Similarities and differences in the arrangement of the atrioventricular conduction axis in the canine compared to the human heart.

BACKGROUND: Subtle differences exist between dog and human, despite use of the dog as a model for cardiac surgical and electrophysiological research. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences in the atrioventricular conduction axis and adjacent structures between dogs and humans. METHODS: We prepared 33 human and 5 canine hearts for serial histologic sections of the atrioventricular conduction axis, making correlations with gross anatomic findings. We additionally examined and photographed 15 intact normal human hearts obtained from infants undergoing autopsy. Furthermore, we interrogated a computed tomographic dataset from a human adolescent and from 2 autopsied canine hearts, both with normal cardiac anatomy. RESULTS: All canine hearts lacked an inferoseptal recess, with the noncoronary leaflet of the aortic valve and the right fibrous trigone having direct attachments to the septal surface of the left ventricular outflow tract. This correlated with an extensive nonbranching component of the ventricular conduction axis, which skirted half of the noncoronary aortic sinus. This anatomic arrangement was observed in 2 of 15 of autopsied infant hearts. In the human hearts with an inferoseptal recess, the relatively shorter nonbranching bundle is embedded within the fibrous tissue forming its right wall. CONCLUSION: We found a major difference between canine and the majority of human hearts, namely, the presence or absence of an inferoseptal recess. When this recess is absent, as in the canine heart and in some human hearts, a greater proportion of the atrioventricular conduction axis is found within the circumference of the subaortic outflow tract.

Complete interatrial block in a left-atrial dependent atrioventricular node.

INTRODUCTION: A middle-age woman underwent an electrophysiologic study due to recurrent atypical atrial flutter. METHODS AND RESULT: Radiofrequency ablation of cavotricuspid isthmus and anterior mitral line was performed. During energy delivery on the anterior left atrial wall, interatrial dissociation and complete block of the sinus impulse to the atrioventricular (AV) node was observed. AV node activation became dependent on a subsidiary left atrial rhythm. CONCLUSION: Anatomical location of intra and inter-atrial connections must be taken into account when performing extensive ablation procedures, specially in cases with prior cardiac surgeries.

Spatial characterization of the tachycardia circuit of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia.

AIMS: The exact circuit of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) remains elusive. To assess the location and dimensions of the AVNRT circuit. METHODS AND RESULTS: Both typical and atypical AVNRT were induced at electrophysiology study of 14 patients. We calculated the activation time of the fast and slow pathways, and consequently, the length of the slow pathway, by assuming an average conduction velocity of 0.04 mm/ms in the nodal area. The distance between the compact atrioventricular node and the slow pathway ablating electrode was measured on three-dimensionally reconstructed fluoroscopic images obtained in diastole and systole. We also measured the length of the histologically discrete right inferior nodal extension in 31 human hearts. The length of the slow pathway was calculated to be 10.8 ± 1.3 mm (range 8.2-12.8 mm). The distance from the node to the ablating electrode was measured in five patients 17.0 ± 1.6 mm (range 14.9-19.2 mm) and was consistently longer than the estimated length of the slow pathway (P < 0.001). The length of the right nodal inferior extension in histologic specimens was 8.1 ± 2.3 mm (range 5.3-13.7 mm). There were no statistically significant differences between these values and the calculated slow pathway lengths. CONCLUSION: Successful ablation affects the tachycardia circuit without necessarily abolishing slow conduction, probably by interrupting the circuit at the septal isthmus.

Automated quantitative evaluation of fetal atrioventricular annular plane systolic excursion.

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of automated measurement of fetal atrioventricular (AV) plane displacement (AVPD) over several cardiac cycles using myocardial velocity traces obtained by color tissue Doppler imaging (cTDI). The secondary objectives were to establish reference ranges for AVPD during the second half of normal pregnancy, to assess fetal AVPD in prolonged pregnancy in relation to adverse perinatal outcome and to evaluate AVPD in fetuses with a suspicion of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). METHODS: The population used to develop the reference ranges consisted of women with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy at 18-42 weeks of gestation (n = 201). The prolonged-pregnancy group comprised women with an uncomplicated singleton pregnancy at ≥ 41 + 0 weeks of gestation (n = 107). The third study cohort comprised women with a singleton pregnancy and suspicion of IUGR, defined as an estimated fetal weight < 2.5th centile or an estimated fetal weight < 10th centile and umbilical artery pulsatility index > 97.5th centile (n = 35). Cineloops of the four-chamber view of the fetal heart were recorded using cTDI. Regions of interest were placed at the AV plane in the left and right ventricular walls and the interventricular septum, and myocardial velocity traces were integrated and analyzed using an automated algorithm developed in-house to obtain mitral (MAPSE), tricuspid (TAPSE) and septal (SAPSE) annular plane systolic excursion. Gestational-age specific reference ranges were constructed and normalized for cardiac size. The correlation between AVPD measurements obtained using cTDI and those obtained by anatomic M-mode were evaluated, and agreement between these two methods was assessed using Bland-Altman analysis. The mean Z-scores of fetal AVPD in the cohort of prolonged pregnancies were compared between cases with normal and those with adverse outcome using Mann-Whitney U-test. The mean Z-scores of fetal AVPD in IUGR fetuses were compared with those in the normal reference population using Mann-Whitney U-test. Inter- and intraobserver variability for acquisition of cTDI recordings and offline analysis was assessed by calculating coefficients of variation (CV) using the root mean square method. RESULTS: Fetal MAPSE, SAPSE and TAPSE increased with gestational age but did not change significantly when normalized for cardiac size. The fitted mean was highest for TAPSE throughout the second half of gestation, followed by SAPSE and MAPSE. There was a significant correlation between MAPSE (r = 0.64; P < 0.001), SAPSE (r = 0.72; P < 0.001) and TAPSE (r = 0.84; P < 0.001) measurements obtained by M-mode and those obtained by cTDI. The geometric means of ratios between AVPD measured by cTDI and by M-mode were 1.38 (95% limits of agreement (LoA), 0.84-2.25) for MAPSE, 1.00 (95% LoA, 0.72-1.40) for SAPSE and 1.20 (95% LoA, 0.92-1.57) for TAPSE. In the prolonged-pregnancy group, the mean ± SD Z-scores for MAPSE (0.14 ± 0.97), SAPSE (0.09 ± 1.02) and TAPSE (0.15 ± 0.90) did not show any significant difference compared to the reference ranges. Twenty-one of the 107 (19.6%) prolonged pregnancies had adverse perinatal outcome. The AVPD Z-scores were not significantly different between pregnancies with normal and those with adverse outcome in the prolonged-pregnancy cohort. The mean ± SD Z-scores for SAPSE (-0.62 ± 1.07; P = 0.006) and TAPSE (-0.60 ± 0.89; P = 0.002) were significantly lower in the IUGR group compared to those in the normal reference population, but the differences were not significant when the values were corrected for cardiac size. The interobserver CVs for the automated measurement of MAPSE, SAPSE and TAPSE were 28.1%, 17.7% and 15.3%, respectively, and the respective intraobserver CVs were 33.5%, 15.0% and 17.9%. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that fetal AVPD can be measured automatically by integrating cTDI velocities over several cardiac cycles. Automated analysis of AVPD could potentially help gather larger datasets to facilitate use of machine-learning models to study fetal cardiac function. The gestational-age associated increase in AVPD is most likely a result of increasing cardiac size, as the AVPD normalized for cardiac size did not change significantly between 18 and 42 weeks. A decrease was seen in TAPSE and SAPSE in IUGR fetuses, but not after correction for cardiac size. © 2021 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

First-degree atrioventricular block in patients with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter: the prevalence of intra-atrial conduction delay.

PURPOSE: PR interval prolongation > 200 ms resulting in the diagnosis of first-degree atrioventricular block (AVB1) is caused by a delay in the AV nodal/His conduction and/or the right intra-atrial conduction (RIAC). The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of AVB1 due to RIAC delay (AVB1 with normal AH and HV) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFlu). METHODS: We included 1067 consecutive patients (33% female, age 63 ± 13 years) referred for catheter ablation of AF (AF-group) (453 patients), AF and AFlu (136 patients), AFlu (292 patients), and AVNRT/AVRT (186 patients). AH-, HV-, PR-interval, and P-wave duration were measured on the 12-lead ECG and the intracardiac electrograms in sinus rhythm. RIAC delay was defined as a prolonged PR interval > 200 ms with normal AH and HV intervals. RESULTS: The prevalence of AVB1 is higher in patients with AFlu (41%) and AF (21%) and patients with both arrhythmias (30%) as compared with a reference group (8%) of patients with AVNRT/AVRT. AVB1 was due to RIAC delay in 42 of 67 patients (63%) in the AF-group, in 37 of 96 patients (39%) in the AFlu-group, and in 17 of 36 patients (47%) in the AF/AFlu group, respectively. AV nodal conduction delay was more common in AFlu patients compared with AF patients. CONCLUSION: RIAC delay is a common underlying cause of AVB1 in patients with AF and AFlu. These findings may impact the prescription of antiarrhythmic and AV-nodal blocking drugs.

Long-term performance and risk factors analysis after permanent His-bundle pacing and atrioventricular node ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure.

AIMS: His-bundle pacing (HBP) combined with atrioventricular node (AVN) ablation has been demonstrated to be effective in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) during medium-term follow-up and there are limited data on the risk analysis of adverse prognosis in this population. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the long-term performance of HBP following AVN ablation in AF and HF. METHODS AND RESULTS: From August 2012 to December 2017, consecutive AF patients with HF and narrow QRS who underwent AVN ablation and HBP were enrolled. The clinical and echocardiographic data, pacing parameters, all-cause mortality, and heart failure hospitalization (HFH) were tracked. A total of 94 patients were enrolled (age 70.1 ± 10.5 years; male 57.4%). Acute HBP were achieved in 89 (94.7%) patients with successful permanent HBP combined with AVN ablation in 81 (86.2%) patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improved from 44.9 ± 14.9% at baseline to 57.6 ± 12.5% during a median follow-up of 3.0 (IQR: 2.0-4.4) years (P < 0.001). Heart failure hospitalization or all-cause mortality occurred in 21 (25.9%) patients. The LVEF ≤ 40%, pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) ≥40 mmHg, or serum creatinine (Scr) ≥97 µmol/L at baseline was significantly associated with higher composite endpoint of HFH or death (P < 0.05). The His capture threshold was 1.0 ± 0.7 V/0.5 ms at implant and remained stable during follow-up. CONCLUSION: His-bundle pacing combined with AVN ablation was effective in patients with AF and drug-refectory HF. High PASP, high Scr, or low LVEF at baseline was independent predictors of composite endpoint of all-cause mortality or HFH.

Catheter-Free Arrhythmia Ablation Using Scanned Proton Beams: Electrophysiologic Outcomes, Biophysics, and Characterization of Lesion Formation in a Porcine Model.

BACKGROUND: Proton beam therapy offers radiophysical properties that are appealing for noninvasive arrhythmia elimination. This study was conducted to use scanned proton beams for ablation of cardiac tissue, investigate electrophysiological outcomes, and characterize the process of lesion formation in a porcine model using particle therapy. METHODS: Twenty-five animals received scanned proton beam irradiation. ECG-gated computed tomography scans were acquired at end-expiration breath hold. Structures (atrioventricular junction or left ventricular myocardium) and organs at risk were contoured. Doses of 30, 40, and 55 Gy were delivered during expiration to the atrioventricular junction (n=5) and left ventricular myocardium (n=20) of intact animals. RESULTS: In this study, procedural success was tracked by pacemaker interrogation in the atrioventricular junction group, time-course magnetic resonance imaging in the left ventricular group, and correlation of lesion outcomes displayed in gross and microscopic pathology. Protein extraction (active caspase-3) was performed to investigate tissue apoptosis. Doses of 40 and 55 Gy caused slowing and interruption of cardiac impulse propagation at the atrioventricular junction. In 40 left ventricular irradiated targets, all lesions were identified on magnetic resonance after 12 weeks, being consistent with outcomes from gross pathology. In the majority of cases, lesion size plateaued between 12 and 16 weeks. Active caspase-3 was seen in lesions 12 and 16 weeks after irradiation but not after 20 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Scanned proton beams can be used as a tool for catheter-free ablation, and time-course of tissue apoptosis was consistent with lesion maturation.

Revisiting right anterior oblique projections for the triangle of Koch: implications from computed tomography.

BACKGROUND: Variability in the anatomy and orientation of the triangle of Koch (TK) complicates ablation procedures involving the atrioventricular (AV) node. We used CT angiography (CTA) to assess the anatomical TK orientation, the CS ostium direction, and the relationship between the two, and we validated an individualized CS-guided projection during ablation procedures. METHODS: In 104 patients without structural heart disease undergoing computed tomography (CT) angiography, TK orientations were determined in relation to the coronary sinus ostium (CSo) as well as two standard right anterior oblique (RAO) projection angles (30o and 45o) commonly used in ablation procedures. RESULTS: A CS-guided RAO projection (RAOCS) was shown to best track the orientation of the TK compared to RAO30° and 45°, with TK orientation strongly correlating with the CSo direction (r = 0.86, P < 0.001). In addition, the mean relative difference between the angle of the CSo and TK orientation was 5.54 ± 0.48°, consistent with a reduction in the degree of image shortening compared to traditional RAOs. Moreover, in vivo validation following ablation revealed that using a CS-guided projection limited the degree of on-screen image shortening compared to both the RAO30° and 45° in 25 patients with catheter ablation procedures. CONCLUSION: In hearts with a normal structure, the CSo direction offers a reliable predictor of the TK orientation which can be used to guide the projection of the TK during ablation procedures.

Avaliação da Dinâmica do Acoplamento da Condução Atrioventricular à Variação dos Intervalos RR em Atletas e Indivíduos Sedentários / Assessing Dynamic Atrioventricular Conduction Time to RR-interval Coupling in Athletes and Sedentary Subjects

Resumo Fundamento O tempo de condução atrioventricular (TCAV) é influenciado pelo estímulo autonômico e sujeito a remodelação fisiológica. Objetivo Avaliar a variabilidade da TCAV batimento-a-batimento e o intervalo RR em atletas e indivíduos sedentários saudáveis. Métodos Vinte adultos, incluindo 10 indivíduos sedentários saudáveis (controles) e 10 corredores de elite de longa distância (atletas), com idade, peso e altura ajustados foram submetidos à avaliação do equivalente metabólico máximo (MET) e registro de ECG em repouso supino de 15 minutos sete dias depois. O intervalo entre os picos da onda P e da onda R definiu o TCAV. Foram calculadas a média (M) e o desvio padrão (DP) de intervalos RR consecutivos (RR) e TCAV acoplados, bem como as linhas de regressão de RR vs. TCAV (RR-TCAV). A condução AV concordante foi definida como o slope RR-AVCT positivo e, caso contrário, discordante. Um modelo de regressão linear multivariada foi desenvolvido para explicar o MET com base nos parâmetros de variabilidade do TCAV e intervalo RR. Nível de significância: 5%. Resultados Nos atletas, os valores de M-RR e DP-RR foram maiores que nos controles, enquanto M-TCAV e DP-TCAV não foram. Os slopes RR-TCAV foram, respectivamente, 0,038 ± 0,022 e 0,0034 ± 0,017 (p < 0,05). Utilizando um valor de corte de 0,0044 (AUC 0,92 ± 0,07; p < 0,001), o slope RR-TCAV mostrou 100% de especificidade e 80% de sensibilidade. Em um modelo multivariado, o slope DP-RR e RR-TCAV foram variáveis explicativas independentes do MET (razão F: 17,2; p < 0,001), apresentando especificidade de 100% e sensibilidade de 90% (AUC: 0,99 ± 0,02; p < 0,001). Conclusão Em corredores de elite, o acoplamento dinâmico de TCAV para intervalo RR apresenta condução AV discordante espontânea, caracterizada por slope na linha de regressão TCAV negativa vs. intervalo RR. O desvio padrão dos intervalos RR e o slope da linha de regressão do TCAV vs. intervalo RR são variáveis explicativas independentes do MET. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Abstract Background Atrioventricular conduction time ( AVCT ) is influenced by autonomic input and subject to physiological remodeling. Objective To evaluate beat-by-beat AVCT and RR-interval variability in athletes and healthy sedentary subjects. Methods Twenty adults, including 10 healthy sedentary (Controls) and 10 elite long-distance runners (Athletes), age, weight and height-adjusted, underwent maximal metabolic equivalent (MET) assessment, and 15-min supine resting ECG recording seven days later. The interval between P-wave and R-wave peaks defined the AVCT . Mean (M) and standard deviation (SD) of consecutive RR-intervals (RR) and coupled AVCT were calculated, as well as regression lines of RR vs. AVCT (RR-AVCT) . Concordant AV conduction was defined as positive RR-AVCT slope and discordant otherwise. A multivariate linear regression model was developed to explain MET based on AVCT and RR-interval variability parameters. Significance-level: 5 %. Results In Athletes, M-RR and SD-RR values were higher than in Controls, whereas M-AVCT and SD-AVCT were not. RR-AVCT slopes were, respectively, 0.038 ± 0.022 and 0.0034 ± 0.017 (p < 0.05). Using a cut-off value of 0.0044 (AUC 0.92 ± 0.07; p < 0.001), RR-AVCT slope showed 100% specificity and 80% sensitivity. In a multivariate model, SD-RR and RR-AVCT slope were independent explanatory variables of MET (F-ratio: 17.2; p < 0.001), showing 100% specificity and 90% sensitivity (AUC 0.99 ± 0.02; p < 0.001). Conclusion In elite runners, AVCT to RR -interval dynamic coupling shows spontaneous discordant AV conduction, characterized by negative AVCT vs. RR -interval regression line slope. RR -intervals standard deviation and AVCT vs. RR -interval regression line slope are independent explanatory variables of MET (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Assessing Dynamic Atrioventricular Conduction Time to RR-interval Coupling in Athletes and Sedentary Subjects. / Avaliação da Dinâmica do Acoplamento da Condução Atrioventricular à Variação dos Intervalos RR em Atletas e Indivíduos Sedentários.

Background Atrioventricular conduction time ( AVCT ) is influenced by autonomic input and subject to physiological remodeling. Objective To evaluate beat-by-beat AVCT and RR-interval variability in athletes and healthy sedentary subjects. Methods Twenty adults, including 10 healthy sedentary (Controls) and 10 elite long-distance runners (Athletes), age, weight and height-adjusted, underwent maximal metabolic equivalent (MET) assessment, and 15-min supine resting ECG recording seven days later. The interval between P-wave and R-wave peaks defined the AVCT . Mean (M) and standard deviation (SD) of consecutive RR-intervals (RR) and coupled AVCT were calculated, as well as regression lines of RR vs. AVCT (RR-AVCT) . Concordant AV conduction was defined as positive RR-AVCT slope and discordant otherwise. A multivariate linear regression model was developed to explain MET based on AVCT and RR-interval variability parameters. Significance-level: 5 %. Results In Athletes, M-RR and SD-RR values were higher than in Controls, whereas M-AVCT and SD-AVCT were not. RR-AVCT slopes were, respectively, 0.038 ± 0.022 and 0.0034 ± 0.017 (p < 0.05). Using a cut-off value of 0.0044 (AUC 0.92 ± 0.07; p < 0.001), RR-AVCT slope showed 100% specificity and 80% sensitivity. In a multivariate model, SD-RR and RR-AVCT slope were independent explanatory variables of MET (F-ratio: 17.2; p < 0.001), showing 100% specificity and 90% sensitivity (AUC 0.99 ± 0.02; p < 0.001). Conclusion In elite runners, AVCT to RR -interval dynamic coupling shows spontaneous discordant AV conduction, characterized by negative AVCT vs. RR -interval regression line slope. RR -intervals standard deviation and AVCT vs. RR -interval regression line slope are independent explanatory variables of MET (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

Reassessment of the Location of the Conduction System in Atrioventricular Septal Defect Using Phase-Contrast Computed Tomography.

The location of the atrioventricular conduction axis in the setting of atrioventricular septal defect has previously been shown by histology and intraoperative recordings. We have now reassessed the arrangement using phase-contrast computed tomography, aiming to provide precise measurements so as to optimize future surgical repairs. We used the system based on an X-ray Talbot grating interferometer using the beamline BL20B2 in a SPring-8 synchrotron radiation facility available in Japan. We analyzed 18 specimens. The atrioventricular node was found within a nodal triangle 1.7 mm from the coronary sinus, with 95% confidence intervals from 1.45 to 2.0 millimeters. The depth of the node from the right atrial endocardium was 1.0 mm, with 95% confidence intervals from 0.73 to 1.34 mm. The overall length of the scooped-out ventricular septum was 30.8 mm, with 95% confidence intervals from 27.5 to 34.1 millimeters. The length from the inferior atrioventricular junction to the take-off of the right bundle branch was 12.8 mm, with 95% confidence intervals from 11.12 to 14.38 mm, giving a ratio of 0.43 for the extent of the axis along the inferior septum, with 95% confidence intervals of 0.38-0.48. The length of the non-branching bundle was 6.6 mm, with 95% confidence intervals from 5.57 to 7.7 mm. The proportion of septum occupied by the non-branching bundle was 0.22, with 95% confidence intervals from 0.18 to 0.26. Our findings confirm previous histological studies, extending them by providing precise measurements to guide placement of sutures during surgical repair.

Variable Arrangement of the Atrioventricular Conduction Axis Within the Triangle of Koch: Implications for Permanent His Bundle Pacing.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to describe, in detail, the angiographic, gross macroscopy, and histological dissection of the conduction axis in humans. BACKGROUND: The recent upsurge of interest in specific pacing of the atrioventricular conduction axis has emphasized the need for precise knowledge of the location of the atrial and penetrating components of the atrioventricular conduction axis. METHODS: A total of 41 human hearts were studied by serial histological sectioning and an additional 3 hearts by gross dissection. One of the hearts studied histologically was also dissected to show the location of the conduction axis prior to serial sectioning. The anatomical findings were then compared with the results of angiography undertaken in the catheter laboratory in 60 patients undergoing electrophysiological studies. RESULTS: Marked variation of the location of the transition from atrioventricular conduction axis to the penetrating atrioventricular bundle, or the bundle of His, relative to the landmarks of the triangle of Koch was observed. In just over one-half of both the specimens and the patients, the site of penetration was on the atrial aspect of the hinge of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve, with further variation noted relative to the apex of the triangle of Koch. Based on measurements of the histological sections, marked variation in the dimensions of the axis and its adjacency to the right-sided endocardium were also found. In almost three-fifths of hearts, an interventricular component of the fibrous membranous septum was not able to be identified. The significance of these findings to those who seek to perform selective pacing of the atrioventricular conduction axis are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Marked variability of the location of the conduction axis within the triangle of Koch is reported. In three-fifths of hearts, the interventricular component of the fibrous membranous septum is nonexistent.

Longitudinal Shortening of the Left Ventricle by Cine-CMR for Assessment of Diastolic Function in Patients with Aortic Valve Disease / Encurtamento Longitudinal do Ventrículo Esquerdo por Cine-RMC para Avaliação da Função Diastólica em Pacientes com Doença Valvar Aórtica

Abstract Background: Diastolic dysfunction, commonly evaluated by echocardiography, is an important early finding in many cardiomyopathies. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) often requires specialized sequences that extends the test time. Recently, feature-tracking imaging has been made available, but still requires expensive software and lacks clinical validation. Objective: To assess diastolic function in patients with aortic valve disease (AVD) and compare it with normal controls by evaluating left ventricular (LV) longitudinal displacement by CMR. Methods: We compared 26 AVD patients with 19 normal controls. Diastolic function was evaluated as LV longitudinal displacement in 4-chamber view cine-CMR images using steady state free precession (SSFP) sequence during the entire cardiac cycle with temporal resolution < 50 ms. The resulting plot of atrioventricular junction (AVJ) position versus time generated variables of AVJ motion. Significance level of p < 0.05 was used. Results: Maximum longitudinal displacement (0.12 vs. 0.17 cm), maximum velocity during early diastole (MVED, 0.6 vs. 1.4s-1), slope of the best-fit line of displacement in diastasis (VDS, 0.22 vs. 0.03s-1), and VDS/MVED ratio (0.35 vs. 0.02) were significantly reduced in AVD patients compared with controls, respectively. Aortic regurgitation showed significantly worse longitudinal LV shortening compared with aortic stenosis. Higher LV mass indicated worse diastolic dysfunction. Conclusions: A simple linear measurement detected significant differences on LV diastolic function between AVD patients and controls. LV mass was the only independent predictor of diastolic dysfunction in these patients. This method can help in the evaluation of diastolic dysfunction, improving cardiomyopathy detection by CMR, without prolonging exam time or depending on expensive software.

Resumo Fundamentos: A disfunção diastólica, comumente avaliada por ecocardiografia, é um importante achado precoce na maioria das cardiomiopatias. A ressonância magnética cardíaca (RMC) frequentemente requer sequências específicas que prolongam o tempo de exame. Recentemente, métodos de imagens com monitoramento de dados (feature-tracking) foram desenvolvidos, mas ainda requerem softwares caros e carecem de validação clínica. Objetivos: Avaliar a função diastólica em pacientes com doença valvar aórtica (DVA) e compará-la a controles normais pela medida do deslocamento longitudinal do ventrículo esquerdo (VE) por RMC. Métodos: Nós comparamos 26 pacientes com DVA com 19 controles normais. A função diastólica foi avaliada como uma medida do deslocamento longitudinal do VE nas imagens de cine-RMC no plano quatro câmaras usando a sequência steady state free precession (SSFP) durante todo o ciclo cardíaco com resolução temporal < 50 ms. O gráfico resultante da posição da junção atrioventricular versus tempo gerou variáveis de movimento da junção atrioventricular. Utilizamos nível de significância de p < 0,005. Resultados: Deslocamento longitudinal máximo (0,12 vs. 0,17 cm), velocidade máxima em início de diástole (0,6 vs. 1,4s-1), velocidade máxima na diástase (0,22 vs. 0,03s-1) e a razão entre a velocidade máxima na diástase e a velocidade máxima em diástole inicial (0,35 vs. 0,02) foram significativamente menores nos pacientes com DVA em comparação aos controles normais, respectivamente. Pacientes com insuficiência aórtica apresentaram medidas de encurtamento longitudinal do VE significativamente piores em comparação aqueles com estenose aórtica. O aumento da massa ventricular esquerda indicou pior disfunção diastólica. Conclusões: Esta simples medida linear detectou diferenças significativas na função diastólica do VE entre pacientes com DVA e controles normais. A massa ventricular esquerda foi o único preditor independente de disfunção diastólica nesses pacientes. Este método pode auxiliar na avaliação da disfunção diastólica, melhorando a detecção de cardiomiopatias por RMC sem prolongar o tempo de exame ou depender de caros softwares.

Differentiating Atrioventricular Reentry Tachycardia and Atrioventricular Node Reentry Tachycardia Using Premature His Bundle Complexes.

BACKGROUND: Current maneuvers for differentiation of atrioventricular node reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) and atrioventricular reentry tachycardia (AVRT) lack sensitivity and specificity for AVRT circuits located away from the site of pacing. We hypothesized that a premature His complex (PHC) will always perturb AVRT because the His bundle is obligatory to the circuit. Further, AVNRT could not be perturbed by a late PHC (≤20 ms ahead of the His) due to the retrograde His conduction time. Earlier PHCs can advance the AVNRT circuit but only by a quantity less than the prematurity of the PHC. METHODS: High-output pacing at the distal His location delivered PHCs. AVRT was predicted when late PHCs perturbed tachycardia or when earlier PHCs led to atrial advancement by an amount equal or greater than the degree of PHC prematurity. RESULTS: Among the 73 supraventricular tachycardias, the test accurately predicted AVRT (n=29) and AVNRT (n=44) in all cases. Late PHC advanced the circuit in all 29 AVRTs and none of the AVNRTs (sensitivity and specificity, 100%). With earlier PHCs, the degree of atrial advancement was equal or greater than the PHC prematurity in 26/29 AVRTs and none of the AVNRTs (90% sensitivity and 100% specificity). The mean prematurity of the PHC required to perturb AVNRT was 48 ms (range, 28-70 ms) and the advancement less than the prematurity of the PHC (mean, 32 ms; range, 18-54 ms). CONCLUSIONS: The responses to PHCs distinguished AVRT and AVNRT with 100% specificity and sensitivity.

Whole-Mount Immunofluorescence Staining, Confocal Imaging and 3D Reconstruction of the Sinoatrial and Atrioventricular Node in the Mouse.

The electrical signal physiologically generated by pacemaker cells in the sinoatrial node (SAN) is conducted through the conduction system, which includes the atrioventricular node (AVN), to allow excitation and contraction of the whole heart. Any dysfunction of either SAN or AVN results in arrhythmias, indicating their fundamental role in electrophysiology and arrhythmogenesis. Mouse models are widely used in arrhythmia research, but the specific investigation of SAN and AVN remains challenging. The SAN is located at the junction of the crista terminalis with the superior vena cava and AVN is located at the apex of the triangle of Koch, formed by the orifice of the coronary sinus, the tricuspid annulus, and the tendon of Todaro. However, due to the small size, visualization by conventional histology remains challenging and it does not allow the study of SAN and AVN within their 3D environment. Here we describe a whole-mount immunofluorescence approach that allows the local visualization of labelled mouse SAN and AVN. Whole-mount immunofluorescence staining is intended for smaller sections of tissue without the need for manual sectioning. To this purpose, the mouse heart is dissected, with unwanted tissue removed, followed by fixation, permeabilization and blocking. Cells of the conduction system within SAN and AVN are then stained with an anti-HCN4 antibody. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and image processing allow differentiation between nodal cells and working cardiomyocytes, and to clearly localize SAN and AVN. Furthermore, additional antibodies can be combined to label other cell types as well, such as nerve fibers. Compared to conventional immunohistology, whole-mount immunofluorescence staining preserves the anatomical integrity of the cardiac conduction system, thus allowing the investigation of AVN; especially so into their anatomy and interactions with the surrounding working myocardium and non-myocyte cells.

Longitudinal Shortening of the Left Ventricle by Cine-CMR for Assessment of Diastolic Function in Patients with Aortic Valve Disease.

BACKGROUND: Diastolic dysfunction, commonly evaluated by echocardiography, is an important early finding in many cardiomyopathies. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) often requires specialized sequences that extends the test time. Recently, feature-tracking imaging has been made available, but still requires expensive software and lacks clinical validation. OBJECTIVE: To assess diastolic function in patients with aortic valve disease (AVD) and compare it with normal controls by evaluating left ventricular (LV) longitudinal displacement by CMR. METHODS: We compared 26 AVD patients with 19 normal controls. Diastolic function was evaluated as LV longitudinal displacement in 4-chamber view cine-CMR images using steady state free precession (SSFP) sequence during the entire cardiac cycle with temporal resolution < 50 ms. The resulting plot of atrioventricular junction (AVJ) position versus time generated variables of AVJ motion. Significance level of p < 0.05 was used. RESULTS: Maximum longitudinal displacement (0.12 vs. 0.17 cm), maximum velocity during early diastole (MVED, 0.6 vs. 1.4s-1), slope of the best-fit line of displacement in diastasis (VDS, 0.22 vs. 0.03s-1), and VDS/MVED ratio (0.35 vs. 0.02) were significantly reduced in AVD patients compared with controls, respectively. Aortic regurgitation showed significantly worse longitudinal LV shortening compared with aortic stenosis. Higher LV mass indicated worse diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: A simple linear measurement detected significant differences on LV diastolic function between AVD patients and controls. LV mass was the only independent predictor of diastolic dysfunction in these patients. This method can help in the evaluation of diastolic dysfunction, improving cardiomyopathy detection by CMR, without prolonging exam time or depending on expensive software.

Acute and long-term outcomes of left-sided atrioventricular node ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

PURPOSE: To present our experience regarding acute and long-term outcomes of left-sided atrioventricular node (AVN) ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: A total of 47 patients with AF in whom left-sided AVN ablation via retroaortic approach as a first-line approach were enrolled in this retrospective study. Indications for AVN ablation were high ventricular rate refractory to medical therapy, inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks, or loss of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacing. Both acute and long-term outcomes were assessed for all participants. RESULTS: Left-sided AVN ablation was successfully performed in 46/47 (98%) patients without any procedural complication. In the remaining 1 patient (2%), right-sided AVN ablation was performed. No mortality was observed within 30 days of the procedure. Upgrade to CRT was performed in 9 (19%) of the patients. During the median 22.5 months of follow-up, all-cause mortality was 25%. Device interrogations on the last clinical visit revealed complete AV block and intrinsic ventricular rate of < 40 bpm in all patients. CONCLUSION: Left-sided AVN ablation is a safe and effective procedure without recurrence during long-term follow-up.

Ventriculoatrial conduction in patients without high-grade AV block: when is it present?

INTRODUCTION: Ventriculoatrial (VA) conduction is a critical component in many arrhythmias, has a diagnostic value in electrophysiology study (EPS), and is implicated in pacemaker-mediated arrhythmias. This study sought to characterize retrograde conduction during EPS and to utilize it as a diagnostic tool in patients without AV block. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with intact AV conduction undergoing EPS were included in this study to systematically evaluate baseline VA conduction. If absent, parahisian pacing was used to determine the level of block (nodal or infranodal). Recovery of VA conduction with increased sympathetic activity was assessed with isoproterenol infusion. Baseline characteristics and electrophysiological data were collected and analyzed. Among the 801 patients studied, VA conduction was present in 98% (81% at baseline and 17% after isoproterenol infusion). Parahisian pacing demonstrated that the block was at the AV node level among 150 patients with VA dissociation at baseline. Among patients presenting with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), 98.7% with atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) had VA conduction at baseline versus 82.7% presenting with other SVT (atrial fibrillation excluded), P < 0.001. Thus, the absence of VA conduction at baseline during an EPS for SVT carries a negative predictive value (NPV) of 96.9% for AVNRT. CONCLUSIONS: VA conduction is present in most patients (98%) with intact AV conduction. The level of VA dissociation when present at baseline is always at the level of the AV node. Patients with SVT presenting for EPS that lacked VA conduction at baseline were unlikely to have AVNRT.