Risco de Fibrilação Atrial após Ablação de Flutter Dependente de Istmo Cavo-Tricuspídeo: Vale a Pena Fazer a Ablação da FA Simultaneamente? / Risk of Atrial Fibrillation after Ablation of Cavotricuspid Isthmus-Dependent Atrial Flutter: Is Combined Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Worthwhile?

Resumo Fundamento A ablação da fibrilação atrial (FA) e do flutter atrial dependente de istmo cavo-tricuspídeo (FLA-ICT) pode ser realizada simultaneamente quando as duas arritmias tenham sido registradas antes do procedimento. Entretanto, a melhor abordagem não é clara quando pacientes com FLA-ICT são encaminhados para ablação sem o registro prévio de FA. Objetivos Avaliar a prevalência e identificar os preditores de ocorrência do primeiro episódio de FA após ablação de FLA-ICT em pacientes sem o registro prévio de FA. Métodos Coorte retrospectiva de pacientes submetidos exclusivamente a ablação por cateter para FLA-ICT, sem registro prévio de FA. As características clínicas foram comparadas entre os grupos em que houve ocorrência de FA pós-ablação de FLA-ICT vs. sem ocorrência de FA. O nível de significância estatística adotado foi de 5%. Na análise de preditores, o desfecho primário avaliado foi ocorrência de FA após ablação de FLA-ICT. Resultados De um total de 227 pacientes submetidos a ablação de FLA-ICT (110 com registro de FA e 33 sem seguimento adequado), 84 pacientes foram incluídos, dos quais 45 (53,6%) apresentaram FA pós-ablação. Não houve variáveis preditoras de ocorrência de FA. Os escores HATCH e CHA2DS2-VASC foram semelhantes nos dois grupos. As taxas de recorrência de FLA-ICT e complicações após a ablação foram de 11,5% e 1,2%, respectivamente. Conclusões A ablação de FLA-ICT é eficaz e segura, mas 50% dos pacientes desenvolvem FA após ablação. Entretanto, ainda é incerto o papel da ablação combinada (FLA-ICT e FA) visando prevenção da ocorrência de FA. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Abstract Background Simultaneous ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) and cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter can be performed when both arrythmias had been recorded before the procedure. However, the best approach has not been defined in case of patients referred for ablation with CTI-dependent atrial flutter, without history of AF. Objectives To assess the prevalence and to identify predictors of the first episode of AF after ablation of CTI-dependent atrial flutter in patients without history of AF. Methods Retrospective cohort of patients with CTI-dependent atrial flutter without history of AF undergoing catheter ablation. Clinical characteristics were compared between patients who developed AF and those who did not have AF after the procedure. Significance level was set at 5%. In the analysis of predicting factors, the primary outcome was occurrence of AF after CTI-dependent atrial flutter ablation. Results Of a total of 227 patients undergoing ablation of CTI-dependent atrial flutter (110 with history of AF and 33 without adequate follow-up), 84 were included, and 45 (53.6%) developed post-ablation AF. The HATCH and CHA2DS2-VASC scores were not different between the groups. Recurrence rate of CTI-dependent atrial flutter and complication rate were 11.5% and 1.2%, respectively, after ablation. Conclusions Although ablation of CTI-dependent atrial flutter is a safe and effective procedure, 50% of the patients developed AF after the procedure. However, the role of combined ablation (CTI-dependent atrial flutter plus AF) aiming at preventing AF is still uncertain. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Clinical Differences between Subtypes of Atrial Fibrillation and Flutter: Cross-Sectional Registry of 407 Patients / Diferenças Clínicas entre Subtipos de Fibrilação Atrial e Flutter: Registro Transversal de 407 Pacientes

Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter account for one third of hospitalizations due to arrhythmias, determining great social and economic impacts. In Brazil, data on hospital care of these patients is scarce.

Long-term Prognosis of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and Predictors for Progression to Persistnt or Chronic Atrial Fibrillation in the Korean Population

Little is known about the long-term prognosis of or predictors for the different clinical types of atrial fibrillation (AF) in Korean populations. The aim of this study was to validate a risk stratification to assess the probability of AF progression from paroxysmal AF (PAF) to persistent AF (PeAF) or permanent AF. A total of 434 patients with PAF were consecutively enrolled (mean age; 71.7 +/- 10.7 yr, 60.6% male). PeAF was defined as episodes that are sustained > 7 days and not self-terminating, while permanent AF was defined as an ongoing long-term episode. Atrial arrhythmia during follow-up was defined as atrial premature complex, atrial tachycardia, and atrial flutter. During a mean follow-up of 72.7 +/- 58.3 months, 168 patients (38.7%) with PAF progressed to PeAF or permanent AF. The mean annual AF progression was 10.7% per year. In univariate analysis, age at diagnosis, body mass index, atrial arrhythmia during follow-up, left ventricular ejection fraction, concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, left atrial diameter (LAD), and severe mitral regurgitation (MR) were significantly associated with AF progression. In multivariate analysis, age at diagnosis (P = 0.009), atrial arrhythmia during follow-up (P = 0.015), LAD (P = 0.002) and MR grade (P = 0.026) were independent risk factors for AF progression. Patients with younger age at diagnosis, atrial arrhythmia during follow-up, larger left atrial chamber size, and severe MR grade are more likely to progress to PeAF or permanent AF, suggesting more intensive medical therapy with close clinical follow-up would be required in those patients.

Flutter atrial: implicações na abordagem da clínica de urgência / Atrial flutter: implications on the approach of clinical urgency

O flutter atrial é uma arritmia cardíaca do grupo das taquiarritmias supraventriculares (TSV), com prevalência estimada de 85:100.000 habitantes e surge, frequentemente, nos atendimentos de urgência clínica. Pode se manifestar por frequências atriais de 220 a 360 bpm, com episódios durando de segundos a horas. Sua apresentação clínica varia de forma oligossintomática até lipotímia, principalmente quando a frequência ventricular é alta, com risco de lesão miocárdica. Associa-se, em geral, a doenças cardíacas prévias ou a condições sistêmicas como a tireotoxicose. Ocorre de forma aroxística ou crônica, revestindo-se, algumas vezes, de grande dificuldade no diagnóstico diferencial com outras TSV. O controle do flutter atrial utiliza métodos de controle da frequência cardíaca e de cardioversões farmacológica e não farmacológica, cuja escolha baseia-se, principalmente, nas condições clínicas do paciente. Este artigo objetiva estabelecer os critérios atuais para a abordagem do flutter atrial e sua diferenciação com outras TSV.

Atrial flutter is a cardiac arrhythmia which is part of the Supraventricular Tachyarrhythmia (STs) group the estimated prevalence of 85 cases per 100,000 people, and appears frequently in the urgent care clinic. The arrhythmia can manifest atrial frequencies from 220 to 360 bpm with episodes that may last from seconds to hours. Furthermore, its clinical presentation varies from oligossymptomatic forms to presyncopes, mainly with high ventricular response, when there is significant risk of myocardial damage. It is in general associated to previous cardiac or systemic conditions (e.g. thyrotoxicosis). It occurs either in paroxysmal or chronicle forms, sometimes with great difficulty for differential diagnosis with other STs. The atrial flutter control uses methods of heart rate control and pharmacological or non-pharmacological cardio version, whose choice is based primarily on the patient’s clinical conditions. This article aims to gathering information that would provide the current criteria for the approach of atrial flutter regarding its accurate diagnosis and its differentiation from other STs.