Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Michele Brignole, Francesco Pentimalli, Pietro Palmisano, Maurizio Landolina, Fabio Quartieri, Eraldo Occhetta, Leonardo Calo, Giuseppe Mascia, Lluis Mont, Kevin Vernooy, Vincent van Dijk, Cor Allaart, Laurent Fauchier, Maurizio Gasparini, Gianfranco Parati, Davide Soranna, Michiel Rienstra, Isabelle C. Van Gelder
Summary: Ablation + CRT treatment is superior in reducing all-cause mortality in severely symptomatic permanent AF patients. Furthermore, this treatment also significantly lowers the combined endpoint of all-cause mortality or HF hospitalization.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ioanna Koniari, Andreas Gerakaris, Nicholas Kounis, Dimitrios Velissaris, Archana Rao, Mark Ainslie, Ahmed Adlan, Panagiotis Plotas, Ignatios Ikonomidis, Virginia Mplani, Ming-Yow Hung, Cesare de Gregorio, Theofilos Kolettis, Dhiraj Gupta
Summary: This review examines the literature on the use of atrioventricular node ablation and pacing in heart failure and atrial fibrillation patients. It shows that this strategy improves symptoms and cardiac performance, but may have complications such as worsening heart failure, arrhythmias, and sudden death. Cardiac resynchronization therapy is the optimal treatment, while His bundle pacing and left bundle branch pacing are potential alternatives.
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASE
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Chi Zhang, Xi-Ying Wang, Lian Lou, Xuan Zhang, Le-Le Chen, Yu-Xiao Chen, Jian Yang
Summary: This study reviewed the roles of pacemakers and AVAB in patients with atrial fibrillation through systematic reviews and meta-analyses, finding that AF patients have higher all-cause mortality rates compared to those with sinus rhythm, and AVAB can reduce all-cause mortality in AF patients. While functional improvement was better in patients with sinus rhythm, AVAB increased the 6MWD and reduced the nonresponse rate to CRT in AF patients.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Antonio Rapacciuolo, Saverio Iacopino, Antonio D'Onofrio, Antonio Curnis, Ennio C. Pisano, Mauro Biffi, Paolo Della Bella, Antonio Dello Russo, Fabrizio Caravati, Gabriele Zanotto, Valeria Calvi, Giovanni Rovaris, Gaetano Senatore, Daniele Nicolis, Matteo Santamaria, Massimo Giammaria, Giampiero Maglia, Antonio Duca, Giuseppe Ammirati, Salvo Andrea Romano, Marcello Piacenti, Eduardo Celentano, Giovanni Bisignani, Paola Vaccaro, Gennaro Miracapillo, Matteo Bertini, Gerardo Nigro, Daniele Giacopelli, Alessio Gargaro, Caterina Bisceglia
Summary: Although mortality rates were similar across different patient groups, patients with permanent AF and suboptimal CRT had a higher risk of appropriate shocks compared to those with sinus rhythm or AF patients with optimal CRT.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Antonio Rapacciuolo, Saverio Iacopino, Antonio D'Onofrio, Antonio Curnis, Ennio C. Pisano, Mauro Biffi, Paolo Della Bella, Antonio Dello Russo, Fabrizio Caravati, Gabriele Zanotto, Valeria Calvi, Giovanni Rovaris, Gaetano Senatore, Daniele Nicolis, Matteo Santamaria, Massimo Giammaria, Giampiero Maglia, Antonio Duca, Giuseppe Ammirati, Salvo Andrea Romano, Marcello Piacenti, Eduardo Celentano, Giovanni Bisignani, Paola Vaccaro, Gennaro Miracapillo, Matteo Bertini, Gerardo Nigro, Daniele Giacopelli, Alessio Gargaro, Caterina Bisceglia
Summary: In heart failure patients with permanent atrial fibrillation, mortality rates were similar between those receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy and those with sinus rhythm. However, patients with suboptimal CRT (<98%) had a higher risk of appropriate defibrillation shocks compared to sinus rhythm patients or AF patients with >=98% CRT.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Weijian Huang, Songjie Wang, Lan Su, Guosheng Fu, Yangang Su, Keping Chen, Jiangang Zou, Hongwei Han, Shengjie Wu, Xia Sheng, Xueying Chen, Xiaohan Fan, Lei Xu, Xiaohong Zhou, Guangyun Mao, Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, Zachary Whinnett
Summary: This study compared the effects of His-bundle pacing (HBP) and biventricular pacing (BVP) in patients who underwent atrioventricular nodal ablation (AVNA). The results showed that HBP led to a significant improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) compared to BVP. Both pacing modalities had similar effects on improving left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, functional class, and B-type natriuretic peptide level.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Stefania Rizzo, Andrea Corrado, Monica De Gaspari, Franco Zoppo, Pietro Turrini, Domenico Corrado, Sakis Themistoclakis, Cristina Basso, Gaetano Thiene
Summary: Right-sided AVJ ablation is effective for refractory atrial fibrillation, but may lead to fibrotic disruption of the AV node and His bundle in some cases. In selected cases, a left-side approach may be necessary for intervention.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Gregory F. Michaud, William G. Stevenson
Summary: A 63-year-old healthy male with atrial fibrillation presents with symptoms of dyspnea and irregular heartbeat. Physical examination reveals high blood pressure, irregular pulse, and ECG confirms atrial fibrillation. Further evaluation and treatment plan are needed.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Yu Yu, Ligang Ding, Yu Deng, Hao Huang, Sijing Cheng, Chi Cai, Min Gu, Xuhua Chen, Xiaohui Ning, Hongxia Niu, Wei Hua
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the independent and joint association of atrial fibrillation (AF) and statin therapy with adverse outcomes in heart failure patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The results showed that AF was associated with poor prognosis, while statin therapy failed to improve the prognosis.
JOURNAL OF INFLAMMATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Christoph Beyer, Lyudmyla Tokarska, Markus Stuhlinger, Gudrun Feuchtner, Florian Hintringer, Sarah Honold, Lukas Fiedler, Marie-Sophie Schonbauer, Robert Schonbauer, Fabian Plank
Summary: Atrial wall thickness, epicardial fat volume, and attenuation are associated with AF recurrence in patients undergoing ablation therapy.
JACC-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
(2021)
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Isaac W. Leon-acuna, Takeki Suzuki
Summary: Andrade et al. found that initial catheter cryoballoon ablation strategy resulted in lower incidence of persistent atrial fibrillation and lower arrhythmia burden compared to antiarrhythmic drug therapy in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation during 3 years of follow-up. The study builds upon the findings of the EARLY-AF trial and the STOP AF First trial. Due to the relatively small sample size (303 patients) and short follow-up period, it may be difficult to detect mortality benefits of cryoballoon ablation.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jonathan M. Kalman, Ahmed M. Al-Kaisey, Ramanathan Parameswaran, Joshua Hawson, Robert D. Anderson, Michael Lim, David Chieng, Stephen A. Joseph, Alex McLellan, Joseph B. Morton, Paul B. Sparks, Geoffrey Lee, Prashanthan Sanders, Peter M. Kistler
Summary: This study aimed to determine if the timing of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) affects arrhythmia outcomes. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the atrial arrhythmia free survival at 12 months post-ablation between patients who underwent early ablation and those who underwent delayed ablation. Other secondary outcomes also showed no significant difference. Therefore, delaying AF ablation by 12 months for antiarrhythmic drug management does not reduce the efficacy of ablation.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mengna Chen, Zhiqiang Dong, Yimin Zhang, Jieyun Liu, Junmeng Zhang
Summary: Heart failure (HF) combined with persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) can lead to cardiac dysfunction and poor prognosis. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) combined with atrioventricular junction ablation (AVJA) is an effective treatment for HF patients with underlying AF. There are different methods of CRT, including biventricular pacing (BVP) and conduction system pacing (CSP), each with its own advantages and disadvantages. This article reviews the clinical progress of AVJA combined with different CRT strategies and proposes a potential alternative strategy for HF patients with persistent AF.
HEART FAILURE REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Hannah T. Schwennesen, Jason G. Andrade, Kathryn A. Wood, Jonathan P. Piccini
Summary: This review summarizes the relationship between atrial fibrillation burden and adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes, and discusses the role of catheter ablation in mitigating the morbidity and mortality associated with a greater burden of atrial fibrillation.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nobuaki Tanaka, Koichi Inoue, Atsushi Kobori, Kazuaki Kaitani, Takeshi Morimoto, Toshiya Kurotobi, Itsuro Morishima, Hirosuke Yamaji, Yumie Matsui, Yuko Nakazawa, Kengo Kusano, Koji Tanaka, Yuko Hirao, Masato Okada, Yasushi Koyama, Atsunori Okamura, Katsuomi Iwakura, Kenshi Fujii, Takeshi Kimura, Satoshi Shizuta
Summary: The study found that there is a connection between atrial fibrillation recurrence and heart failure hospitalizations after radiofrequency catheter ablation. Patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation had a higher risk of heart failure hospitalizations.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Till F. Althoff, Lluis Mont
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Paula Sanchez-Somonte, Paz Garre, Sara Vazquez-Calvo, Levio Quinto, Roger Borras, Susanna Prat, Jose T. Ortiz-Perez, Martin Steghofer, Rosa M. Figueras i Ventura, Eduard Guasch, Jose Maria Tolosana, Elena Arbelo, Josep Brugada, Marta Sitges, Lluis Mont, Ivo Roca-Luque
Summary: This study found that heterogeneous tissue channels (HTCs) detected by late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) are related to ventricular arrhythmias. The arrhythmogenic HTCs were longer, had greater mass, higher degree of protectedness, higher transmurality, and more ramifications than non-arrhythmogenic HTCs. Protectedness was identified as the strongest predictor of arrhythmogenicity.
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Eduard Guasch, Lluis Mont
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Tobias Toennis, Emanuele Bertaglia, Axel Brandes, Wolfgang Dichtl, Nina Fluschnik, Joris R. de Groot, Eloi Marijon, Lluis Mont, Carina Blomstrom Lundqvist, Nuno Cabanelas, G. Andrei Dan, Andrzej Lubinski, Bela Merkely, Kim Rajappan, Andrea Sarkozy, Vasil Velchev, Dan Wichterle, Paulus Kirchhof
Summary: Atrial high-rate episodes (AHRE) are atrial tachyarrhythmias detected by continuous rhythm monitoring. The presence of AHRE increases the risk of stroke compared with patients without AHRE. It remains unclear whether anticoagulation is effective and safe in patients with AHRE, but two clinical trials are expected to provide more information soon.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Margarida Pujol-Lopez, Elisenda Ferro, Roger Borras, Paz Garre, Eduard Guasch, Rafael Jimenez-Arjona, Cora Garcia-Ribas, Adelina Doltra, Mireia Niebla, Esther Carro, Ivo Roca-Luque, J. Baptiste Guichard, J. Luis Puente, Laura Uribe, Sara Vazquez-Calvo, M. Angeles Castel, Elena Arbelo, Andreu Porta-Sanchez, Marta Sitges, Jose M. Tolosana, Lluis Mont
Summary: The aim of this study was to define a stepwise application of criteria for left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) that simplifies implantation and ensures electrical resynchronization. A two-step approach using ECG and electrogram criteria accurately assessed electrical resynchronization with LBBP.
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Maria S. Guillem, Margarida Pujol-Lopez, Jorge Sanchez-Arciniegas, Lluis Mont
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Elisenda Ferro, Nuria Perez, Till Althoff, Eduard Guasch, Susana Prat, Adelina Doltra, Roger Borras, Jose Maria Tolosana, Elena Arbelo, Marta Sitges, Andreu Porta-Sanchez, Ivo Roca-Luque, Lluis Mont, Jean-Baptiste Guichard
Summary: Pre-existing atrial cardiomyopathy is associated with the occurrence of atypical atrial flutter following catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ivo Roca-Luque, Sara Vazquez-Calvo, Paz Garre, Jose T. Ortiz-Perez, Susanna Prat-Gonzalez, Paula Sanchez-Somonte, Elisenda Ferro, Levio Quinto, Francisco Alarcon, Till Althof, Rosario Jesus Perea, Rosa M. Figueras Ventura, Eduard Guasch, Jose Maria Tolosana, Daniel Lorenzatti, Carlos Igor Morr-Verenzuela, Andreu Porta-Sanchez, Elena Arbelo, Marta Sitges, Josep Brugada, Lluis Mont
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the ability of post-ablation late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) to assess ablation lesions. It was found that post-ablation LGE-CMR can reduce the number and mass of conducting channels (CCs) and is associated with a lower risk of ventricular tachycardia (VT) recurrence.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aline Meza-Ramos, Anna Alcarraz, Marta Lazo-Rodriguez, Gemma Sanguesa, Elisenda Banon-Maneus, Jordi Rovira, Maria Jose Ramirez-Bajo, Marta Sitges, Lluis Mont, Pedro Ventura-Aguiar, Montserrat Batlle, Eduard Guasch
Summary: Although the benefits of moderate exercise are well established, the effects of strenuous exercise in high cardiovascular risk individuals are still unclear. This study showed that moderate exercise had the most intense cardiovascular benefits, while intense training only partially reversed them.