Does the age of evaluation change the long-term follow-up of untreated pre-excitation syndrome?

BACKGROUND

Due to high rates of ablation at the time of diagnostic EP study, follow-up of the natural history of untreated pre-excitation syndrome has become difficult. We present patients in which such data is available and study the effect of initial age on the evolution.

METHODS

In this retrospective review, 126 patients, 47 aged ≤19 years, 79 aged more than>19 underwent 2 similar electrophysiological studies (EPS) within 1 to 25 years of one another (8.8 ± 6.8) for occurrence of symptoms or new evaluation. First EPS was indicated for syncope (10), atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardias (AVRT) (58), atrial fibrillation (AF) (5), spontaneous PS-related adverse event (7) or asymptomatic PS (46).

RESULTS

Clinical data remained unchanged in 76 patients (60.3%). AVRT symptom was more frequently unchanged than other symptoms. Electrophysiological data remained unchanged in 105 patients (82%), but signs of initial malignant signs were variable with a disappearance in 53.5% of patients. At EPS1, AF induction was rarer in patients ≤19 years. Syncope had a low predictive value of malignant form. AVRT induction at EPS1 was not predictive of AVRT occurrence. Maximal rate over accessory pathway increased, but unexpected changes could occur. After multivariate analysis, data of first EPS were limited for the prediction of AVRT or adverse event; effect of age was not significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical data remained unchanged in 60.3% of patients and electrophysiological data in 82%. Initial age of evaluation did not change the modifications. Electrophysiological signs associated with sudden death varied over time. Clinical AVRT was inconstantly related to inducible AVRT (78.5%).

Unresolved questions associated with the management of ventricular preexcitation syndrome

BACKGROUND

Many recent recommendations concern the management of preexcitation syndrome. In clinical practice, they are sometimes difficult to use. The purpose of the authors was to discuss the main problems associated with this management. Three problems are encountered: (1) the reality of the absence of symptoms or the interpretation of atypical symptoms, (2) the electrocardiographic diagnosis of preexcitation syndrome that can be missed, and (3) the exact electrophysiological protocol and its interpretation used for the evaluation of the prognosis. Because of significant progress largely related to the development of curative treatment, it seems easy to propose ablation in many patients despite the related risks of invasive studies and to minimize the invasive risk by only performing ablation for patients with at-risk pathways. However, there is a low risk of spontaneous events in truly asymptomatic patients and the indication of accessory pathway ablation should be discussed case by case.

Influence of advancing age on clinical presentation, treatment efficacy and safety, and long-term outcome of inducible paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia without pre-excitation syndromes: A cohort study of 1960 patients included over 25 years

AIM

To investigate the influence of increasing age on clinical presentation, treatment and long-term outcome in patients with inducible paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) without pre-excitation syndromes.

METHODS

Clinical and electrophysiological study (EPS) data, as well as long-term clinical outcome (mean follow-up 2.4±4.0 years) were collected in patients referred for regular tachycardia with inducible SVT during EPS without pre-excitation.

RESULTS

Among 1960 referred patients, 301 patients (15.4%) were aged ≥70 (70-97). In this subset, anticoagulants were prescribed in 49 patients following an erroneous diagnosis of atrial tachycardia and 14 were previously erroneously diagnosed with ventricular tachycardia because of wide QRS. Ablation was performed more frequently in patients ≥70 despite more frequent failure and complications. During follow-up, higher risks of AF, stroke, pacemaker implantation and death were observed in patients ≥70 whereas SVT recurrences were similar in both age groups. In multivariable analysis, age ≥70 was independently associated with higher risks of SVT-related adverse events prior to ablation (OR = 1.93, 1.41-2.62, p<0.001), conduction disturbances (OR = 11.27, 5.89-21.50, p<0.001), history of AF (OR = 2.18, 1.22-3.90, p = 0.009) and erroneous diagnosis at baseline (OR = 9.14, 5.93-14.09, p<0.001) as well as high rates of procedural complications (OR = 2.13, 1.19-3.81, p = 0.01) and ablation failure (OR = 1.68, 1.08-2.62, p = 0.02). In contrast, age ≥70 was not significantly associated with a higher risk of AF in multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

A sizeable proportion of patients with inducible SVT without pre-excitation syndromes are elderly. These patients exhibit higher risks of erroneous tachycardia diagnosis prior to EPS as well as failure and/or complication of ablation, but similar risk of SVT recurrence. These results support performing transesophageal EPS in most patients and intracardiac EPS in selected patients. EPS may furthermore prove useful in elderly patients with regular tachycardia, mainly by avoiding treatment based on an erroneous diagnosis.

Evolution of Clinical and Electrophysiological Data in Children with a Preexcitation Syndrome

BACKGROUND

With ablation, the follow-up of preexcitation syndrome now is difficult to assess. The purpose was to collect data of children with a preexcitation syndrome studied on two separate occasions within a minimal interval of 1 year.

METHODS

This is a retrospective chart review of 47 children initially aged 12 ± 4 years, who underwent two or more invasive electrophysiological studies (EPS) within 1-25 years of one another (6.3 ± 4.8) for occurrence of symptoms or new evaluation.

RESULTS

Among initially symptomatic children (n = 25), four (19%) became asymptomatic and one presented life-threatening arrhythmia. Among asymptomatic children (n = 22), five became symptomatic (22.7%). Anterograde conduction disappeared in seven of 23 children with initially long accessory pathway-effective refractory period, but four of six had still induced atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT). AVRT was induced at second EPS in three of 13 asymptomatic preexcitation syndrome with negative initial EPS. There were no spontaneous adverse events in the five children with criteria of malignancy at initial EPS; signs of malignancy disappeared in two. At multivariate analysis, AVRT at initial EPS was the only independent factor of symptomatic AVRT during follow-up. Absence of induced AVRT at initial EPS was the only factor of absence of symptoms and a negative study at the second EPS.

CONCLUSIONS

There were no significant changes of data in children after 6.3 ± 4.8 years of follow-up. Most children with spontaneous/inducible AVRTs at initial EPS had still inducible AVRT at second EPS. Induced AF conducted with high rate has a relatively low prognostic value for the prediction of adverse events.

Influence of advancing age on clinical presentation, treatment efficacy and safety, and long-term outcome of pre-excitation syndromes: a retrospective cohort study of 961 patients included over a 25-year period

OBJECTIVES

There are very little data on pre-excitation syndrome (PS) in the elderly. We investigated the influence of advancing age on clinical presentation, treatment and long-term outcome of PS.

SETTING

Single-centre retrospective study of patient files.

PARTICIPANTS

In all, 961 patients (72 patients ≥60 years (mean 68.5±6), 889 patients <60 years (mean 30.5±14)) referred for overt pre-excitation and indication for electrophysiological study (EPS) were followed for 5.3±5 years. Usual care included 24 h Holter monitoring, echocardiography and EPS. Patients underwent accessory pathway (AP) ablation if necessary.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) or procedure-induced adverse event.

RESULTS

Electrophysiological data and recourse to AP ablation (43% vs 48.5%, p=0.375) did not significantly differ between the groups. Older patients more often had symptomatic forms (81% vs 63%, p=0.003), history of spontaneous AF (8% vs 3%, p=0.01) or adverse presentation (poorly tolerated arrhythmias: 18% vs 7%, p=0.0009). In multivariable analysis, patients ≥60 years had a significantly higher risk of history of AF (OR=4.2, 2.1 to 8.3, p=0.001) and poorly tolerated arrhythmias (OR=3.8, 1.8 to 8.1, p=0.001). Age ≥60 years was associated with an increased major AP ablation complication risk (10% vs 1.9%, p=0.006). During follow-up, occurrence of AF (13.9% vs 3.6%, p<0.001) and incidence of poorly tolerated tachycardia (4.2% vs 0.6%, p=0.001) were more frequent in patients ≥60 years, although frequency of ablation failure or recurrence was similar (20% vs 15.5%, p=0.52). In multivariable analysis, patients ≥60 years had a significantly higher risk of AF (OR=2.9, 1.2 to 6.8, p≤0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In this retrospective monocentre study, patients ≥60 years referred for PS work up appeared at higher risk of AF and adverse presentation, both prior and after the work up. These results suggest that, in elderly patients, the decision for EPS and AP ablation should be discussed in light of their suspected higher risk of events and ablation complications. However, these findings should be further validated in future prospective multicentre studies.

Age-related location of manifest accessory pathway and clinical consequences

BACKGROUND

Accessory pathway (AP) ablation is not always easy. Our purpose was to assess the age-related prevalence of AP location, electrophysiological and prognostic data according to this location.

METHODS

Electrophysiologic study (EPS) was performed in 994 patients for a pre-excitation syndrome. AP location was determined on a 12 lead ECG during atrial pacing at maximal preexcitation and confirmed at intracardiac EPS in 494 patients.

RESULTS

AP location was classified as anteroseptal (AS)(96), right lateral (RL)(54), posteroseptal (PS)(459), left lateral (LL)(363), nodoventricular (NV)(22). Patients with ASAP or RLAP were younger than patients with another AP location. Poorly-tolerated arrhythmias were more frequent in patients with LLAP than in other patients (0.009 for ASAP, 0.0037 for RLAP, <0.0001 for PSAP). Maximal rate conducted over AP was significantly slower in patients with ASAP and RLAP than in other patients. Malignant forms at EPS were more frequent in patients with LLAP than in patients with ASAP (0.002) or PSAP (0.001). Similar data were noted when AP location was confirmed at intracardiac EPS. Among untreated patients, poorly-tolerated arrhythmia occurred in patients with LLAP (3) or PSAP (6). Failures of ablation were more frequent for AS or RL AP than for LL or PS AP.

CONCLUSIONS

AS and RLAP location in pre-excitation syndrome was more frequent in young patients. Maximal rate conducted over AP was lower than in other locations. Absence of poorly-tolerated arrhythmias during follow-up and higher risk of ablation failure should be taken into account for indications of AP ablation in children with few symptoms.

Factors of negativity of electrophysiological study in children and teenagers complaining of tachycardia and prognostic significance

When non-invasive studies remain negative, the diagnosis of unexplained tachycardia in the young is a dilemma. The purpose of the study was to determine the factors of negativity of transesophageal electrophysiological study (EPS) in children/teenagers complaining of tachycardia and the prognostic value. Two hundred and seventy-three children with a normal ECG in sinus rhythm, aged from 6 to 19 years (15 ± 3), complained of tachycardia. Transesophageal EPS consisted of atrial stimulation in control state and after isoproterenol. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) was induced in 149 patients (group I) and EPS remained negative in 124 (group II). Age did not differ (15 ± 3 vs 15 ± 3). Female gender and familial history of SVT were as frequent in group I (47, 11%) than in group II (55%, p = 0.15; 7%;p = 0.2). Feeling of dizziness/syncope with tachycardia was less frequent in group I (12%) than in group II (48%) (p < 0.0001). Feeling of chest pain with tachycardia was less frequent in group I (2%) than in group II (28%) (p < 0.0001). The presence of non-cardiac disease was less frequent in group I (1.3%) than in group II (6.4%) (p < 0.025). Patients with negative study remained free of SVT after a follow-up of 3.5 ± 3 years, but one had a complete AV block. In children with apparently normal ECG in sinus rhythm, who complained of tachycardia clinical history (association with syncope, chest pain, or the presence of another disease) can predict negativity of EPS with a relatively high accuracy; EPS may not be necessary. In very symptomatic patients, transesophageal EPS, which is inexpensive and non-invasive, might be performed to stop investigations.

Recurrences of symptoms after AV node re-entrant tachycardia ablation: a clinical arrhythmia risk score to assess putative underlying cause

PURPOSE OF THE RESEARCH

To identify clinical factors associated with the probability for each arrhythmic mechanism causing recurring symptoms after atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) ablation. Slow pathway radiofrequency ablation is used to treat AVNRT. After ablation, recurrence of symptoms due to AVNRT or other arrhythmias can occur.

RESULTS

We studied 835 patients successfully treated with AVNRT ablation. Variables associated with each specific arrhythmia underlying symptom recurrence were studied by logistic regression. During a mean follow-up of 2.2 ± 2 years, 136 (16%) patients had a recurrence of symptoms. Following invasive and non-invasive studies, symptoms were mostly attributed to sinus tachycardia, recurrence of AVNRT and atrial arrhythmias (respectively 4.7%, 5.2% and 6.1%). Older age and history of atrial fibrillation were associated with a markedly increased risk of symptom recurrence due to atrial arrhythmias (OR=15.58, 7.09-35.22, p<0.001) whereas younger age was associated with a higher risk of sinus tachycardia. A simple 3-item clinical score based on age categories and atrial fibrillation history efficiently predicted atrial arrhythmia (C-Index=0.82, 0.75-0.89) and sinus tachycardia (C-Index=0.83, 0.75-0.90). 8.3% of patients with scores=0 had atrial arrhythmias whereas 100% of patients with scores ≥4 had atrial arrhythmias.

CONCLUSIONS

While recurrence of symptoms after successful AVNRT ablation is relatively frequent (16%), true AVNRT recurrence accounts for only 1/3 of these recurrences. A simple clinical score based on age and history of atrial fibrillation enables efficient risk stratification for symptom recurrence attributable to atrial arrhythmias and inappropriate sinus tachycardia.

A case series of patients with poorly-tolerated arrhythmias related to a preexcitation syndrome and presenting with atypical ECG

The aim of study was to report different and unusual patterns of preexcitation syndrome (PS) noted in patients referred for studied for poorly-tolerated arrhythmias and their frequency. Electrophysiologic study (EPS) is an easy means to identify a patient with PS at risk of serious events. However the main basis for this diagnosis is the ECG which associates short PR interval and widening of QRS complex with a delta wave.

METHODS

ECGs of 861 patients in whom PS related to an atrioventricular accessory pathway (AP) was identified at electrophysiological study (EPS), were studied.

RESULTS

The most frequent unusual presentation (9.6%) was the PS presenting with a normal or near normal ECG, noted preferentially for left lateral AP and rarely for posteroseptal or right lateral location. More exceptional (0.1%) was the presence of a long PR interval, which did not exclude a rapid conduction over AP. The association of a complete AV block with symptomatic tachycardias was exceptional (0.3%) and was shown related to a rapid conduction over AP after isoproterenol. Most of the presented patients were at high-risk at EPS.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of PS is not always evident and symptoms should draw attention to minor abnormalities and lead to enlarge indications of EPS, only means to confirm or not PS.

Influence of the mode of management of acute myocardial infarction on the inducibility of ventricular tachyarrhythmias with programmed ventricular stimulation after myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) is a technique for screening patients at risk for ventricular tachycardia (VT) after myocardial infarction (MI), but the results might be difficult to interpret.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the results of PVS after MI, according to date of completion.

METHODS

PVS results were interpreted according to the mode of MI management in 801 asymptomatic patients: 301 (group I) during the period 1982-1989, 315 (group II) during 1990-1999, and 185 (group III) during 2000-2010. The periods were chosen based on changes in MI management. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors had been given since 1990; primary angioplasty was performed routinely since 2000. The PVS protocol was the same throughout the whole study period.

RESULTS

Group III was older (61 +/- 11 years) than groups I (56 +/- 11) and II (58 +/- 11) (P < 0.002). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was lower in group III (36.5 +/- 11%) than in groups I (44 +/- 15) and II (41 +/- 12) (P < 0.000). Monomorphic VT < 270 beats/min was induced as frequently in group III (28%) as in group II (22.5%) but more frequently than in group I (20%) (P < 0.03). Ventricular fibrillation and flutter (VF) was induced less frequently in group III (14%) than in groups I (28%) (P < 0.0004) and II (30%) (P < 0.0000). Low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and date of inclusion (before/after 2000) were predictors of VT or VF induction on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Induction of non-specific arrhythmias (ventricular flutter and fibrillation) was less frequent than before 2000, despite the indication of PVS in patients with lower LVEF. This decrease could be due to the increased use of systematic primary angioplasty for MI since 2000.

Prevalence, causes of reappearance of symptoms or preexcitation syndrome after ablation of accessory pathway and management

AIM

The purpose of the study was to look for the prevalence, significance and management of preexcitation syndrome (PS) or symptoms reappearance after accessory pathway (AP) ablation. AP ablation actually is the first treatment of PS.

METHODS

Successful AP ablation was performed in 261 patients; reappearance of symptoms or PS on ECG occurred in 47 patients (18%) from 20minutes to several years. Their data were compared with remaining patients.

RESULTS

Recurrences were more frequent in patients with spontaneous malignant form (34 vs. 21%), in congenital heart disease (4.2 vs. 0%) (P<0.002), in case of complication (11 vs. 2%) (P<0.007) and of a longer duration of applications (304±209 vs. 188±182sec) (P<0.019). Forty percent of patients had the same symptoms and electrophysiological data as before ablation. Twenty-four percent had an improvement of symptoms and/or electrophysiological data. However, 3 initially asymptomatic patients became symptomatic after ablation. Twenty-six percent had another AP or another rhythm disorder. We recommend transesophageal electrophysiological study for the control because only 40% of patients required second ablation.

CONCLUSIONS

Reappearance of symptoms or a PS on ECG after AP ablation was not rare (18%) and was inconsistently associated with the reappearance of all initial AP electrophysiological properties. Only 40% of patients required a second AP ablation. Another arrhythmia was possible. Non-invasive second evaluation should be preferred. However, asymptomatic patients before ablation could become symptomatic.

Atrial flutter or fibrillation is the most frequent and life-threatening arrhythmia in myotonic dystrophy

BACKGROUND

Several arrhythmias were reported in myotonic dystrophy (MD).

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) in MD and the clinical consequences.

METHODS

One hundred sixty-one patients, mean age 41 ± 14 years, were referred for a type 1 MD. All patients were asymptomatic except four patients and followed during 5 ± 4 years. Electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography assessing left ventricular ejection fraction, and Holter monitoring were obtained and repeated.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patients (17%) presented sustained (>1 hour) AF (n = 15) or AFL (n = 12); two of them presented syncope-related 1/1 AFL. In one of them, 16 years of age, cardiac defibrillator was implanted for a diagnosis of ventricular tachycardia, but the true diagnosis was established after inappropriate shocks. AFL ablation was performed in five patients, but four developed AF. The other seven patients with AFL developed AF. During the follow-up, 22 patients died (14%) from cardiac and respiratory failure; eight patients with AF/AFL died (30%) while only 14 without AF/AFL died (10%; P < 0.01). Univariate analysis indicated that age >40 years (death: 48 ± 14 vs 40 ± 8 in alive patients), abnormal ECG, and occurrence of AF/AFL were significant factors of death. At multivariate analysis, AF at ECG (odds ratio: 3.12) and age >40 (odds ratio: 3.14) were the sole independent variables predicting death.

CONCLUSIONS

AF and AFL were frequent in MD and increased mortality. AFL could present as 1/1 AFL with a poor tolerance and a risk of misdiagnosis despite frequent conduction disturbances. This arrhythmia could explain wide QRS tachycardia occurring in MD and interpreted as VT.

Impact of transesophageal electrophysiologic study to elucidate the mechanism of arrhythmia on children with supraventricular tachycardia and no preexcitation

An electrophysiologic study (EPS) of children and teenagers with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and normal electrocardiography (ECG) in sinus rhythm was evaluated. Generally, EPS is performed only before paroxysmal SVT ablation in these patients. In this study, 140 patients (mean age, 15 ± 3 years) with normal ECG in sinus rhythm were studied for SVT by a transesophageal route in baseline state and after isoproterenol. Idiopathic left or right ventricular tachycardia was diagnosed in four patients (3 %). Anterograde conduction over an atrioventricular (AV) left lateral (n = 10) or septal (n = 9) accessory pathway (AP) was noted in 19 patients (13.5 %) at atrial pacing. Orthodromic AV reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) was induced in these children. Five of the patients had a high rate conducted over AP (>240 bpm in baseline state or >290 bpm after isoproterenol). Two of the patients (a 10-year-old girl with well-tolerated SVT and a 17-year-old with syncope-related SVT) had the criteria for a malignant form with the induction of atrial fibrillation conducted over AP at a rate exceeding 290 bpm in baseline state. Of the 140 patients, 74 (53 %) had typical AV node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), nine had atypical AVNRT (6 %), 1 had atrial tachycardia (0.7 %), and 33 (23.5 %) had AVRT related to a concealed AP with only retrograde conduction. Electrophysiologic study is recommended for children with paroxysmal SVT and normal ECG in sinus rhythm. The data are helpful for guiding the treatment. Ventricular tachycardia or atrial tachycardia can be misdiagnosed. Masked preexcitation syndrome with anterograde conduction through AP was present in 13.5 % of the patients, and 1.4 % had a malignant preexcitation syndrome.