Cerebral microembolism during atrial fibrillation ablation can result from the technical aspects and mostly does not cause permanent neurological deficit.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation ablation can be associated with microembolism detected in the intracranial arteries and risk of neurological incidents. The aims of this study were to evaluate microembolic signals (MES) during pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and establish the potential significance of MES for damage of the brain in radiological investigation and neurological state.

Material And Methods: In the prospective study we included patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing percutaneous pulmonary vein isolation (radiofrequency ablation/balloon cryoablation) with ultrasound monitoring of microembolisms in the middle cerebral artery.

Quality of life in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation after circumferential pulmonary vein ablation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and is associated with a deterioration of quality of life (QoL). Catheter ablation is a therapeutic strategy for some patients with AF. The effectiveness of pulmonary vein isolation is still under assessment.

Differentiation of arrhythmia originating from the right or left ventricular outflow tract based on the QRS morphology of premature ventricular beats and duration of repolarisation.

Background: Premature ventricular beats (PVBs) and monomorphic ventricular tachycardia originating from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) are the most frequent forms of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias, but arrhythmia originating from the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) may be found in about 10% of these patients.

Aim: To compare electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns and duration of repolarisation after PVBs originating from the left and right superior part of the interventricular septum which were successfully treated with radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Methods: We studied 62 patients who did not receive antiarrhythmic drug treatment before ablation, including 50 patients with RVOT arrhythmia (21 males, mean age 42 ± 14 years, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] 61 ± 6%) and 12 patients with LVOT arrhythmia (3 males, mean age 41 ± 17 years, LVEF 59 ± 9%).

Correlation between electrical and mechanical properties of the left ventricle in patients with postinfarction ventricular tachycardia.

Background: Electroanatomical mapping allows differentiation between viable and scarred myocardium. Echocardiography is widely used to assess myocardial contractility. The relationship between electrophysiological and echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function has not yet been well established.

Circumferential pulmonary vein RF ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation: 3-year experience of one centre.

Introduction: In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), significantly symptomatic in particular, restoring and maintaining sinus rhythm is one of treatment strategies. Considering the limited efficacy and side effects of anti-arrhythmic agents, growing hopes are attributed to the developing techniques of percutaneous ablation.

Aim: To determine the efficacy and safety of circumferential pulmonary vein ablation performed using the CARTO system in patients with paroxysmal or permanent AF.