improvement correlated with the decline in residual VPD burden (r = 0.475, P = .007). Patients with preexisting LVCM had a more modest but still significant improvement in LV function compared to patients without preexisting LVCM (ΔLVEF 8% vs 13%, P = .046). Multivariate analysis revealed ablation outcome, higher LVEF, and absence of preexisting LVCM were independently associated with LVEF improvement.
Frequent outflow tract VPDs are associated with LVCM regardless of ventricle of origin. Significant (>80%) reduction in VPD burden has comparable improvement in LV function to complete VPD elimination. Successful VPD ablation may be beneficial even in patients with preexisting LVCM.
Atrial tachycardias (ATs) including atrial fibrillation are common arrhythmias occurring late after mitral valve (MV) surgery, and their management is challenging.
The purpose of this study was to ...determine the electrophysiological mechanisms of ATs in patients with prior MV surgery and the long-term outcomes of catheter ablation.
We studied 67 consecutive patients (mean age 59.4 ± 10.6 years; 41 men 61%) with prior MV surgery who presented with ATs postoperatively between 2007 and 2015.
AT was clinically documented before the electrophysiology study in 55 patients, whereas in the remaining 12 patients AT was inducible at the study. A total of 99 ATs (35 spontaneous and 64 inducible) were characterized. Overall, the right atrium (RA) was the chamber of origin in 56%. The underlying mechanism was macroreentry in 91 cases and included typical RA flutter (n = 37), mitral annular flutter (n = 21), incisional right AT (n = 16), roof-dependent reentry (n = 12), and local left atrial reentry (n = 5). Eight focal ATs were also documented: 6 from the left atrium and 2 from the RA. Left-sided ATs were more common in patients with prior Maze procedure (53%), and mitral annular flutter was twice as prevalent in this group (42% vs 21%; P = .05). The ablation was acutely successful in 98.5%. Freedom from atrial arrhythmias was 62% at 12 months, with 42% requiring more than 1 procedure.
Macroreentry is the predominant AT mechanism in patients with prior MV surgery. Circuits are most often localized to the RA, with left-sided ATs more common in patients with prior Maze procedure. Repeat procedures are common and outcomes with 1 year complete AT control good.
Frequent ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs) can cause reversible left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. However, not all patients normalize their LV function after VPD elimination.
To evaluate ...predictors of recovery of LV function following the elimination of frequent VPDs.
We identified patients with ≥10% VPDs/24 h and an LV ejection fraction of <50% who underwent successful ablation between 2007 and 2011. Subjects were classified as having reversible (≥10% increase to a final LV ejection fraction of ≥50%) or irreversible (≤10% increase or final LV ejection fraction <50%) LV dysfunction on the basis of echocardiographic follow-up. A reference group with ≥10% VPDs but normal LV function was identified.
One hundred fourteen patients with ≥10% VPDs were identified; 66 had preserved and 48 had impaired LV function. Over a median follow-up of 10.6 months, 24 of 48 were classified as reversible and 13 of 48 as irreversible and 11 of 44 were excluded. There was a gradient of VPD QRS duration between the control, reversible, and irreversible groups (mean VPD QRS 135, 158, and 173 ms, respectively; P < .001). This gradient persisted even for the same site of origin. In multivariate analysis, the only independent predictor of irreversible LV function was VPD QRS duration (odds ratio 5.07 95% confidence interval 1.22-21.01 per 10-ms increase).
In patients with LV dysfunction and frequent VPDs, we identified VPD QRS duration as the only independent predictor for the recovery of LV function after ablation. This suggests that VPD QRS duration may be a marker for the severity of underlying substrate abnormality.
Study objective Laboratory evidence indicates that progesterone has potent neuroprotective effects. We conducted a pilot clinical trial to assess the safety and potential benefit of administering ...progesterone to patients with acute traumatic brain injury. Methods This phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted at an urban Level I trauma center. One hundred adult trauma patients who arrived within 11 hours of injury with a postresuscitation Glasgow Coma Scale score of 4 to 12 were enrolled with proxy consent. Subjects were randomized on a 4:1 basis to receive either intravenous progesterone or placebo. Blinded observers assessed patients daily for the occurrence of adverse events and signs of recovery. Neurologic outcome was assessed 30 days postinjury. The primary safety measures were differences in adverse event rates and 30-day mortality. The primary measure of benefit was the dichotomized Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended 30 days postinjury. Results Seventy-seven patients received progesterone; 23 received placebo. The groups had similar demographic and clinical characteristics. Laboratory and physiologic characteristics were similar at enrollment and throughout treatment. No serious adverse events were attributed to progesterone. Adverse and serious adverse event rates were similar in both groups, except that patients randomized to progesterone had a lower 30-day mortality rate than controls (rate ratio 0.43; 95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.99). Thirty days postinjury, the majority of severe traumatic brain injury survivors in both groups had relatively poor Glasgow Outcome Scale–Extended and Disability Rating Scale scores. However, moderate traumatic brain injury survivors who received progesterone were more likely to have a moderate to good outcome than those randomized to placebo. Conclusion In this small study, progesterone caused no discernible harm and showed possible signs of benefit.
Objectives The goal of this study was to evaluate the ability of noninvasive programmed stimulation (NIPS) after ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation to identify patients at high risk of recurrence. ...Background Optimal endpoints for VT ablation are not well defined. Methods Of 200 consecutive patients with VT and structural heart disease undergoing ablation, 11 had clinical VT inducible at the end of ablation and 11 recurred spontaneously. Of the remaining 178 patients, 132 underwent NIPS through their implantable cardioverter-defibrillator 3.1 ± 2.1 days after ablation. At 2 drive cycle lengths, single, double, and triple right ventricular extrastimuli were delivered to refractoriness. Clinical VT was defined by comparison with 12-lead electrocardiograms and stored implantable cardioverter-defibrillator electrograms from spontaneous VT episodes. Patients were followed for 1 year. Results Fifty-nine patients (44.7%) had no VT inducible at NIPS; 49 (37.1%) had inducible nonclinical VT only; and 24 (18.2%) had inducible clinical VT. Patients with inducible clinical VT at NIPS had markedly decreased 1-year VT-free survival compared to those in whom no VT was inducible (<30% vs. >80%; p = 0.001), including 33% recurring with VT storm. Patients with inducible nonclinical VT only, had intermediate 1-year VT-free survival (65%). Conclusions When patients with VT and structural heart disease have no VT or nonclinical VT only inducible at the end of ablation or their condition is too unstable to undergo final programmed stimulation, NIPS should be considered in the following days to further define risk of recurrence. If clinical VT is inducible at NIPS, repeat ablation may be considered because recurrence over the following year is high.
Early recurrence of atrial arrhythmia (ERAA) is common after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and is associated with long-term recurrence. However, the association between timing or frequency of ...ERAA and long-term ablation success remains unclear.
We aimed to examine whether timing or frequency of ERAA after pulmonary vein antral isolation (PVAI) affects long-term ablation success.
Three hundred AF patients (100 paroxysmal, 100 persistent, 100 long-standing persistent; mean age 59.5 ± 9.6 years, 79% male) undergoing PVAI were included. All patients underwent 30-day monitoring with mobile continuous outpatient telemetry after PVAI and were followed for >1 year. ERAA was defined as AF or organized atrial tachycardia (OAT) in the first 6 weeks, and was categorized as early (weeks 1-2), intermediate (weeks 3-4), or late (weeks 5-6). Long-term ablation success was defined as the absence of AF/OAT lasting >30 seconds off antiarrhythmic drugs 1 year after a single ablation (excluding first 6 weeks).
ERAA occurred in 169 patients (53%); of those, 79 (46.7%) had single ERAA and 90 (53.3%) had multiple ERAAs. ERAA occurred less commonly with paroxysmal versus persistent or long-standing persistent AF (46% vs 57% and 66%; P = .017). ERAA was associated with worse ablation success at 1 year (38.1% vs 79.5% no ERAA; P < .001). Multiple (vs single) ERAA more strongly predicted long-term ablation failure (OR: 4.5; 95% CI 2.3-8.8).
ERAA after PVAI is associated with decreased long-term ablation success. Patients experiencing multiple ERAA events are at greatest risk for long-term arrhythmia recurrence and represent a subgroup in whom early reablation may be considered.
Abstract Objectives The goal of this study was to determine the long-term outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) of electrical storm in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) compared ...with patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). Background CA of ventricular tachycardia (VT) electrical storm has been shown to improve VT-free survival in patients with ICM. Data on the outcomes of CA of electrical storm in patients with NIDCM are insufficient. Methods The study included 267 consecutive patients with NIDCM (n = 71; ejection fraction 32 ± 14%) and ICM (n = 196; ejection fraction 28 ± 12%). Endo-epicardial CA was performed in 59 (22%) patients. CA was guided by activation and entrainment mapping for tolerated VT and pacemapping/targeting of abnormal substrate for unmappable VT. Results After a median follow-up of 45 (25th to 75th centile: 9 to 71) months and 1 (25th to 75th centile: 1 to 8) procedures, 76 (29%) patients died, 25 (9%) underwent heart transplantation, 87 (33%) experienced VT recurrence, and 13 (5%) had recurrence of electrical storm. Overall VT-free survival was 54% at 60 months (48% in NIDCM and 54% in ICM; p = 0.128). Patients with VT recurrence experienced a median of 2 (1 to 10) VT episodes in the 5 (1 to 14) months after the procedure. Death/transplantation-free survival was 62% at 60 months (53% in NIDCM and 64% in ICM; p = 0.067). Persistent inducibility of any VT with cycle length ≥250 ms at programmed stimulation at the end of the procedure was the only independent predictor of VT recurrence. Low ejection fraction, New York Heart Association functional class, and VT recurrence over follow-up independently predicted death/transplantation. Conclusions CA of electrical storm was similarly effective in patients with NIDCM compared with patients with ICM, with elimination of electrical storm in 95% of cases and achievement of complete VT control at long-term follow-up in most patients.
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