1
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Tzeis S, Gerstenfeld EP, Kalman J, Saad EB, Shamloo AS, Andrade JG, Barbhaiya CR, Baykaner T, Boveda S, Calkins H, Chan NY, Chen M, Chen SA, Dagres N, Damiano RJ, De Potter T, Deisenhofer I, Derval N, Di Biase L, Duytschaever M, Dyrda K, Hindricks G, Hocini M, Kim YH, la Meir M, Merino JL, Michaud GF, Natale A, Nault I, Nava S, Nitta T, O'Neill M, Pak HN, Piccini JP, Pürerfellner H, Reichlin T, Saenz LC, Sanders P, Schilling R, Schmidt B, Supple GE, Thomas KL, Tondo C, Verma A, Wan EY. 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. Heart Rhythm 2024; 21:e31-e149. [PMID: 38597857 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2024.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stylianos Tzeis
- Department of Cardiology, Mitera Hospital, 6, Erythrou Stavrou Str., Marousi, Athens, PC 151 23, Greece.
| | - Edward P Gerstenfeld
- Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Kalman
- Department of Cardiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne and Baker Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Eduardo B Saad
- Electrophysiology and Pacing, Hospital Samaritano Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Jason G Andrade
- Department of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Tina Baykaner
- Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Serge Boveda
- Heart Rhythm Management Department, Clinique Pasteur, Toulouse, France; Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hugh Calkins
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ngai-Yin Chan
- Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Minglong Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shih-Ann Chen
- Heart Rhythm Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, and Cardiovascular Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | | | - Ralph J Damiano
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Isabel Deisenhofer
- Department of Electrophysiology, German Heart Center Munich, Technical University of Munich (TUM) School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicolas Derval
- IHU LIRYC, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Cardiac Electrophysiology and Stimulation Department, Fondation Bordeaux Université and Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU), Pessac-Bordeaux, France
| | - Luigi Di Biase
- Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Katia Dyrda
- Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Meleze Hocini
- IHU LIRYC, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Cardiac Electrophysiology and Stimulation Department, Fondation Bordeaux Université and Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU), Pessac-Bordeaux, France
| | - Young-Hoon Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Korea University College of Medicine and Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mark la Meir
- Cardiac Surgery Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jose Luis Merino
- La Paz University Hospital, Idipaz, Universidad Autonoma, Madrid, Spain; Hospital Viamed Santa Elena, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Andrea Natale
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, TX, USA; Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA; Interventional Electrophysiology, Scripps Clinic, San Diego, CA, USA; Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Division of Cardiology, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabelle Nault
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Quebec (IUCPQ), Quebec, Canada
| | - Santiago Nava
- Departamento de Electrocardiología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología 'Ignacio Chávez', Ciudad de México, México
| | - Takashi Nitta
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mark O'Neill
- Cardiovascular Directorate, St. Thomas' Hospital and King's College, London, UK
| | - Hui-Nam Pak
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - Tobias Reichlin
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital Bern, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Luis Carlos Saenz
- International Arrhythmia Center, Cardioinfantil Foundation, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Boris Schmidt
- Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Medizinische Klinik III, Agaplesion Markuskrankenhaus, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Gregory E Supple
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Section, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Claudio Tondo
- Department of Clinical Electrophysiology and Cardiac Pacing, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Atul Verma
- McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Elaine Y Wan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
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2
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Tzeis S, Gerstenfeld EP, Kalman J, Saad E, Shamloo AS, Andrade JG, Barbhaiya CR, Baykaner T, Boveda S, Calkins H, Chan NY, Chen M, Chen SA, Dagres N, Damiano RJ, De Potter T, Deisenhofer I, Derval N, Di Biase L, Duytschaever M, Dyrda K, Hindricks G, Hocini M, Kim YH, la Meir M, Merino JL, Michaud GF, Natale A, Nault I, Nava S, Nitta T, O'Neill M, Pak HN, Piccini JP, Pürerfellner H, Reichlin T, Saenz LC, Sanders P, Schilling R, Schmidt B, Supple GE, Thomas KL, Tondo C, Verma A, Wan EY. 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. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2024; 67:921-1072. [PMID: 38609733 DOI: 10.1007/s10840-024-01771-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Edward P Gerstenfeld
- Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Kalman
- Department of Cardiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne and Baker Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Eduardo Saad
- Electrophysiology and Pacing, Hospital Samaritano Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Jason G Andrade
- Department of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Tina Baykaner
- Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Serge Boveda
- Heart Rhythm Management Department, Clinique Pasteur, Toulouse, France
- Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hugh Calkins
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ngai-Yin Chan
- Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Minglong Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shih-Ann Chen
- Heart Rhythm Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nikolaos Dagres
- Department of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Charité University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ralph J Damiano
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Isabel Deisenhofer
- Department of Electrophysiology, German Heart Center Munich, Technical University of Munich (TUM) School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicolas Derval
- IHU LIRYC, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Cardiac Electrophysiology and Stimulation Department, Fondation Bordeaux Université and Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU), Pessac-Bordeaux, France
| | - Luigi Di Biase
- Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Katia Dyrda
- Department of Cardiology, Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Gerhard Hindricks
- Department of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Charité University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Meleze Hocini
- IHU LIRYC, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Cardiac Electrophysiology and Stimulation Department, Fondation Bordeaux Université and Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU), Pessac-Bordeaux, France
| | - Young-Hoon Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Korea University College of Medicine and Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mark la Meir
- Cardiac Surgery Department, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel-Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jose Luis Merino
- La Paz University Hospital, Idipaz, Universidad Autonoma, Madrid, Spain
- Hospital Viamed Santa Elena, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gregory F Michaud
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea Natale
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David's Medical Center, Austin, TX, USA
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Interventional Electrophysiology, Scripps Clinic, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Division of Cardiology, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabelle Nault
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Quebec (IUCPQ), Quebec, Canada
| | - Santiago Nava
- Departamento de Electrocardiología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología 'Ignacio Chávez', Ciudad de México, México
| | - Takashi Nitta
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mark O'Neill
- Cardiovascular Directorate, St. Thomas' Hospital and King's College, London, UK
| | - Hui-Nam Pak
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - Tobias Reichlin
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital Bern, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Luis Carlos Saenz
- International Arrhythmia Center, Cardioinfantil Foundation, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Boris Schmidt
- Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Medizinische Klinik III, Agaplesion Markuskrankenhaus, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Gregory E Supple
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Section, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Claudio Tondo
- Department of Clinical Electrophysiology and Cardiac Pacing, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Atul Verma
- McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Elaine Y Wan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
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3
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Tzeis S, Gerstenfeld EP, Kalman J, Saad EB, Sepehri Shamloo A, Andrade JG, Barbhaiya CR, Baykaner T, Boveda S, Calkins H, Chan NY, Chen M, Chen SA, Dagres N, Damiano RJ, De Potter T, Deisenhofer I, Derval N, Di Biase L, Duytschaever M, Dyrda K, Hindricks G, Hocini M, Kim YH, la Meir M, Merino JL, Michaud GF, Natale A, Nault I, Nava S, Nitta T, O’Neill M, Pak HN, Piccini JP, Pürerfellner H, Reichlin T, Saenz LC, Sanders P, Schilling R, Schmidt B, Supple GE, Thomas KL, Tondo C, Verma A, Wan EY. 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. Europace 2024; 26:euae043. [PMID: 38587017 PMCID: PMC11000153 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euae043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
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 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Stylianos Tzeis
- Department of Cardiology, Mitera Hospital, 6, Erythrou Stavrou Str., Marousi, Athens, PC 151 23, Greece
| | - Edward P Gerstenfeld
- Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Kalman
- Department of Cardiology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne and Baker Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Eduardo B Saad
- Electrophysiology and Pacing, Hospital Samaritano Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Jason G Andrade
- Department of Medicine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Tina Baykaner
- Division of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Serge Boveda
- Heart Rhythm Management Department, Clinique Pasteur, Toulouse, France
- Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hugh Calkins
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ngai-Yin Chan
- Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Minglong Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shih-Ann Chen
- Heart Rhythm Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, and Cardiovascular Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | | | - Ralph J Damiano
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Isabel Deisenhofer
- Department of Electrophysiology, German Heart Center Munich, Technical University of Munich (TUM) School of Medicine and Health, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicolas Derval
- IHU LIRYC, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Cardiac Electrophysiology and Stimulation Department, Fondation Bordeaux Université and Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU), Pessac-Bordeaux, France
| | - Luigi Di Biase
- Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | | | - Katia Dyrda
- Department of Medicine, Montreal Heart Institute, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Meleze Hocini
- IHU LIRYC, Electrophysiology and Heart Modeling Institute, Cardiac Electrophysiology and Stimulation Department, Fondation Bordeaux Université and Bordeaux University Hospital (CHU), Pessac-Bordeaux, France
| | - Young-Hoon Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Korea University College of Medicine and Korea University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Mark la Meir
- Cardiac Surgery Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jose Luis Merino
- La Paz University Hospital, Idipaz, Universidad Autonoma, Madrid, Spain
- Hospital Viamed Santa Elena, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Andrea Natale
- Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute, St. David’s Medical Center, Austin, TX, USA
- Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Interventional Electrophysiology, Scripps Clinic, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, Division of Cardiology, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabelle Nault
- Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Quebec (IUCPQ), Quebec, Canada
| | - Santiago Nava
- Departamento de Electrocardiología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología ‘Ignacio Chávez’, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Takashi Nitta
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mark O’Neill
- Cardiovascular Directorate, St. Thomas’ Hospital and King’s College, London, UK
| | - Hui-Nam Pak
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | | | - Tobias Reichlin
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital Bern, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Luis Carlos Saenz
- International Arrhythmia Center, Cardioinfantil Foundation, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Prashanthan Sanders
- Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, University of Adelaide and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Boris Schmidt
- Cardioangiologisches Centrum Bethanien, Medizinische Klinik III, Agaplesion Markuskrankenhaus, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Gregory E Supple
- Cardiac Electrophysiology Section, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Claudio Tondo
- Department of Clinical Electrophysiology and Cardiac Pacing, Centro Cardiologico Monzino, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Atul Verma
- McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Elaine Y Wan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA
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4
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Carpenter A, Pannell LMK, Rizvi SIA, Maciver K, Rajakaruna C, Ciulli F, Duncan ER, Thomas G, Barman P, Bond R, Nisbet AM. Convergent approach to persistent atrial fibrillation ablation: long-term single-centre safety and efficacy. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 10:1336801. [PMID: 38390303 PMCID: PMC10881669 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1336801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Efforts to maintain sinus rhythm in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PsAF) remain challenging, with suboptimal long-term outcomes. Methods All patients undergoing convergent PsAF ablation at our centre were retrospectively analysed. The Atricure Epi-Sense® system was used to perform surgical radiofrequency ablation of the LA posterior wall followed by endocardial ablation. Results A total of 24 patients underwent convergent PsAF ablation, and 21 (84%) of them were male with a median age of 63. Twelve (50%) patients were obese. In total, 71% of patients had a severely dilated left atrium, and the majority (63%) had preserved left ventricular function. All were longstanding persistent. Eighteen (75%) patients had an AF duration of >2 years. There were no endocardial procedure complications. At 36 months, all patients were alive with no new stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA). Freedom from documented AF at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months was 83%, 78%, 74%, 74%, 74%, and 61%, respectively. There were no major surgical complications, with five minor complications recorded comprising minor wound infection, pericarditic pain, and hernia. Conclusions Our data suggest that convergent AF ablation is effective with excellent immediate and long-term safety outcomes in a real-world cohort of patients with a significant duration of AF and evidence of established atrial remodelling. Convergent AF ablation appears to offer a safe and effective option for those who are unlikely to benefit from existing therapeutic strategies for maintaining sinus rhythm, and further evaluation of this exciting technique is warranted. Our cohort is unique within the published literature both in terms of length of follow-up and very low rate of adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Carpenter
- Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Departments of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Laura M K Pannell
- Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol, United Kingdom
- Departments of Physiology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Glyn Thomas
- Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | | | - Richard Bond
- Bristol Heart Institute, Bristol, United Kingdom
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5
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Burg MR, Anderson RD, Chandra Srinath Patloori S, Acosta-Vélez G, Spears D, Ha ACT, Chauhan VS, Bhaskaran AP, Nair K, Cusimano RJ, Nanthakumar K. Reinventing Larrey's approach for epicardial mapping: The closed pericardiostomy technique. Heart Rhythm 2023; 20:1055-1060. [PMID: 37088232 DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2023.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie R Burg
- Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert D Anderson
- Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sirish Chandra Srinath Patloori
- Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gabriel Acosta-Vélez
- Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Danna Spears
- Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew C T Ha
- Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vijay S Chauhan
- Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Abhishek P Bhaskaran
- Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Krishnakumar Nair
- Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Robert J Cusimano
- Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kumaraswamy Nanthakumar
- Hull Family Cardiac Fibrillation Management Laboratory, Division of Cardiology, University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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6
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Baqal O, El Masry HZ. Ablative Management of Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (PeAF) with Posterior Wall Isolation (PWI): Where Do We Stand? J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:273. [PMID: 37504529 PMCID: PMC10380213 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10070273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation is a diverse clinical entity, with persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) being particularly challenging to manage. Through this paper, we discuss notable developments in our understanding of ablative strategies for managing PeAF, with a special focus on posterior wall isolation (PWI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Baqal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA
| | - Hicham Z El Masry
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, 5777 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA
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7
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Xu CH, Xiong F, Jiang WF, Liu X, Liu T, Qin M. Rotor mechanism and its mapping in atrial fibrillation. Europace 2023; 25:783-792. [PMID: 36734272 PMCID: PMC10062333 DOI: 10.1093/europace/euad002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains challenging despite significant progress in understanding its underlying mechanisms. The first detailed, quantitative theory of functional re-entry, the 'leading circle' model, was developed more than 40 years ago. Subsequently, in decades of study, an alternative paradigm based on spiral waves has long been postulated to drive AF. The rotor as a 'spiral wave generator' is a curved 'vortex' formed by spin motion in the two-dimensional plane, identified using advanced mapping methods in experimental and clinical AF. However, it is challenging to achieve complementary results between experimental results and clinical studies due to the limitation in research methods and the complexity of the rotor mechanism. Here, we review knowledge garnered over decades on generation, electrophysiological properties, and three-dimensional (3D) structure diversity of the rotor mechanism and make a comparison among recent clinical approaches to identify rotors. Although initial studies of rotor ablation at many independent centres have achieved promising results, some inconclusive outcomes exist in others. We propose that the clinical rotor identification might be substantially influenced by (i) non-identical surface activation patterns, which resulted from a diverse 3D form of scroll wave, and (ii) inadequate resolution of mapping techniques. With rapidly advancing theoretical and technological developments, future work is required to resolve clinically relevant limitations in current basic and clinical research methodology, translate from one to the other, and resolve available mapping techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Hao Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, School of Medicine,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 241 Huaihai West Road, Xuhui
District, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Feng Xiong
- Montreal Heart Institute, Department of Medicine, University of
Montreal, 5000, Bélanger street, Montréal, Québec H1T
1C8, Canada
| | - Wei-Feng Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, School of Medicine,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 241 Huaihai West Road, Xuhui
District, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Xu Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, School of Medicine,
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 241 Huaihai West Road, Xuhui
District, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Corresponding authors. Tao Liu, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuchang
District, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China. Tel: +86 (027) 8804 1911, Fax:+86-(027)-8804-2292.
E-mail address:; Mu Qin, 241 Huaihai
West Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200030, China. Tel: +8621628219902603, Fax:
+862162821105. E-mail address:
| | - Mu Qin
- Corresponding authors. Tao Liu, 238 Jiefang Road, Wuchang
District, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, China. Tel: +86 (027) 8804 1911, Fax:+86-(027)-8804-2292.
E-mail address:; Mu Qin, 241 Huaihai
West Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200030, China. Tel: +8621628219902603, Fax:
+862162821105. E-mail address:
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8
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DeLurgio DB, Blauth C, Halkos ME, Crossen KJ, Talton D, Oza SR, Magnano AR, Mostovych MA, Billakanty S, Duff S, Stees C, Sperling J, Ahsan S, Yap J, Shults C, Pederson D, Garrison J, Tabereaux P, Gilligan DM, Bundy G, Costantini O, Espinal E, La Pietra A, Yang F, Greenberg Y, Jacobowitz I, Gill J. Hybrid epicardial-endocardial ablation for long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation: A subanalysis of the CONVERGE Trial. Heart Rhythm O2 2023; 4:111-118. [PMID: 36873309 PMCID: PMC9975017 DOI: 10.1016/j.hroo.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Favorable clinical outcomes are difficult to achieve in long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (LSPAF) with catheter ablation (CA). The CONVERGE (Convergence of Epicardial and Endocardial Ablation for the Treatment of Symptomatic Persistent Atrial FIbrillation) trial evaluated the effectiveness of hybrid convergent (HC) ablation vs endocardial CA. Objective The study sought to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of HC vs CA in the LSPAF subgroup from the CONVERGE trial. Methods The CONVERGE trial was a prospective, multicenter, randomized trial that enrolled 153 patients at 27 sites. A post hoc analysis was performed on LSPAF patients. The primary effectiveness was freedom from atrial arrhythmias off new or increased dose of previously failed or intolerant antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) through 12 months. The primary safety endpoint was major adverse event incidence through 30 days with HC. Key secondary effectiveness measures included (1) percent of patients achieving ≥90% AF burden reduction vs baseline and (2) AF freedom. Results Sixty-five patients (42.5% of total enrollment) had LSPAF; 38 in HC and 27 in CA. Primary effectiveness was 65.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 50.7%-80.9%) with HC vs 37.0% (95% CI 5.1%-52.4%) with CA (P = .022). Through 18 months, these rates were 60.5% (95% CI 50.0%-76.1%) with HC vs 25.9% (95% CI 9.4%-42.5%) with CA (P = .006). Secondary effectiveness rates were higher than CA with HC at 12 and 18 months. Freedom from atrial arrhythmias off AADs was 52.6% (95% CI 36.8%-68.5%) and 47.4% (95% CI 31.5%-63.2%) with HC at 12 and 18 months vs 25.9% (95% CI 9.4%-42.5%) and 22.2% (95% CI 6.5%-37.9%) with CA, respectively (12 months: P = .031; 18 months: P = .038). Three (7.9%) major adverse events occurred within 30 days of HC. Conclusion Post hoc analysis demonstrated effectiveness and acceptable safety of HC compared with CA in LSPAF.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Karl J Crossen
- Cardiology Associates Research, LLC, Tupelo, Mississippi
| | - David Talton
- Cardiology Associates Research, LLC, Tupelo, Mississippi
| | | | | | | | | | - Steven Duff
- Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth, Columbus, Ohio
| | | | - Jason Sperling
- HealthOne Cardiothoracic Surgery Associates, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Syed Ahsan
- Barts Heart Centre, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - John Yap
- Barts Heart Centre, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - David Pederson
- STAR Clinical Trials/Methodist Cardiology Clinic San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | - James Garrison
- STAR Clinical Trials/Methodist Cardiology Clinic San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas
| | | | | | - Graham Bundy
- Virginia Cardiovascular Specialists, Richmond, Virginia
| | | | | | | | - Felix Yang
- Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
| | | | | | - Jaswinder Gill
- Guy's and St. Thomas' Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
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9
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Ramdat Misier NL, de Groot NM. Electrogram Morphology Recurrence: A Step Forward or Just a Recurrent Story? JACC Basic Transl Sci 2023; 8:85-87. [PMID: 36777168 PMCID: PMC9911319 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2022.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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10
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de Asmundis C, Pannone L, Lakkireddy D, Beaver TM, Brodt CR, Lee RJ, Sorgente A, Gauthey A, Monaco C, Overeinder I, Bala G, Almorad A, Ströker E, Sieira J, Brugada P, Chierchia GB, La Meir M, Olshansky B. Targeted Treatment of Inappropriate Sinoatrial Node Tachycardia Based on Electrophysiological and Structural Mechanisms. Am J Cardiol 2022; 183:24-32. [PMID: 36127177 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2022.07.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to determine the causal mechanisms and treatment of inappropriate sinoatrial tachycardia (IST), defined as a non-physiological elevation in resting heart rate. IST is defined as a resting daytime sinus rate >100 beats/minute and an average 24-hour heart rate >90 beats/minute. Potential causal mechanisms include sympathetic receptor hypersensitivity, blunted parasympathetic tone, or enhanced intrinsic automaticity within the sinoatrial node (SAN) pacemaker-conduction complex. These anomalies may coexist in the same patient. Recent ex-vivo near-infrared transmural optical imaging of the SAN in human and animal hearts provides important insights into the functional and molecular features of this complex structure. In particular, it reveals the existence of preferential sinoatrial conduction pathways that ensure robust SAN activation with electrical conduction. The mechanism of IST is debated because even high-resolution electroanatomical mapping approaches cannot reveal intramural conduction in the 3-dimensional SAN complex. It may be secondary to enhanced automaticity, intranodal re-entry, or sinoatrial conduction pathway re-entry. Different pharmacological approaches can target these mechanisms. Long-acting β blockers in IST can act on both primarily increased automaticity and dysregulated autonomic system. Ivabradine targets sources of increased SAN automaticity. Conventional or hybrid ablation may target all the described abnormalities. This review provides a state-of-the-art overview of putative IST mechanisms. In conclusion, based on current knowledge, pharmacological and ablation approaches for IST, including the novel hybrid SAN sparing ablation, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo de Asmundis
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Luigi Pannone
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Thomas M Beaver
- Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | | | - Randall J Lee
- Section of Cardiology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Antonio Sorgente
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anaïs Gauthey
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cinzia Monaco
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ingrid Overeinder
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gezim Bala
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Almorad
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Erwin Ströker
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Juan Sieira
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pedro Brugada
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gian-Battista Chierchia
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, European Reference Networks Guard-Heart, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mark La Meir
- Cardiac Surgery Department, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel - Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Brian Olshansky
- Division of Cardiology, University of Iowa Hospitals, Iowa City, Iowa
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11
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Marini M, Pannone L, Della Rocca DG, Branzoli S, Bisignani A, Mouram S, Del Monte A, Monaco C, Gauthey A, Eltsov I, Overeinder I, Bala G, Almorad A, Ströker E, Sieira J, Brugada P, La Meir M, Chierchia GB, De Asmundis C, Guarracini F. Hybrid Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: A Contemporary Overview. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2022; 9:jcdd9090302. [PMID: 36135447 PMCID: PMC9504578 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd9090302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrical isolation of pulmonary veins (PVI) is the cornerstone of invasive treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, arrhythmia-free survival of a PVI only approach is suboptimal in patients with persistent and long-term persistent AF. Hybrid AF ablation has been developed with the aim of combining the advantages of a thoracoscopic surgical ablation (direct visualization of anatomical structures to be spared and the possibility to perform epicardial lesions) and endocardial ablation (possibility to check line block, confirm PVI, and possibility to perform cavotricuspid isthmus ablation). Patient selection is of utmost importance. In persistent and long-term persistent AF, hybrid AF ablation demonstrated promising results in terms of AF free survival. It has been associated with a relatively low complication rate if performed in centers with expertise in hybrid procedures and experience with both surgical and endocardial ablation. Different techniques have been described, with different approaches and lesion sets. The aim of this review is to provide a state-of-the-art overview of hybrid AF ablation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Marini
- Department of Cardiology, S. Chiara Hospital, 38122 Trento, Italy
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luigi Pannone
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Domenico G. Della Rocca
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefano Branzoli
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, S. Chiara Hospital, 38122 Trento, Italy
- Cardiac Surgery Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Antonio Bisignani
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sahar Mouram
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alvise Del Monte
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cinzia Monaco
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anaïs Gauthey
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ivan Eltsov
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Cardiac Surgery Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ingrid Overeinder
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gezim Bala
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Almorad
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Erwin Ströker
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Juan Sieira
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pedro Brugada
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mark La Meir
- Cardiac Surgery Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gian-Battista Chierchia
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Carlo De Asmundis
- Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Program in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Fabrizio Guarracini
- Department of Cardiology, S. Chiara Hospital, 38122 Trento, Italy
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +39-(0)461-903121; Fax: +39-(0)461-903122
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12
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Kaba RA, Ahmed O, Behr E, Momin A. A Chronicle of Hybrid Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Therapy: From Cox Maze to Convergent. Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev 2022; 11:e12. [PMID: 35846422 PMCID: PMC9277617 DOI: 10.15420/aer.2022.05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The burden of AF is increasing in prevalence and healthcare resource usage in the UK and worldwide. It can result in impaired quality of life for affected patients, as well as increased risk of stroke, heart failure and mortality. A holistic, integrated approach to AF management is recommended, which may include a focus on reducing risk factors and on medical management with anticoagulation and anti-arrhythmic drugs. There are also various ablation strategies that may be considered when anti-arrhythmic drugs fail to alleviate symptoms and reduce AF burden. These ablation techniques range from standalone percutaneous endocardial catheter ablation to open surgical ablation procedures concomitant with cardiac surgery. More recently, hybrid ablation that combines aspects of both surgical and electrophysiologically targeted ablation has been described. This article reviews the evolution of ablation strategies, beginning with the origin of the Cox maze IV procedure and continuing to the recent hybrid convergent approach, and provides a summary of the associated outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riyaz A Kaba
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St George’s, University of London and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Department of Cardiology, Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust, Chertsey, Surrey, UK
| | - Omar Ahmed
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St George’s, University of London and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Elijah Behr
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St George’s, University of London and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Aziz Momin
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St George’s, University of London and St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK; Department of Cardiology, Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust, Chertsey, Surrey, UK
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13
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Insights From Simultaneous Left and Right Atrial Septal Mapping in Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2022; 8:970-982. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jacep.2022.04.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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14
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Quah JX, Jenkins E, Dharmaprani D, Tiver K, Smith C, Hecker T, Joseph MX, Selvanayagam JB, Tung M, Stanton T, Ahmad W, Stoyanov N, Lahiri A, Chahadi F, Singleton C, Ganesan A. Role of interatrial conduction in atrial fibrillation. Mechanistic insights from renewal theory-based fibrillatory dynamic analysis. Heart Rhythm O2 2022; 3:335-343. [PMID: 36097465 PMCID: PMC9463713 DOI: 10.1016/j.hroo.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Interatrial conduction has been postulated to play an important role in atrial fibrillation (AF). The pathways involved in interatrial conduction during AF remain incompletely defined. Objective We recently showed physiological assessment of fibrillatory dynamics could be performed using renewal theory, which determines rates of phase singularity formation (λf) and destruction (λd). Using the renewal approach, we aimed to understand the role of the interatrial septum and other electrically coupled regions during AF. Method RENEWAL-AF is a prospective multicenter observational study recruiting AF ablation patients (ACTRN 12619001172190). We studied unipolar electrograms obtained from 16 biatrial locations prior to ablation using a 16-electrode Advisor HD Grid catheter. Renewal rate constants λf and λd were calculated, and the relationships between these rate constants in regions of interatrial connectivity were examined. Results Forty-one AF patients (28.5% female) were recruited. A positive linear correlation was observed between λf and λd (1) across the interatrial septum (λf r2 = 0.5, P < .001, λd r2 = 0.45, P < .001), (2) in regions connected by the Bachmann bundle (right atrial appendage–left atrial appendage λf r2 = 0.29, P = .001; λd r2 = 0.2, P = .008), and (3) across the inferior interatrial routes (cavotricuspid isthmus–left atrial septum λf r2 = 0.67, P < .001; λd r2 = 0.55, P < .001). Persistent AF status and left atrial volume were found to be important effect modifiers of the degree of interatrial renewal rate statistical correlation. Conclusion Our findings support the role of interseptal statistically determined electrical disrelation in sustaining AF. Additionally, renewal theory identified preferential conduction through specific interatrial pathways during fibrillation. These findings may be of importance in identifying clinically significant targets for ablation in AF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Xian Quah
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Evan Jenkins
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Dhani Dharmaprani
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kathryn Tiver
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Corey Smith
- Department of Cardiology, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Australia
| | - Teresa Hecker
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Majo X. Joseph
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | | | - Matthew Tung
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Australia
| | - Tony Stanton
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Australia
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Birtinya, Australia
| | - Waheed Ahmad
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Nik Stoyanov
- Department of Cardiology, Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth, Australia
| | - Anandaroop Lahiri
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Fahd Chahadi
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Cameron Singleton
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Anand Ganesan
- College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, Australia
- Address reprint requests and correspondence: Dr Anand Ganesan, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Flinders Dr, Bedford Park SA 5042, Australia.
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15
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DeLurgio DB. The Hybrid Convergent Procedure for Persistent and Long-Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation From an Electrophysiologist's Perspective. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2022; 33:1954-1960. [PMID: 35420730 DOI: 10.1111/jce.15492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
In atrial fibrillation (AF), the pulmonary veins (PV) are central to arrhythmogenicity and are targeted by PV isolation (PVI). As AF progresses, triggers become more prevalent in non-PV areas including the left atrial posterior wall (LAPW). Reported benefits of LAPW isolation in Cox-maze IV led to exploration of ablation strategies using endocardial catheters. However, no single approach to endocardial LAPW isolation exists. Relative success in comparison to PVI alone has been mixed. The hybrid convergent procedure was developed to combine minimally invasive surgical and electrophysiology techniques to accomplish effective PVI and LAPW isolation. Epicardial LAPW isolation is performed by a cardiothoracic surgeon followed by endocardial ablation by an electrophysiologist who ensures PVI completion and targets any remaining gaps. Safety and effectiveness of hybrid convergent was evaluated in the prospective, multi-center, randomized controlled trial, Convergence of Epicardial and Endocardial Ablation for the Treatment of Symptomatic Persistent AF (CONVERGE). CONVERGE compared the effectiveness of the hybrid convergent procedure to endocardial catheter ablation for treatment of drug-refractory persistent and longstanding persistent AF and demonstrated primary effectiveness of higher freedom from atrial arrhythmias absent new/increased dose previously failed/intolerant anti-arrhythmic drugs through 12 months compared to endocardial catheter ablation. Greater freedom from AF and proportion of patients experiencing ≥90% burden reduction with hybrid convergent ablation were seen through 18 months follow-up. Improved electrophysiology lab efficiency was demonstrated by the reduction in endocardial ablation time with addition of epicardial ablation. This multi-disciplinary heart team procedure may improve outcomes in difficult-to-treat patients with advanced AF. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Nakamura T, Kiuchi K, Fukuzawa K, Takami M, Watanabe Y, Izawa Y, Takemoto M, Sakai J, Yatomi A, Sonoda Y, Takahara H, Nakasone K, Yamamoto K, Suzuki Y, Tani K, Negi N, Kono A, Ashihara T, Hirata K. The impact of the atrial wall thickness in normal/mild late-gadolinium enhancement areas on atrial fibrillation rotors in persistent atrial fibrillation patients. J Arrhythm 2022; 38:221-231. [PMID: 35387140 PMCID: PMC8977582 DOI: 10.1002/joa3.12676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Some of atrial fibrillation (AF) drivers are found in normal/mild late-gadolinium enhancement (LGE) areas, as well as moderate ones. The atrial wall thickness (AWT) has been reported to be important as a possible AF substrate. However, the AWT and degree of LGEs as an AF substrate has not been fully validated in humans. Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the AWT in normal/mild LGE areas on AF drivers. Methods A total of 287 segments in 15 persistent AF patients were assessed. AF drivers were defined as non-passively activated areas (NPAs), where rotational activation was frequently observed, and were detected by the novel real-time phase mapping (ExTRa Mapping), mild LGE areas were defined as areas with a volume ratio of the enhancement voxel of 0% to <10%. The AWT was defined as the minimum distance from the manually determined endocardium to the epicardial border on the LGE-MRI. Results NPAs were found in 20 (18.0%) of 131 normal/mild LGE areas where AWT was significantly thicker than that in the passively activated areas (PAs) (2.5 ± 0.3 vs. 2.2 ± 0.3 mm, p < .001). However, NPAs were found in 41 (26.3%) of 156 moderate LGE areas where AWT was thinner than that of PAs (2.1 ± 0.2 mm vs. 2.23 ± 0.3 mm, p = .02). An ROC curve analysis yielded an optimal cutoff value of 2.2 mm for predicting the presence of an NPA in normal/mild LGE areas. Conclusion The location of AF drivers in normal/mild LGE areas might be more accurately identified by evaluating AWT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Nakamura
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Kunihiko Kiuchi
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Koji Fukuzawa
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Mitsuru Takami
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Yoshiaki Watanabe
- Department of RadiologyKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Yu Izawa
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Makoto Takemoto
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Jun Sakai
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Atsusuke Yatomi
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Yusuke Sonoda
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Hiroyuki Takahara
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Kazutaka Nakasone
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Kyoko Yamamoto
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Yuya Suzuki
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Ken‐ichi Tani
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Noriyuki Negi
- Division of RadiologyCenter for Radiology and Radiation OncologyKobe University HospitalKobeJapan
| | - Atsushi Kono
- Department of RadiologyKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
| | - Takashi Ashihara
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biomedical EngineeringShiga University of Medical ScienceOtsuJapan
| | - Ken‐ichi Hirata
- Section of ArrhythmiaDivision of Cardiovascular MedicineDepartment of Internal MedicineKobe University Graduate School of MedicineKobeJapan
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17
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Baek YS, Kwon OS, Lim B, Yang SY, Park JW, Yu HT, Kim TH, Uhm JS, Joung B, Kim DH, Lee MH, Park J, Pak HN. Clinical Outcomes of Computational Virtual Mapping-Guided Catheter Ablation in Patients With Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: A Multicenter Prospective Randomized Clinical Trial. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:772665. [PMID: 34957255 PMCID: PMC8692944 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.772665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Clinical recurrence after atrial fibrillation catheter ablation (AFCA) still remains high in patients with persistent AF (PeAF). We investigated whether an extra-pulmonary vein (PV) ablation targeting the dominant frequency (DF) extracted from electroanatomical map–integrated AF computational modeling improves the AFCA rhythm outcome in patients with PeAF. Methods: In this open-label, randomized, multi-center, controlled trial, 170 patients with PeAF were randomized at a 1:1 ratio to the computational modeling-guided virtual DF (V-DF) ablation and empirical PV isolation (E-PVI) groups. We generated a virtual dominant frequency (DF) map based on the atrial substrate map obtained during the clinical AF ablation procedure using computational modeling. This simulation was possible within the time of the PVI procedure. V-DF group underwent extra-PV V-DF ablation in addition to PVI, but DF information was not notified to the operators from the core lab in the E-PVI group. Results: After a mean follow-up period of 16.3 ± 5.3 months, the clinical recurrence rate was significantly lower in the V-DF than with E-PVI group (P = 0.018, log-rank). Recurrences appearing as atrial tachycardias (P = 0.145) and the cardioversion rates (P = 0.362) did not significantly differ between the groups. At the final follow-up, sinus rhythm was maintained without any AADs in 74.7% in the V-DF group and 48.2% in the E-PVI group (P < 0.001). No significant difference was found in the major complication rates (P = 0.489) or total procedure time (P = 0.513) between the groups. The V-DF ablation was independently associated with a reduced AF recurrence after AFCA [hazard ratio: 0.51 (95% confidence interval: 0.30–0.88); P = 0.016]. Conclusions: The computational modeling-guided V-DF ablation improved the rhythm outcome of AFCA in patients with PeAF. Clinical Trial Registration: Clinical Research Information Service, CRIS identifier: KCT0003613.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Soo Baek
- Inha University College of Medicine and Inha University Hospital, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Oh-Seok Kwon
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Byounghyun Lim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Song-Yi Yang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Je-Wook Park
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hee Tae Yu
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Tae-Hoon Kim
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jae-Sun Uhm
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Boyoung Joung
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dae-Hyeok Kim
- Inha University College of Medicine and Inha University Hospital, Incheon, South Korea
| | - Moon-Hyoung Lee
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Junbeom Park
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hui-Nam Pak
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, South Korea
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18
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Tung R, Burris R, Salazar P, Aziz Z. Human Recordings of Left Atrial Epicardial-Endocardial Asynchrony During Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2021; 15:e010605. [PMID: 34937391 DOI: 10.1161/circep.121.010605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Roderick Tung
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Center for Arrhythmia Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Ryan Burris
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Center for Arrhythmia Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Pablo Salazar
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Center for Arrhythmia Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Zaid Aziz
- The University of Chicago Medicine, Center for Arrhythmia Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
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19
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DeLurgio DB, Gill JS, Ahsan S, Kaba RA, Plasseraud KM, Halkos ME. Hybrid Convergent Procedure for the Treatment of Persistent and Long-standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation. Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev 2021; 10:198-204. [PMID: 34777825 PMCID: PMC8576514 DOI: 10.15420/aer.2021.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances have been made in AF treatment, including the role of early rhythm control and landmark clinical trials using ablation therapy. However, some treatment gaps remain, including the creation of durable lesions outside the pulmonary veins and effective treatment of longstanding persistent AF. A novel epicardial-endocardial ablation approach - the hybrid convergent procedure - was developed to combine surgical and catheter ablation techniques into a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to managing AF. In this review, the authors discuss recently published data on hybrid convergent ablation, including results of the CONVERGE clinical trial, in the context of current challenges to treatment of persistent and long-standing persistent AF. The review also aims to provide perspective on outstanding questions and future directions in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Riyaz A Kaba
- St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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20
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Kaba RA, Momin A, Camm J. Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: The Role of Left Atrial Posterior Wall Isolation and Ablation Strategies. J Clin Med 2021; 10:3129. [PMID: 34300301 PMCID: PMC8304563 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10143129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a global disease with rapidly rising incidence and prevalence. It is associated with a higher risk of stroke, dementia, cognitive decline, sudden and cardiovascular death, heart failure and impairment in quality of life. The disease is a major burden on the healthcare system. Paroxysmal AF is typically managed with medications or endocardial catheter ablation to good effect. However, a large proportion of patients with AF have persistent or long-standing persistent AF, which are more complex forms of the condition and thus more difficult to treat. This is in part due to the progressive electro-anatomical changes that occur with AF persistence and the spread of arrhythmogenic triggers and substrates outside of the pulmonary veins. The posterior wall of the left atrium is a common site for these changes and has become a target of ablation strategies to treat these more resistant forms of AF. In this review, we discuss the role of the posterior left atrial wall in persistent and long-standing persistent AF, the limitations of current endocardial-focused treatment strategies, and future perspectives on hybrid epicardial-endocardial approaches to posterior wall isolation or ablation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riyaz A. Kaba
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George’s University of London and St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK; (A.M.); (J.C.)
- Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey KT16 0PZ, UK
| | - Aziz Momin
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George’s University of London and St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK; (A.M.); (J.C.)
- Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey KT16 0PZ, UK
| | - John Camm
- Cardiovascular Clinical Academic Group, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Institute, St. George’s University of London and St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK; (A.M.); (J.C.)
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21
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Voskoboinik A, Moss JD. Marshalling the Tools for Successful Endocardial Atrial Ablation. JACC Clin Electrophysiol 2021; 7:305-307. [PMID: 33736750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacep.2020.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandr Voskoboinik
- Division of Cardiology, Alfred and Western Health, Monash University and Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Joshua D Moss
- Division of Cardiology, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
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22
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Salinet J, Molero R, Schlindwein FS, Karel J, Rodrigo M, Rojo-Álvarez JL, Berenfeld O, Climent AM, Zenger B, Vanheusden F, Paredes JGS, MacLeod R, Atienza F, Guillem MS, Cluitmans M, Bonizzi P. Electrocardiographic Imaging for Atrial Fibrillation: A Perspective From Computer Models and Animal Experiments to Clinical Value. Front Physiol 2021; 12:653013. [PMID: 33995122 PMCID: PMC8120164 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.653013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) is a technique to reconstruct non-invasively the electrical activity on the heart surface from body-surface potential recordings and geometric information of the torso and the heart. ECGI has shown scientific and clinical value when used to characterize and treat both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Regarding atrial fibrillation (AF), the characterization of the electrical propagation and the underlying substrate favoring AF is inherently more challenging than for ventricular arrhythmias, due to the progressive and heterogeneous nature of the disease and its manifestation, the small volume and wall thickness of the atria, and the relatively large role of microstructural abnormalities in AF. At the same time, ECGI has the advantage over other mapping technologies of allowing a global characterization of atrial electrical activity at every atrial beat and non-invasively. However, since ECGI is time-consuming and costly and the use of electrical mapping to guide AF ablation is still not fully established, the clinical value of ECGI for AF is still under assessment. Nonetheless, AF is known to be the manifestation of a complex interaction between electrical and structural abnormalities and therefore, true electro-anatomical-structural imaging may elucidate important key factors of AF development, progression, and treatment. Therefore, it is paramount to identify which clinical questions could be successfully addressed by ECGI when it comes to AF characterization and treatment, and which questions may be beyond its technical limitations. In this manuscript we review the questions that researchers have tried to address on the use of ECGI for AF characterization and treatment guidance (for example, localization of AF triggers and sustaining mechanisms), and we discuss the technological requirements and validation. We address experimental and clinical results, limitations, and future challenges for fruitful application of ECGI for AF understanding and management. We pay attention to existing techniques and clinical application, to computer models and (animal or human) experiments, to challenges of methodological and clinical validation. The overall objective of the study is to provide a consensus on valuable directions that ECGI research may take to provide future improvements in AF characterization and treatment guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Salinet
- Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Engineering, Modelling and Applied Social Sciences (CECS), Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
| | - Rubén Molero
- ITACA Institute, Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Fernando S. Schlindwein
- School of Engineering, University of Leicester, United Kingdom and National Institute for Health Research, Leicester Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Centre, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Joël Karel
- Department of Data Science and Knowledge Engineering, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Miguel Rodrigo
- Electronic Engineering Department, Universitat de València, València, Spain
| | - José Luis Rojo-Álvarez
- Department of Signal Theory and Communications and Telematic Systems and Computation, University Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Omer Berenfeld
- Center for Arrhythmia Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Andreu M. Climent
- ITACA Institute, Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Brian Zenger
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute (SCI), and Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute (CVRTI), The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Frederique Vanheusden
- Department of Engineering, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Jimena Gabriela Siles Paredes
- Biomedical Engineering, Centre for Engineering, Modelling and Applied Social Sciences (CECS), Federal University of ABC, São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil
| | - Rob MacLeod
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Scientific Computing and Imaging Institute (SCI), and Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute (CVRTI), The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Felipe Atienza
- Cardiology Department, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, and Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - María S. Guillem
- ITACA Institute, Universitat Politècnica de València, València, Spain
| | - Matthijs Cluitmans
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Pietro Bonizzi
- Department of Data Science and Knowledge Engineering, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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23
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Aronis KN, Trayanova NA. Endocardial-Epicardial Dissociation in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: Driver or Bystander Activation Pattern? Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2020; 13:e009110. [PMID: 32809877 DOI: 10.1161/circep.120.009110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos N Aronis
- Section of Electrophysiology, Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD (K.N.A.).,Department of Biomedical Engineering (K.N.A., N.A.T.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.,Biomedical Engineering, Alliance for Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Innovation (K.N.A., N.A.T.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Natalia A Trayanova
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (K.N.A., N.A.T.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.,Biomedical Engineering, Alliance for Cardiovascular Diagnostic and Treatment Innovation (K.N.A., N.A.T.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
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