Bidirectional Association Among the Type of Atrial Fibrillation, Sleep-Disordered Breathing Severity, Heart Failure Progression, and Left Atrial Enlargement, in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

This study aimed to clarify (1) the association among the atrial fibrillation (AF) type, sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), heart failure (HF), and left atrial (LA) enlargement, (2) the independent predictors of LA enlargement, and (3) the effects of ablation on those conditions in patients with AF. The study's endpoint was LA enlargement (LA volume index [LAVI] ≥ 78 mL/m).Of 423 patients with nonvalvular AF, 236 were enrolled.

Role of Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Epicardial Connections in the Recurrence of Atrial Fibrillation.

The presence of epicardial connections (ECs) between the pulmonary veins (PVs) and atrium may contribute to atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. This study aimed to determine the impact of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) on the presence of ECs and the interplay between SDB and ECs on AF recurrence.We retrospectively reviewed 400 consecutive non-valvular AF patients.

Successful recovery from acute decompensated heart failure associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and atrial fibrillation by urgent radiofrequency catheter ablation using mechanical haemodynamic support: a case report.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) frequently coexist, and AF is associated with an exacerbation of HF. Catheter ablation (CA) of AF has proved to be an established treatment for patients with HF associated with AF. Ordinarily, CA of AF is an elective procedure.

A case report of an improvement in premature ventricular complex-induced cardiomyopathy following continuous positive airway pressure therapy in a patient with severe obstructive sleep apnoea.

Background: Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are the most common arrhythmias observed in patients without structural heart disease (SHD). Frequent PVCs cause left ventricular dilation and dysfunction without SHD, the so-called PVC-induced cardiomyopathy (PIC). Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a highly prevalent disease worldwide and is strongly associated with arrhythmias including PVCs.

Epicardial Connections After a Conventional Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: The existence of epicardial connection(s) (ECs) between the pulmonary veins (PVs) and atrium may hinder establishing a complete PV antrum isolation (AI) (PVAI) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and location of ECs inside the conventional PVAI lines.

Methods and results: Three-hundred consecutive patients with non-valvular AF were evaluated.

Atrial Fibrillation in a Patient with Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia Successfully Treated by Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation Using a Direct Thrombin Inhibitor.

A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital to undergo radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). We found that he had a history of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT). Thus, a direct thrombin inhibitor, Argatroban Hydrate (Argatroban), was used instead of heparin as anticoagulation therapy during the RFCA procedure.

Importance of the length of the myocardial sleeve in the superior vena cava in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Pulmonary vein (PV) antrum isolation (PVAI) has proven to be a useful strategy for radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) worldwide. However, non-PV foci, especially from the superior vena cava (SVC), play an important role in initiating and maintaining AF.

Methods: In all, 427 consecutive patients with non-valvular AF who were admitted to our hospitals to undergo RFCA of AF using an EnSite system were evaluated.