UGVP is a short learning curve technique, significantly associated with a low incidence of minor VCs. This study supports wide use of UGVP in patients undergoing EP procedures.

Percutaneous closure of secundum atrial septal defect is an established safe alternative to surgery with rare complications and high primary success rate. This procedure can be complicated by early or late device embolizations. We report an asymptomatic delayed nonobstructive embolization of an amplatzer septal occluder (ASO) into the left ventricle outflow tract detected by routine transthoracic echocardiography 1 week after implantation, which required emergent surgical retrieval in a stable patient.

AimsThe magnetic navigation (MN) system may be coupled with a new advancement system that fully controls both the catheter and a robotic deflectable sheath (RSh) or with a fixed-curve sheath and a catheter-only advancement system (CAS). We aimed to compare these approaches for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.Methods and resultsAtrial fibrillation ablation patients (45, 23 paroxysmal and 22 persistent) performed with MN–RSh (RSh group) were compared with a control group (37, 18 paroxysmal and19 persistent) performed with MN–CAS (CAS group). Setup duration was measured from the procedure's start to operator transfer to control room. Ablation step duration was defined as the time from the beginning of the first radiofrequency (RF) pulse to the end of the last one and was separately acquired for the left and the right pulmonary vein (PV) pairs. Clinical characteristics, left atrial size, and AF-type distribution were similar between the groups. Setup duration as well as mapping times was also similar. Ablation step duration for the left PVs was similar, but was shorter for the right PVs in RSh group (46 ± 9 vs. 63 ± 12 min, P < 0.0001). Radiofrequency delivery time (34 ± 9 vs. 40 ± 11 min, P = 0.007) and procedure duration (227 ± 36 vs. 254 ± 62 min, P = 0.01) were shorter in RSh group. No complication occurred in RSh group. During follow-up, there were five recurrences (11%) in RSh group and 11 (29%) in CAS group (P = 0.027).ConclusionThe use of the RSh for AF ablation with MN is safe and improves outcome. Right PV isolation is faster, RF delivery time and procedure time are reduced.

Background Echocardiography realization can be challenging in the presence of breasts implants (BI). It is less known if electrocardiograms (ECG) may be modified in the presence of BI. Methods ECG from women with BI (and without any known cardiac structural disease) were sent and analyzed by two experienced electrophysiologists (EP1 and EP2) who were blinded and completely unaware of the context of the patients (Group 1). ECG from a control matched‐group of female women without BI (Group 2) were also blindly sent for analysis. Results ECG were collected from 28 women with BI (42 ± 8 years) without any acute medical condition. A proportion of 42% of the ECG were considered abnormal by EP1 and 46% by EP2. The abnormalities were for EP1: negative T waves (5), ST depression in inferolateral leads (2), absence of R wave progression from V1 to V4 (4), left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (1), long QT(1), early repolarization (1), short PR (1); For EP2: negative T waves (6), ST depression in inferolateral leads (2), absence of R wave progression from V1 to V4 (4), LV hypertrophy(3), long QT (1), early repolarization (1). ECG from group 2 were considered abnormal in only 1 patient (5%) for EP1, and normal in all for EP2 (P = 0.0002 between the groups). Conclusions ECG from women with BI were considered abnormal in 42% to 46% of the cases by expert readers. ECG interpretation can thus be misleading in these women.

For remote magnetic AF ablation, procedures under LA have similar results to GA in terms of efficacy and safety after 1-year follow-up.