Heart rhythm : the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Use and outcomes of antiarrhythmic therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation receiving oral anticoagulation: results from the ROCKET AF trial.
Antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) and anticoagulation are mainstays of atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment. ⋯ Treatment with AADs was not associated with increased morbidity or mortality in anticoagulated patients with AF. The effect of amiodarone on outcomes in patients receiving rivaroxaban requires further investigation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
A pacemaker transthoracic impedance sensor with an advanced algorithm to identify severe sleep apnea: the DREAM European study.
Sleep apnea (SA) is associated with cardiovascular diseases and is highly prevalent in patients with pacemakers (PMs). ⋯ The results suggest that an advanced algorithm using PM transthoracic impedance could be used to identify SA in patients with PMs outside the clinic or at home.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Phased RF ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation.
Persistent and long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) often requires extensive and/or repeat radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedures. ⋯ Catheter ablation of persistent/long-standing persistent AF with the phased RF ablation system is effective with greater reduction of AF compared with MM. More intense anticoagulation strategies, careful attention to catheter placement relative to the pulmonary vein ostia, and elimination of electrode interaction are expected to reduce the risk of stroke, pulmonary vein stenosis, and asymptomatic cerebral emboli.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
The CURE-AF trial: a prospective, multicenter trial of irrigated radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation during concomitant cardiac surgery.
Ablation technology has been introduced to replace the surgical incisions of the Cox-Maze procedure in order to simplify the operation. However, the efficacy of these ablation devices has not been prospectively evaluated. ⋯ Irrigated radiofrequency ablation for treatment of AF during cardiac surgery was associated with a low complication rate. No device-related complications occurred. The Cox-Maze lesion set was effective at restoring sinus rhythm and had higher success rates in patients with smaller left atrial diameters and longer ablation times.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
The COR trial: a randomized study with continuous rhythm monitoring to compare the efficacy of cryoenergy and radiofrequency for pulmonary vein isolation.
Results from randomized trials designed to compare cryoenergy with radiofrequency for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation are lacking. ⋯ The efficacy of the simplified strategy for PV cryoablation tested in this study is inferior to PV isolation using open-irrigated radiofrequency catheters with electrophysiological and electroanatomical guidance. Complete PV conduction block is critical to the success of AF ablation.