Catheter ablation in rate-controlled atrial fibrillation with severely reduced ejection fraction: intervention for irregularity-mediated cardiomyopathy.

Background: Recent evidence suggests atrial fibrillation (AF) causes cardiomyopathy due to remodeling driven by both irregular rate and rhythm. Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in patients with reduced ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 35% has been shown to improve EF and mortality. It is unknown whether the benefits of AF ablation among patients with reduced EF are affected by the degree of pre-ablation rate control.

Catheter ablation alone versus catheter ablation with combined percutaneous left atrial appendage closure for atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Combined catheter ablation (CA) with percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) may produce comprehensive treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) whereby rhythm control is achieved and stroke risk is reduced without the need for chronic oral anticoagulation. However, the efficacy and safety of this strategy is still controversial.

Methods: This meta-analysis was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Catheter ablation compared to medical therapy for ventricular tachycardia in sarcoidosis: nationwide outcomes and hospital readmissions.

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) for ventricular tachycardia (VT) can be a useful treatment strategy, however, few studies have compared CA to medical therapy (MT) in the sarcoidosis population.

Objective: To assess in-hospital outcomes and unplanned readmissions following CA for VT compared to MT in patients with sarcoidosis.

Methods: Data was obtained from the Nationwide Readmissions Database between 2010 and 2019 to identify patients with sarcoidosis admitted for VT either undergoing CA or MT during elective and non-elective admission.

Left bundle branch area pacing using a stylet-driven, retractable-helix lead: Short-term results from a prospective multicenter IDE trial (the BIO-CONDUCT study).

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has swiftly emerged as a safe and effective alternative to right ventricular pacing. Limited data exist on the use of retractable-helix, stylet-driven leads for LBBAP.

Objective: The objective of this study was to prospectively evaluate the performance and safety of a stylet-driven pacing lead in a rigorously controlled multicenter trial to support US market application.

Left Atrial Appendage Tilt-Up-and-Turn-Left Maneuver: A Novel Three-Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiography Imaging Maneuver to Characterize the Left Atrial Appendage and to Improve Transcatheter Closure Guidance.

• Precise LAA anatomy must be established for LAA occlusion device selection. • We have developed the TUPLE maneuver, an acronym for “tilt up and turn left”. • The TUPLE maneuver facilitates LAA device selection and intraprocedural guidance.

Explainable SHAP-XGBoost models for in-hospital mortality after myocardial infarction.

Background: A lack of explainability in published machine learning (ML) models limits clinicians' understanding of how predictions are made, in turn undermining uptake of the models into clinical practice.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop explainable ML models to predict in-hospital mortality in patients hospitalized for myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods: Adult patients hospitalized for an MI were identified in the National Inpatient Sample between January 1, 2012, and September 30, 2015.

Conduction velocity is reduced in the posterior wall of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with normal bipolar voltage undergoing ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: We investigated characteristics of left atrial conduction in patients with HCM, paroxysmal AF and normal bipolar voltage.

Background: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) exhibit abnormal cardiac tissue arrangement. The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is increased fourfold in patients with HCM and confers a fourfold increased risk of death.

Comparison of combined substrate-based mapping techniques to identify critical sites for ventricular tachycardia ablation.

Background: Established electroanatomic mapping techniques for substrate mapping for ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation includes voltage mapping, isochronal late activation mapping (ILAM), and fractionation mapping. Omnipolar mapping (Abbott Medical, Inc.) is a novel optimized bipolar electrogram creation technique with integrated local conduction velocity annotation.

Temporal trends in atrial fibrillation ablation procedures at an academic medical center: 2011-2021.

Introduction: Radiofrequency ablation technology for treating atrial fibrillation (AF) has evolved rapidly over the past decade. We investigated the impact of technological and procedural advances on procedure times and ablation outcomes at a major academic medical center over a 10-year period.

Methods: Clinical data was collected from patients who presented to NYU Langone Health between 2011 and 2021 for a first-time AF ablation.

Catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia with an irrigated contact-force sensing radiofrequency ablation catheter.

Introduction: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) slow pathway modification for catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is traditionally performed using a 4-mm nonirrigated (NI) RF ablation catheter. Slow pathway modification using irrigated, contact-force sensing (ICFS) RFA catheters has been described in case reports, but the outcomes have not been systematically evaluated.

Methods: Acute procedural outcomes of 200 consecutive patients undergoing slow pathway modification for AVNRT were analyzed.

Sex differences in outcomes of transvenous lead extraction: insights from National Readmission Database.

Background: With the growing use of implantable cardiac devices, the need for transvenous lead extraction has increased, which translates to increased procedural volumes. Sex differences in lead extraction outcomes are not well studied.

Objective: The present study aims at evaluating the impact of sex on outcomes of lead extraction.

Correlation between AV synchrony and device collected AM-VP sequence counter in atrioventricular synchronous leadless pacemakers: A real-world assessment.

Introduction: Micra atrioventricular (AV) provides leadless atrioventricular synchronous pacing by sensing atrial contraction (A4 signal). Real-world operation and reliability of AV synchrony (AVS) assessment using device data have not been described. The purposes of this study were to (1) assess the correlation between AVS and atrial mechanical sensed-ventricular pacing (AM-VP) percentages in patients with permanent high-degree AV block and (2) report on the real-world effectiveness of Micra AV.

Ambulatory atrioventricular synchronous pacing over time using a leadless ventricular pacemaker: Primary results from the AccelAV study.

Background: Previous studies demonstrated that accelerometer-based, mechanically timed atrioventricular synchrony (AVS) is feasible using a leadless ventricular pacemaker.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the performance of a leadless ventricular pacemaker with accelerometer-based algorithms that provide AVS pacing.

Methods: AccelAV was a prospective, single-arm study to characterize AVS in patients implanted with a Micra AV, which uses the device accelerometer to mechanically detect atrial contractions and promote VDD pacing.