Noninvasive long-term ECG monitoring vs. loop recorder implantation for the atrial fibrillation management.

Objective: The objective of the study was to estimate the efficacy of a noninvasive ambulatory ECG monitoring (NIAM) in comparison with implantable loop recorder (ILR) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Thirty-two patients 58 [47; 73] years of age with AF were included in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups: in group I (n = 15), "Reveal XT" ILR was used for invasive ECG monitoring up to 3 months; in group II (n = 17), "Spyder" device was used for NIAM up to 14 days.

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation after an unsuccessful surgical ablation and biological prosthetic mitral valve replacement: a pilot study.

Background: Patients with mitral valve (MV) disease and atrial fibrillation (AF) undergo simultaneous prosthetic valve replacement and radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedure; however, this combinational procedure restores sinus rhythm (SR) in only 68-82% of the cases. In patients with ineffective surgical ablation, the use of a biological prosthetic valve might not only be a good choice to perform safe catheter ablation procedure in the left atrium (LA), but also provide a way to discontinue administration of oral anticoagulants. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of catheter ablation for AF after MV replacement with a biological prosthesis and an ineffective surgical ablation procedure.

'Electrical exclusion' of a critical myocardial mass by extended pulmonary vein antrum isolation for persistent atrial fibrillation treatment.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI), extended PVAI and ganglionic plexi (GP) ablation in persistent AF.

Methods: One hundred and twenty patients 56.2 ± 8.