A worldwide survey on incidence, management, and prognosis of oesophageal fistula formation following atrial fibrillation catheter ablation: the POTTER-AF study.

Aims: Oesophageal fistula represents a rare but dreadful complication of atrial fibrillation catheter ablation. Data on its incidence, management, and outcome are sparse.

Methods And Results: This international multicentre registry investigates the characteristics of oesophageal fistulae after treatment of atrial fibrillation by catheter ablation.

Artificial intelligence software standardizes electrogram-based ablation outcome for persistent atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Multiple groups have reported on the usefulness of ablating in atrial regions exhibiting abnormal electrograms during atrial fibrillation (AF). Still, previous studies have suggested that ablation outcomes are highly operator- and center-dependent. This study sought to evaluate a novel machine learning software algorithm named VX1 (Volta Medical), trained to adjudicate multipolar electrogram dispersion.

Durability of Left Atrial Lesions After Ethanol Infusion in the Vein of Marshall.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the persistence of left atrial (LA) lesions created by ethanol infusion in the vein of Marshall (EIVM) by electroanatomical mapping on repeat catheter ablation for recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia.

Background: Little is known about the durability of LA lesions created by EIVM.

Methods: The study included consecutive patients who underwent EIVM for persistent atrial fibrillation or perimitral LA flutter (index procedure) and repeat catheter ablation for recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia or atrial fibrillation at a single center between January 2019 and April 2020.

Catheter ablation in adults with congenital heart disease: A 15-year perspective from a tertiary centre.

Background: With the growing adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population, the number of catheter ablation procedures is expected to dramatically increase. Data reporting experience and evolution of catheter ablation in patients with ACHD, over a significant period of time, remain scarce.

Aim: We aimed to describe temporal trends in volume and outcomes of catheter ablation in patients with ACHD.

Definition of success criteria for ablation of typical right atrial flutter with a single-catheter approach: A pilot study.

Background: The success rate of cavotricuspid isthmus ablation to treat right common flutter is high (up to 95%), but needs bidirectional block confirmation, requiring two or three catheters.

Aim: To describe a new pacing technique using a single catheter to ablate and confirm cavotricuspid isthmus block with differential PR interval measurements.

Methods: We included 61 patients from five centres, who were referred for cavotricuspid isthmus ablation.

Catheter ablation of intra-atrial reentrant/focal atrial tachycardia in adult congenital heart disease: Value of final programmed atrial stimulation.

Background: While outcomes of intra-atrial reentrant/focal atrial tachycardia (IART/FAT) catheter ablation have considerably improved in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD), recurrences remain common with different circuits frequently encountered.

Objective: We aimed to assess the value of programmed atrial stimulation after successful clinical IART/FAT catheter ablation in patients with ACHD.

Methods: This is a retrospective study including all patients with ACHD undergoing IART/FAT catheter ablation in a tertiary center.

Transbaffle/transconduit puncture using a simple CARTO-guided approach without echocardiography in patients with congenital heart disease.

Introduction: Catheter ablation (CA) of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs) in patients with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) often requires technically challenging transbaffle or transconduit puncture. The aim was to assess the feasibility and safety of transbaffle/transconduit puncture based on computed tomography (CT) three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction merged with electro-anatomical mapping (EAM) without per-procedure echocardiographic guidance.

Methods And Results: We included 18 consecutive CHD patients in two centers who had atrial-switch or Fontan surgery and underwent CA of AT by an antegrade approach requiring intracardiac puncture.

Risk of thromboembolic complications in adult congenital heart disease: A literature review.

Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) is a constantly expanding population with challenging issues. Initial medical and surgical treatments are seldom curative, and the majority of patients still experience late sequelae and complications, especially thromboembolic events. These common and potentially life-threating adverse events are probably dramatically underdiagnosed.

Characteristics and clinical assessment of unexplained sudden cardiac arrest in the real-world setting: focus on idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.

Aims: Recent studies have shown that in more than half of apparently unexplained sudden cardiac arrests (SCA), a specific aetiology can be unmasked by a careful evaluation. The characteristics and the extent to which such cases undergo a systematic thorough investigation in real-life practice are unknown.

Methods And Results: Data were analysed from an ongoing study, collecting all cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Paris area.

Two-year clinical outcome after a single cryoballoon ablation procedure: A comparison of first- and second-generation cryoballoons.

Background: The ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) by cryoballoon has increased dramatically in recent years. However, there are few data comparing first- and second-generation cryoballoons.

Aim: To compare safety and mid-term (2-year) efficacy of first- and second-generation cryoballoons in PAF ablation, using cryoballoon size tailored to pulmonary vein anatomy.

Ablation of supraventricular arrhythmias in adult congenital heart disease: A contemporary review.

Supraventricular arrhythmias are an important and increasing cause of morbidity in adults with congenital heart disease, requiring specific management strategies. Pharmacological treatment has limited efficacy, and is often associated with some side-effects. Major improvements in catheter ablation techniques have opened new opportunities to better understand underlying mechanisms of supraventricular arrhythmias, offer better therapy, and eventually improve symptoms and quality of life in these patients.

Extreme bradycardia after first doses of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir in patients receiving amiodarone: 2 cases including a rechallenge.

Sofosbuvir and daclatasvir are direct-acting antiviral drugs used to treat chronic hepatitis C virus infection. In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration and European Medical Agency warned that bradycardia could occur when amiodarone was administered in combination with sofosbuvir, but no case reports had been published. We report extreme bradycardia within 2 hrs after intake of sofosbuvir and daclatasvir by 2 patients receiving amiodarone.

Comparison between radiofrequency with contact force-sensing and second-generation cryoballoon for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation catheter ablation: a multicentre European evaluation.

Aims: Whether pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) using contact force (CF)-guided radiofrequency (RF) or second-generation cryoballoon (CB) present similar efficacy and safety remains uncertain.

Methods And Results: We performed a multicentre study comparing procedural safety and arrhythmia recurrence after standardized PVI catheter ablation for PAF using CF-guided RF ablation (Thermocool(®) SmartTouch™, Biosense Webster; or Tacticath™, St Jude Medical) (CF group) with second-generation CB ablation (Arctic Front Advance™, Medtronic) (CB group). Overall, 376 patients (mean age 59.