Publications by authors named "Femke R Piersma"
Article Synopsis
- * In a study of 571 patients, women were older and had fewer cardiovascular risk factors; however, they faced a 15% greater risk of AF recurrence, largely due to more atrial tachycardias and fibrosis in heart tissue.
- * Vascular disease increased the risk of recurrent AF in women but not men, revealing significant gender differences in outcomes post-ablation and indicating a need for tailored approaches in treatment.
Article Synopsis
- - Recent research indicates that patients with a failed catheter ablation are at a higher risk of experiencing atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after undergoing thoracoscopic AF ablation, despite having fewer traditional risk factors for AF.
- - The study involved 705 patients, with 183 having a previous failed ablation, revealing that these patients had a 68% increased risk of AF recurrence compared to those who had never undergone ablation, as well as a lower rate of AF freedom (61.1% vs 72.5%).
- - Histological analysis showed that patients with a failed catheter ablation had denser collagen fibers in their left atrial appendage, suggesting more advanced atrial fibrosis, which could contribute to
Purpose: Efficacy of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF) decreases as left atrial (LA) volume increases. However, surgical AF ablation with unknown efficacy is being performed in patients with a giant LA (GLA). We determined efficacy of thoracoscopic AF ablation in patients with compared to without a GLA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClinical course of sinus node dysfunction after thoracoscopic surgery for atrial fibrillation-analysis of the Atrial Fibrillation Ablation and Autonomic Modulation via Thoracoscopic Surgery (AFACT) study.
J Interv Card Electrophysiol
March 2021
Purpose: Sinus node dysfunction (SND) may complicate thoracoscopic surgical atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Identifying patients at risk is important, as SND may require temporary or permanent pacing. To determine the incidence of postoperative SND and duration of symptoms in patients who underwent thoracoscopic surgical ablation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: The authors report the 2-year follow-up results of the AFACT (Atrial Fibrillation Ablation and Autonomic Modulation via Thoracoscopic Surgery) study.
Background: The AFACT study randomized patients with advanced atrial fibrillation (AF) to thoracoscopic AF ablation with or without additional ganglion plexus (GP) ablation. At 1 year, there was no difference in AF freedom between the groups, but autonomic modification may exert beneficial effects during longer follow-up.
Objective: We evaluated health-related quality of life at 12 months after thoracoscopic surgical ablation in patients enrolled in the Atrial Fibrillation Ablation and Autonomic Modulation via Thoracoscopic Surgery study. The Atrial Fibrillation Ablation and Autonomic Modulation via Thoracoscopic Surgery study assessed the efficacy and safety of ganglion plexus ablation in patients with symptomatic advanced atrial fibrillation undergoing thoracoscopic surgical ablation.
Methods: Patients (n = 240) underwent thoracoscopic pulmonary vein isolation with additional ablation lines in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.
Background: Patients with long duration of atrial fibrillation (AF), enlarged atria, or failed catheter ablation have advanced AF and may require more extensive treatment than pulmonary vein isolation.
Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of additional ganglion plexus (GP) ablation in patients undergoing thoracoscopic AF surgery.
Methods: Patients with paroxysmal AF underwent pulmonary vein isolation.