Low clinical recurrence and procedure benefits following treatment of common atrial flutter by electrogram-guided hot spot focal cryoablation.

Background: The study sought to evaluate whether electrogram-aided identification of hot spot targets produces additional clinical and/or procedure benefits when using a non-traditional focal cryo ablation method to treat common atrial flutter.

Methods: A preliminary study identified a specific electrogram criterion (e.g.

Comparison between a 7 French 6 mm tip cryothermal catheter and a 9 French 8 mm tip cryothermal catheter for cryoablation treatment of common atrial flutter.

Background: Larger tipped cryothermal catheters may deliver efficacy and procedure benefits in the treatment of patients with atrial flutter.

Objective: To compare 7 French 6 mm and 9 French 8 mm tip cryothermal catheters (Freezor, Xtra or Freezor, MAX, CryoCath Technologies Inc., Kirkland, Canada) in terms of acute and chronic efficacy, and procedure characteristics in the treatment of atrial flutter.

Cryothermal ablation treatment of atrial flutter--experience with a new 9 French 8 mm tip catheter.

Background: Cardiac cryoablation has been used to successfully treat a variety of arrhythmias.

Objective: This study documents our experience with a new 9 French (FR) 8 mm cryocatheter for ablation treatment of symptomatic atrial flutter.

Methods: A total of 77 consecutive patients with symptomatic atrial flutter were treated.

Long-term efficacy of cryo catheter ablation for the treatment of atrial flutter: results from a repeat electrophysiologic study.

Objectives: We investigated the long-term efficacy of cryo ablation for treatment of atrial flutter.

Background: To our knowledge, no study has assessed the long-term efficacy of cryo ablation by assessing both symptom and conduction recurrence.

Methods: A total of 45 consecutive patients with symptomatic atrial flutter were ablated with a 7-F, 6-mm-tip, quadripolar cryo catheter (Freezor Xtra, CryoCath Technologies Inc.

Myocardial ischemia due to a coronary-pulmonary fistula treated with coil embolization.

We describe one case of myocardial ischemia due to a coronary-pulmonary fistula, successfully treated with coils. Coronary fistulae are a rare cause of angina in adults with normal coronary arteries. Percutaneous treatment represents an alternative to surgery and may be offered as a relatively low risk procedure.

Implantable loop recorders: a novel method to judge patient perception of atrial fibrillation. Preliminary results from a pilot study.

Introduction: At the present time, several techniques are used or are under investigation for atrial fibrillation (AF) therapy. Nowadays, no well-defined target for such therapies has been yet completely identified. Furthermore, AF is an arrhythmia with high rates of recurrences, both symptomatic and asymptotic.

The linear ablation of atrial fibrillation in the right atrium: can the isthmus ablation improve its efficacy?

Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare the efficacy of a 2- versus a 3 RF lesions ablation procedure in the RA in patients with paroxysmal AF, and to map right atrial activation during AF.

Background: RF catheter-mediated ablation lines mimicking the Maze operation have been proposed as a novel curative approach for AF. The relationship between this type of ablation and right atrial mapping has not been extensively studied.

Coronary vasospasm and aborted sudden death treated with an implantable defibrillator and stenting.

In selected patients suffering from variant angina, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and coronary stenting can be helpful to prevent sudden death and treat coronary artery spasm. We report a case of a 47-year-old woman suffering from variant angina, who experienced an episode of ventricular fibrillation promptly cardioverted. After coronary angiography documentation of a mild atherosclerosis, an ICD was implanted and oral nitrates and calcium antagonists were prescribed.