Contact force-controlled zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation of right-sided and left atrial arrhythmia substrates.

Background: Conventional catheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias is associated with radiation risks for patients and laboratory personnel. However, nonfluoroscopic catheter guidance may increase the risk for inadvertent cardiac injury. A novel radiofrequency ablation catheter capable of real-time tissue-tip contact force measurements may compensate for nonfluoroscopic safety issues.

[Catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: extended recommendations considering safety improvements of pulmonary vein isolation with a cryoballoon--Case 11/2011].

History And Admission Findings: A 71-year-old, male patient was referred to our clinic for paroxysmal palpitations with dyspnoe and fatigue since four years despite pharmacological treatment with flecainide and bisoprolol.

Investigations: A paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was documented in a 24-hour Holter recording. A bicycle ergometry showed a hypertensive reaction during exercise without any sign of coronary insufficiency.

Expression of platelet-bound stromal cell-derived factor-1 in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and ischemic heart disease.

Aims: Blood cell infiltration and inflammation are involved in atrial remodelling during atrial fibrillation (AF) although the exact mechanisms of inflammatory cell recruitment remain poorly understood. Platelet-bound stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) is increased in cases of ischemic myocardium and regulates recruitment of CXCR4(+) cells on the vascular wall. Whether platelet-bound SDF-1 expression is differentially influenced by non-valvular paroxysmal or permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP) or acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has not been reported so far.

[Contact force control - the key to safe zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia].

Background: Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is a frequent supraventricular tachycardia in children and young adults. Despite favourable success rates of catheter ablation, conventional fluoroscopic catheter guidance is associated with risks of low-dose ionizing radiation for the patient and the personnel. Here we describe a technique for zero-fluoroscopy catheter ablation using contact force technology.

Catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation: anatomically based circumferential pulmonary vein ablation in combination with a potential-guided segmental approach to achieve complete pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: Catheter ablation has become the first line of therapy in patients with symptomatic, recurrent, drug-refractory atrial fibrillation. However, catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation is still a challenge. Various rather complex ablation strategies exist and their results are not very favorable.