Advantages of the integration of ICE and 3D electroanatomical mapping and ultrasound-guided femoral venipuncture in catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: To evaluate how the integration of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) and ultrasound-guided femoral venipuncture (USGVC) may affect the safety of catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: From a single center 374 patients with AF underwent 3D electroanatomic mapping-guided CA with or without the integration of ICE and USGVC. The primary endpoints were periprocedural complications, fluoroscopy time, and procedure time between the two groups.

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in heart failure: clinical, prognostic, and echocardiographic outcome.

Purpose: Catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) in heart failure (HF) patients is associated with a lower rate of cardiac events compared with medical therapy. This study deals with the clinical, echocardiographic, and prognostic outcomes in these patients. Prognostic scores, as MAGGIC (Meta-analysis Global Group in Chronic Heart Failure) score, may help to predict the outcomes.