Radio-frequency ablation as primary management of well-tolerated sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in patients with structural heart disease and left ventricular ejection fraction over 30%.

Aims: Patients with well-tolerated sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (SMVT) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) over 30% may benefit from a primary strategy of VT ablation without immediate need for a 'back-up' implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

Methods And Results: One hundred and sixty-six patients with structural heart disease (SHD), LVEF over 30%, and well-tolerated SMVT (no syncope) underwent primary radiofrequency ablation without ICD implantation at eight European centres. There were 139 men (84%) with mean age 62 ± 15 years and mean LVEF of 50 ± 10%.

Radiofrequency ablation without the use of fluoroscopy - in what kind of patients is it feasible?

Introduction: The aim of the study was to describe the experience in performing ablation without fluoroscopy.

Material And Methods: From 575 ablation procedures with CARTO performed in the period 2003-2008, 108 (42 M; age 40 ±16 years) were done without fluoroscopy. One patient had ablation using the Localisa system.

Prognostic value of total atrial conduction time estimated with tissue Doppler imaging to predict the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Aims: Total atrial activation time has been identified as an independent predictor of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). Echocardiographic assessment of PA-TDI duration provides an estimation of total atrial conduction time. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of total atrial conduction time to predict AF recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

Reversed polarity of bipolar electrograms for predicting a successful ablation site in focal idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract arrhythmias.

Background: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for idiopathic right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) arrhythmias is typically guided by local activation time (LAT) mapping and unipolar electrogram morphology (QS configuration). However, LAT mapping is limited by the large variation among patients, and the area demonstrating a QS configuration of the unipolar electrogram may be larger than the focal source. Reversed polarity has been proposed as a criterion for guiding RFCA.

The LocaLisa system as the key to shortening the procedure duration and fluoroscopy time during ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) can be difficult and time-consuming. Systems facilitating catheter navigation may be helpful.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of the LocaLisa system with the conventional mapping/ablation approach to radiofrequency (RF) ablation of AF.

Left ventricle systolic volume in vasovagal syncope patients.

One of the hypotheses put forward concerning the mechanism of vasovagal syncope is that the vagal afferent fibres are activated during vigorous contractions against a partly empty left ventricle. The aim of the study was to confirm this hypothesis by using 2D echocardiography during a head-up tilt test. The study was carried out on 39 patients (17 male, 22 female, age range 21-64 years), all with a history of recurrent syncope.

Diameters of the cavo-sinus-tricuspid area in relation to type I atrial flutter.

Cardiac arrhythmias have troubled patients and fascinated physicians for centuries. The twentieth century was an era of progress, when the mechanism of cardiac disorders became more commonly recognised. Arrhythmias may be due to abnormalities of automaticity, to abnormalities of conduction, or to a combination of both.

Preliminary study of external interatrial muscle fascicles.

The atria are highly complex multidimensional structures composed of a heterogeneous branching network of subendocardial muscular bundles. The relief of the inner part of the right atrium includes the crista terminalis as well as multiple pectinate muscles that bridge the thinner atrial free walls and appendages. However, a handful of studies have focused attention on the role of the naturally occurring complexities of the atrial subendocardial muscle structures in the mechanisms of cardiac arrhythmias.