Incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia and its association with long-term outcome.

Background: Atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is the most common paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. We sought to investigate the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with electrophysiologically confirmed/ablated AVNRT and its association with transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke as well as mortality during long-term follow-up.

Methods: From the Karolinska Ablation Registry, 2855 consecutive patients with a first-time ablation for AVNRT between 2005 and 2018 were analyzed.

[VT ablation - a technically complex procedure].

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with structural heart disease is potentially life threatening, and most patients have an indication for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Catheter ablation is an effective therapeutic strategy to reduce the risk of VT recurrence and subsequent ICD therapies. However, VT ablation is a technically complex procedure with significant risks and should be performed in experienced centers with appropriate resources.

Reduced dementia risk in patients with optimized anticoagulation therapy undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with the development of dementia, and observational studies have shown that oral anticoagulation and catheter ablation reduce dementia risk. However, such studies did not consistently report on periprocedural anticoagulation and long-term oral anticoagulation coverage, for which reason the separate effect of AF ablation on dementia risk could not be established.

Objective: We evaluated the protective effect of AF ablation in a large cohort of patients who received optimized anticoagulation and compared them with patients who were managed medically.

Risk assessment in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic pre-excitation.

Aims: Controversy remains as to whether the exercise stress test (EST) is sufficient for risk evaluation in patients with pre-excitation. This study aims to clarify the usefulness of EST in risk stratification in both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients presenting with pre-excitation.

Methods And Results: This prospective study includes consecutive asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with pre-excitation referred for risk assessment.

Association between catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and mortality or stroke.

Objective: Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation effectively reduces symptomatic burden. However, its long-term effect on mortality and stroke is unclear. We investigated if patients with atrial fibrillation who undergo catheter ablation have lower risk for all-cause mortality or stroke than patients who are managed medically.

Elite female endurance athletes are at increased risk of atrial fibrillation compared to the general population: a matched cohort study.

Objective: Previous studies have found that endurance sport activity is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in men. However, it remains unclear whether endurance sports also influence the risk of AF in women. We aimed to examine whether participation in endurance sports may affect the risk of AF in female athletes.

Validation of diagnostic accuracy of a handheld, smartphone-based rhythm recording device.

Aim: Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of a rhythm recording device, for detection of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) and atrial fibrillation (AF) compared to 12-lead-electrocardiogram (12-L-ECG).

Research Design And Methods: Two hundred 12-L-ECGs (reference standard) and Coala Heart Monitor (CHM) recordings (index test) were collected from 189 patients. Two electrophysiologists independently performed manual analysis of all 12-L-ECGs and CHM recordings in random order.

Feasibility of a novel algorithm for automated reconstruction of the left atrial anatomy based on intracardiac echocardiography.

Background: Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is frequently used to guide electrophysiology procedures. The novel automated algorithm Cartosoundfam is a model-based algorithm which reconstructs a 3D anatomy of the left atrium (LA) based on a set of 2D intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) frames, without the need to manually annotate ultrasound (US) contours.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility of the Cartosoundfam module in routine clinical setting.

Transseptal Access Through an Atrial Septal Defect Closure Device Resulting in Open Heart Surgery.

A pulmonary vein isolation procedure in a patient with an atrial septal defect (ASD) closure device was complicated by entrapment of a mapping catheter in the device. The procedure was converted to open heart surgery, the device with the trapped catheter was explanted, the ASD was covered with a bovine patch, and a cryomaze procedure was performed. ().

Accessory pathway properties are similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic preexcitation.

Purpose: Patients with WPW syndrome have an increased mortality rate compared to the general population. Although asymptomatic preexcitation has previously been considered benign, recent studies have found that also asymptomatic patients have clinical and electrophysiological factors associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death. This study compares the baseline electrophysiological characteristics of accessory pathways in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with preexcitation.

Randomized Ablation-Based Rhythm-Control Versus Rate-Control Trial in Patients With Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation: Results from the RAFT-AF trial.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) frequently coexist and can be challenging to treat. Pharmacologically based rhythm control of AF has not proven to be superior to rate control. Ablation-based rhythm control was compared with rate control to evaluate if clinical outcomes in patients with HF and AF could be improved.

Color Variations in Left Atrial Appendage Occluders.

The authors stopped a case of left atrial appendage occlusion because of miscolored brownish devices. The investigation demonstrated that devices may show a range of colors from a typical blue to a brownish hue, depending on oxide layer thickness, and this does not appear to have any impact on the performance of the device. ().

Instant electrocardiogram feedback with a new digital technique reduces symptoms caused by palpitations and increases health-related quality of life (the RedHeart study).

Aims: Palpitations, particularly common in women, are generally considered benign symptoms rarely caused by clinically important arrhythmias. Nevertheless, palpitations may cause anxiety, depression, and decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL). This study investigates to what degree palpitations cause symptoms such as anxiety and depression and affect HRQOL in women and whether direct feedback of underlying heart rhythm during palpitations decrease anxiety and depression and increase HRQOL in women.

Focal atrial tachycardia-the localization differences between men and women: A study of 487 consecutive patients.

Objective: The preferential sites for focal atrial tachycardia (FAT) are mainly in the right atrium in both sexes. However, a limited number of studies have indicated that sex differences in the localization of FAT. This study investigated possible sex differences in the distribution of FAT in a large cohort of patients referred for ablation.

Sinus heart rate post pulmonary vein ablation and long-term risk of recurrences.

Purpose: Cather ablation is known to influence the autonomic nervous system. This study sought to investigate the association of sinus heart rate pre-/post-ablation and recurrences in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Methods: Between January 2012 and December 2017, data of 482 patients undergoing their first PVI were included.

Long-term outcome of patients with invasive electrophysiology procedure-related cardiac tamponade.

Aims: Iatrogenic cardiac tamponades are a rare but dreaded complication of invasive electrophysiology procedures (EPs). Their long-term impact on clinical outcomes is unknown. This study analysed the risk of death or serious cardiovascular events in patients suffering from EP-related cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis during long-term follow-up.

Device profile of the Coala Heart Monitor for remote monitoring of the heart rhythm: overview of its efficacy.

: Several handheld thumb ECG devices for on-demand recording of heart rhythm have become available lately. These can be used both by health-care providers and purchased by laypersons for private use.: This profile describes the Coala Heart Monitor.