Sex Differences in Outcomes of Tetralogy of Fallot Patients With Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators.

Background: Women with congenital heart disease at high risk for sudden cardiac death have been poorly studied thus far.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess sex-related differences in patients with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs).

Methods: Data were analyzed from the DAI-T4F (French National Registry of Patients With Tetralogy of Fallot and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) cohort study, which has prospectively enrolled all patients with TOF with ICDs in France since 2010.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients With Tetralogy of Fallot and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator: The DAI-T4F Nationwide Registry.

Background: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease, and sudden cardiac death represents an important mode of death in these patients. Data evaluating the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in this patient population remain scarce.

Methods: A Nationwide French Registry including all patients with tetralogy of Fallot with an ICD was initiated in 2010 by the French Institute of Health and Medical Research.

Cryoablation for persistent and longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation: results from a multicentre European registry.

Aims: Although cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation is a well-established treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), it's role in persistent AF is unclear. We examined procedural success and long-term outcomes of cryoablation in persistent and longstanding persistent AF.

Methods And Results: International multicentre registry from three UK and eight European centres.

Position paper for management of elderly patients with pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators Groupe de rythmologie et stimulation cardiaque de la Société française de cardiologie et Société française de gériatrie et gérontologie.

Despite the increasingly high rate of implantation of pacemakers (PM) and cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) in elderly patients, data supporting their clinical and cost-effectiveness in this age stratum are ambiguous and contradictory. We reviewed the data regarding the applicability, safety, and effectiveness of the conventional pacing, ICD and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in elderly patients. Although peri-procedural risk may be slightly higher in the elderly, the procedure of implantation of PMs and ICDs is still relatively safe in this age group.

Position paper for management of elderly patients with pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators: Groupe de Rythmologie et Stimulation Cardiaque de la Société Française de Cardiologie and Société Française de Gériatrie et Gérontologie.

Despite the increasingly high rate of implantation of pacemakers (PMs) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in elderly patients, data supporting their clinical and cost-effectiveness in this age stratum are ambiguous and contradictory. We reviewed the data regarding the applicability, safety and effectiveness of conventional pacing, ICDs and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in elderly patients. Although periprocedural risk may be slightly higher in the elderly, the implantation procedure for PMs and ICDs is still relatively safe in this age group.

Results from a multicentre comparison of cryoballoon vs. radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: is cryoablation more reproducible?

Aim: Cryoballoon ablation (Cryoballoon) has emerged as a new alternative for the treatment of symptomatic drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). Whether the results of Cryoballoon are more reproducible than those of radiofrequency (RF) ablation remains to be proved.

Methods And Results: A total of 860 consecutive patients undergoing a first ablation procedure for paroxysmal AF (467 treated with RF and 393 treated with Cryoballoon) were selected from a prospective multicentre survey of AF ablation (FrenchAF).

Selective Vulnerability of Cortical Border Zone to Microembolic Infarct.

Background And Purpose: Endovascular procedures, including atrial fibrillation transcatheter ablation, may cause microembolization of brain arteries. Microemboli often cause small sized and clinically silent cerebral ischemias (SCI). These lesions are clearly visible on early postoperative magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted images.

Pulmonary vein isolation with a new multipolar irrigated radiofrequency ablation catheter (nMARQ™): feasibility, acute and short-term efficacy, safety, and impact on postablation silent cerebral ischemia.

Background: Simultaneous multipolar ablation catheters have been proposed to simplify pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, a new multipolar irrigated radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheter (nMARQ™, Biosense Webster Inc., Diamond Bar, CA, USA) combining both 3-dimensional electroanatomic mapping and multipolar open-irrigated ablation capability has been developed.

Does periprocedural anticoagulation management of atrial fibrillation affect the prevalence of silent thromboembolic lesion detected by diffusion cerebral magnetic resonance imaging in patients undergoing radiofrequency atrial fibrillation ablation with open irrigated catheters? Results from a prospective multicenter study.

Background: Silent cerebral ischemia (SCI) has been reported in 14% of cases after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) with radiofrequency (RF) energy and discontinuation of warfarin before AF ablation procedures.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether periprocedural anticoagulation management affects the incidence of SCI after RF ablation using an open irrigated catheter.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing RF ablation for AF without warfarin discontinuation and receiving heparin bolus before transseptal catheterization (group I, n = 146) were compared with a group of patients who had protocol deviation in terms of maintaining the therapeutic preprocedural international normalized ratio (patients with subtherapeutic INR) and/or failure to receive pretransseptal heparin bolus infusion and/or ≥2 consecutive ACT measurements <300 seconds (noncompliant population, group II, n = 134) and with a group of patients undergoing RF ablation with warfarin discontinuation bridged with low molecular weight heparin (group III, n = 148).

Evaluation of time course and predicting factors of progression of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation to permanent atrial fibrillation.

Background: To evaluate time course and predictors of progression of paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) to permanent AF.

Methods And Results: We included 460 patients referred for paroxysmal (n = 337) or persistent (n = 123) AF between 1994 and 2012. Mean follow-up was 13.

Microembolism and catheter ablation I: a comparison of irrigated radiofrequency and multielectrode-phased radiofrequency catheter ablation of pulmonary vein ostia.

Background: Cerebral diffusion-weighted MRI lesions have been observed after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. We hypothesized that conditions predisposing to microembolization could be identified using a porcine model of pulmonary vein ablation and an extracorporeal circulation loop.

Methods And Results: Ablations of the pulmonary veins were performed in 18 swine with echo monitoring.

Microembolism and catheter ablation II: effects of cerebral microemboli injection in a canine model.

Background: Asymptomatic cerebral lesions have been observed on diffusion weighted MRI (DWI) scans shortly after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, but the pathogenesis of these lesions is incompletely understood.

Methods And Results: Twelve dogs underwent selective catheterization of the internal carotid or vertebral arteries. Either a microbubbled mixture of air (1.

Monitoring in the management of atrial fibrillation.

We performed a survey on current practice of atrial fibrillation (AF) detection and monitoring and its relevance in patient management among the European Heart Rhythm Association Research Network. The focus of this questionnaire is on the use and relevance of remote AF detection in device patients and its clinical consequences like starting oral anticoagulation or improving device programming to avoid inappropriate shock therapy. Remote device data are already used by 76.

Delaying cardioversion following 4-week anticoagulation in case of persistent atrial fibrillation after a transcatheter ablation procedure to reduce silent cerebral thromboembolism: a single-center pilot study.

Background: Symptomatic cerebral thromboembolism occurs in 0.4% of transcatheter atrial fibrillation ablation procedures. Silent cerebral events, instead, have recently been reported in up to 14%, especially clustered within patients undergoing cardioversion at the end of the procedure.

Incidence of silent cerebral thromboembolic lesions after atrial fibrillation ablation may change according to technology used: comparison of irrigated radiofrequency, multipolar nonirrigated catheter and cryoballoon.

Introduction: Silent cerebral ischemic lesions have recently emerged as the most frequent complications after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). To reduce thromboembolic complications, new types of catheters and energy source have been introduced in clinical practice. The study purpose is to compare the incidence of new silent cerebral ischemic events in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) undergoing PVI with different ablation technologies.

Remote monitoring for active cardiovascular implantable electronic devices: a European survey.

This survey sampled today's European practices in the use of remote monitoring (RM) for the follow-up of active cardiovascular implantable electronic devices. Eighty-five per cent of the responding centres are currently using RM. For the majority, RM is expected to increase importantly within 5 years, and it has already led to a new organization of care based on dedicated allied professionals and/or the creation of RM units.

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: a cause of silent thromboembolism? Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of cerebral thromboembolism in patients undergoing ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Radiofrequency left atrial catheter ablation has become a routine procedure for treatment of atrial fibrillation. The aim of this study was to assess with preprocedural and postprocedural cerebral magnetic resonance imaging the thromboembolic risk, either silent or clinically manifest, in the context of atrial fibrillation ablation. The secondary end point was the identification of clinical or procedural parameters that correlate with cerebral embolism.

Validation of success following atrial fibrillation ablation: a European survey.

This survey sampled the follow-up (FU) strategies for atrial fibrillation ablation used by electrophysiology/ablation centres in Europe. Currently, FU relies on symptoms and short-term ECG recordings rather than monitoring by implantable devices. The responding centres show a lack of confidence in the long-term success after ablation, and confusion about definition of success which needs to be informed by updated European guidelines.

Three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping of right periatriotomy tachycardias after interatrial defect correction.

Background: Pericicatricial right intra-atrial reentrant tachycardias occur frequently in patients who have undergone surgical correction of an interatrial defect.

Aim: To characterize the tachycardia circuits using three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping.

Methods: Twelve tachycardias were analysed in 11 patients who had undergone surgical correction of an interatrial defect.

Performance and survival of transvenous defibrillation leads: need for a European data registry.

Although the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy has increased over the last decades, the reporting of ICD lead performance is inadequate. So far, there is neither a European nor worldwide registry on ICD leads. The published long-term results from national or multicentre registries encompass relatively small patient cohorts.

Optimized post-operative surveillance of permanent pacemakers by home monitoring: the OEDIPE trial.

Aims: The OEDIPE trial examined the safety and efficacy of an abbreviated hospitalization after implantation or replacement of dual-chamber pacemakers (PM) using a telecardiology-based ambulatory surveillance programme.

Methods And Results: Patients were randomly assigned to (i) an active group, discharged from the hospital 24 h after a first PM implant or 4-6 h after replacement, and followed for 4 weeks with Home-Monitoring (HM), or (ii) a control group followed for 4 weeks according to usual medical practices. The primary objective was to confirm that the proportion of patients who experienced one or more major adverse events (MAE) was not higher in the active than in the control group.

Permanent form of junctional reciprocating tachycardia in adults: peculiar features and results of radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Aim: PJRT occurs predominantly in infants and children and is limited to small series in adults. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, electrophysiological characteristics, feasibility and safety of radiofrequency ablation, and the long-term prognosis in a large group of adult patients with the permanent form of junctional reciprocating tachycardia (PJRT).

Methods And Results: Forty-nine adult patients (22 male and 27 female; mean age 43+/-16) with a diagnosis of PJRT confirmed at electrophysiological study were included.

Bigeminy pacing: a new protocol to unmask atrial vulnerability.

Introduction: One of the most exciting developments in our understanding of atrial fibrillation (AF) mechanisms has been the recognition that "AF begets AF" in a process termed atrial remodeling. Little information is available about the events that mediate short-term remodeling. In a bigeminy atrial pacing protocol that produces a continuous extrasystole-postextrasystole cycle length, we sought to evaluate the electrophysiologic consequences of irregular atrial pacing.

P wave duration and morphology predict atrial fibrillation recurrence in patients with sinus node dysfunction and atrial-based pacemaker.

P wave duration and morphology have never been systematically evaluated as markers of AF in patients with a conventional indication to pacing. This study correlated sinus P wave duration and morphology and the incidence of AF in patients with sinus node dysfunction (SND), previous history of AF before implant, and atrial-based pacemaker. Included were 140 patients (86 men, 54 women; mean age 71.