Current recommendations avoid the use of antiarrhythmic drugs in pregnancy and support catheter ablation (CA) due to symptomatic arrhythmias prior to pregnancy. Zero-fluoroscopy (ZF) mapping and navigation with three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping systems (3D-EAMS) allowed routine and safe non-fluoroscopic guidance of the procedure without X-ray exposure. We present the first case of a pregnant patient who underwent successful ZF CA of symptomatic pre-excitation from non-coronary cusp (NCC). A 24-year-old Caucasian pregnant without structural heart disease at the 24 th week of pregnancy was referred for CA due to three recurrences of syncope and drug-refractory palpitations associated with Wolf-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Twelve months prior to pregnancy the woman had failed radiofrequency (RF) ablation procedure in another centre for para-Hisian right-sided pathway. A 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) showed pre-excitation with a positive delta wave in leads I, II, aVF, V4, and V5 and a negative delta wave in lead V1, suggesting a para-Hisian accessory pathway ( Fig. 1). She was referred to our hospital for rescue CA with ZF. Our centre had at least five years of experience with the minimally invasive non-fluoroscopic imaging and navigation approach using the Ensite NavX system (St. Jude Medical, St. Paul, MN) for CA of regular supraventricular arrhythmias and idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias. A multidisciplinary consultation reached the consensus that only pre-excitation is a substrate for syncope recurrences and poses a potential risk to the foetus and mother. The right femoral vein was cannulated with a 7 F or 8 F sheath and one ablation 4 mm Gold tip catheter and one diagnostic decapolar catheter (Biotronik, Berlin, Germany) were introduced. Atrial pacing protocols demonstrated a septal accessory pathway, but no isoproterenol was given to induce tachycardia. The refractory period of the accessory pathway was 300 ms. After six failed right-sided applications right sided mapping was stopped due to frequent junctional beats and proximity of His potential recordings. Then, the right femoral artery was cannulated with an 8 F introducer, and the ablation catheter was removed using a right to left retrograde approach (Fig. 2). Finally, six RF applications (240 s) were delivered approximately in the NCC and the accessory pathway was successfully ablated (Fig. 1). The procedure time was 71 min and no fluoroscopy was used. Several ECGs and Holter monitoring confirmed no pre-excitation and arrhythmias within 14 months. The patient delivered a healthy male child at 35 weeks of gestation by Caesarean section. Both mother and child had an uneventful postoperative course. The case documents that routinely using ZF for CA may support this approach even for unfavourable locations (e.g. NCC) and not only as the last resort for several arrhythmias including WPW-syndrome in pregnant patients.
The PR/RR ratio is a simple tool for slow pathway substrate and AVNRT evaluation. Eliminating PR/RR ratios ≥1 may serve as a surrogate endpoint for slow pathway ablation in children and adults with AVNRT.
Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is an established effective method for the treatment of typical cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter (AFL). The introduction of 3-dimensional electro-anatomic systems enables RFCA without fluoroscopy (No-X-Ray [NXR]). The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of CTI RFCA during implementation of the NXR approach and the maximum voltage-guided (MVG) technique for ablation of AFL.Data were obtained from prospective standardized multicenter ablation registry. Consecutive patients with the first RFCA for CTI-dependent AFL were recruited. Two navigation approaches (NXR and fluoroscopy based as low as reasonable achievable [ALARA]) and 2 mapping and ablation techniques (MVG and pull-back technique [PBT]) were assessed. NXR + MVG (n = 164; age: 63.7 ± 9.5; 30% women), NXR + PBT (n = 55; age: 63.9 ± 10.7; 39% women); ALARA + MVG (n = 36; age: 64.2 ± 9.6; 39% women); and ALARA + PBT (n = 205; age: 64.7 ± 9.1; 30% women) were compared, respectively. All groups were simplified with a 2-catheter femoral approach using 8-mm gold tip catheters (Osypka AG, Germany or Biotronik, Germany) with 15 min of observation. The MVG technique was performed using step-by-step application by mapping the largest atrial signals within the CTI.Bidirectional block in CTI was achieved in 99% of all patients (P = NS, between groups). In NXR + MVG and NXR + PBT groups, the procedure time decreased (45.4 ± 17.6 and 47.2 ± 15.7 min vs. 52.6 ± 23.7 and 59.8 ± 24.0 min, P < .01) as compared to ALARA + MVG and ALARA + PBT subgroups. In NXR + MVG and NXR + PBT groups, 91% and 98% of the procedures were performed with complete elimination of fluoroscopy. The NXR approach was associated with a significant reduction in fluoroscopy exposure (from 0.2 ± 1.1 [NXR + PBT] and 0.3 ± 1.6 [NXR + MVG] to 7.7 ± 6.0 min [ALARA + MVG] and 9.1 ± 7.2 min [ALARA + PBT], P < .001). The total application time significantly decreased in the MVG technique subgroup both in NXR and ALARA (P < .01). No major complications were observed in either groups.Complete elimination of fluoroscopy is feasible, safe, and effective during RFCA of CTI in almost all AFL patients without cardiac implanted electronic devices. The most optimal method for RFCA of CTI-dependent AFL seems to be MVG; however, it required validation of optimal RFCA's parameters with clinical follow-up.
Atypical form of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is associated with regional wall motion abnormalities in basal and/or middle segments or only middle segments with sparing of apical segments or apical and basal segments. We described a case of47-year-old female with atypical form of TTC due to fast atrial fibrillation that converted into ventricular fibrillation in WPW syndrome. The echocardiogram made after direct current cardioversion revealed decreased left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF 35%) with akinesis of inferior and posterior walls and anterior part of interventricular septum in the middle and the basal segments with hyperkinesis of apical segments. The biochemistry blood samples revealed elevated both troponin T- 0.35 ng/mL and NT-proBNP - 3550 pg/mL plasma level. The ECG showed sinus rhythm 62 bpm, shortened PQ interval 100 ms, widened QRS duration - 115 ms with delta wave, prolonged QT interval - 520 ms, QS in leads: II, III, aVF. NegativeT waves in leads: I, aVL and positive, symmetrical T waves in leads V1-V6. The coronarography revealed normal coronaryarteries. The control echocardiography after 10 days showed normal LVEF 70%, without any wall motion abnormalities. TTC was recognised based on: history of sudden stress situation before, ischaemic ECG changes, positive markers of myocardial injury, transient segmental wall motion abnormalities and normal coronary arteries. The ablation of right postero-septal accessory pathway was successfully performed.
Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. OnBehalf Rare-A-Care registry Background Extracardiac vagal nerve stimulation (ECANS) and cardioneuroablation (CNA) are promising methods to cure vagally mediated bradycardia and validate indications for permanent pacing for sinus node dysfunction (SND), atrioventricular blocks (AVB), tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (TBS) and cardio-inhibitory or mixed reflex syncope (VVS). There are limited information on clinical utility of those procedures in validation of indication for continuation of permanent pacing (PM) and transcutaneous lead extraction (TLE). Methods Data were collected from prospective multicentre registry of CNA facilitated by interdisciplinary consultations, state-of-art autonomic tests, atropine/propranolol tests, electrophysiologic study as well as ECANS. Share-decision making were used by EP-HEART-TEAM to developed patient-oriented therapy. Results Between June 2018-Jan 2021 the first 102 consecutive patients underwent interdisciplinary approach before invasive EPS and/or invasive ECANS, to consider biatrial, binodal CNA, if possible to cure functional bradycardia. Eleven (10%) patients had implanted permanent PM"s due to SND/AVB/TBS/CI-VVS and were considered for TLE. In 2 out of 11 cases CNA was not performed due to: 1) structural advanced 2nd and 3rd degree AVB with indication for TLE and permanent HBP (no.1), 2) incidental severely symptomatic persistent 3rd degree AVB more than 15 year ago without any further bradycardia episodes (only TLE, no.2). In further 9 of 11 cases with PM CNA was performed, however TLE was not attempted in 2 patients [(SND + PVC ablation + indication for beta-blocker therapy due to IHD in older male. TLE had not yet been attempted to confirm long-term success therapy by patient and/or physician (no.3); two periprocedural successful CNA resulted in disappearance of CI reflex however despite pacing syncopal events persist due to mixed etiology (no.4)]. In further 7/11 cases TLE-s were performed. Three cases had TLE prior to CNA [VVS-CI + advanced functional AVB - prior 3 pacemaker reimplantations and further "rescue" CNA, (no.5); CI-VVS + pacemaker infection (no.6); TLE of PM + TBS no.7]. Finally, in 4 cases TLE was recommended after CNA [CI-VVS (no.8, no.9 and no.10); mixed etiology: TBS + VVS-CI + intermittent, recurrent pericardial efffusion due to lead perforation, PM syndrome, (no. 11)]. Conclusions Interdisciplinary and comprehensive autonomic approach with ECANS and CNA enable EP-HEART-TEAM to offer patient-oriented therapy with a complex clinical scenarios before final decision about TLE and discontinuation of permanent pacing therapy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.