Executive Summary: European Heart Rhythm Association Consensus Document on the Management of Supraventricular Arrhythmias: Endorsed by Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS), and Sociedad Latinoamericana de Estimulación Cardiaca y Electrofisiologia (SOLAECE)

[The effectiveness of radiofrequency ablation and repeated cardioversion in combination with antiarrhythmic drug therapy in maintaining stable sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure]

Aim To compare the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and antiarrhythmic therapy (AAT) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic heart failure (CHF) during 12-month observation.Materials and methods This prospective, nonrandomized comparative observational study included 130 patients with AF (men, 65 %; mean age, 62.8±11.8 years) and CHF with left ventricular ejection fraction (LV EF) <50 %. Paroxysmal AF was observed in 60 (46 %) patients and persistent AF was observed in 70 (54 %) patients. According to results of transthoracic echocardiography (EchoCG) 107 (82 %) patients had intermediate LV EF (40-49 %) and 23 (18 %) patients had reduced LV EF (<40 %). RFA of AF was performed for 65 patients whereas 65 patients received an optimal AAT. The 24-h electrocardiogram monitoring, EchoCG, and assessment of the quality of life (QoL) with the SF-36 questionnaire were performed for all patients on admission and at 12 months of observation. Stability of sinus rhythm, EchoCG, QoL, and exercise tolerance were evaluated at 12 months of observation.Results 49 (75%) of patients in the RFA group and 26 (40%) of patients in the AAT group had stable sinus rhythm (SR) at 12 months. Repeated RFA for relapse of AF was performed for 6 (12 %) of 49 patients; repeated cardioversion was performed for 16 (61.5 %) of 26 patients. In the AAT group, there were more interventions for maintaining SR than in the RFA group (p<0.001). In patients with SR of the RFA group at 12 months of observation, LV EF was increased (р<0.001), left ventricular dimension (р<0.001) and volume (р<0.001) were decreased, and mental (р<0.001) and physical (p<0.001) components of health were improved according to the SF-36 questionnaire. In patients with SR of the AAT group, only improvement of mental (р<0.001) and physical (р<0.001) components of health was observed according to the SF-36 questionnaire.Conclusion RFA provided a considerable decrease in the frequency of AF relapse and improvement of LV EF in patients with CHF. The effectiveness of RFA did not depend on the type of arrhythmia. For 12 months of observation, the number of hospitalizations for decompensated CHF and interventions to maintain SR decreased in the RFA group compared to the AAT group.

Cardiac Arrhythmias and Pregnancy

PURPOSE OF REVIEWS

In this review, the challenges of managing cardiac arrhythmias and syncope in the setting of pregnancy will be discussed.

RECENT FINDINGS

Arrhythmias in pregnancy are increasing, as diagnostic and therapeutic options have advanced and women are older at the time of gestation. Atrial fibrillation has become the most common arrhythmia in pregnancy. Inherited arrhythmia has become a more common entity, with advances in treatments and genetic testing, and require specialized treatments in pregnancy. The majority of arrhythmias in pregnancy are benign. The potential risk of increased cardiac morbidity and mortality exists for mother and fetus, especially in women with structural heart disease, which is becoming increasingly common. Early evaluation, diagnosis, and appropriate treatment are necessary to achieve optimal outcomes for both mother and fetus.