Is Age Associated with Complications of Atrial Fibrillation Catheter Ablation?

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia, and its prevalence increases with age. The management of AF in the elderly is challenging, as it is normally associated with comorbidities and frailty. AF catheter ablation (CA) is a safe and superior alternative to antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) for the maintenance of sinus rhythm. Objectives To evaluate the rate of complications associated with CA for AF across different age groups. Methods A retrospective analysis of 219 patients who underwent CA for AF between 2016 and 2020 were divided into 3 age groups: less than 60 years, 60 to 70 years, and > 70 years. All the included patients underwent radiofrequency ablation using an electroanatomic mapping system. Categorical variables were evaluated with chi-square and Fisher's test, and continuous variables were evaluated by Kruskal-Wallis and post-hoc Tamhane's T2. P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results We found an overall total complication rate of 4.6%. The total complication rate was 3.3% in patients < 60 years of age, 5.7% in patients between 60 and 70 years, and 5.2% in patients > 70 years (p = 0.742). No deaths occurred. Conclusion There was no significant difference in the AF CA-related complications when comparing the patients by age group.

Initial Experience with Fractionation Mapping in the Identification of Vagal Ganglionated Plexus During Cardioneuroablation

This is a series case report of five symptomatic patients presented with diagnosis of sinus bradycardia, first and second degrees atrioventricular (AV) blocks, that were referred to pacemaker implantation. During the screening, a functional cause for the bradycardia and AV blocks were documented by treadmill stress test, 24-hour Holter monitoring and atropine test. After the confirmation of the diagnosis, patients were submitted to cardioneuroablation on an anatomical basis supported by a tridimensional electroanatomical fractionation mapping software. The technique and the acute and short-term results of the cardioneuroablation are described.

Successful Left Atrial Appendage Closure with Watchman Device Implantation in Two Patients with Inferior Vena Cava Filters

Percutaneous procedures through femoral access in patients with inferior vena cava (IVC) filter may be at risk of complications. We evaluated the feasibility and safety of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) through femoral access in patients previously implanted with IVC filter. We described the WatchmanTM device implantation in two patients with formal contraindication for oral anticoagulation. First patient had a GreenfieldTM filter and the second one an OpteaseTM filter, and in this patient an attempt to withdrawal the filter immediately before the LAAC procedure failed. A femoral approach was performed in both patients using a 14 Fr sheath. Before crossing IVC filters, venographies did not detect any thrombus. All steps of IVC filter crossing were performed under fluoroscopic guidance. No immediate or intrahospital complications related to the procedure occurred. Herein, we presented two cases of successful LAAC closure with Watchman device in patients with two different kinds of IVC filters.

Características e resultados do teste de inclinação na população sintomática: [revisão] / Characteristcs and results of tilt table testing in symptomatic population: [review] / Características y resultados de la prueba de inclinación en la población sintomática: [revisión]

Síncope é um sintoma de prevalência significativa na população geral e possui prognóstico variável de acordo com sua etiologia. O teste de inclinação ou Tilt-teste é um exame útil na investigação dos pacientes com Síncope, Hipotensão Postural e Disautonomia e trata-se de um exame já rotineiro em nosso meio. Objetivo: Analisar o índice de positividade do exame, além dos seus tipos de respostas mais comuns, e a necessidade do uso da sensibilização com dinitrato de isossorbida no auxílio do diagnóstico. Material e métodos: Entre o período de março de 2005 a junho de 2009, foram avaliados 348 pacientes submetidos ao Tilt-teste, dentre os quais, 244(70,1%) pacientes eram do sexo feminino com idade média de 36 anos. Resultados: O Tilt-teste foi negativo em 163(46,8%) pacientes. Nos exames positivos, o tipo mais comum de resposta foi a vasodepressora em 113(32,47%) pacientes, seguido pela resposta mista em 56(16,1%) pacientes e cardioninibiotória em 14(4%) pacientes. Dois pacientes apresentaram quadros de Disautonomia e Síndrome da Taquicardia Postural Ortostática (POTS). O tempo médio para positivação dos exames foi de 28 minutos após início da ortostase, sendo que, em 166(89,72%) pacientes, foi necessário uso de sensibilização com dinitrato de isossorbida por via sublingual. Conclusão: Na população estudada, observamos que o Tilt-teste foi positivo em 53,2% dos casos. Dentre esses pacientes, a forma mais comum de resposta da síncope neurocardiogênica foi a vasodepressora em 113 pacientes, sendo que o uso da sensibilização foi necessário em quase 90% dos pacientes na positivação dos exames.

Syncope is a symptom of significant prevalence in the general population and has changeable prognostic in accordance with its etiology. The inclination test or Tilt table test is a useful examination in the investigation of patients with syncope, postural hypotension and disautonomy and it is a routine examination already in our way. Objective: To analyze the positive rate of the exam, in addition to its most common types of response and the need of sensitization with isosorbide dinitrate to aid the diagnosis. Material and methods: 348 patients submitted to Tilt table test were evaluated between March of 2005 and June of 2009, 244 (70.1%) females at the mean age of 36 years. Results: The Tilt table test was negative in 163 (46.8%) patients. In the positive exams the most common type of response was the vasodepressor in 113 (32.47%) patients, followed by the mixed response in 56 (16.1%) patients and cardioinhibitory in 14 (4%) patients. Two patients had history of disautonomy and Postural Ortostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). The average time for positivation of the examinations was of 28 minutes after the beginning of the ortostasis, in 166 (89.72%) patients the use of sensitization with isosorbide dinitrate via sublingual was necessary. Conclusion: In the studied population weobserve that the Tilt table test was positive in 53,2% of the cases. Among these patients the most common response of neurocardiogenic syncope was the vasodepressor in 113 patients and the use of the sensitization was necessary in almost 90% of the patients in the positivation of the examinations.

Síncope es un síntoma de prevalencia significativa en la población general y tiene pronóstico variable de acuerdo con su etiología. La prueba de inclinación o Tilt-test es un examen útilen la investigación de los pacientes con Síncope, Hipotensión Postural y Disautonomia y ya se trata de un examen de rutina en nuestro medio. Objetivo: Analizar el índice de positividad del examen, además de sus tipos de respuestas más comunes, y la necesidad del uso de la sensibilización con dinitrato de isosorbida para ayudar el diagnóstico. Material y métodos: Entre el período de marzo de 2005 y junio de 2009, se evaluaron a 348 pacientes sometidos al Tilt-test, entre los cuales, 244 (70,1%) pacientes eran del sexo femenino con edad media de 36 años. Resultados: El Tilt-test fue negativo en 163 (46,8%) pacientes. En los exámenes positivos, el tipo más común de respuesta fue la vasodepresora en 113 (32,47%) pacientes, seguido de la respuesta mixta en 56 (16,1%) pacientes y cardioinhibitoria en 14 (4%) pacientes. Dos pacientes presentaron cuadros de Disautonomia y Síndrome de Taquicardia Postural Ortostática (POTS). El tiempo medio para positivación de losexámenes foi de 28 minutos tras el inicio de la ortostasis, siendo que, en 166 (89,72%) pacientes, fuenecesario el uso de sensibilización con dinitrato de isosorbida por vía sublingual. Conclusión: En la población estudiada, observamos que el Tilt-test fue positivo en el 53,2% de los casos. Entre dichos pacientes, la forma más común de respuesta del síncope neurocardiogénico fue la vasodepresora en 113 pacientes, siendo que el uso de la sensibilización fue necesario en casi el 90% de los pacientes en la positivación de los exámenes.