Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology
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Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Jun 2015
Observational StudyCharacteristics of ventricular tachycardia ablation in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices.
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are increasingly used as a bridge to cardiac transplantation or as destination therapy. Patients with LVADs are at high risk for ventricular arrhythmias. This study describes ventricular arrhythmia characteristics and ablation in patients implanted with a Heart Mate II device. ⋯ Catheter ablation of VT among LVAD recipients is feasible and reasonably safe even soon after LVAD implantation. Intrinsic myocardial scar, rather than the apical cannula, seems to be the dominant substrate.
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Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Jun 2015
Randomized Controlled TrialAtrial ectopy predicts late recurrence of atrial fibrillation after pulmonary vein isolation.
Late recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after radiofrequency ablation remains significant. Asymptomatic recurrence poses a difficult clinical problem as it is associated with an equally increased risk of stroke and death compared with symptomatic AF events. Meta-analyses reveal that no single preablation patient characteristic efficiently predicts these AF recurrences. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of premature atrial complex (PAC) occurrence with regard to the risk of late AF recurrence after radiofrequency ablation. ⋯ URL: http://www.anzctr.org.au. Unique identifier: ACRTN12606000467538.
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Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol · Apr 2015
Five-year follow-up after catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation using the stepwise approach and prognostic factors for success.
In the meantime, catheter ablation is widely used for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). There is a paucity of data about long-term outcomes. This study evaluates (1) 5-year single and multiple procedure success and (2) prognostic factors for arrhythmia recurrences after catheter ablation of persistent AF using the stepwise approach aiming at AF termination. ⋯ Catheter ablation of persistent AF using the stepwise approach provides limited long-term freedom of arrhythmias often requiring multiple procedures. AF termination, the number of procedures, sex, and the presence of structural heart disease correlate with outcome success. AF termination is associated with consecutive atrial tachycardia procedures.