The Role of Adenosine in Pulmonary Vein Isolation: A Critical Review

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 (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 .

Methods and techniques for increasing the safety and efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation

The most common type of sustained arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation (AF). Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, which has emerged as the primary therapeutic strategy for atrial fibrillation patients. Unfortunately, about one-third of patients experience recurrent atrial arrhythmias after the procedure.

The Effect of the Enhanced Endpoint of Pulmonary Vein Isolation on the Long-Term Success Rate of Radiofrequency Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

Objective

This study aimed to investigate whether the enhanced endpoint of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI; intravenous injection of adenosine-triphosphate [ATP] + pacing capture + supplemental ablation) after initial PVI can reduce the long-term recurrence rate of atrial fibrillation (AF) after PVI.

Methods

Patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF undergoing catheter ablation treatment were enrolled in this study and divided into three groups according to the surgical endpoint: (1) group 1 (n = 92), in which patients were observed for 30 minutes after the initial PVI and pulmonary vein–left atrium (PV–LA) electrical conduction had not recovered; (2) group 2 (n = 99), in which patients were observed for 30 minutes after the initial PVI, then intravenously injected with ATP, and PV–LA electrical conduction had not recovered; and (3) group 3 (n = 102), in which patients were observed for 30 minutes after the initial PVI, then intravenously injected with ATP + treated with ablation line pacing, and the atrium could not be captured.

Results

Patients were followed up for 12 months after the operation. Twenty-eight patients in group 1 (30.4%), 19 patients in group 2 (19.2%), and 10 patients in group 3 (9.8%) developed a recurrence of AF. The difference between groups 1 and 3 was statistically significant (p < 0.001). At 12 months after the operation, the thickness of the left atrium, the posterior wall of the left ventricle, and the ventricular septum of the three groups of patients were significantly thinner than before the operation. Furthermore, the left ventricular ejection fraction had increased (p < 0.05 for all), and the pulmonary artery pressure had decreased (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

For patients with paroxysmal AF or persistent AF, the enhanced endpoint of PVI after the initial PVI can reduce the long-term recurrence rate of AF after PVI.

Adenosine-A drug with myriad utility in the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias

Adenosine has been used in the emergency treatment of arrhythmia for more than nine decades. However, cardiologists are often unfamiliar about its basic mechanism and various diagnostic and therapeutic uses, considering it mainly as a therapeutic drug for supraventricular tachycardia. This article discusses the role of adenosine relevant to emergency physicians, cardiologists, and electrophysiologists. Understanding of the mechanisms of adenosine and its electrophysiological effects is discussed first, followed by dosing, side effects, diagnostic, and therapeutic uses. Finally, the role of adenosine in the electrophysiology laboratory is discussed.

Localization of Residual Conduction Gaps After Wide Antral Circumferential Ablation of Pulmonary Veins

Ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is the cornerstone therapy for patients with symptomatic AF resistant to anti-arrhythmic drugs or as first-line therapy, and is based on permanent pulmonary vein (PV) isolation. The presence of a conduction gap in a wide antral circumferential ablation lesion around PVs is often sufficient to transform an initially successful ablation into a procedural failure, thus necessitating a redo intervention. The strategy during a redo procedure is based on the detection and ablation of the reconnection gap. Finding gaps is often simple, but also sometimes challenging, because gaps may be difficult to detect, resulting in unnecessary radiofrequency delivery. The present review aimed to describe the various techniques published thus far to detect residual reconnections along the encircling ablation lines around PVs, to help electrophysiologists to detect and ablate reconnection gaps.

Adenosine as a Marker and Mediator of Cardiovascular Homeostasis: A Translational Perspective

Adenosine, a purine nucleoside, is produced broadly and implicated in the homeostasis of many cells and tissues. It signals predominantly via 4 purinergic adenosine receptors (ADORs) - ADORA1, ADORA2A, ADORA2B and ADOosine signaling, both through design as specific ADOR agonists and antagonists and as offtarget effects of existing anti-platelet medications. Despite this, adenosine has yet to be firmly established as either a therapeutic or a prognostic tool in clinical medicine to date. Herein, we provide a bench-to-bedside review of adenosine biology, highlighting the key considerations for further translational development of this proRA3 in addition to non-ADOR mediated effects. Through these signaling mechanisms, adenosine exerts effects on numerous cell types crucial to maintaining vascular homeostasis, especially following vascular injury. Both in vitro and in vivo models have provided considerable insights into adenosine signaling and identified targets for therapeutic intervention. Numerous pharmacologic agents have been developed that modulate adenmising molecule.

Demonstration of pulmonary vein exit block following pulmonary vein isolation: A novel use for adenosine

INTRODUCTION

Demonstration of exit block after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone of ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). It requires the demonstration of local pulmonary vein (PV) capture and absence of conduction to the atrium but is often challenging due to the inability to see local paced PV-evoked potentials. We retrospectively examined the ability of adenosine to augment this technique during CARTO-based radiofrequency ablation procedures.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of evoked PV potentials during adenosine administration while testing for PV exit block at a single UK center.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-nine PVs in 33 patients were isolated using radiofrequency energy to demonstrate entry block. Of those, the pacing of 24 veins under baseline conditions did not clearly demonstrate local PV-evoked potentials sufficient to be sure that the local vein was truly captured and dissociated from the atrium. Adenosine was administered in 19 of these, with 10 of 19 (52.6%) veins then demonstrating clear local PV-evoked potentials transiently during adenosine administration, sufficient to allow assessment of definite exit block.

CONCLUSION

Adenosine administered during PV pacing allows transient visualization of local PV-evoked potentials after PVI facilitating the clearer demonstration of PV exit block in over 50% veins.