Fecal calprotectin: A novel predictor of ulcerated esophageal injury after atrial fibrillation catheter ablation.

Background: Atrial esophageal fistula (AEF) is a lethal complication that can occur post atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Esophageal injury (EI) is likely to be the initial lesion leading to AEF. Endoscopic examination is the gold standard for a diagnosis of EI but extensive endoscopic screening is invasive and costly.

His bundle pacing versus left bundle branch pacing on ventricular function in atrial fibrillation patients referred for pacing: a prospective crossover comparison.

Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) and left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) both provide physiologic pacing which maintain left ventricular synchrony. They both improve heart failure (HF) symptoms in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. We aimed to assess the intra-patient comparison of ventricular function and remodeling as well as leads parameters corresponding to two pacing modalities in AF patients referred for pacing in intermediate term.

Risk of esophageal thermal injury during catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation guided by different ablation index.

Background: During ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF), energy delivery toward the left atrial posterior wall may cause esophageal injury (EI). Ablation index (AI) was introduced to estimate ablation lesion size, however, the impact of AI technology on the risk of EI has not been explored.

Method: From March 2019 to December 2019, 60 patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing first-time ablation were prospectively enrolled.

Adjunctive percutaneous ablation targeting epicardial arrhythmogenic structures in patients of atrial fibrillation with recurrence after multiple procedures.

Introduction: Repeat ablation strategy for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after multiple ablation procedures is known to be challenging. This study evaluated the insights of adjunctive ablation for epicardial arrhythmogenic substrates in those patients via a percutaneous epicardial approach.

Methods And Results: Thirty-five consecutive patients with AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) recurrence, who had two or more prior ablation procedures, were enrolled from September 2016 to December 2018.

Metabolic benefits of rivaroxaban in non-valvular atrial fibrillation patients after radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Background And Objective: Rivaroxaban is a new oral anticoagulant for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), which has less drug-food interaction than warfarin. We conducted this prospective randomized study to evaluate the metabolic benefits as well as the safety and efficacy with rivaroxaban versus warfarin in patients with NVAF following radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

Methods: From April to July 2014, 60 patients with NVAF undergoing RFCA were prospectively enrolled in our study.

Impact of Anatomically Guided Ganglionated Plexus Ablation on Electrical Firing from Isolated Pulmonary Veins.

Background: The mechanisms underlying atrial fibrillation (AF) initiation and pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) effectiveness remain unclear. Ganglionated plexus (GPs) have been implicated in AF initiation and maintenance. In this study, we evaluated the impact of GP ablation in patients with pulmonary vein (PV) firing after PVI.

Non-pulmonary vein foci induced before and after pulmonary vein isolation in patients undergoing ablation therapy for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: incidence and clinical outcome.

Objective: To evaluate the incidence and clinical outcome of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) plus isoproterenol (ISP)-induced non-pulmonary vein (PV) foci before and after circumferential PV isolation (CPVI) during index ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Methods: In 80 consecutive patients undergoing catheter ablation for drug-refractory, symptomatic PAF at our hospital from April 2010 to January 2011, atrial fibrillation (AF) was provoked with ATP (20 mg) and ISP (20 µg/min) administration before and after CPVI. The spontaneous initiation of AF was mapped and recorded.

Incidence of pulmonary vein conduction recovery in patients without clinical recurrence after ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: mechanistic implications.

Background: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation has become the mainstay acute procedural end point for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Objective: To examine the incidence of conduction recovery in the PVs in patients without clinical recurrence of AF after paroxysmal AF ablation.

Methods: From August 2008 to March 2011, 392 patients with drug-refractory PAF underwent catheter ablation in our center, a wide area circumferential ablation approach guided with a circular mapping catheter was performed with the intended endpoint of entrance block in all PVs.

Marked suppression of pulmonary vein firing after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: is pulmonary vein firing an epiphenomenon?

Introduction: Rapid firing in pulmonary veins (PVs) is a leading cause of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. We hypothesized that PV firing (PV-F) should continue after circumferential PV isolation (CPVI) because the PV tissue responsible for PV-F remains intact.

Methods And Results: In Group-1 (n = 92), isoproterenol (ISP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) were co-administered to provoke PV-F before and after CPVI.

[Mechanism and re-ablation strategy for postablation atrial tachyarrhythmia in atrial fibrillation patients].

Objective: To investigate the mechanism and re-ablation strategy of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) following circumferential ablation of pulmonary veins (PV) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: Fifteen patients with recurrent ATA following first AF ablation procedure were included in this study. Under CARTO guidance, PVs were remapped and ablated subsequently for relapse of left atrium to PV conduction.