Hybrid ablation for persistent/long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials.

The efficacy and safety of hybrid ablation (HA) for patients with non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) remain unclear. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing HA (endo-epicardial ablation) versus endocardial ablation (EA) for patients with persistent/long-standing persistent AF. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled. Our meta-analysis included 3 RCTs comprising 358 patients, of whom 233 (65.1%) were randomized to HA. Compared with EA, HA reduced the recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias (RR 0.53; 95% CI 0.41-0.69; p < 0.01) but had no subgroup interaction according to AF type (p = 0.90). There was no significant difference in major adverse events (RR 1.22; 95% CI 0.46-3.25; p = 0.68). Trial sequential analysis indicates that the observed effects can be deemed conclusive. In conclusion, in patients with persistent/long-standing persistent AF, HA substantially reduced the recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias. Notably, patients with long-standing persistent AF may benefit more from this ablation strategy.

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction patients: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) remains unsettled. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of catheter ablation (CA) and medical therapy compared to medical therapy alone in patients with AF and HFrEF. METHODS: We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CA with guideline-directed medical therapy for AF in patients with HFrEF (left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≤ 40%). We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for eligible trials. A random effects model was used to calculate the risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Six RCTs comprising 1055 patients were included, of whom 530 (50.2%) were randomized to CA. Compared with medical therapy, CA was associated with a significant reduction in heart failure (HF) hospitalization (RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.45-0.72; P < .01), cardiovascular mortality (RR 0.46; 95% CI 0.31-0.70; P < .01), all-cause mortality (RR 0.53; 95% CI 0.36-0.78; P < .01), and AF burden (MD -29.8%; 95% CI -43.73% to -15.90%; P < .01). Also, there was a significant improvement in LVEF (MD 3.8%; 95% CI 1.6%-6.0%; P < .01) and quality of life (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire; MD -4.92 points; 95% CI -8.61 to -1.22 points; P < .01) in the ablation group. CONCLUSION: In this meta-analysis of RCTs of patients with AF and HFrEF, CA was associated with a reduction in HF hospitalization, cardiovascular mortality, and all-cause mortality as well as a significant improvement in LVEF and quality of life.

Adjunctive low-voltage area ablation for patients with atrial fibrillation: An updated meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of adjunctive low-voltage area (LVA) ablation on outcomes of catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) remains uncertain. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CA with versus without LVA ablation for patients with AF. Risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled with a random-effects model. Our primary endpoint was recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA), including AF, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia. We used R version 4.3.1 for all statistical analyses. RESULTS: Our meta-analysis included 10 RCTs encompassing 1780 patients, of whom 890 (50%) were randomized to LVA ablation. Adjunctive LVA ablation significantly reduced recurrence of ATA (RR 0.76; 95% CI 0.67-0.88; p < .01) and reduced the number of redo ablation procedures (RR 0.54; 95% CI 0.35-0.85; p < .01), as compared with conventional ablation. Among 691 (43%) patients with documented LVAs on baseline substrate mapping, adjunctive LVA ablation substantially reduced ATA recurrences (RR 0.57; 95% CI 0.38-0.86; p < .01). There was no significant difference between groups in terms of periprocedural adverse events (RR 0.78; 95% CI 0.39-1.56; p = .49). CONCLUSIONS: Adjunctive LVA ablation is an effective and safe strategy for reducing recurrences of ATA among patients who undergo CA for AF.

Individuals with chronic epilepsy have elevated P-wave heterogeneity comparable to patients with atrial fibrillation.

OBJECTIVE: Identification of epilepsy patients with elevated risk for atrial fibrillation (AF) is critical given the heightened morbidity and premature mortality associated with this arrhythmia. Epilepsy is a worldwide health problem affecting nearly 3.4 million people in the United States alone. The potential for increased risk for AF in patients with epilepsy is not well appreciated, despite recent evidence from a national survey of 1.4 million hospitalizations indicating that AF is the most common arrhythmia in people with epilepsy. METHODS: We analyzed inter-lead heterogeneity of P-wave morphology, a marker reflecting arrhythmogenic nonuniformities of activation/conduction in atrial tissue. The study groups consisted of 96 patients with epilepsy and 44 consecutive patients with AF in sinus rhythm before clinically indicated ablation. Individuals without cardiovascular or neurological conditions (n = 77) were also assessed. We calculated P-wave heterogeneity (PWH) by second central moment analysis of simultaneous beats from leads II, III, and aVR ("atrial dedicated leads") from standard 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) recordings from admission day to the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). RESULTS: Female patients composed 62.5%, 59.6%, and 57.1% of the epilepsy, AF, and control subjects, respectively. The AF cohort was older (66 ± 1.1 years) than the epilepsy group (44 ± 1.8 years, p < .001). The level of PWH was greater in the epilepsy group than in the control group (67 ± 2.6 vs. 57 ± 2.5 µV, p = .046) and reached levels observed in AF patients (67 ± 2.6 vs. 68 ± 4.9 µV, p = .99). In multiple linear regression analysis, PWH levels in individuals with epilepsy were mainly correlated with the PR interval and could be related to sympathetic tone. Epilepsy remained associated with PWH after adjustments for cardiac risk factors, age, and sex. SIGNIFICANCE: Patients with chronic epilepsy have increased PWH comparable to levels observed in patients with AF, while being ~20 years younger, suggesting an acceleration in structural change and/or cardiac electrical instability. These observations are consistent with emerging evidence of an "epileptic heart" condition.

Reduction in atrial and ventricular electrical heterogeneity following pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) modulates the intrinsic cardiac autonomic nervous system and reduces atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis, we investigated the impact of PVI on ECG interlead P-wave, R-wave, and T-wave heterogeneity (PWH, RWH, TWH) in 45 patients in sinus rhythm undergoing clinically indicated PVI for AF. We measured PWH as a marker of atrial electrical dispersion and AF susceptibility and RWH and TWH as markers of ventricular arrhythmia risk along with standard ECG measures. RESULTS: PVI acutely (16 ± 8.9 h) reduced PWH by 20.7% (from 31 ± 1.9 to 25 ± 1.6 µV, p < 0.001) and TWH by 27% (from 111 ± 7.8 to 81 ± 6.5 µV, p < 0.001). RWH was unchanged after PVI (p = 0.068). In a subgroup of 20 patients with longer follow-up (mean = 47 ± 3.7 days after PVI), PWH remained low (25 ± 1.7 µV, p = 0.01), but TWH partially returned to the pre-ablation level (to 93 ± 10.2, p = 0.16). In three individuals with early recurrence of atrial arrhythmia in the first 3 months after ablation, PWH increased acutely by 8.5%, while in patients without early recurrence, PWH decreased acutely by 22.3% (p = 0.048). PWH was superior to other contemporary P-wave metrics including P-wave axis, dispersion, and duration in predicting early AF recurrence. CONCLUSION: The rapid time course of decreased PWH and TWH after PVI suggests a beneficial influence likely mediated via ablation of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system. Acute responses of PWH and TWH to PVI suggest a favorable dual effect on atrial and ventricular electrical stability and could be used to track individual patients' electrical heterogeneity profile.

Anterior vs. posterior position of dispersive patch during radiofrequency catheter ablation: insights from in silico modelling.

AIMS: To test the hypothesis that the dispersive patch (DP) location does not significantly affect the current distribution around the catheter tip during radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) but may affect lesions size through differences in impedance due to factors far from the catheter tip. METHODS: An in silico model of RFCA in the posterior left atrium and anterior right ventricle was created using anatomic measurements from patient thoracic computed tomography scans and tested the effect of anterior vs. posterior DP locations on baseline impedance, myocardial power delivery, radiofrequency current path, and predicted lesion size. RESULTS: For posterior left atrium ablation, the baseline impedance, total current delivered, current distribution, and proportion of power delivered to the myocardium were all similar with both anterior and posterior DP locations, resulting in similar RFCA lesion sizes (< 0.2 mm difference). For anterior right ventricular (RV) ablation, an anterior DP location resulted in slightly higher proportion of power delivered to the myocardium and lower baseline impedance leading to slightly larger RFCA lesions (0.6 mm deeper and 0.8 mm wider). CONCLUSIONS: An anterior vs. posterior DP location will not meaningfully affect RFCA for posterior left atrial ablation, and the slightly larger lesions predicted with anterior DP location for anterior RV ablation are of unclear clinical significance.

There is no correlation between stages of nafld assessed by liver biopsy and the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia in active populations: a cross-sectional study / Não há correlação entre os estágios da dhgna avaliados por biópsia hepática e os critérios diagnósticos para sarcopenia em populações ativas: um estudo transversal / No existe correlación entre las etapas de ehgna evaluadas mediante biopsia hepática y los criterios diagnósticos de sarcopenia en poblaciones activas: un estudio transversal

Objective: To demonstrate the correlations of the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia and the levels of Non-alcoholic Fat Liver Disease (NAFLD) assessed by liver biopsy in a physically active population. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Individuals aged >18 years, with NAFLD confirmed by liver biopsy, physically active. Sarcopenia assessment followed EWGSOP2: muscle strength by handgrip, Skeletal Muscle Mass by Bioimpedance, and physical performance by usual gait speed. Statistical Analysis: To test differences between groups in continuous variables, Student's T or Mann-Whitney U Test for independent samples. Pearson and Spearman tests were used for correlations. A 5% significance was considered (p<0.05). Results: 52 patients with NAFLD included, consisting of 35 women and 15 men. There was no difference in age or anthropometric variables. Were found difference statically significant in platelets (higher in women), basal insulin, HOMA-IR and Quick (higher in men). In sarcopenia, the handgrip strength showed difference in favors of men. There was no statistically significant correlation between the sarcopenia and NAFLD levels. Discussion: sarcopenia has been reported as an independent risk factor for NAFLD and its progressions. The physical exercise is one of the most recommended and more effective treatment for both conditions, so is expected that a non-sedentary individual can reduce both indicators. However, there is no consensus about the best method. Also, the both conditions share heterogeneity in diagnosis, prognosis, reason for develop and risk factors across the literature. Conclusion: For populations where most individuals are physically active, it is not possible to find correlation between sarcopenia diagnostic criteria and the stages of NAFLD.

Objetivo: Demonstrar as correlações dos critérios diagnósticos de sarcopenia e dos níveis de doença hepática gordurosa não alcoólica (DHGNA) avaliados por biópsia hepática em uma população fisicamente ativa. Métodos: Estudo transversal. Indivíduos com idade >18 anos, com DHGNA confirmada por biópsia hepática, fisicamente ativos. A avaliação da sarcopenia seguiu o EWGSOP2: força muscular por preensão manual, massa muscular esquelética por bioimpedância e performance física por velocidade usual de marcha. Análise Estatística: Para testar diferenças entre grupos nas variáveis contínuas, teste T de Student ou Teste U de Mann-Whitney para amostras independentes. Os testes de Pearson e Spearman foram utilizados para correlações. Foi considerada significância de 5% (p<0,05). Resultados: Foram incluídos 52 pacientes com DHGNA, sendo 35 mulheres e 15 homens. Não houve diferença na idade ou nas variáveis antropométricas. Foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas em plaquetas (maior em mulheres), insulina basal, HOMA-IR e Quick (maior em homens). Na sarcopenia, a força de preensão manual apresentou diferença em favor dos homens. Não houve correlação estatisticamente significativa entre os níveis de sarcopenia e DHGNA. Discussão: a sarcopenia tem sido relatada como fator de risco independente para DHGNA e suas progressões. O exercício físico é um dos tratamentos mais recomendados e mais eficazes para ambas as condições, pelo que se espera que um indivíduo não sedentário consiga reduzir ambos os indicadores. No entanto, não há consenso sobre o melhor método. Além disso, ambas as condições compartilham heterogeneidade no diagnóstico, prognóstico, razão de desenvolvimento e fatores de risco em toda a literatura. Conclusão: Para populações onde a maioria dos indivíduos é fisicamente ativo, não é possível encontrar correlação entre os critérios diagnósticos de sarcopenia e os estágios da DHGNA.

Objetivo: demostrar las correlaciones de los criterios diagnósticos de sarcopenia y los niveles de enfermedad del hígado graso no alcohólico (EHGNA) evaluados mediante biopsia hepática en una población físicamente activa. Métodos: Estudio transversal. Individuos mayores de 18 años, con EHGNA confirmada mediante biopsia hepática, físicamente activos. La evaluación de la sarcopenia siguió el EWGSOP2: fuerza muscular mediante agarre manual, masa muscular esquelética mediante bioimpedancia y rendimiento físico mediante velocidad de marcha habitual. Análisis estadístico: Para probar diferencias entre grupos en variables continuas, prueba T de Student o U de Mann-Whitney para muestras independientes. Para las correlaciones se utilizaron las pruebas de Pearson y Spearman. Se consideró una significancia del 5% (p<0,05). Resultados: Se incluyeron 52 pacientes con EHGNA, 35 mujeres y 15 hombres. No hubo diferencia en la edad ni en variables antropométricas. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en plaquetas (mayor en mujeres), insulina basal, HOMA- IR y Quick (mayor en hombres). En la sarcopenia, la fuerza de prensión manual mostró diferencia a favor de los hombres. No hubo correlación estadísticamente significativa entre la sarcopenia y los niveles de NAFLD. Discusión: la sarcopenia ha sido reportada como un factor de riesgo independiente para NAFLD y sus progresiones. El ejercicio físico es uno de los tratamientos más recomendados y efectivos para ambas afecciones, por lo que se espera que una persona no sedentaria pueda reducir ambos indicadores. Sin embargo, no hay consenso sobre cuál es el mejor método. Además, ambas afecciones comparten heterogeneidad en el diagnóstico, pronóstico, motivo de desarrollo y factores de riesgo en la literatura. Conclusión: Para poblaciones donde la mayoría de las personas son físicamente activas, no es posible encontrar correlación entre los criterios de diagnóstico de sarcopenia y las etapas de NAFLD.

Limitations of Baseline Impedance, Impedance Drop and Current for Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation Monitoring: Insights from In silico Modeling.

Background: Baseline impedance, radiofrequency current, and impedance drop during radiofrequency catheter ablation are thought to predict effective lesion formation. However, quantifying the contributions of local versus remote impedances provides insights into the limitations of indices using those parameters. Methods: An in silico model of left atrial radiofrequency catheter ablation was used based on human thoracic measurements and solved for (1) initial impedance (Z), (2) percentage of radiofrequency power delivered to the myocardium and blood (3) total radiofrequency current, (4) impedance drop during heating, and (5) lesion size after a 25 W−30 s ablation. Remote impedance was modeled by varying the mixing ratio between skeletal muscle and fat. Local impedance was modeled by varying insertion depth of the electrode (ID). Results: Increasing the remote impedance led to increased baseline impedance, lower system current delivery, and reduced lesion size. For ID = 0.5 mm, Z ranged from 115 to 132 Ω when fat percentage varied from 20 to 80%, resulting in a decrease in the RF current from 472 to 347 mA and a slight decrease in lesion size from 5.6 to 5.1 mm in depth, and from 9.2 to 8.0 mm in maximum width. In contrast, increasing the local impedance led to lower system current but larger lesions. For a 50% fat−muscle mixture, Z ranged from 118 to 138 Ω when ID varied from 0.3 to 1.9 mm, resulting in a decrease in the RF current from 463 to 443 mA and an increase in lesion size, from 5.2 up to 7.5 mm in depth, and from 8.4 up to 11.6 mm in maximum width. In cases of nearly identical Z but different contributions of local and remote impedance, markedly different lesions sizes were observed despite only small differences in RF current. Impedance drop better predicted lesion size (R2 > 0.93) than RF current (R2 < 0.1). Conclusions: Identical baseline impedances and observed RF currents can lead to markedly different lesion sizes with different relative contributions of local and remote impedances to the electrical circuit. These results provide mechanistic insights into the advantage of measuring local impedance and identifies potential limitations of indices incorporating baseline impedance or current to predict lesion quality.

EXERCISE IN THE PHYSICAL REHABILITATION OF CIRROTICS: A RANDOMIZED PILOT STUDY.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise delays the sarcopenic process and can reverse the loss of muscle strength, improve quality of life and prognosis in cirrhotic patients. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to verify the effects of face-to-face versus home aerobic exercise on the variables fatigue, respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, functional capacity and quality of life in patients with compensated cirrhosis. METHODS: Patients were selected by convenience, stratified and randomized into supervised face-to-face exercise (n=13) and home exercise without daily supervision (n=12). Patients were submitted to a program of aerobic physical exercises, with progressive duration of 30 to 50 minutes, twice a week for twelve weeks. Before starting the program and every four weeks, all patients in both groups were assessed for fatigue (fatigue severity scale), respiratory (Pimáx and Pemáx) and peripheral (concentric quadriceps peak torque) muscle strength, functional capacity (6-minute walking distance) and quality of life (Short Form-36 Health Survey questionnaire). RESULTS: The face-to-face group showed reduced fatigue (P<0.001), increased inspiratory (P<0.001), expiratory (P<0.001) and peripheral (P<0.001) muscle strength of the 6MWD (P<0.001) and improved quality of life. The home group showed no significant improvement in these variables. CONCLUSION: A face-to-face program of moderate aerobic exercise in patients with compensated cirrhosis reduces fatigue, improves functional capacity and quality of life and increases respiratory and peripheral muscle strength. Home physical exercises do not cause the same adaptive effects in this population.

Catheter Ablation is Superior to Antiarrhythmic Drugs as First-Line Treatment for Atrial Fibrillation: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. / Ablação por Cateter é Superior a Drogas Antiarrítmicas como Tratamento de primeira linha para Fibrilação Atrial: uma Revisão Sistemática e Metanálise.

BACKGROUND: Catheter ablation is a well-established therapy for rhythm control in patients who are refractory or intolerant to anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD). Less is known about the efficacy of catheter ablation compared with AAD as a first-line strategy for rhythm control in atrial fibrillation (AF). OBJECTIVES: We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of catheter ablation vs. AAD in patients naïve to prior rhythm control therapies. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials that compared catheter ablation to AAD for initial rhythm control in symptomatic AF and reported the outcomes of (1) recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs); (2) symptomatic AF; (3) hospitalizations; and (4) symptomatic bradycardia. Heterogeneity was examined with I2statistics. P values of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: We included five trials with 994 patients, of whom 502 (50.5%) underwent catheter ablation. Mean follow-up ranged from one to five years. Recurrences of AT (OR 0.36; 95% CI 0.25-0.52; p<0.001) and symptomatic AF (OR 0.32; 95% CI 0.18-0.57; p<0.001), and hospitalizations (OR 0.25; 95% CI 0.15-0.42; p<0.001) were significantly less frequent in patients treated with catheter ablation compared with AAD. Symptomatic bradycardia was not significantly different between groups (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.18-1.65; p=0.28). Significant pericardial effusions or tamponade occurred in eight of 464 (1.7%) patients in the catheter ablation group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that catheter ablation has superior efficacy to AAD as an initial rhythm control strategy in patients with symptomatic AF.

FUNDAMENTO: A ablação por cateter é uma terapia bem estabelecida para controle do ritmo cardíaco em pacientes refratários ou intolerantes a drogas antiarrítmicas (DAA). Porém, a eficácia desse procedimento comparada à de DAA como estratégia de primeira linha no controle do ritmo cardíaco na fibrilação atrial é menos conhecida. OBJETIVOS: Conduzir uma revisão sistemática e metanálise da ablação por cateter vs. DAA em pacientes sem nenhum tratamento prévio para controle do ritmo. MÉTODOS: Buscamos, nos bancos de dados do PubMed, EMBASE, e Cochrane, ensaios randomizados controlados que compararam ablação por cateter com DAA para controle do ritmo cardíaco em pacientes com FA sintomática e descreveram os seguintes desfechos: (1) recorrência de taquiarritmia atrial (TA); (2) FA sintomática; (3) internações hospitalares; e (4) bradicardia sintomática. A heterogeneidade foi avaliada por estatística I2. Valores de p menores que 0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significativos. RESULTADOS: Incluímos cinco ensaios com 994 pacientes, dos quais 502 (50,5%) foram submetidos à ablação por cateter. O período médio de acompanhamento foi de um a cinco anos. Recorrências de TA (OR 0,36; IC95% 0,25-0,52; p<0,001) e de FA sintomática (OR 0,32; IC95% 0,18-0,57; p<0,001), e internações hospitalares (OR 0,25; IC95% 0,15-0,42; p<0,001) foram menos frequentes nos pacientes tratados com ablação por cateter que naqueles tratados com DAA. Bradicardia sintomática não foi diferente entre os grupos (OR 0,55; IC95% 0,18-1,65; p=0,28). Derrame ou tamponamento pericárdico significativo ocorreu em oito dos 464 (1,7%) pacientes no grupo submetido à ablação. CONCLUSÃO: Esses achados sugerem maior eficácia da ablação por cateter que das DAA como estratégia inicial de controle do ritmo cardíaco em pacientes com DA sintomática.

Left Bundle Branch Pacing of His-Purkinje Conduction System: Initial Experience. / Estimulação do Ramo Esquerdo do Sistema His-Purkinje: Experiência Inicial.

BACKGROUND: Conventional right ventricular pacing increases the risk of atrial fibrillation and heart failure in pacemaker patients. Stimulation of the left bundle branch (LBB) of the His-Purkinje system can prevent the unwanted outcomes of right ventricular pacing. OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze the intraoperative outcomes, electrocardiographic and clinical data from the initial follow-up of patients submitted to stimulation of the LBB. METHODS: The electronic parameters of the implant and of possible early complications of 52 consecutive patients submitted to stimulation of the conduction system were evaluated. The adopted significance level was 0.05. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients underwent left bundle branch stimulation, with 50 successful procedures; 69.2% of the patients were male, and the median and interquartile range of age at the time of implantation was 73.5 (65.0-80.0) years. The pre-implant QRS duration was 146 (104-175) ms and 120 (112-130) ms after the procedure. The left ventricle activation time was 78 (70-84) ms. The R-wave amplitude was 12.00 (7.95-15.30) mV, with a stimulation threshold of 0.5 (0.4-0.7) V x 0.4 ms and impedance of 676 (534-780) ohms. The procedure duration was 116 (90-130) min, and the fluoroscopy time was 14.2 (10.0-21.6) min. CONCLUSION: Cardiac stimulation of the His-Purkinje conduction system through the stimulation of the left bundle branch is a safe and feasible technique. In this study, it showed a high success rate, with low procedure and fluoroscopy periods, achieving adequate electronic measurements.

FUNDAMENTO: A estimulação ventricular direita convencional aumenta o risco de fibrilação atrial e insuficiência cardíaca em portadores de marca-passo. A estimulação do ramo esquerdo (RE) do sistema His-Purkinje pode evitar os desfechos indesejados da estimulação ventricular direita. OBJETIVO: Analisar retrospectivamente os desfechos intraoperatórios, eletrocardiográficos e os dados clínicos do seguimento inicial de pacientes submetidos à estimulação do RE. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados os parâmetros eletrônicos do implante e eventuais complicações precoces de 52 pacientes consecutivos submetidos à estimulação do sistema de condução. O nível de significância alfa adotado foi igual a 0,05. RESULTADOS: 52 pacientes foram submetidos a estimulação do RE do sistema His-Purkinje, obtendo sucesso em 50 procedimentos. 69,2% dos pacientes eram do sexo masculino e a mediana e intervalo interquatil da idade no momento do implante foi de 73,5 (65,0-80,0) anos. A duração do QRS pré-implante foi de 146 (104-175) ms e de 120 (112-130) ms após o procedimento. O tempo de ativação do ventrículo esquerdo foi de 78 (70-84) ms. A amplitude da onda R foi de 12,00 (7,95-15,30) mV, com limiar de estimulação de 0,5 (0,4-0,7) V × 0,4 ms e impedância de 676 (534-780) ohms. O tempo de procedimento foi de 116 (90-130) min e o tempo de fluoroscopia foi de 14,2 (10,0-21,6) min. CONCLUSÃO: A estimulação cardíaca do sistema de condução His-Purkinje por meio da estimulação do ramo esquerdo é uma técnica segura e factível. Nesta casuística, apresentou alta taxa de sucesso, foi realizada com tempo de procedimento e fluoroscopia baixos e obteve medidas eletrônicas adequadas.

Registro brasileiro de estimulação fisiológica da sociedade brasileira de arritmias cardíacas - SOBRAC / Brazilian registry of physiological stimulation of the brazilian society of cardiac arrhythmias - SOBRAC

INTRODUÇÃO: Resultados favoráveis foram relatados com estimulação direta do sistema de excito-condutor cardíaco, o que tem motivado a inclusão desta técnica em recomendações e diretrizes atuais. Entretanto, não há dados disponíveis dessa prática no Brasil. OBJETIVOS: Descrever as características demográficas, eletrocardiográficas e ecocardiográficas assim como os achados intra e peri-operatórios dos pacientes submetidos a estimulação fisiológica no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um registro multicêntrico realizado em 15 centros no Brasil. A técnica cirúrgica utilizada seguiu a rotina dos centros participantes. RESULTADOS: 180 pacientes (64,9% homens, 74,8±12,5 anos) foram incluídos na análise entre maio e setembro de 2021. Características clínicas: 82,7% eram hipertensos, 33,5% diabéticos, 51,9% tinham antecedente de sincope, 23,2% DAC e 0,7% doença de Chagas; 76,7% apresentavam-se em CF-NYHA I ou II. A cardiopatia subjacente e o motivo do implante estão ilustrados na figura 1. Em 13,5% dos pacientes, o CDI foi concomitantemente indicado. Quanto aos achados eletrocardiográficos, 89,2% dos pacientes apresentavam-se em ritmo sinusal e 10,8% em FA/flutter atrial. O QRS basal médio era de 131±32ms; 28,1% dos pacientes apresentavam BRE e 31,4% BRD. A FEVE média foi de 54,14±16,66%. Todos os centros reportaram sucesso do implante. O tempo médio de fluoroscopia foi de 17,6±14,5min e a duração média do procedimento 81,8±43,8. Dispositivo bicameral foi predominante na maior parte dos casos (figura 2). Em 75,1% dos casos, o eletrodo ventricular foi posicionado no RE/septo profundo (LVAT médio 77,7±10,7ms, potencial de RE reportado em 25,7%) enquanto o feixe de His foi a posição escolhida em 24,9% dos casos. Em 6,6% dos pacientes procedeu-se HOT/LOT-CRT. A onda R média foi 9,8mV e o limiar de captura 1,17V x 1,0ms. A duração média do QRS final foi 107,46 ± 18,6ms. As taxas de complicações foram baixas (figura 3). CONCLUSÕES: O implante de marcapasso fisiológico é factível e seguro. As características dos pacientes incluídos nesse registro brasileiro, a preferência quanto ao tipo de estimulação (RE) e os resultados intra e pós operatórios precoces estão alinhados com as publicações internacionais mais recentes.

Ultra-short heart rate variability reliability for cardiac autonomic tone assessment in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy.

Autonomic dysfunction in epilepsy is well-described. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful method to evaluate autonomic cardiac tone. Cardiac dysfunction may be involved in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). HRV is a promising biomarker to enlighten the heart-brain axis role in SUDEP, but the required duration for a proper HRV recording in clinical routine remains unknown. This study aimed to verify the reliability of ultra-short HRV indices to evaluate cardiac autonomic tone in patients with epilepsy (PWE). Thirty-nine patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) had electrocardiogram recordings during the first day of video-EEG. Pearson's correlations were performed to evaluate the association between ultra-short HRV indices (five 1-min and five 30-s epochs) with standard time recording (5-min) and ANOVA compared the differences between mean HRV indices across epochs. Time domain (TD) indices showed higher mean r values when compared to frequency domain (FD) indices in 1-min (TD: r 0.80-0.99, FD: r 0.61-0.95) and 30-s epochs (TD: r 0.69-0.99, only high frequency: mean r values of 0.96). ANOVA evidenced that standard deviation of RR intervals and very low frequency means had at least 3 epochs significantly different for 1-min and 30-s epochs. Root mean square of the successive differences of RR intervals (rMSSD) presented higher Pearson's coefficient values and lower percentage of variation at 1-min or 30-s epochs in comparison to other HRV indices. In conclusion, rMSSD is the most reliable ultra-short HRV index for cardiac autonomic tone assessment in MTLE. The prognostic value of ultra-short HRV for cardiovascular risk evaluation in epilepsy remains to be determined in future studies.

Atrial Fibrillation (Part 2) - Catheter Ablation. / Fibrilação Atrial (Parte 2) ­ Ablação por Cateter.

More than 20 years since its initial use, catheter ablation has become a routinely performed procedure for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Initially based on the electrical isolation of pulmonary veins in patients with paroxysmal AF, subsequent advances in the understanding of pathophysiology led to additional techniques not only to achieve better results, but also to treat patients with persistent forms of arrhythmia, as well as patients with structural heart disease and heart failure.

Após mais de 20 anos desde sua utilização inicial, a ablação por cateter se tornou um procedimento rotineiramente realizado para tratamento de pacientes com fibrilação atrial (FA). Fundamentado inicialmente no isolamento elétrico das veias pulmonares em pacientes com FA paroxística, subsequentes avanços no entendimento da fisiopatologia levaram a técnicas adicionais não só para obter melhores resultados, mas também para tratar pacientes com formas persistentes de arritmia, assim como pacientes com cardiopatia estrutural e insuficiência cardíaca.

Fibrilação Atrial (Parte 2) - Ablação por Cateter / Atrial Fibrillation (Part 2) - Catheter Ablation

Resumo Após mais de 20 anos desde sua utilização inicial, a ablação por cateter se tornou um procedimento rotineiramente realizado para tratamento de pacientes com fibrilação atrial (FA). Fundamentado inicialmente no isolamento elétrico das veias pulmonares em pacientes com FA paroxística, subsequentes avanços no entendimento da fisiopatologia levaram a técnicas adicionais não só para obter melhores resultados, mas também para tratar pacientes com formas persistentes de arritmia, assim como pacientes com cardiopatia estrutural e insuficiência cardíaca.

Abstract More than 20 years since its initial use, catheter ablation has become a routinely performed procedure for the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Initially based on the electrical isolation of pulmonary veins in patients with paroxysmal AF, subsequent advances in the understanding of pathophysiology led to additional techniques not only to achieve better results, but also to treat patients with persistent forms of arrhythmia, as well as patients with structural heart disease and heart failure.

AMPAr GluA1 Phosphorylation at Serine 845 in Limbic System Is Associated with Cardiac Autonomic Tone.

The central autonomic network, which is connected to the limbic system structures including the amygdala (AMY) and anterior hippocampus (aHIP), regulates the sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation of visceromotor, neuroendocrine, pain, and behavior manifestations during stress responses. Heart rate variability (HRV) is useful to estimate the cardiac autonomic tone. The levels of phosphorylation on the Ser831 and Ser845 sites of the GluA1 subunit of the AMPAr (P-GluA1-Ser845 and P-GluA1-Ser831) are useful markers of synaptic plasticity. The relation between synaptic plasticity in the human limbic system structures and autonomic regulation in humans is unknown. This study investigated the association between HRV and neurochemistry biomarkers of synaptic plasticity in AMY and aHIP. HRV indices were obtained from the resting state electrocardiogram of patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE, n = 18) and the levels of P-GluA1-Ser845 and P-GluA1-Ser831 in the AMY and aHIP resected during the epilepsy surgery. A backward stepwise multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association between HRV and synaptic plasticity biomarkers controlling for imbalances in the distribution of sociodemographic, clinical, neuroimaging, and neurosurgical variables. P-GluA1-Ser845 levels in AMY show a negative association (p < 0.05) with the 3 investigated parasympathetic autonomic HRV indices (SDNN, rMSSD, and HF) predicting 24 to 40% of their variation. The final multiple linear regression models include disease duration and levels of P-GluA1-Ser845 and predict 24 to 56% of cardiac autonomic tone variation (p < 0.01). P-GluA1-Ser845 levels in AMY and aHIP are negatively associated with the resting HRV in MTLE-HS indicating that increased synaptic efficiency in amygdala is associated with a parasympathetic cardiac autonomic tone impairment. The results suggest that specific changes in synaptic plasticity may be involved in the brain-heart axis regulation by the limbic system.