Incidence, risk factors, and consequences of new-onset atrial fibrillation following epicardial ablation for ventricular tachycardia

2019 HRS/EHRA/APHRS/LAHRS expert consensus statement on catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias

Ventricular arrhythmias are an important cause of morbidity and mortality and come in a variety of forms, from single premature ventricular complexes to sustained ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. Rapid developments have taken place over the past decade in our understanding of these arrhythmias and in our ability to diagnose and treat them. The field of catheter ablation has progressed with the development of new methods and tools, and with the publication of large clinical trials. Therefore, global cardiac electrophysiology professional societies undertook to outline recommendations and best practices for these procedures in a document that will update and replace the 2009 EHRA/HRS Expert Consensus on Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias. An expert writing group, after reviewing and discussing the literature, including a systematic review and meta-analysis published in conjunction with this document, and drawing on their own experience, drafted and voted on recommendations and summarized current knowledge and practice in the field. Each recommendation is presented in knowledge byte format and is accompanied by supportive text and references. Further sections provide a practical synopsis of the various techniques and of the specific ventricular arrhythmia sites and substrates encountered in the electrophysiology lab. The purpose of this document is to help electrophysiologists around the world to appropriately select patients for catheter ablation, to perform procedures in a safe and efficacious manner, and to provide follow-up and adjunctive care in order to obtain the best possible outcomes for patients with ventricular arrhythmias.

2019 HRS/EHRA/APHRS/LAHRS expert consensus statement on catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias

Ventricular arrhythmias are an important cause of morbidity and mortality and come in a variety of forms, from single premature ventricular complexes to sustained ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. Rapid developments have taken place over the past decade in our understanding of these arrhythmias and in our ability to diagnose and treat them. The field of catheter ablation has progressed with the development of new methods and tools, and with the publication of large clinical trials. Therefore, global cardiac electrophysiology professional societies undertook to outline recommendations and best practices for these procedures in a document that will update and replace the 2009 EHRA/HRS Expert Consensus on Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias. An expert writing group, after reviewing and discussing the literature, including a systematic review and meta-analysis published in conjunction with this document, and drawing on their own experience, drafted and voted on recommendations and summarized current knowledge and practice in the field. Each recommendation is presented in knowledge byte format and is accompanied by supportive text and references. Further sections provide a practical synopsis of the various techniques and of the specific ventricular arrhythmia sites and substrates encountered in the electrophysiology lab. The purpose of this document is to help electrophysiologists around the world to appropriately select patients for catheter ablation, to perform procedures in a safe and efficacious manner, and to provide follow-up and adjunctive care in order to obtain the best possible outcomes for patients with ventricular arrhythmias.

2019 HRS/EHRA/APHRS/LAHRS expert consensus statement on catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias

Ventricular arrhythmias are an important cause of morbidity and mortality and come in a variety of forms, from single premature ventricular complexes to sustained ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation. Rapid developments have taken place over the past decade in our understanding of these arrhythmias and in our ability to diagnose and treat them. The field of catheter ablation has progressed with the development of new methods and tools, and with the publication of large clinical trials. Therefore, global cardiac electrophysiology professional societies undertook to outline recommendations and best practices for these procedures in a document that will update and replace the 2009 EHRA/HRS Expert Consensus on Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias. An expert writing group, after reviewing and discussing the literature, including a systematic review and meta-analysis published in conjunction with this document, and drawing on their own experience, drafted and voted on recommendations and summarized current knowledge and practice in the field. Each recommendation is presented in knowledge byte format and is accompanied by supportive text and references. Further sections provide a practical synopsis of the various techniques and of the specific ventricular arrhythmia sites and substrates encountered in the electrophysiology lab. The purpose of this document is to help electrophysiologists around the world to appropriately select patients for catheter ablation, to perform procedures in a safe and efficacious manner, and to provide follow-up and adjunctive care in order to obtain the best possible outcomes for patients with ventricular arrhythmias.

Influence of Steroid Therapy on the Incidence of Pericarditis and Atrial Fibrillation After Percutaneous Epicardial Mapping and Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia

Background—

This study evaluates the influence of 3 therapeutic approaches on the incidence of pericarditis and atrial fibrillation (AF) after percutaneous epicardial mapping and ablation for ventricular tachycardia.

Methods and Results—

Eighty-five consecutive procedures (2006–2011) were retrospectively reviewed. After the first 17 procedures (20.0%), no steroids were administered. For the subsequent 30 procedures (35.3%), systemic steroids were administered intravenously or orally, whereas the last 38 procedures (44.7%) were followed by intrapericardial steroid injection. Compared with no steroids, the incidence of pericarditic chest pain was significantly reduced by intrapericardial steroids (58.8% versus 21.1%; P =0.006) but not by intravenous or oral steroids (58.8% versus 43.4%; P =0.31). There was no significant difference in the incidence of pericarditic ECG with steroids (36.8%, 30.0%, and 41.2% for intrapericardial, intravenous or oral, and none, respectively). There was a nonsignificant reduced incidence of chest pain with ECG changes with steroids (13.2%, 10.0%, and 29.4% for intrapericardial, intravenous or oral, and none, respectively). Radiofrequency applications (65.9% of procedures) did not affect the incidence of pericarditic ECG changes, pericarditic chest pain, or pericarditis (all P >0.05). In 7 (8.3%) patients with no prior history of AF, AF was documented a median 36 hours after procedure. Patients with pericarditic ECG tended to be at greater risk of AF (16.7 versus 3.6%; P =0.091).

Conclusions—

There is a high incidence of pericarditic chest pain and ECG changes after epicardial ventricular tachycardia mapping and ablation. Pericarditic chest pain is significantly decreased by intrapericardial steroids. Procedure-related AF is relatively frequent and tends to occur more commonly with pericarditic ECG changes.

Atypical complications encountered with epicardial electrophysiological procedures

BACKGROUND

With the increasing use, complexity, anatomical approaches, and tools related to epicardial procedures, complications previously not seen during endovascular ablation are now well recognized with epicardial ablation. Whether newer approaches and the regional anatomy of the pericardial space contribute to unexpected complications after epicardial access (EpiAcc) is presently unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To characterize underreported, or novel, complications associated with percutaneous EpiAcc as part of an electrophysiology procedure.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed percutaneous EpiAcc as part of an ablation procedure from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2011.

RESULTS

Of 116 attempts in 107 patients, 8 atypical ablation complications (no procedural deaths) were noted; complications included delayed pericarditis (2 weeks), chronic refractory pericarditis, requirement for snaring of broken intrapericardial wire, pleural perforation, phrenic nerve injury despite protective strategies, hemoperitoneum, and abdominal-pericardial fistula.

CONCLUSION

Vigilance both during and after EpiAcc is needed to recognize these complications, some of which may be life-threatening.

Open-irrigated laser catheter ablation: relationship between the level of energy, myocardial thickness, and collateral damages in a dog model

AIMS

To evaluate laser lesion formation in the beating hearts of dogs by using an open-irrigated electrode-laser mapping and ablation heart catheter.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 50 laser applications at 15 W (n = 31) and 20 W (n = 19) for 10-50 s, with an irrigation flow of 35 mL/min were aimed at the right (n = 15) and left (n = 9) atrial, right (n = 15) and left (n = 11) ventricular walls in five dogs (6-16/dog), by using an open-irrigated laser ablation catheter. The 1064 nm diode laser was provided with a light control system, a Flowmeter, and a transoesophageal laser sensor. Lesions were measured and were evaluated morphometrically. Transmural lesions were achieved in seconds regardless of the level of energy applied. Laser applications at 15 W > 10 s aimed at the atrial walls produced collateral lesions to the lung or to the oesophagus. Laser applications at 20 W > 30 s aimed at the ventricular walls may result in steam pop with intramural cavitations and arrhythmias. Collateral damages to the oesophagus occurred only when the transoesophageal light sensor was deactivated.

CONCLUSION

To avoid unwanted effects during laser catheter ablation by using an open-irrigated laser catheter energy delivery must be adapted to the thickness of the myocardial wall. Light control system and a transoesophageal light sensor may help reduce the risks of myocardial and collateral damages.