ABSTRACT
Objective: To analyze the electrophysiological characteristics and the therapeutic efficacy of irrigated-tip catheter radiofrequency ablation(RFA) without radiation for pregnant women with focal atrial tachycardia(AT) originating from the right atrial appendage (RAA). Methods: Data from 55 women with focal AT, who underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2016 to March 2019, were screened. 2 non-pregnant women with right atrial appendage tachycardia (RAAT) and 4 pregnant women with non-RAAT were excluded. The remaining 49 cases were divided into RAAT during pregnancy group (n=6, including 4 cases of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy) and non-pregnant and non-RAAT group (control, n=43). Under the guidance of three-dimensional mapping system, the earliest activation site was identified, RFA with the irrigated catheter without x-ray fluoroscopy was performed in RAAT patients during pregnancy, all patients in control group underwent non-zero-ray ablation. Patients were followed up at 3, 6, 12 months post procedure, and yearly follow up thereafter in outpatient clinic. Electrocardiogram or Holter monitoring was performed during follow up. AT recurrence and surgical complications were recorded during follow up. At 6 months after RFA, echocardiography examination and laboratory examination including N-terminal B-type brain natriuretic peptide measurement were performed in the pregnant patients, delivery results were also recorded in the pregnant patients. The electrophysiological characteristics of RAAT during pregnancy were analyzed, the therapeutic efficacy of RFA was compared between the two groups. Results: This study is a retrospective study. Age ((30.7±6.2)years vs. (57.2±11.7)years), left ventricular ejection fraction ((46.0±12.8)% vs. (60.1±5.9)%), proportions of organic heart disease (0% vs. 58%) were significantly lower in the RAAT patients during pregnancy group than in control group (P<0.05), while proportions of patients with persistent tachycardia (100% vs. 7%), symptoms of chest distress and palpitation (6/6 vs. 49%) and left ventricular ejection farction≤50% (4/6 vs. 9%) were significantly higher in RAAT group than in control group (P<0.05), heart rate was similar between the two groups ((163.7±11.1)beats/minutes vs. (153.7±15.2)beats/minutes, P>0.05). The characteristic P-wave morphology was observed in RAAT patients during pregnancy, i.e, P wave was mostly upright (5/6) in inferior-leads (Ⅱ, Ⅲ, aVF) and in lead I and aVL, deep and wide negative P wave was found in V1 lead (5/6), and gradually became positive from V2-V6. The mean tachycardia cycle length was (361.7±38.5) ms. Three-dimensional mapping showed that the origin points of the 6 RAAT pregnant patients were all scattered in the local region, the local region was ablated accordingly, 2 patients (2/6) received extensive ablation of local areas. Immediate successful rate was similar between the two groups (6/6 vs. 93%). During follow up ((15.3±4.0) months), no complications were observed after RFA, postoperative recurrence rate was similar (1/6 vs. 12%). Uncomplicated delivery was reported in all 6 pregnant RAAT post ablation. Normal cardiac structure and function was observed in the 4 pregnant patients with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy post ablation. Compared to pre-ablation phase, reduced left atrial dimension ((30.3±1.3) mm vs. (36.8±6.7) mm, P>0.05), increased left ventricular ejection fraction ((64.0±2.9)% vs. (39.8±10.7)%), reduced left ventricular end-diastolic dimension ((44.8±4.0) mm vs. (60.0±2.9) mm) and reduced N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide value ((136.2±47.5) ng/L vs. (3 408.4±901.3) ng/L) were observed at 6 months post ablation (P<0.05). Conclusion: The electrophysiological characteristics are suggestive for focal AT originating from RAA during pregnancy. Under the guidance of 3-dimension activation mapping, no fluoroscopic RFA with irrigated-tip catheter is a safe and effective strategy for the treatment of focal RAAT during pregnancy.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Pregnancy , Atrial Appendage/surgery , Retrospective Studies , Stroke Volume , Tachycardia , Treatment Outcome , Ventricular Function, LeftABSTRACT
Objective: To quantitatively study the morphological structure and parameter of right atrial appendage (RAA) by 256-slice spiral CT to provide RAA imaging reference for interventional or surgical therapy in clinical practice. Methods: A total of 200 patients with negative CTA results examined in our hospital were studied including 96 male and 104 female; by age division, Age≤40 years group,n=29, Age (40-60) years group,n=114 and Age>60 years group,n=57. The original scanning data was reconstructed for RAA establishment, indexes of volume, radial lines were measured and compared between different gender and age groups to obtain 95% normal imaging references of RAA. Results:①The volume, height, basilar part circumference, anteroposterior spread of RAA in male were greater than female, allP60 years group,P60 years group,P>0.05.③95% normal reference ranges of RAA were as following: volume (4.83-19.97) ml, height (21.46-41.80) mm; basilar part longest diameter (25.89-41.65) mm, short diameter (19.34-36.24) mm, area (459.30-1093.28) mm2, circumference (86.16-147.04) mm; anteroposterior angle (1.67-31.23) °, spread (8.07-34.37) mm. Conclusion: 256-slice CT may quantitatively study the morphological structure and parameter of RAA and establish its 95% normal imaging references for clinical practice.
ABSTRACT
66 patients with sick sinus syndrome were enrolled in this study. All patients meeting the indications for dual chamber pacing were randomly divided into two groups: right atrial appendage(RAA) pacing group was made up of 36 patients and low atrial septal(LAS) pacing group was made up of 30 patients. Follow-up was 12 months. The incidence of atrial fibrillation(AF) was lower in LAS group(3. 3% ) compared with the RAA group(19. 4% );P wave dispersion in RAA group was significantly higher than that in the LAS group (P < 0. 01). After 3 months of the operation, left atrial volume index(LAVI) in RAA group was significantly larger than that in the LAS group. In LAS group compared with the RAA group P wave dispersion and LAVI were significantly lower after operation in sick sinus syndrome. LAS pacing was superior to RAA pacing in preventing new atrial fibrillation.
ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the short-term effect of low atrial septum pacing and different pacing frequency to prevent atrial fibrillation in patients with sick sinus syndrome . The electrophysiological mechanism would be ana-lyzed. Methods Thirty eight sick sinus syndrome patients were randomly divided to right atrial appendage pacing group and low atrial septum pacing group. The conduction time from P wave to left atrial and left atrioventricular in-terval was measured at different atrial pacing frequency. The effects of different atrial pacing frequency on interatrial conduction time were analyzed. The occurrence of atrial fibrillation was compared within an average one year follow-up period. Results ①There were no differences in basic information before treatment between the two groups. ②There were no complication, pacing and sensing dysfunction between the two groups.③The occurrence of atrial fi-brillation in low atrial septal group was lower than that in right atrial appendage pacing group. Similarly, the con-duction time from P wave to left atrial was shorter and left atrioventricular conduction time was longer in low atrial septal group. The difference was statistically significant.④ Left atrioventricular interval was longer in high pacing frequency(80 bpm) compared to low pacing frequency(60 bpm) between the two groups. The difference was statis-tically significant. Conclusion In sick sinus syndrome patients, the occurrence of atrial fibrillation is lower on low-er atrial septal group. Increasing atrial pacing percentage may be enhanced the effect. The mechanism may be asso-ciated with shortened interatrial conduction and extended left atrioventricular interval, which improves interatrial and left atrioventricular synchrony eventually.