Comparative Safety and Efficacy of Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion with the Watchman Device and Amplatzer Cardiac Plug: Results of the Russian National Registry.

Purpose: This multicenter, prospective registry evaluated the comparative safety and efficacy of left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) using the Watchman device (WD) and the Amplatzer Cardiac Plug (ACP) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) in real-world clinical practice in Russia.

Methods: The study included data from 200 consecutive NVAF patients (66.8 ± 7.

Remote magnetic navigation ablation via the right jugular vein approach in patient with interruption of the inferior vena cava and incessant left atrial flutter.

Remote magnetic navigation (RMN) can be safely and effectively utilized in patients with difficult cardiac arrhythmias and complex anatomy. Interruption of the inferior vena cava (IVC) is a rare congenital abnormality that results in the inability to use conventional femoral access in patients that require interventional procedures. The present case demonstrates the feasibility of left atrial flutter ablation using RMN via jugular approach in a patient with interruption of IVC.

Pulmonary Artery Denervation for Patients With Residual Pulmonary Hypertension After Pulmonary Endarterectomy.

Background: Pulmonary artery denervation (PADN) procedure has not been applied to patients with residual chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) after pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA).

Objectives: This study sought to assess the safety and efficacy of PADN using remote magnetic navigation in patients with residual CTEPH after PEA.

Methods: Fifty patients with residual CTEPH despite medical therapy at least 6 months after PEA, who had mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥25 mm Hg or pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) > 400 dyn‧s‧cm based on right heart catheterization were randomized to treatment with PADN (PADN group; n = 25) using remote magnetic navigation for ablation or medical therapy with riociguat (MED group; n = 25).

Effect of Renal Denervation and Catheter Ablation vs Catheter Ablation Alone on Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence Among Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and Hypertension: The ERADICATE-AF Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Renal denervation can reduce cardiac sympathetic activity that may result in an antiarrhythmic effect on atrial fibrillation.

Objective: To determine whether renal denervation when added to pulmonary vein isolation enhances long-term antiarrhythmic efficacy.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The Evaluate Renal Denervation in Addition to Catheter Ablation to Eliminate Atrial Fibrillation (ERADICATE-AF) trial was an investigator-initiated, multicenter, single-blind, randomized clinical trial conducted at 5 referral centers for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in the Russian Federation, Poland, and Germany.

Long-term suppression of atrial fibrillation by botulinum toxin injection into epicardial fat pads in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: Three-year follow-up of a randomized study.

Background: Botulinum toxin (BTX) injections into epicardial fat pads in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) has resulted in suppression of atrial fibrillation (AF) during the early postoperative period through 1-year of follow-up in a pilot program.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to report 3-year AF patterns by the use of implantable cardiac monitors (ICMs).

Methods: Sixty patients with a history of paroxysmal AF and indications for CABG were randomized 1:1 to either BTX or placebo injections into 4 posterior epicardial fat pads.

Prophylactic pulmonary vein isolation during isthmus ablation for atrial flutter: Three-year outcomes of the PREVENT AF I study.

Introduction: The PREVENT AF I study demonstrated that prophylactic pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with pure typical atrial flutter (AFL) resulted in substantial reduction of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) during 1-year follow-up as assessed by continuous implantable cardiac monitor (ICM). The objective of this study was to assess 3-year outcomes.

Methods And Results: Fifty patients with documented AFL were randomized to either cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation alone (n = 25) or CTI with concomitant PVI (n = 25).

Pulmonary vein isolation with concomitant renal artery denervation is associated with reduction in both arterial blood pressure and atrial fibrillation burden: Data from implantable cardiac monitor.

Background: Renal artery denervation (RDN) has provided incremental atrial fibrillation (AF) suppression after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with AF in the setting of drug-resistant hypertension.

Objective: To assess the relationship between changes of mean blood pressure (BP) and AF recurrences/AF burden after PVI combined with RDN.

Methods: All patients from two randomized studies with symptomatic paroxysmal AF and/or persistent AF and resistant hypertension who underwent PVI-only (n=37) or PVI with RDN (n=39), and implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) implantation were eligible for this study.

Incidence of atrial fibrillation detected by continuous rhythm monitoring after acute myocardial infarction in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: results of the ARREST study.

Aims: Cardiac arrhythmias following acute myocardial infarction (AMI) can be associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Data on the "real incidence" of post-MI arrhythmias are limited. We aimed to determine the rate and burden of cardiac arrhythmias by the use of insertable cardiac monitors (ICM) in patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after AMI.

Effect of left atrial appendage excision on procedure outcome in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation undergoing surgical ablation.

Background: Catheter ablation is less successful for treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation (PersAF) than for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Some studies suggest that left atrial appendage (LAA) isolation in addition to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is required to maximize the benefits for PersAF after ablation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of 2 surgical ablation approaches for PersAF via video-assisted thoracoscopy: PVI + box lesion and PVI + box lesion + LAA excision.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy combined with coronary artery bypass grafting in ischaemic heart failure patients: long-term results of the RESCUE study.

Objectives: Totally epicardial cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a novel treatment modality for patients with heart failure (HF) and systolic dyssynchrony undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In this study, we have prospectively evaluated the long-term outcomes of totally epicardial CRT.

Methods: Between September 2007 and June 2009, one hundred and seventy-eight patients were randomly assigned to the CABG alone group (n = 87) and CABG with concomitant epicardial CRT implantation (n = 91).

Outcomes of Cryoballoon Ablation in High- and Low-Volume Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Centres: A Russian Pilot Survey.

Purpose: The results of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) procedure have been mainly derived from studies conducted in experienced atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation centres. Here, we report on CBA efficacy and complications resulting from real practice of this procedure at both high- and low-volume centres.

Methods: Among 62 Russian centres performing AF ablation, 15 (24%) used CBA technology for pulmonary vein isolation.

Prophylactic pulmonary vein isolation during isthmus ablation for atrial flutter: the PReVENT AF Study I.

Background: Although catheter ablation of isthmus-dependent atrial flutter (AFL) is successful at eliminating the target arrhythmia, many patients subsequently experience new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether AF can be prevented by prophylactic pulmonary vein ablation in patients with AFL.

Methods: A prospective, single-blind, randomized clinical trial in patients whose sole arrhythmia was AFL without AF was conducted.