Stokholmsears7282

Background Frequent ventricular premature depolarizations (VPDs) can cause reversible cardiomyopathy (CMP). However, many patients maintain a normal left ventricular (LV) function with a high VPD burden. The electrocardiographic characteristics of VPD-induced CMP have not been elucidated. Methods One hundred and eighty (91 men, age; 51 ± 15 years) patients with frequent idiopathic VPDs (>10% VPDs/day or >10 000 VPDs/day) were studied. All patients underwent successful ablation and were then divided into two groups according to the echocardiographic findings before and after the ablation procedure. Results Group A (n = 139) had a normal LV function with VPD frequencies, and Group B (n = 41) had reversible LV dysfunction after ablation. The VPD QRS duration (QRSd) was wider in patients with CMP (Group A vs Group B; 137.2 ± 12.0 milliseconds vs 159.7 ± 5.3 milliseconds, P less then .001). VPDs with a terminal QRS delay marked by a notch followed by a discrete lower amplitude signal after the peak R wave in any precordial lead were identified. The incidence of terminal signals was higher in the CMP group (Group A vs Group B; 2.1% vs 53.6%, P less then .001). Conclusions The wider VPD QRSd and terminal QRS delay in patients with VPD-induced CMP suggest subclinical cell-to-cell conduction abnormalities as a potential factor predisposing VPD-induced CMP.Background There have been a few cases of echogenic cardiac implantable electric device (CIED) lead-associated oscillating intracardiac masses (ICMs) in leads imaged by echocardiography. The histological properties of ICMs could help clarify the etiological diagnosis. Although there is extensive literature on mass size, the histological properties of such masses have not been characterized. The aim of this research was to clarify the histological features of oscillating ICMs in CIED patients. Methods Preoperative echocardiography was performed in all candidates for CIED removal. In the patients with ICMs, specimens were obtained by 3 methods direct tissue collection during open-heart surgery; tissue collection together with the CIED lead during transvenous extraction; and tissue collection by catheter vacuum during transvenous CIED removal. A standard histopathological examination of ICM tissue was performed. Results A total of 106 patients underwent lead removal in our institute (April 2009-March 2018); 14 patients had an ICM (13.2%), and 7 specimens were obtained in patients with CIED lead-related ICM. Following histological examination, 2 types of ICM were identified one mainly composed of thickened endocardium (EN type; 3 patients), and the other mainly an aggregate of inflammatory cells as a neutrophil cell (NC type; 4 patients). Conclusions Two histological types of intracardiac masses, including a thickened endocardium type and a neutrophil cell type, were identified. These classifications might help make an accurate histological diagnosis of lead-associated intracardiac masses.Introduction Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) have been successfully ablated from the pulmonary sinus cusps establishing pulmonary artery (PA) as a distinct site of arrhythmic foci. The aim of the present study was to determine the clinical presentation, electrocardiographic, and ablation characteristics of PA-VAs. Methods Thirty consecutive patients with right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT)-type VAs were included in this retrospective study. Three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping was performed in all patients. Mapping was performed initially in RVOT, and later within the PA. Mapping was performed in the PA if there was no early activation, unsatisfactory pace-map, or ablation in RVOT were unsuccessful. All PA-VAs were mapped and ablated by looping the catheter in a reverse U fashion. Results Among 30 patients, 8 (26.6%) patients VAs were successfully ablated within PA. Electrocardiography (ECG) revealed that the QRS duration was significantly wider in the PA-VAs group compared to the RVOT-VAs group (155 ± 14.14 vs 142.40 ± 8.12 ms, P less then .01). Mapping by reversed U method of PA-VAs revealed earlier activation (55 ± 9.66 vs 12.00 ± 8.61 ms, P less then .01) in PA compared to RVOT. An isolated discrete prepotential was present at the successful site in 50% (n = 4). Conclusion Pulmonary artery-VAs are an important subset of VA originating from the outflow tract. They have a wider baseline QRS duration compared to RVOT-VAs. Presence of a prepotential aids in the identification of a successful ablation site. Mapping utilizing the reversed U method can help in localization and successful ablation of PA-VAs.Background Nationwide data are insufficient with respect to the characteristics of patients undergoing ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation, complications of VT ablation, and procedure details including catheter devices used during VT ablation. The present study was performed to describe the patient characteristics, procedure details including catheter devices, and in-hospital complications of catheter ablation for VT using a national inpatient database. Methods We used the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database, a national Japanese inpatient database, to identify patients who underwent VT ablation from July 2010 to March 2017. We examined patients' age, gender, baseline diseases, comorbid conditions, admission status, catheter devices and drugs used, and in-hospital complications of VT ablation. Results We identified 10 641 patients (median age, 61 years) who underwent VT ablation. The most frequently observed background heart disease among patients with structural heart disease was ischemic cardiomyopathy. An irrigated ablation catheter was used in 73% of patients, a force-sensing ablation catheter was used in 22%, and intracardiac echocardiography was used in 25%. The frequency of using these procedures continuously increased over time. Overall, the prevalence of in-hospital complications was 3.5% (cardiac tamponade, 0.8%; stroke, 0.6%; critical bleeding, 1.9%; mechanical circulatory support, 0.9%; and in-hospital death, 0.8%). Conclusions The results of this study show the clinical features of VT ablation in a real-world clinical setting. The use of irrigated catheters, force-sensing catheters, and intracardiac echocardiography increased over time. The prevalence of in-hospital complications was 3.5%.Background The cardiopulmonary function is hypothesized to be associated with atrial fibrillation/atrial tachyarrhythmia (AF/AT) recurrence after AF ablation. Purpose To clarify the relationship between the cardiopulmonary function after successful ablation and AF/AT recurrence. Methods We examined 31 patients with paroxysmal AF who underwent AF ablation. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) was performed at 1month after the ablation. A continuously increasing loading method on a bicycle ergometer was employed for the CPET. Results No adverse events, including AF/AT recurrence, occurred during the CPET. Among 31 patients, AT/AF recurrence was observed in seven (23%). The ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT) and peak oxygen consumption (VO2) were significantly higher in patients without AF/AT recurrence than in those with AT/AF recurrences (peak VO2 23.6 ± 5.7 vs 17.2 ± 4.1 mL/kg/min; VAT, 16.7 ± 2.8 vs 13.8 ± 2.7 mL/min/kg). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the peak VO2 and VAT were 0.786 (P less then .01) and 0.789(P less then .01), respectively. Both indices had a sensitivity of 70%-80% and specificity of 70%-80% for predicting AT/AF recurrence. WST-8 order Similar results were obtained for the percent values of the predicted peak VO2 and VAT. Conclusions The present pilot study found that CPET can be performed safely at approximately 1 month after AF ablation. The peak VO2 and VAT were significantly associated with AT/AF recurrence. The peak VO2 and VAT were thought to provide helpful information regarding AT/AF recurrence.Background Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly performed worldwide in patients with heart failure (HF). However, it has been recently emphasized that AF ablation in patients with HF is associated with increased risks of procedure-related complications and mortality. There are little data about the differences in the efficacy and safety between cryoballoon (CB) and radiofrequency (RF) ablation of AF in patients with HF. Methods The CRABL-HF study is designed as a prospective, multicenter, open-label, controlled, and randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of AF ablation between CB and RF ablation in patients with HF (LVEF ≤40%) (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry UMIN000032433). The CRABL-HF study will consist of 110 patients at multicenter in Japan. The patients will be registered and randomly assigned to either the CB ablation or RF ablation group with a 11 allocation. The primary endpoint of this study is the occurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs) at 1 year with a blanking period of 90 days after ablation. Key secondary endpoints are the success rate of the pulmonary vein isolation, total procedural time, left atrial dwelling time, total fluoroscopy time, radiation exposure, complication rate, composite of all-cause mortality or HF hospitalizations, cardiovascular events, change in left ventricular ejection fraction, and change in quality of life. Results The results of this study are currently under investigation. Conclusion The CRABL-HF study is being conducted to compare the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation of AF between CB and RF ablation in patients with HF.Background It is unclear whether pacing maneuver at the end of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) predicts recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia postintervention. Objective To investigate whether the predictive value of incremental pacing maneuver after catheter ablation for AF depends on the pacing cycle length and type of AF. Methods This study included 298 consecutive patients who underwent initial catheter ablation for nonvalvular AF (61% paroxysmal AF [PAF], 39% persistent AF [PeAF]). Rapid atrial pacing was performed at the end of the procedure. We analyzed minimum coupling interval (CI) of pacing, arrhythmia-inducibility, and atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence in patients with PAF and PeAF. Results Patients were divided into the following three groups according to their response to pacing maneuver AF-inducible (inducible group; n = 86), noninducible at CI ≥200 ms (non-CI ≥200 group; n = 100), and noninducible at CI less then 200 ms (non-CI less then 200 group; n = 112). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that response to pacing maneuver was significantly associated with recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias (P = .028). Cox-regression analysis showed that non-CI less then 200 was an independent predictor when the inducible group was used as a reference (hazard ratio 0.60, 95% confidence interval 0.40-0.96, P = .031). However, when PAF and PeAF were analyzed separately, non-CI less then 200 was an independent predictor only in PeAF. Conclusion Noninducibility with shorter CI predicted atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence only for PeAF. Pacing CI and type of AF could influence the predictive value of atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence.