Strategies to Improve Safety and Efficacy of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Using Electrode Multipolar Phased RF PVAC™ Catheter: a Case Report.

Phased radiofrequency ablation with a single catheter technique, using a 9-electrode circumferential catheter, is a viable approach to pulmonary vein isolation for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. However, creating effective transmural lesions with such technique, while avoiding serious complications like atrioesophageal fistula, can be difficult. This case illustrates a challenging scenario, where catheter maneuvers fail to allow safe radiofrequency delivery, due to esophageal temperature rise, despite extensive navigating maneuvers.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Several Electrocardiographic Criteria for the Prediction of Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia.

Background And Aims: Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is the most common form of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) whose diagnosis can be strongly suspected based on the surface eletrocardiogram alone. The purpose of this study is to determine the diagnostic accuracy of several electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria for the prediction of AVNRT.

Methods: Between November 2010 and January 2014, a total of 256 patients who underwent electrophysiological testing (EP) with regular, paroxysmal and narrow QRS complex tachycardia were prospectively enrolled.

Stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: latest clinical trials and guidelines.

Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia and 1/6 strokes is attributed to AF. The cornerstone of treatment remains maintaining sinus rhythm or appropriate ventricular rate control in addition to prevention of stroke. Oral anticoagulation therapy (OAC) with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) has been the gold standard for almost 50 years and a significant reduction in the risk of stroke in patients with AF has been demonstrated.

Accuracy of epicardial electroanatomic mapping and ablation of sustained ventricular tachycardia merged with heart CT scan in chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy.

Background: As damage to coronary arteries is a potential complication of epicardial RF catheter ablation (EPRFCA), the procedure must be associated with coronary angiography. Chronic Chagasic cardiomiopathy (CCC) is a disease where epicardial VT are common. Eletroanatomic mapping merged with computed totmography (CT) scan data is a useful tool for mapping the endocardium, and its accuracy in guiding ablation on the epicardium was not adequately evaluated so far.

Noncompaction of the myocardium, Chagas' disease and dysfunction: a case report.

We report the association between heart disease associated with noncompaction of the left ventricular myocardium (NCLVM) and chronic Chagas' heart disease (CCHD) in a patient with heart failure, ischemic stroke and cardiac arrhythmia. Images typical of NCLVM and CCHD were documented by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI).

Simultaneous epicardial and endocardial substrate mapping and radiofrequency catheter ablation as first-line treatment for ventricular tachycardia and frequent ICD shocks in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy.

Background And Aims: Slow conduction scarred areas are related with ventricular tachycardia (VT) arrhythmogenesis in nonischemic cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this study was to characterize the substrate in both epicardial and endocardial surfaces of the left ventricle and to evaluate the effectiveness of substrate mapping and ablation for VT in Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Methods And Results: Seventeen patients were evaluated prospectively using a simultaneous epicardial and endocardial electroanatomical substrate mapping and ablation.