The diagnostic yield from implantable loop recorders in children and young adults

Early detection of ventricular arrhythmias in adults with congenital heart disease using an insertable cardiac monitor (EDVA-CHD study)

BACKGROUND

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to ventricular arrhythmias (VA) is an important mode of death in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Risk stratification is difficult in this heterogeneous population. Insertable cardiac monitors (ICM) may be useful for risk stratification. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the use of ICM for the detection of VA in adults with CHD.

METHODS

In this prospective single-center observational study we included consecutive adults with CHD deemed at risk of VA who received an ICM between March 2013 and February 2019. The decision to implant an ICM was made in a Heart Team consisting of a cardiac electrophysiologist and a cardiologist specialized in CHD.

RESULTS

A total of 30 patients (mean age, 38 ± 15 years; 50% male) received an ICM. During a median follow-up of 16 months, 8 patients (27%) had documented nonsustained VA. Of these 8 patients, 3 (10%) received a prophylactic ICD. Furthermore, ICM-detected arrhythmias were present in 22 patients (73%) leading to a change in clinical management in 16 patients (53%). Besides the patients receiving an ICD, 10 patients (33%) had a change in their antiarrhythmic drugs, 6 patients (20%) underwent an electrophysiology study, and 1 patient (3%) received a pacemaker.

CONCLUSIONS

The detection of VA by the ICM contributed to the clinical decision to implant a prophylactic ICD. Furthermore, ICM-detected arrhythmias led to important changes in the clinical management. Therefore, long-term arrhythmia monitoring by an ICM seems valuable for risk stratification in adults with CHD.

Ambulatory Arrhythmia Detection with ZIO® XT Patch in Pediatric Patients: A Comparison of Devices

Ambulatory electrocardiogram monitoring devices can be used for 24-72 h to detect arrhythmias. A new device, the ZIO® XT Patch has cardiac monitoring capabilities that can be utilized for up to 14 days. The purpose of this study is to describe duration of ZIO use by age, and to compare its time to arrhythmia detection with the Holter monitor in a pediatric population. A single-center, retrospective review of patients < 18 years of age who underwent clinical investigation with ZIO from October 2014 to February 2016 was performed. An age-matched cohort was utilized to compare ZIO to Holter monitor results. Demographic and diagnostic data, time to first arrhythmia, and arrhythmia burden were analyzed. A total of 406 ZIO were prescribed; median age 12.7 years and 50% male subjects. Median duration of ZIO monitoring significantly increased with age (p < 0.001). 499 Holter monitors were prescribed on a statistically different age group. Arrhythmia detection rates were similar between groups, 10% (n = 42) by ZIO and 9% (n = 45) by Holter (p = NS). The majority of arrhythmias (57%) detected by ZIO were after 24 h (p < 0.0001). All arrhythmias detected by Holter monitor occurred within 24 h (p < 0.0001), mean duration of wear was 24.1 h, range 0.5-48 h. The ZIO® XT Patch may be considered as an ambulatory ECG monitor to diagnose arrhythmia in pediatric patients of all ages. Increasing patient age resulted in increasing duration of ZIO monitoring. Majority of arrhythmias detected with ZIO were identified after 24 h, which would have been missed by other short-term monitors.

PocketECG: A New Noninvasive Method for Continuous and Real-Time ECG Monitoring-Initial Results in Children and Adolescents

Long-term ECG is widely used in diagnosis and assessment of many cardiac symptoms which may be caused by dangerous arrhythmias that sometimes can be difficult to document. The PocketECG system is a new technological solution for a long-term, noninvasive, continuous and real-time ECG monitoring that provides automatic diagnosis of dysrhythmias. ECG data transmission occurs over a mobile network. The goal of this study was to assess the reliability of long-term ECG recordings acquired with the PocketECG system. One hundred and fifteen patients (43 girls and 72 boys) of an average age of 15.5 ± 2.5 years were examined at the Department of Cardiology at the Children's Memorial Health Institute. Two simultaneous 24-h ECG recordings were conducted: one with a Holter monitor and one with the PocketECG system. A linear correlation was demonstrated between the two methods with regard to the recorded QRS complexes [H = 1173.0 (-1946.40; 4838.50) + PocketECG*0.98 (0.94; 1.02)]. Mean diurnal heart rhythms were comparable (p > 0.05) despite the fact that the slowest and the fastest rates were different. The rate of detection for ventricular, supraventricular dysrhythmias and pauses in ventricular rhythm were comparable in both methods. The PocketECG system for continuous and real-time ECG recording is a reliable method for the assessment of heart rhythm and dysrhythmias in children and adolescents.

Syncope unit in the paediatric population: A single-centre experience

BACKGROUND

Syncopes are frequent in the paediatric population. Most are benign, but rare cases are caused by cardiac life-threatening diseases. Syncope units developed in the adult population have demonstrated improvement in evaluation and treatment, with a reduction in hospitalization.

AIMS

We report our experience of paediatric syncope management in a dedicated unit, and analyse the value of different elements in the identification of cardiac causes.

METHODS

This prospective study included 97 consecutive patients (mean age: 12.1±3.3 years) referred between January 2011 and June 2013 to a syncope unit with a paediatric cardiologist, a nurse, a physiotherapist and a psychologist. Patients were classified into diagnostic categories after an initial evaluation that included history, physical examination, electrocardiography, echocardiography and Holter monitoring.

RESULTS

The most common diagnosis was neurocardiogenic syncope (n=69, 70.4%). Fifty-two cases (81.3%) had no or less recurrence after specific management that included physiotherapy and psychological support (follow-up: 11.5±5.4 months). Psychogenic pseudosyncopes affected 20 children (20.6%). Two patients had epileptic seizures. There were five cases of cardiac syncope (5.1%): two long QT syndromes and a catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia received beta-blockers; two atrioventricular complete blocks required pacemakers. One case was of indeterminate cause and received an insertable loop recorder after exhaustive investigations. Exercise-induced syncopes were significantly associated with cardiac origins (P=0.003), such as electrocardiographic abnormalities (P<0.001), whereas echocardiography was not contributive.

CONCLUSION

Syncope units in the paediatric population may be useful in the diagnostic process, to help identify rare cardiac aetiologies, and could decrease recurrence through specific management.

Evaluation rhythm problems in unexplained syncope etiology with implantable loop recorder

BACKGROUND

Syncope is a frequent complaint in children and adolescents and may be a significant sign of serious pathology. Although patient history, family history, and physical examination are sufficient to reach a diagnosis in most cases of syncope, the cause of syncope still cannot be determined after initial investigation in one-third to half of all patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield of implantable loop recorder (ILR) in children with unexplained syncope.

METHODS

A retrospective review was carried out of clinical data, indications, findings, and a final management strategy in patients who underwent ILR implantation.

RESULTS

A total of 12 patients with a mean age of 9.4 ± 4.5 years underwent ILR (Reveal Plus; Medtronic) implantation. ILR implantation indication was syncope in all of the patients. Family history, routine cardiac assessment, including resting 12-lead electrocardiogram, transthoracic echocardiography, 24 h Holter recording, and event recorder findings, were normal with the exception of one patient with (previously corrected) tetralogy of Fallot. After an average of 20 months (range, 1-36 months), six patients developed symptoms. ILR memory showed torsades de pointes-ventricular fibrillation (n = 3), catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (n = 1), asystole and ventricular tachycardia (n = 1), and normal sinus rhythm (n = 1). At the time of writing six patients were still in follow up with no symptoms after an average of 25.2 months.

CONCLUSION

Implantable loop recorder plays an important role in the diagnosis of life-threatening arrhythmias in which syncope is otherwise unexplained. ILR implantation should be remembered in children whose symptoms are strongly correlated with rhythm disturbances.

Comparison of contact force-guided procedure with non-contact force-guided procedure during left atrial mapping and pulmonary vein isolation: impact of contact force on recurrence of atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of contact force (CF) visualization on the incidence of low and high CF during left atrial (LA) mapping and pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

METHODS

CF was assessed in 70 patients who underwent PVI. Three highly experienced operators performed all procedures. The operators were blinded to CF in group A (35 patients), and CF was displayed in group B (35 patients). In group B, optimal CF was defined as mean CF between 10 and 39g, and operators attempted to acquire points and ablate within this range.

RESULTS

A total of 8401 mapping points were analyzed during LA mapping (group A: 4104, group B: 4297). Low CF <10g and high CF ≥40g were noted in a significantly larger number of points in group A (37.7 vs. 12.0 %, P < 0.001; 11.5 vs. 1.5 %, P < 0.001). At the mitral isthmus and ridge areas, CF was significantly lower (7.7 vs. 12.2g, P < 0.001; 5.3 vs. 11.7g, P < 0.001) in group A than in group B. PVI was successfully achieved in all patients. There were significant site-dependent CF differences between the two groups. Optimal CF was achieved in significantly more applications in group B (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence rates after a minimum follow-up of 1 year between the two groups in this cohort (P = 0.24). No significant peri-procedural complications occurred in either group.

CONCLUSIONS

CF visualization can assist in avoiding both low and high CF, which may have the potential to improve lesion formation and patient safety profile. In this study, CF-guided ablation did not affect AF recurrence.