Catheter ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for sustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is the primary cause of sudden cardiac death in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, the strategy for VT treatment in HCM patients remains unclear. This study is aimed to compare the effectiveness of catheter ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy for sustained VT in patients with HCM. METHODS: A total of 28 HCM patients with sustained VT at 4 different centers between December 2012 and December 2021 were enrolled. Twelve underwent catheter ablation (ablation group) and sixteen received AAD therapy (AAD group). The primary outcome was VT recurrence during follow-up. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable between two groups. After a mean follow-up of 31.4 ± 17.5 months, the primary outcome occurred in 35.7% of the ablation group and 90.6% of the AAD group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.29 [95%CI, 0.10-0.89]; P = 0.021). No differences in hospital admission due to cardiovascular cause (25.0% vs. 71.0%; P = 0.138) and cardiovascular cause-related mortality/heart transplantation (9.1% vs. 50.6%; P = 0.551) were observed. However, there was a significant reduction in the composite endpoint of VT recurrence, hospital admission due to cardiovascular cause, cardiovascular cause-related mortality, or heart transplantation in ablation group as compared to that of AAD group (42.9% vs. 93.7%; HR, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.12-0.95]; P = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: In HCM patients with sustained VT, catheter ablation reduced the VT recurrence, and the composite endpoint of VT recurrence, hospital admission due to cardiovascular cause, cardiovascular cause-related mortality, or heart transplantation as compared to AAD.

Computed tomography-guided cryoablation for adrenal metastases secondary to lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to assess the clinical efficacy of computed tomography (CT)-guided cryoablation as a means to treat adrenal metastasis (AM) secondary to lung cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a single-center retrospective study that analyzed 39 consecutive patients with AM secondary to lung cancer who underwent CT-guided cryoablation in our center. The rates of complete ablation, local recurrence, local recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. RESULTS: The rates of primary and secondary complete ablation were 94.9% and 100%, respectively, and none of the patients suffered from a hypertensive crisis associated with the treatment. Over the follow-up period, 20.5% of the patients experienced local recurrence, and the median RFS duration was 26 months. The cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year local RFS rates in this study were 84.6%, 51.3%, and 5.9%, respectively. Extra-adrenal gland metastases were detected in five patients. Over the course of follow-up, 26 patients died. The mean OS duration was 34 months with cumulative 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of 89.7%, 53.4%, and 8.3%, respectively. Advanced age (P = 0.001), primary adenocarcinoma (P = 0.006), other primary lung cancers (P = 0.038), and primary Stage III lung cancers (P = 0.007) were all found to be independent predictive factors of poor OS in these patients. CONCLUSION: CT-guided cryoablation can be safely and effectively used to control AM secondary to lung cancer, and patients with AM secondary to lung squamous cell carcinoma may be best suited for this form of treatment.

Clinical Outcomes of low-voltage area-guided left atrial linear ablation for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation patients.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic effect of low-voltage area (LVA)-guided left atrial (LA) linear ablation for non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (non-PAF) is uncertain. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of LA linear ablation based on the preexisting LVA and its effects on LA reverse remodeling in non-PAF patients. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 145 consecutive patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation for drug-refractory non-PAF. CARTO-guided bipolar voltage mapping was performed in atrial fibrillation (AF). LVA was defined as sites with voltage ≤ 0.5 mV. If circumferential pulmonary vein isolation couldn't convert AF into sinus rhythm, additional LA linear ablation was performed preferentially at sites within LVA. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up duration of 48 ± 33 months, 29 of 145 patients had drugs-refractory AF/LA tachycardia recurrence. Low LA emptying fraction, large LA size and high extent of LVA were associated with AF recurrence. There were 136 patients undergoing LA linear ablation. The rate of linear block at the mitral isthmus was significantly higher via LVA-guided than non-LVA-guided linear ablation. Patients undergoing LVA-guided linear ablation had larger LA size and higher extent of LVA, but the long-term AF/LA tachycardia-free survival rate was higher than the non-LVA-guided group. The LA reverse remodeling effects by resuming sinus rhythm were noted even in patients with a diseased left atrium undergoing extensive LA linear ablation. CONCLUSIONS: LVA-guided linear ablation through targeting the arrhythmogenic LVA and reducing LA mass provides a better clinical outcome than non-LVA guided linear ablation, and outweighs the harmful effects of iatrogenic scaring in non-PAF patients.

High-power, short-duration ablation for atrial fibrillation: Pros and cons.

This article reviews and compares the rationale and evidence supporting high-power, short-duration radiofrequency (RF) ablation with those of conventional-power, conventional-duration RF ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). The pros and cons of each approach, biophysics of ablation, pre-clinical studies informing clinical utilization, and the accumulated clinical evidence are presented. Both conventional-power, conventional-duration RF ablation and high-power, short-duration ablation are similarly safe, and effective approaches for AF ablation. Theoretical advantages of high-power, short-duration ablation, including greater procedure efficiency and limited conductive heating of collateral structures, must be weighed against the narrower safety margin related to rapid energy delivery during high power ablation.

Electrical storm: Prognosis and management.

Electrical storm is present when a cluster of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) occurs within a short time frame. The most widely accepted definition is 3 or more episodes of VA within a 24-h period, although prognostic risk begins to rise when 2 or more events occur within 3months. Electrical storm often presents as a medical emergency in the form of recurrent implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) shocks, recurrent syncope in patients with no ICD or low cardiac output symptoms. Management often requires a multimodality approach including ICD management, pharmacologic therapy, catheter ablation and modulations of the autonomic nervous system. In this article, we review the definition, prognosis and management of electrical storm.

The role of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation in patients with heart failure.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) frequently coexist, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Therapeutic options for patients with AF and HFrEF are limited due to few antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) choices and historically equivocal effects of procedural interventions on mortality. However, recent randomized trials examining catheter ablation (CA) in AF patients with HFrEF have shown a beneficial effect on arrhythmic burden and HF symptoms, as well as an improvement in mortality. This review focuses on the role of CA for AF patients with HFrEF.

Long term prognosis in patients with pulmonary hypertension undergoing catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia.

Various forms of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) occur in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension (PH). Despite the high efficacy of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for SVT, insufficient data exist regarding patients with PH. Thirty SVTs in 23 PH patients (age 47 [35-60] years; mean pulmonary artery pressure 44 [32-50] mmHg) were analyzed. Procedural success rate, short- and long-term clinical outcomes, were evaluated during a median follow-up of 5.1 years. Single-procedure success rate was 83%; 94% (17/18) in typical atrial flutter, 73% (8/11) in atrial tachycardia (AT), and 100% (1/1) in atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. Antiarrhythmic drugs, serum brain natriuretic peptide levels and number of hospitalizations significantly decreased after RFCA than that before (p = 0.002, 0.04, and 0.002, respectively). Four patients had several procedures. After last RFCA, 12 patients had SVT and 8 patients died. Kaplan-Meier curves showed that patients with SVT after the last RFCA had a lower survival rate compared to those without (p = 0.0297). Multivariate analysis identified any SVT after the last RFCA as significant risk factor of mortality (hazard ratio: 9.31; p = 0.016). RFCA for SVT in patients with PH is feasible and effective in the short-term, but SVT is common during long-term follow-up and associated with lower survival.

Catheter Ablation in Neonate with Heart Failure Due to Incessant Atrioventricular Reentrant Tachycardia

Abstract The atrioventricular (AV) reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) is the most common cause of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in the young pediatric population. Some newborns might present with congestive heart failure and require interventional treatment. Catheter ablation in small infants (<6 months and <5 kg) is still poorly performed and controversial due to high complications rate in this group of patients.1 We report a case of a 28 days old infant (3,5 kg) with a drug-refractory left accessory pathway mediated tachycardia and severe hemodynamic compromise, who underwent catheter ablation. Radiofrequency ablation should be part of the therapeutic arsenal in a context of drug-resistant supraventricular tachycardia with hemodynamic compromise, despite the greater risks of complications in this special population.

Catheter ablation in adults with congenital heart disease: A 15-year perspective from a tertiary centre.

BACKGROUND: With the growing adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population, the number of catheter ablation procedures is expected to dramatically increase. Data reporting experience and evolution of catheter ablation in patients with ACHD, over a significant period of time, remain scarce. AIM: We aimed to describe temporal trends in volume and outcomes of catheter ablation in patients with ACHD. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study including all consecutive patients with ACHD undergoing attempted catheter ablation in a large tertiary referral centre over a 15-year period. Acute procedural success rate and freedom from recurrence at 12 and 24 months were analysed. RESULTS: From November 2004 to November 2019, 302 catheter ablations were performed in 221 patients with ACHD (mean age 43.6±15.0 years; 58.9% male sex). The annual number of catheter ablations increased progressively from four to 60 cases per year (P<0.001). Intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia/focal atrial tachycardia was the most common arrhythmia (n=217, 71.9%). Over the study period, acute procedural success rate increased from 45.0% to 93.4% (P<0.001). Use of irrigated catheters (odds ratio [OR] 4.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.86-8.55), a three-dimensional mapping system (OR 3.70, 95% CI 1.72-7.74), contact force catheters (OR 3.60, 95% CI 1.81-7.38) and high-density mapping (OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.82-8.14) were associated with acute procedural success. The rate of freedom from any recurrence at 12 months increased from 29.4% to 66.2% (P=0.001). Seven (2.3%) non-fatal complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The number of catheter ablation procedures in patients with ACHD has increased considerably over the past 15 years. Growing experience and advances in ablative technologies appear to be associated with a significant improvement in acute and mid-term outcomes.

Management of Arrhythmias After Heart Transplant: Current State and Considerations for Future Research.

Orthotropic heart transplantation remains the most effective therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure, with a median survival of ≈13 years. Yet, a number of complications are observed after orthotropic heart transplantation, including atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Several factors contribute to arrhythmias, such as autonomic denervation, effect of the surgical technique, acute and chronic rejection, and transplant vasculopathy among others. To minimize risk of future arrhythmias, the bicaval technique and minimizing ischemic time are current surgical standards. Sinus node dysfunction is the most common indication for early (within 30 days) pacemaker implantation, whereas atrioventricular block incidence increases as time from transplant increases. Atrial fibrillation can occur in the first few weeks following transplantation but is uncommon in the long term unless secondary to a precipitant such as acute rejection. The most common atrial arrhythmias are atrial flutters, which are mainly typical, but atypical circuits can be observed such as those that involve the remnant donor atrium in regions immediately adjacent to the atrioatrial anastomosis suture line. Choosing the appropriate pharmacological therapy requires careful consideration due to the potential interaction with immunosuppressive agents. Despite historical concerns, adenosine is effective and safe at reduced doses if administered under cardiac monitoring. Catheter ablation has emerged as an effective treatment strategy for symptomatic supraventricular tachycardias, including ablation of atypical flutter circuits. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy is an important risk factor for sudden cardiac death, yet the role of prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implant for sudden death prevention is unclear. Current indications for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation are as in the nontransplant population. A number of questions for future research are posed.

Electrical Substrate Ablation for Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation: Results of the AVATAR Study.

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Changing trends in hepatocellular carcinoma management: Results from a nationwide database in the last decade.

OBJECTIVE: The therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have greatly expanded in recent years. However, the actual usage of each of these treatments in clinical routine remains unknown. Here, we analysed the distribution and changes of the main surgical and radiological therapeutic procedures nationwide during the last decade. METHODS: Retrospectively, analysis of the data on all >18-year-old patients with a diagnosis of HCC identified in the French Program for the Medicalization of Information Systems database that contains all discharge summaries from all French hospitals. The number and percentage of the therapeutic procedures performed from January 2010 to December 2019 were extracted. RESULTS: A total of 68,416 therapeutic procedures were performed in 34,000 HCC patients. Whereas HCC incidence remained stable, the annual number of procedures frankly increased over the decade (from 4267 to 8042). Trans-arterial chemoembolization was the most frequently performed technical procedure, with a double-digit annual growth from 2010 (n = 1932) to 2015 (n = 4085), before stabilization from 2016. Selective internal radiation therapy displayed the highest increase in the decade (+475%). Among curative treatments, the annual number of percutaneous tumour ablations more than doubled in 10 years, till representing 64% of curative treatments in cirrhotic patients in 2019. Surgical tumour resections showed a 1.5-fold increase in 10 years, due to the great increase in minimally invasive approaches, whereas the proportion of open resection progressively decreased. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive procedures have gained major importance in HCC management during the last decade. Percutaneous thermal ablation has emerged as the first curative treatment performed for patients with HCC.

Ablation of atrial fibrillation during coronary artery bypass grafting: Late outcomes in a Medicare population.

BACKGROUND: This study compares outcomes of patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with or without concomitant atrial fibrillation ablation in a nationally representative Medicare cohort. OBJECTIVES: This study examined early and late outcomes in CABG patients with a preoperative history of atrial fibrillation to determine the correlation between surgical atrial fibrillation ablation to mortality and stroke or systemic embolization. METHODS: In the Medicare-linked Society of Thoracic Surgeons database, 361,138 patients underwent isolated CABG from 2006 to 2013; 34,600 (9.6%) had preoperative atrial fibrillation; 10,541 (30.5%) were treated with surgical ablation (ablation group), and 23,059 were not (no ablation group). Propensity score matching was performed using a hierarchical mixed model. Long-term survival was summarized using Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression models with robust variance estimation. The stroke or systemic embolization incidence was modeled using the Fine-Gray model. Median follow-up was 4 years. RESULTS: Long-term mortality in propensity score-matched CABG patients (mean age 74 years; Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk score, 2.25) receiving ablation versus no ablation was similar (log-rank P = .30). Stroke or systemic embolization occurred in 2.2% versus 2.1% at 30 days and 9.9% versus 12.0% at 5 years (Gray P = .0091). Landmark analysis from 2 to 5 years showed lower mortality (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval 0.82-0.97; P = .0358) and lower risk of stroke or systemic embolization (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.61-0.87; P = .0006) in the ablation group. CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant ablation in CABG patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation is associated with lower stroke or systemic embolization and mortality in patients who survive more than 2 years.

Impact of ablation algorithm versus tumor-dependent parameters on local control after microwave ablation of malignant liver tumors.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of tumor versus ablation-algorithm dependent parameters on local recurrence (LR) after microwave ablation (MWA) of liver malignancies. METHODS: This was an institutional review board-approved study of patients who underwent laparoscopic or open MWA of malignant liver tumors. The impact of ablation algorithm (stepwise or direct heating, single or overlapping ablations, and ablation margin) and tumor-dependent (type, size, location, and blood vessel proximity) parameters on LR was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards. RESULTS: A total of 179 patients with 602 liver tumors underwent 200 MWA procedures. Colorectal liver metastasis (CLM) was the most frequent tumor type followed by neuroendocrine liver metastasis (NELM), other metastatic tumors, and hepatocellular cancer (HCC). For patients followed at least a year with imaging, LR rate was 8.8% per lesion and 13.1%,1.3%, 11.7%, and 12.6%, for CLM, NELM, HCC, and other tumor types, respectively. On multivariate analysis, independent predictors of LR included tumor type, tumor size, and ablation margin. CONCLUSION: LR after MWA for malignant liver tumors is predicted by both tumor and surgeon-dependent factors. Variations in the ablation algorithm did not affect LR, leaving the ablation margin as the only parameter that could be modified to optimize local tumor control.

Does ablation of atrial fibrillation at the time of septal myectomy improve survival of patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the outcomes after septal myectomy in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy according to atrial fibrillation and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation. METHODS: We reviewed patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who underwent septal myectomy at the Mayo Clinic from 2001 to 2016. History of atrial fibrillation was obtained from patient histories and electrocardiograms. All-cause mortality was the primary end point. RESULTS: A total of 2023 patients underwent septal myectomy, of whom 394 (19.5%) had at least 1 episode of atrial fibrillation preoperatively. Among patients with atrial fibrillation, 76 (19.3%) had only 1 known episode, 278 (70.6%) had recurrent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and 40 (10.2%) had persistent atrial fibrillation. Surgical ablation was performed in 190 patients at the time of septal myectomy, including 148 with pulmonary vein isolation and 42 with the classic maze procedure. Among all patients, operative mortality was 0.4%, and there were no early deaths in patients undergoing surgical ablation. Over a median follow-up of 5.6 years, patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation had increased mortality (hazard ratio, 1.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.97-1.91; P = .070) after multivariable adjustment for comorbidities. When considering the impact of atrial fibrillation with or without surgical treatment, the adjusted hazard ratio for mortality in patients undergoing ablation compared with no ablation was 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.52-1.69; P = .824). CONCLUSIONS: Atrial fibrillation is present preoperatively in one-fifth of patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy undergoing myectomy and showed a trend toward higher all-cause mortality. Survival of patients undergoing septal myectomy with preoperative atrial fibrillation was similar between those who did and did not receive concomitant surgical ablation.

Surgical microwave ablation of otherwise non-resectable colorectal cancer liver metastases: Expanding opportunities for long term survival.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) are the most common extra-lymphatic metastases in colorectal cancers, however, only 15-20% of these patients are candidates for resection. We reviewed our institutional experience with 135 surgical ablations for unresectable CRLM. METHODS: Retrospective review of surgically ablated CRLM from 2009 to 2018. Patient-specific variables were obtained from the medical record. Kaplan-Meier modeling was performed for survival analyses. RESULTS: We ablated 135 CRLM in 36 patients over 40 procedures. Median age was 52 years and 58% of patients were male. All patients received systemic chemotherapy. The ablation procedure was completed laparoscopically in 68% of procedures. Median number of ablated lesions per patient was 2 (range 1-15). Median maximum diameter of ablated lesions was 1.9 cm (range 0.5-12.2). Median follow up of the study was 28 months. In this time, median disease-free survival was not reached. Of the 135 lesions ablated, the per-lesion recurrence rate was 6/135 (4.4%). Median overall survival was 81 months. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical ablation of CRLM can provide excellent local control and long-term survival outcomes in patients who may otherwise not be candidates for other liver-directed therapies.

Catheter ablation and mortality, stroke and heart failure readmission with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Recent randomised clinical trials have suggested prognostic benefits of catheter ablation in highly selected patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to identify the treatment effect associated with catheter ablation in a broad population of patients with AF and HF. METHODS: Through nationwide administrative registers in Denmark, we estimated the 2-year average treatment effect (ATE) of catheter ablation for AF on a composite endpoint of HF readmission, stroke and all-cause mortality at 1-year and 5-year landmark analyses. The primary cohort was patients with AF before HF, and the second cohort of patients with HF before AF. RESULTS: A total of 13 756 patients were included with 9904 patients in the primary cohort, and 3852 in the secondary. An ATE (95% CI) reduction of the composite endpoint of 7.0% (4.5% to 9.5%) was observed in the primary cohort and 11.8% (6.0% to 17.6%) in the secondary in the 1-year landmark analysis with a reduction in all-cause mortality of 5.8% (3.7%-7.8%) and 6.3% (0.9%-11.7%), respectively. At the 5-year landmark, catheter ablation was associated with reductions in the composite endpoint and all-cause mortality in the primary (4.7% (2.3% to 7.2%), and 3.6% (1.0% to 6.3%), respectively), but not in the secondary cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Ablation was associated with decreased risk of HF readmission, stroke and all-cause mortality in patients with AF and HF. The effect is most substantial in patients with AF before HF and with catheter ablation after 1 year from the diagnosis of both conditions.

Safety and efficacy of the combination therapy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization and ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma with inferior vena cava tumor thrombus: A consecutive case series.

This study was designed to propose a classification of inferior vena cava tumor thrombus (IVCTT) and retrospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination therapy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and sequential percutaneous ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with IVCTT. All HCC patients with IVCTT who underwent the combination therapies of TACE and sequential percutaneous ablation therapy between January 2015 and December 2017 in Beijing Youan Hospital were included in the study. The demographic, clinical, and pathological data were recorded. The response rate and overall survival (OS) rate were statistically analyzed. A classification system of IVCTT types was proposed based on the anatomical structure and ablation technique, which contained five types of IVCTT. Different types of IVCTT require different ablation strategies. For the response rate of IVCTT, complete response was achieved in all six patients. The 1- and 2-year OS rates were 88.3% and 55.6%, respectively. The new classification system and corresponding ablation strategies proposed in this study provided guidance for the use of ablation therapy for IVCTT. The combination therapy of TACE and ablation is effective and safe for treating HCC with IVCTT.

Meta-analysis of medical management versus catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Several observational studies have shown a survival benefit for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who are treated with catheter ablation (CA) rather than medical management (MM). However, data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are uncertain. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of RCTs that compared the benefits of CA and MM in treatment of AF. We searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and EMBASE databases for RCTs that compared AF ablation with MM from the time of database establishment up to January 2020. The risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used as a measure treatment effect. Twenty-six RCTs that enrolled a total of 5788 patients were included in the meta-analysis. In this meta-analysis, the effect of AF ablation depended on the baseline level of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in the heart failure (HF) patients. AF ablation appears to be of benefit to patients with a lesser degree of advanced HF and better LVEF by reducing mortality. Meanwhile, this mortality advantage was manifested in long-term follow-up. CA increased the risk for hospitalization when it was used as first-line therapy and decreased the risk when used as second-line therapy. CA reduced recurrence of atrial arrhythmia for different types of AF (paroxysmal or persistent AF) and CA-related complications were non-negligible. There was no convincing evidence for a reduction in long-term stroke risk after AF ablation, and additional high quality RCTs are needed to address that issue.