Mortality in Recipients of Durable Left Ventricular Assist Devices Undergoing Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) recipients have a higher incidence of ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, the role of VT ablation in this population is not well-established. OBJECTIVES: This single-center retrospective cohort study sought to examine the impact of post-LVAD implant VT ablation on survival. METHODS: This retrospective study examined a cohort of patients that underwent LVAD implantation at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center and Texas Heart Institute between January 2011 and January 2021. All-cause estimated mortality was compared across LVAD recipients based on the incidence of VT, timing of VT onset, and the occurrence and timing of VT ablation utilizing Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Post-implant VT occurred in 53% of 575 LVAD recipients. Higher mortality was seen among patients with post-implant VT within a year of implantation (HR: 1.62 [95% CI: 1.15-2.27]). Among this cohort, patients who were treated with a catheter ablation had superior survival compared with patients treated with medical therapy alone for the 45 months following VT onset (HR: 0.48 [95% CI: 0.26-0.89]). Moreover, performance of an ablation in this population aligned mortality rates with those who did not experience post-implant VT (HR: 1.18 [95% CI: 0.71-1.98]). CONCLUSIONS: VT occurrence within 1 year of LVAD implantation was associated with worse survival. However, performance of VT ablation in this population was correlated with improved survival compared with medical management alone. Among patients with refractory VT, catheter ablation aligned survival with other LVAD participants without post-implant VT. Catheter ablation of VT is associated with improved survival in LVAD recipients, but further prospective randomized studies are needed to compare VT ablation to medical management in LVAD recipients.

Incidence, Risk Score Performance, and In-Hospital Outcomes of Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) frequently complicates cardiac surgery. Predicting POAF can guide interventions to prevent its onset. This study assessed the incidence, risk factors, and related adverse outcomes of POAF after cardiac surgery. METHODS: A cohort of 1,606 patients undergoing cardiac surgery at a tertiary referral center was analyzed. Postoperative AF was defined based on the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' criteria: AF/atrial flutter after operating room exit that either lasted longer than 1 hour or required medical or procedural intervention. Risk factors for POAF were evaluated, and the performance of established risk scores (POAF, HATCH, COM-AF, CHA2DS2-VASc, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk scores) in predicting POAF was assessed using discrimination (area under the receiver operator characteristics curve) analysis. The association of POAF with secondary outcomes, including length of hospital stay, ventilator time, and discharge to rehabilitation facilities, was evaluated using adjusted linear and logistic regression models. RESULTS: The incidence of POAF was 32.2% (n = 517). Patients who developed POAF were older, had traditional cardiovascular risk factors and higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk scores, and often underwent valve surgery. The POAF risk score demonstrated the highest area under the receiver operator characteristics curve (0.65), but risk scores generally underperformed. Postoperative AF was associated with extended hospital stays, longer ventilator use, and higher likelihood of discharge to rehabilitation facilities (odds ratio, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.73-3.08). CONCLUSION: This study observed a high incidence of POAF following cardiac surgery and its association with increased morbidity and resource utilization. Accurate POAF prediction remains elusive, emphasizing the need for better risk-prediction methods and tailored interventions to diminish the effect of POAF on patient outcomes.

Detection of atrial fibrillation in real world setting in patients with cryptogenic stroke and an implantable loop recorder.

INTRODUCTION: Implantable loop recorders (ILR) are used to screen for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with cryptogenic stroke (CS). However, there is limited real-world data regarding the long-term rate of AF detection using ILR and management consequences in patients with CS. The objective is to assess the rate of AF detection in patients with CS in a real-world study over 36 months of follow-up and its consequences on stroke prevention. METHODS: This retrospective study included patients with an ILR placed for CS at Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center between January 2014 and July 2021. The primary outcome was AF detection in patients with ILR. The secondary outcome was the rate of subsequent strokes after ILR placement in patients with or without diagnosed AF. The AF detection rate in our cohort was compared to the rate in CRYSTAL-AF Trial at 36-month follow-up. The impact of AF detection on clinical management was examined. RESULTS: We identified 225 patients. 51.1% were women and 38.2% African American. Among 85 patients with ILR labeled AF, 43 patients had true AF, and 42 had incorrectly labeled AF (48.3% false positive). The estimated AF detection rate at 36 months follow-up was 28.6% (95% CI, 26.6%-30.6%). 58.1% of patients with AF were initiated on oral anticoagulation, 80.0% of whom were started on a direct oral anticoagulant. 13.8% of patients had recurrent strokes after ILR implantation; 4 of whom were diagnosed with AF. CONCLUSION: Compared to CRYSTAL-AF, the AF detection rate in our cohort is similar, but this cohort includes a higher proportion of female and African American patients. Most patients with recurrent strokes after ILR implant did not have AF during 36 months of monitoring.

Risk Stratification in Patients Who Underwent Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion.

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is effective in preventing thromboembolism. Risk stratification tools could help identify patients at risk for early mortality after LAAO. In this study, we validated and recalibrated a clinical risk score (CRS) to predict risk of all-cause mortality after LAAO. This study used data from patients who underwent LAAO in a single-center, tertiary hospital. A previously developed CRS using 5 variables (age, body mass index [BMI], diabetes, heart failure, and estimated glomerular filtration rate) was applied to each patient to assess risk of all-cause mortality at 1 and 2 years. The CRS was recalibrated to the present study cohort and compared with established atrial fibrillation-specific (CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED) and generalized (Walter index) risk scores. Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the risk of mortality and discrimination was assessed by Harrel C-index. Among 223 patients, the 1- and 2-year mortality rates were 6.7% and 11.2%, respectively. With the original CRS, only low BMI (<23 kg/m2) was a significant predictor of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] [95% CI] 2.76 [1.03 to 7.35]; p = 0.04). With recalibration, BMI <29 kg/m2 and estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 were significantly associated with an increased risk of death (HR [95% CI] 3.24 [1.29 to 8.13] and 2.48 [1.07 to 5.74], respectively), with a trend toward significance noted for history of heart failure (HR [95% CI] 2.13 [0.97 to 4.67], p = 0.06). Recalibration improved the discriminative ability of the CRS from 0.65 to 0.70 and significantly outperformed established risk scores (CHA2DS2-VASc = 0.58, HAS-BLED = 0.55, Walter index = 0.62). In this single-center, observational study, the recalibrated CRS accurately risk stratified patients who underwent LAAO and significantly outperformed established atrial fibrillation-specific and generalized risk scores. In conclusion, clinical risk scores should be considered as an adjunct to standard of care when evaluating a patient's candidacy for LAAO.

Slow-pathway visualization by using voltage-time relationship: A novel technique for identification and fluoroless ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

BACKGROUND: Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is treatable by catheter ablation. Advances in mapping-system technology permit fluoroless workflow during ablations. As national practice trends toward fluoroless approaches, easily obtained, reproducible methods of slow-pathway identification, and ablation become increasingly important. We present a novel method of slow-pathway identification and initial ablation results from this method. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined AVNRT ablations performed at our institution over a 12-month period. In these cases, the site of the slow pathway was predicted by latest activation in the inferior triangle of Koch during sinus rhythm. Ablation was performed in this region. Proximity of the predicted site to the successful ablation location, complication rates, and patient outcomes were recorded. Junctional rhythm was seen in 40/41 ablations (98%) at the predicted site (mean, 1.3 lesions and median, 1 lesion per case). One lesion was defined as 5 mm of ablation. The initial ablation was successful in 39/41 cases (95%); in two cases, greater or equal to 2 echo beats were detected after the initial ablation, necessitating further lesion expansion. In 8/41 cases (20%), greater than one lesion was placed during initial ablation before attempted reinduction. Complications included one transient heart block and one transient PR prolongation. During follow-up (median, day 51), one patient had lower-extremity deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolus, and one had a lower-extremity superficial venous thrombosis. There was one tachycardia recurrence, which prompted a redo ablation. CONCLUSIONS: Mapping-system detection of late-activation, low-amplitude voltage during sinus rhythm provides an objective, and fluoroless means of identifying the slow pathway in typical AVNRT.

Fluoroscopy-free Atrial Transseptal Puncture.

INTRODUCTION: Fluoroscopy is traditionally used in atrial transseptal puncture (TSP); however fluoroscopy exposes patient and physician to excess radiation. Here, we describe a feasibility study of a zero-fluoroscopy transseptal puncture (ZFTSP) technique utilising electroanatomical mapping (EAM) and intracardiac echo (ICE) in a small case series of patients undergoing ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). We then compare this technique to other established ZFTSP techniques for paroxysmal AF ablation. METHODS: Seven patients received ZFTSP. An Acunav™ ICE catheter (Biosense Webster Inc., California, US) was placed in the right atrium, then an Agilis™ sheath (St. Jude Medical, Saint Paul, Minnesota, US) was established into the inferior vena cava. A ThermoCool® SmartTouch™ catheter (Biosense Webster Inc., California, US) was inserted through the Agilis to map the fossa ovalis. Mapping catheter exchange for dilator and needle allowed for facile ZFTSP. AF outcome, fluoroscopy times, and procedure times were compared with eight age-matched control patients. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, body mass index (BMI) or AF duration between the two groups and no immediate complications. ZFTSP procedure time was 183.9±33.7 minutes versus 293.13±129.9 minutes for TSP-only controls (p=0.05). Fluoroscopy time was 17.5±14.1 minutes in ZFTSP patients versus 73.4±50.3 minutes in controls (p=0.01). AF recurrence in ZFTSP patients was 14% versus 25% in controls. CONCLUSION: ZFTSP utilising ICE and EAM is safe, effective, and time-efficient. There is a small but significant reduction in radiation exposure to patient and physician by the use of this technique.