Multicenter study on acute and long-term safety and efficacy of percutaneous left atrial appendage closure using an epicardial suture snaring device.

Background: Pericardial suture ligation of the left atrial appendage (LAA) may be an alternative to endoluminal devices for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation, but multicenter safety and efficacy data in high-risk patients with contraindications to oral anticoagulation are lacking.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report the outcomes of consecutive cases of pericardial suture ligation of the LAA in high-risk patients performed at 4 centers.

Methods: The cohort included 41 consecutive patients who underwent LAA closure with the LARIAT system.

Multicenter experience with extraction of the Riata/Riata ST ICD lead.

Background: In November 2011, the Food and Drug Administration issued a class I recall of Riata and Riata ST implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads. Management recommendations regarding the recall have remained controversial.

Objective: Data regarding the safety and feasibility of extraction of Riata implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads are limited.

Feasibility and safety of uninterrupted rivaroxaban for periprocedural anticoagulation in patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation: results from a multicenter prospective registry.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of uninterrupted rivaroxaban therapy during atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Background: Optimal periprocedural anticoagulation strategy is essential for minimizing bleeding and thromboembolic complications during and after AF ablation. The safety and efficacy of uninterrupted rivaroxaban therapy as a periprocedural anticoagulant for AF ablation are unknown.

The impact of transvenous lead extraction on tricuspid valve function.

Background: Few data exist regarding the effect of transvenous lead extraction (TLE) on tricuspid valve function. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of TLE on the development of postprocedure tricuspid regurgitation (TR).

Objective: To assess the impact of TLE on tricuspid valve function.

Occurrence of steam pops during irrigated RF ablation: novel insights from microwave radiometry.

Background: The disparity between catheter and tissue temperatures during irrigated RF ablation frustrates one's ability to predict steam pops. Microwave radiometry allows for "volumetric" temperature assessment-i.e.

Adjunctive renal sympathetic denervation to modify hypertension as upstream therapy in the treatment of atrial fibrillation (H-FIB) study: clinical background and study design.

Background: Hypertension is the most important risk factor directly attributable to the high prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF), and is one of the few modifiable risk factors for AF. Activation and overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of both essential hypertension and AF. Catheter-based renal sympathetic denervation (RSDN) appears to be an effective adjunctive treatment for refractory hypertension, and may be beneficial in other conditions characterized by SNS overactivity, such as left ventricular hypertrophy and atrial arrhythmias.

Catheter ablation of scar-related atypical atrial flutter.

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of isthmus location of atypical atrial flutters/atrial tachycardias (ATs) on outcomes of catheter ablation. Atrial tachycardias are clinically challenging arrhythmias that can occur in the presence of atrial scar--often due to either cardiac surgery or prior ablation for atrial fibrillation. We previously demonstrated a catheter ablation approach employing rapid multielectrode activation mapping with targeted entrainment manoeuvrs.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation: an assessment of net clinical benefit.

Aims: The PROTECT-AF (WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage System for Embolic Protection in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation) trial found left atrial appendage (LAA) closure an alternative to anticoagulation in selected patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). We aim to estimate the net clinical benefit (NCB) of percutaneous LAA closure.

Methods And Results: Post hoc analysis of outcomes among 707 adults with AF in the PROTECT-AF trial and 566 in the Continued Access (CAP) registry undergoing LAA closure with the Watchman device compared with sustained anticoagulation.