[Radiofrequency treatment for electrical storm: evolution and monitoring].

IntroducciÓn Y Objetivos: La tormenta eléctrica (TE) se caracteriza por episodios repetidos de taquicardia ventricular o fibrilación ventricular relacionados con mal pronóstico a corto y largo plazos. El objetivo fue evaluar la prevalencia, resultados y supervivencia de los pacientes sometidos a tratamiento intervencionista por TE en un centro de referencia.

MÉtodos: Estudio unicéntrico, observacional y retrospectivo.

Safety and efficacy of cryoablation vs. radiofrequency ablation of septal accessory pathways: systematic review of the literature and meta-analyses.

Aims: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of septal accessory pathways (APs) is associated with a significant rate of first procedure failures and complications. Cryoablation is an alternative energy source but there are no studies comparing both ablation techniques. We aimed to systematically review the literature and compare the efficacy and safety of cryoablation vs.

Relationship of quality of life with procedural success of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and postablation AF burden: substudy of the STAR AF randomized trial.

Background: The Substrate and Trigger Ablation for Reduction of Atrial Fibrillation (STAR AF) trial compared 3 strategies for ablation of high-burden paroxysmal/persistent atrial fibrillation (AF): complex fractionated electrogram ablation (CFE), pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), or a combined approach (PVI with CFE). This subanalysis aimed to identify the effect on quality of life (QOL) conferred by ablation strategy, AF recurrence, and type of AF.

Methods: The STAR AF study (n = 100) found 88%, 68%, and 38% freedom from AF > 30 seconds at 12 months for PVI with CFE, PVI, and CFE approaches, respectively (P = 0.

Incidence and significance of early recurrences associated with different ablation strategies for AF: a STAR-AF substudy.

Background: Early recurrences of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ERAT) are common after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, and predict late recurrences (LR). We sought to determine the impact of different ablation strategies on ERAT and LR.

Methods And Results: The STAR-AF trial randomized 100 patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF to ablation of complex fractionated electrograms (CFAE) alone, pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone, or combined PVI + CFAE.

Substrate and Trigger Ablation for Reduction of Atrial Fibrillation (STAR AF): a randomized, multicentre, international trial.

Aims: This multicentre, randomized trial compared three strategies of AF ablation: ablation of complex fractionated electrograms (CFE) alone, pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone, and combined PVI + CFE ablation, using standardized automated mapping software.

Methods And Results: Patients with drug-refractory, high-burden paroxysmal (episodes >6 h, >4 in 6 months) or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) were enrolled at eight centres. Patients (n = 100) were randomized to one of three arms.

Spanish implantable cardioverter-defibrillator registry. 5th official report of the spanish society of cardiology working group on implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (2008).

Introduction And Objectives: To summarize the findings of the Spanish Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Registry for 2008 compiled by the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators.

Methods: Prospective data recorded voluntarily on single-page questionnaires were sent to the Spanish Society of Cardiology by each implantation team.

Results: Overall, 3486 device implantations were reported, which is 84.

Real-time dominant frequency mapping and ablation of dominant frequency sites in atrial fibrillation with left-to-right frequency gradients predicts long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm.

Background: Spectral analysis identifies localized sites of high-frequency activity during atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: This study sought to determine the effectiveness of using real-time dominant frequency (DF) mapping for radiofrequency ablation of maximal DF (DFmax) sites and elimination of left-to-right frequency gradients in the long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm (SR) in AF patients.

Methods: DF mapping was performed in 50 patients during ongoing AF (32 paroxysmal, 18 persistent), acquiring a mean of 117 +/- 38 points.

[Spanish Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Registry. Fourth Official Report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (2007)].

Introduction And Objectives: This article presents the 2007 findings of the Spanish Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Registry, established by the Working Group on Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators, Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Section, Spanish Society of Cardiology.

Methods: The Spanish Society of Cardiology received prospective data recorded on a single-page questionnaire on 96.6% of device implantations.

[Spanish Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Registry. Third Official Report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (2006)].

Introduction And Objectives: To report the 2006 findings of the Spanish Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) Registry, established by the Working Group on Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators, Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Section, Spanish Society of Cardiology.

Methods: Each ICD team voluntarily reported data to the Spanish Society of Cardiology by completing a single-page questionnaire. Prospective data were collected on 91.

[Spanish registry of implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Second official report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (2005)].

Introduction And Objective: We report the results for the Spanish Registry on Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD) (year 2005), developed by the Working Group on ICD of the Spanish Society of Cardiology.

Methods: Data were collected (prospectively in 77% of implants) by single page form questionnaires transmitted after the procedure to the Spanish Society of Cardiology. Participation was voluntary.

Activation of inward rectifier potassium channels accelerates atrial fibrillation in humans: evidence for a reentrant mechanism.

Background: It is unclear whether atrial fibrillation (AF) drivers in humans are focal or reentrant. To test the hypothesis that functional reentry is involved in human AF maintenance, we determined the effects of adenosine infusion on local dominant frequency (DF) at different atrial sites. By increasing inward rectifier potassium channel conductance, adenosine would increase DF of reentrant drivers but decrease it in the case of a focal mechanism.

[Prognosis of heart transplant candidates stabilized on medical therapy].

Introduction And Objectives: A significant percentage of patients selected as candidates for heart transplantation can be stabilized by medical treatment, thereby enabling indefinite postponement of inclusion on the operation list. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognosis of these patients.

Patients And Method: We studied retrospectively 118 patients with severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction < or = 35%) who were consecutively evaluated for cardiac transplantation but who did not undergo transplantation because they became clinically stable on medical treatment.

Acute and long-term outcome of transvenous cryoablation of midseptal and parahissian accessory pathways in patients at high risk of atrioventricular block during radiofrequency ablation.

The ability of transvenous cryothermal catheter ablation to create reversible lesions (cryomapping) and to avoid catheter dislodgment (cryoadherence) has been shown to be safe and highly effective in elimination of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia. In addition, cryoablation may be useful in the management of perinodal accessory pathways, but its efficacy and safety in patients at high risk of atrioventricular block during radiofrequency catheter ablation is unknown. This study prospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of cryoablation in patients with midseptal and parahissian accessory pathways.

Predictors of in-hospital ventricular fibrillation or torsades de pointes in patients with acute symptomatic bradycardia.

Severe bradyarrythmias remain as an important cause for hospital urgent admission and these patients can suffer potentially lethal complications (such as ventricular fibrillation [VF] and torsades de pointes [TdP]) between hospital admission and final therapy. Incidence and predictors of these tachyarrhythmias have not been well established. We retrospectively studied all consecutive patients (N = 243, age 75 +/- 10 years; 47% men) admitted to the emergency department of a general hospital between January 1998 and July 2000 for symptomatic bradyarrhythmia.