Neurohumoral Markers of Cardiac Autonomic Denervation after Surgical Ablation of Long-Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Although the autonomic nervous system has an evident impact on cardiac electrophysiology and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is the conventional technique for treating persistent atrial fibrillation, the specific effects of RFA have been insufficiently studied to date. Here, we investigated whether RFA affects neurohumoral transmitter levels and myocardial I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (I-MIBG) uptake. To perform this task, we compared two groups of patients with acquired valvular heart disease: patients who had undergone surgical AF ablation and patients with sinus rhythm.

Pulmonary Veins Morphometric Characteristics and Spatial Orientation Influence on Its Cryoballoon Isolation Results.

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effect of pulmonary vein (PV) morphometric characteristics and spatial orientation on the results of cryoballoon ablation (CBA). Methods: A randomized, prospective, single-center controlled study was conducted, enrolling 230 patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). We compared procedural and long-term outcomes in patients who underwent their first procedure of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for AF with either radiofrequency ablation (RFA) (n = 108) or CBA (n = 122) and assessed their interaction with the different pattern of PV anatomy, morphometric characteristics, and spatial orientation.

Influence of Internal Thoracic Artery Harvesting on Sternal Osteoblastic Activity and Perfusion.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this study was to assess the sternal osteoblastic activity and perfusion in the early period after a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and three-phasic dynamic scintigraphy (3PDS) with 99mTc methylene diphosphonate (MDP).

Methods: The study group consisted of 57 male patients that were 57.3 ± 6.

Noninvasive long-term ECG monitoring vs. loop recorder implantation for the atrial fibrillation management.

Objective: The objective of the study was to estimate the efficacy of a noninvasive ambulatory ECG monitoring (NIAM) in comparison with implantable loop recorder (ILR) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Thirty-two patients 58 [47; 73] years of age with AF were included in the study. Patients were randomized into two groups: in group I (n = 15), "Reveal XT" ILR was used for invasive ECG monitoring up to 3 months; in group II (n = 17), "Spyder" device was used for NIAM up to 14 days.

Micromorphology of Skeletonized and Pedicled Internal Thoracic and Radial Arteries.

The objective of the study was to estimate the internal thoracic arteries (ITA) and radial arteries (RA) micromorphologic features by light microscopy after harvesting them using the skeletonization and pedicled methods in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. The micromorphologic characteristics of ITA and RA were studied by luminous microscopy in 61 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. A total of 122 ITA and RA segments harvested during surgery, fixed in formalin, and stained with hematoxiline and eosin were evaluated.

Mechanical function of left atrium and pulmonary vein sleeves before and after their antrum isolation.

Background And Objective: Pulmonary vein (PV) sleeves are established as the main substrate taking part in the mechanisms of atrial fibrillation (AF) initiation. However, we have extremely few data concerning their physiological role in the heart contractility. The aim of the study was to estimate the mechanical function of the left atrium (LA) and PV sleeves before and early after their isolation.

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation after an unsuccessful surgical ablation and biological prosthetic mitral valve replacement: a pilot study.

Background: Patients with mitral valve (MV) disease and atrial fibrillation (AF) undergo simultaneous prosthetic valve replacement and radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedure; however, this combinational procedure restores sinus rhythm (SR) in only 68-82% of the cases. In patients with ineffective surgical ablation, the use of a biological prosthetic valve might not only be a good choice to perform safe catheter ablation procedure in the left atrium (LA), but also provide a way to discontinue administration of oral anticoagulants. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of catheter ablation for AF after MV replacement with a biological prosthesis and an ineffective surgical ablation procedure.

'Electrical exclusion' of a critical myocardial mass by extended pulmonary vein antrum isolation for persistent atrial fibrillation treatment.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to compare the efficacy of pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI), extended PVAI and ganglionic plexi (GP) ablation in persistent AF.

Methods: One hundred and twenty patients 56.2 ± 8.

High-amplitude pace mapping increases safety of radiofrequency catheter ablation of parahisian ectopic foci.

Background: The objective of the study is to assess the efficacy of high-amplitude pace mapping in terms of the atrioventricular (AV) block risk after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RCA) of parahisian ectopic foci.

Methods: Twenty patients aged 38 ± 14 years with no structural heart disease underwent RCA of parahisian ectopic foci. All the patients were randomized into two groups: Group I (n = 11) had RCA performed in the region defined as ectopic focus by electrophysiology study and Group II (n = 9) had high-amplitude pacing performed in the region of "perfect" mapping.