ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#Catheter ablation is effective in restoring sinus rhythm and left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is increasingly used for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We aimed to observe the feasibility and safety of performing AF ablation and LAAC in a single (one-stop) procedure.@*METHODS@#Consecutive AF patients who underwent the combined procedure of AF ablation and LAAC with WATCHMAN device between March 2017 and September 2018 were prospectively enrolled. Baseline and intra-procedural parameters were evaluated. Three-month and subsequent 1-year follow-up were performed in all and earlier-enrolled subjects, respectively.@*RESULTS@#A total of 178 AF patients (94 males, 68.9 ± 8.1 years) underwent the one-stop procedure with CHA2DS2-VASc score 3.3 ± 1.5 and HAS-BLED score 1.6 ± 1.0, respectively. Pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients while additional linear ablation was applied if the operator deemed necessary, yielding immediate ablation success rate of 98.9% (176/178). In the subsequent LAAC, satisfactory seal (residual leak <5 mm) was achieved in all patients. One stroke and four cardiac perforations occurred peri-operatively. At 3-month follow-up, sinus rhythm and satisfactory seal were maintained in 153/178 (86.0%) and 178/178 (100%) patients, respectively. One stroke and one delayed cardiac tamponade occurred, while no device-related thrombus or device migration was observed. During the 1-year follow-up for the earlier enrolled subjects, 52/72 (72.2%) of the patients maintained sinus rhythm. There was no stroke or systemic embolism observed.@*CONCLUSION@#Combining catheter ablation and LAAC in a single procedure can be successfully and safely performed in non-valvular AF patients of Chinese population.
ABSTRACT
Objective: We aimed to explore the feasibility and perioperative safety of performing catheter ablation and left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in a single (one-stop) session in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods: This study is an observational study. Consecutive AF patients who underwent the combined procedure of catheter ablation and LAAC with Watchman device of Xinhua Hospital in Shanghai between March 2017 and May 2019 were prospectively enrolled. Baseline, intra-and peri-procedural parameters were evaluated. Results: A total of 358 AF patients (189 males, (69.0±8.0) years) underwent the one-stop procedure. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3.2±1.5 and HAS-BLED score was 2.4±1.1, respectively in this patient cohort. Pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in all patients, while additional linear ablation was applied in 180 (50.3%) patients, yielding immediate success rate of 99.7%. Successful Watchman implantation was achieved in all patients. The perioperative serious adverse event occurred in 14 cases (3.9%). including 6 pericardial effusions (1.7%), 1 stroke (0.3%) and 5 vascular complications (1.4%), yielding procedure-related complication rate of 3.4%. In addition, 2 (0.6%) new-onset heart failures occurred postoperatively. There was no major bleeding or death during the perioperative period. Conclusions: Combined catheter ablation and LAAC can be successfully and safely performed in AF patients with high stroke risk. Follow-up data are needed to evaluate the outcome of this one-stop procedure.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Atrial Appendage/surgery , Catheter Ablation , China , Feasibility Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The CHA2DS2-VASc score is used clinically for stroke risk stratification in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We sought to investigate whether the CHA2DS2-VASc score predicts stroke and death in Chinese patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) after pacemaker implantation and to evaluate whether the predictive power of the CHA2DS2-VASc score could be improved by combining it with left atrial diameter (LAD) and amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 481 consecutive patients with SSS who underwent pacemaker implantation from January 2004 to December 2014 in our department were included. The CHA2DS2-VASc scores were retrospectively calculated according to the hospital medical records before pacemaker implantation. The outcome data (stroke and death) were collected by pacemaker follow-up visits and telephonic follow-up until December 31, 2015.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>During 2151 person-years of follow-up, 46 patients (9.6%) suffered stroke and 52 (10.8%) died. The CHA2DS2-VASc score showed a significant association with the development of stroke (hazard ratio [HR] 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-1.75, P< 0.001) and death (HR 1.45, 95% CI 1.22-1.71, P< 0.001). The combination of increased LAD and the CHA2DS2-VASc score improved the predictive power for stroke (C-stat 0.69, 95% CI 0.61-0.77 vs. C-stat 0.66, 95% CI 0.57-0.74, P= 0.013), and the combination of increased NT-proBNP and the CHA2DS2-VASc score improved the predictive power for death (C-stat 0.70, 95% CI 0.64-0.77 vs. C-stat 0.67, 95% CI 0.60--0.75, P= 0.023).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CHA2DS2-VASc score is valuable for predicting stroke and death risk in patients with SSS after pacemaker implantation. The addition of LAD and NT-proBNP to the CHA2DS2-VASc score improved its predictive power for stroke and death, respectively, in this patient cohort. Future prospective studies are warranted to validate the benefit of adding LAD and NT-proBNP to the CHA2DS2-VASc score for predicting stroke and death risk in non-AF populations.</p>
ABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>A high ablation success rate for ventricular arrhythmia (VA) from outflow tract has been achieved, but some of them cannot be eliminated from endocardium. We investigated the association between adenosine sensitivity and ablation success/recurrence rates with a nonirrigated or an irrigated catheter.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to adenosine test, all patients were divided into a sensitive group (S group) or an insensitive group (I group). The patients of each group were randomized into a nonirrigated catheter (NA) subgroup or an irrigated catheter (IA) subgroup with a 2:1 ratio.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In S group of 122 patients (84 in NA subgroup), the ablation success rate was similar between two subgroups (94.7% vs. 90.5%, P > 0.05), but in I group of 94 patients (60 in NA subgroup), it was higher in IA subgroup (94.1%) than that in NA subgroup (73.3%, P < 0.05). The success rate using nonirrigated catheter was significantly higher in S group (90.5%) than that in I group (73.3%, P < 0.01), and the recurrence rate was lower in S group than that in I group (1.3%, vs. 13.6%, P < 0.05). On the contrary, the success rate and the recurrence rate using irrigated catheter were similar between S group and I group (94.7%, 94.1%, P > 0.05, vs. 2.8%, 6.3%, P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Adenosine insensitivity is associated with a lower success rate and a higher recurrence rate for VA patients undergoing nonirrigated catheter ablation. Thus, irrigated catheters should be the first choice for VA ablation in adenosine insensitive patients.</p>
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Animals , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Adenosine , Therapeutic Uses , Catheter Ablation , Heart Ventricles , General Surgery , Tachycardia, Ventricular , Drug Therapy , General Surgery , Treatment Outcome , Ventricular Premature Complexes , Drug Therapy , General SurgeryABSTRACT
<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) of pre-excited atrial fibrillation (AF) is controversial. This study aimed to observe the therapeutic effects of PVAI on pre-excited AF.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-nine patients with pre-excited AF were prospectively divided into a PVAI group (group I, 19 cases) and a control group (group II, 10 cases). To each case in group I, PVAI was performed, and then electroanatomical mapping of accessory pathways (AP) and ablation were constructed on a three-dimensional (3D) map of the valve annulus. Only AP ablation was performed in each case of group II.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 29 cases, three were found to have dual APs, two had intermittent APs, and the remaining 24 had single APs. All APs were successfully ablated after the procedure. There were no significant statistical differences in the AP procedure duration ((77.4 ± 21.3) minutes vs. (85.3 ± 13.1) minutes), the AP ablation time ((204 ± 34) seconds vs. (223 ± 62) seconds) and the AP X-ray exposure time ((18.6 ± 4.4) minutes vs. (19.1 ± 4.5) minutes) respectively between groups I and II. As compared with the control group (5 of 10 cases, 50%), the PVAI group had a significantly lower AF recurrence rate (2 of 19 cases, 11%; P < 0.05) during follow-up of (20.5 ± 10.0) months. All seven patients who recurred were successfully abolished by a second ablation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In patients with pre-excited AF, PVAI is an effective therapeutic approach with a low AF recurrence rate. 3D electroanatomical maps of AP contributed to the high success rate of ablation without significantly prolonging of operational duration and X-ray exposure time.</p>
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Accessory Atrioventricular Bundle , Atrial Fibrillation , General Surgery , Catheter Ablation , Methods , Electric Countershock , Electrocardiography , Follow-Up Studies , Prospective Studies , Pulmonary Veins , General SurgeryABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the efficacy of CARTO-guided stepwise ablation approaches for treatment of patients with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation(AF).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Stepwise ablation approaches were performed in 40 patients with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation. Pulmonary vein atrium isolation (PVAI), linear ablation in atria, complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) ablation and cardioversion were applied sequentially till sinus rhythm (SR) restoration. All patients were followed up 6 to 18 months.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>SR was restored in 11 patients after PVAI, in 11 patients after linear ablation and in 6 patients after CFEAs ablation. SR was restored in the remaining 13 patients post cardioversion. During follow-up, 3 atrial fibrillation, 3 atrial tachycardia and 5 atrial flutter were evidenced. Seven out of the 11 patients with reoccurred arrhythmia were treated only by PVAI.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>CARTO-guided stepwise ablation approaches are safe and effective in the treatment of patients with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation. PVAI approach was associated with lower successful rate and high recurrence rate.</p>