Pulmonary vein dilatation in a case of total pulmonary vein occlusion: Contemporary approach using a combination of 3D-mapping system and image integration

2024 European Heart Rhythm Association/Heart Rhythm Society/Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society/Latin American Heart Rhythm Society expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation

In the last three decades, ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has become an evidence-based safe and efficacious treatment for managing the most common cardiac arrhythmia. In 2007, the first joint expert consensus document was issued, guiding healthcare professionals involved in catheter or surgical AF ablation. Mounting research evidence and technological advances have resulted in a rapidly changing landscape in the field of catheter and surgical AF ablation, thus stressing the need for regularly updated versions of this partnership which were issued in 2012 and 2017. Seven years after the last consensus, an updated document was considered necessary to define a contemporary framework for selection and management of patients considered for or undergoing catheter or surgical AF ablation. This consensus is a joint effort from collaborating cardiac electrophysiology societies, namely the European Heart Rhythm Association, the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), the Asia Pacific HRS, and the Latin American HRS.

2024 European Heart Rhythm Association/Heart Rhythm Society/Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society/Latin American Heart Rhythm Society expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation

In the last three decades, ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has become an evidence-based safe and efficacious treatment for managing the most common cardiac arrhythmia. In 2007, the first joint expert consensus document was issued, guiding healthcare professionals involved in catheter or surgical AF ablation. Mounting research evidence and technological advances have resulted in a rapidly changing landscape in the field of catheter and surgical AF ablation, thus stressing the need for regularly updated versions of this partnership which were issued in 2012 and 2017. Seven years after the last consensus, an updated document was considered necessary to define a contemporary framework for selection and management of patients considered for or undergoing catheter or surgical AF ablation. This consensus is a joint effort from collaborating cardiac electrophysiology societies, namely the European Heart Rhythm Association, the Heart Rhythm Society, the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, and the Latin American Heart Rhythm Society.

2024 European Heart Rhythm Association/Heart Rhythm Society/Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society/Latin American Heart Rhythm Society expert consensus statement on catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation

In the last three decades, ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) has become an evidence-based safe and efficacious treatment for managing the most common cardiac arrhythmia. In 2007, the first joint expert consensus document was issued, guiding healthcare professionals involved in catheter or surgical AF ablation. Mounting research evidence and technological advances have resulted in a rapidly changing landscape in the field of catheter and surgical AF ablation, thus stressing the need for regularly updated versions of this partnership which were issued in 2012 and 2017. Seven years after the last consensus, an updated document was considered necessary to define a contemporary framework for selection and management of patients considered for or undergoing catheter or surgical AF ablation. This consensus is a joint effort from collaborating cardiac electrophysiology societies, namely the European Heart Rhythm Association, the Heart Rhythm Society, the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, and the Latin American Heart Rhythm Society .

Pulmonary Vein Stenosis-Balloon Angioplasty Versus Stenting: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) may arise from a variety of conditions and result in major morbidity and mortality. In some patients, pharmacologic therapy may help, but more often in advanced stages, mechanical treatment must be considered. Transcatheter approaches, both balloon angioplasty (BA) and stent implantation, have been applied. Although both are effective, they continue to be limited by restenosis. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Scopus were searched for English-language studies in humans published between January 1, 2010, and August 2, 2021. Two independent reviewers screened for studies in which BA or stenting was performed for PVS with reporting of restenosis outcomes, and data were independently extracted. A systematic review was performed, and overall restenosis rates were reported across all 34 included studies. Meta-analysis was then performed using RevMan version 5.4, assessing rates of restenosis and restenosis requiring reintervention. For restenosis rates, 4 studies treated in those studies with available data reported. For restenosis rates, 4 studies treated a total of 340 patients with 579 pulmonary vein interventions (225 with BA and 354 with stenting, mean follow-up 13-69 months). Restenosis requiring repeat intervention was reported in 3 studies, including 301 patients with 495 pulmonary vein interventions (157 with BA and 338 with stenting). Compared with BA, stenting was associated with both a lower risk for restenosis (risk ratio: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.18-0.73; P = 0.005) and a lower risk for restenosis requiring reintervention (RR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.15-0.86; P = 0.02). For PVS intervention, restenosis and reintervention rates may be improved by stent implantation compared with BA.

Case report: Managing profound circulatory collapse post-atrial fibrillation ablation: a methodical approach

Background

Circulatory collapse during/post-pulmonary vein (PV) isolation by cryo-balloon ablation is a Cardiology emergency that has multiple potential causes and requires a methodical investigative approach. Some of the complications that can arise include cardiac tamponade, bleeding/vascular injury, anaphylaxis, Addisonian crisis, acute pulmonary embolism, acute PV stenosis, oesophageal injury, and vagal reaction.

Case summary

Here, we present a case of a 76-year-old lady who developed profound circulatory collapse during an elective pulmonary vein isolation by cryo-balloon ablation for symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Cardiac tamponade, bleeding/vascular injury, and other less common causes were excluded. She only responded transiently to fluid resuscitation and developed intermittent bradyarrhythmias and hypotension which responded to isoprenaline. She was discharged home at Day 3 post-AF ablation after remaining well and continued to do so at follow-up.

Discussion

Circulatory collapse during/post-PV cryo-balloon ablation is a Cardiology emergency that has multiple potential causes. The ganglionate plexi form part of the cardiac intrinsic autonomic nervous system (ANS) and are located close to the left atrial–PV junctions. The presence of vagal response has been observed to be a marker of ANS modulation although its significance on the long-term outcome post-ablation has yet to be elucidated. The true cause of our patient’s profound circulatory collapse is uncertain but a vital learning point in this case is the systematic exclusion of common and potentially life-threatening complications following AF ablation. A persistent vagal reaction secondary to PV cryo-balloon ablation can usually be managed with supportive medical therapy as demonstrated in our case.

Acquired Pulmonary Vein Stenosis After Radiofrequency Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Single-Center Experience in Catheter Interventional Treatment

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the present study was to analyze and report a single-center experience with catheter interventional treatment of radiofrequency-induced pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) following atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

BACKGROUND

Catheter interventional treatment of radiofrequency-induced PVS following AF ablation remains a challenging field because of a lack of randomized data and treatment guidelines.

METHODS

All patients at a single center who underwent catheter interventional treatment for radiofrequency-induced PVS were retrospectively assessed.

RESULTS

From January 2004 to September 2017, the total rate of PVS following interventional AF ablation was 0.78% (87 of 11,103). Thirty-nine patients with PVS were treated with 84 catheter interventions: 68 (81%) with percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) and 16 (19%) with stent implantation. The distribution of stent type was 3 drug-eluting stents (19%) and 13 bare-metal stents (81%). The overall restenosis rate was 53% after PTA versus 19% after stent implantation (p = 0.007) after a median follow-up period of 6 months (interquartile range: 3 to 55 months). The total complication rate for PTA was 10% versus 13% for stenting (p = NS).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates significantly better outcomes in terms of restenosis after stent implantation versus PTA only, with comparable complication rates for these 2 options of interventional treatment of radiofrequency-induced PVS. In summary, despite the lack of randomized studies, the present data and currently available published studies seem to favor stent implantation as a first-line therapy in patients with radiofrequency-induced severe PVS.

Emergency Covered Stent Implantation For Rupture Of A Pulmonary Vein After Balloon Angioplasty For Postinterventional Pulmonary Vein Stenosis

Pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis is a known complication of PV isolation procedures for atrial fibrillation. We describe in this report a case of emergency covered stent implantation for rupture of a PV after balloon angioplasty for postinterventional PV stenosis occlusion. Focus is on stent implantation and on a novel aspect of magnetic resonance imaging for postprocedural outcome evaluation. A focused review of the current literature regarding ongoing limitations of PV stenosis treatment is provided.