Clinical predictors of arrhythmia recurrences following pulmonary vein antrum isolation for atrial fibrillation: predicting arrhythmia recurrence post-PVAI.

Introduction: Pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) is an accepted treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) refractory to medical therapy. The purpose of this study was to identify the patient, procedural, and follow-up factors associated with arrhythmia recurrences following PVAI.

Methods And Results: Clinical data were prospectively collected on all 385 consecutive patients who had 530 PVAI (age 58 ± 11 years, 63% paroxysmal AF-PAF, follow-up 2.

CARTO-guided vs. NavX-guided pulmonary vein antrum isolation and pulmonary vein antrum isolation performed without 3-D mapping: effect of the 3-D mapping system on procedure duration and fluoroscopy time.

Purpose: Pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) guided by intracardiac echocardiography and a roaming circular mapping catheter is an effective treatment modality for atrial fibrillation. Unfortunately, the complexity of this technique leads to long procedure times and high fluoroscopy exposure. This study examined the effect of two different mapping systems on the procedural characteristics and clinical outcomes of PVAI for atrial fibrillation.

Incidence of very high defibrillation thresholds (DFT) and efficacy of subcutaneous (SQ) array insertion during implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation.

Background: The incidence, risk factors, and management of very high defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) during present-day implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) testing are not well known.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess (1) the incidence of very high DFTs and (2) the efficacy/safety of routinely adding a subcutaneous (SQ) array for these patients.

Methods: The study evaluated patients undergoing first-time ICD implantation at Southlake Regional Healthcare Centre from January 2006 to December 2007.

Dofetilide is safe and effective in preventing atrial fibrillation recurrences in patients accepted for catheter ablation.

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of dofetilide among patients refractory to other anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) and accepted for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Methods And Results: One hundred and twenty-seven of 454 patients (69% male, 58% paroxysmal, age 60 +/- 10 years, AF duration 8 +/- 7 years) scheduled for AF ablation between February 2004 and May 2008 were treated with dofetilide. Patients had failed 1.

Predictors of appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy in primary prevention patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy.

Background: We sought to assess predictors of appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy in patients receiving primary prevention ICDs.

Methods: Four hundred twenty-one consecutive patients (ischemic and nonischemic) undergoing primary prevention ICD implantation were studied. Patients were grouped based on the presence/absence of appropriate ICD therapy.

Real-time integration of 2D intracardiac echocardiography and 3D electroanatomical mapping to guide ventricular tachycardia ablation.

Background: Ablation of left ventricular tachycardia (LV VT) involves point-by-point reconstruction of the three-dimensional (3D) virtual anatomy. It is time consuming and requires substantial fluoroscopy exposure. Two-dimensional (2D) intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) affords real-time imaging of the cardiac structures.

Intracardiac ECHO Integration with Three Dimensional Mapping: Role in AF Ablation.

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is typically guided by 3D mapping. This involves point-by-point reconstruction of the 3D virtual anatomy and may be time consuming and require substantial fluoroscopy exposure. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) affords real time imaging of the cardiac structures during mapping and ablation.