Introduction: Conventional transvenous pacemaker leads may interfere with the tricuspid valve leaflets, tendinous chords, and papillary muscles, resulting in significant tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR). Leadless pacemakers (LLPMs) theoretically cause less mechanical interference with the tricuspid valve apparatus.However, data on TR after LLPM implantation are sparse and conflicting. Our goal was to investigate the prevalence of significant TR before and after LLPM implantation.Methods: Patients who received a leadless LLPM (Micra™ TPS, Medtronic) between May 2016 and May 2021 at our center were included in this observational study if they had at least a pre-and postinterventional echocardiogram (TTE). The evolution of TR severity was assessed. Following a systematic literature review on TR evolution after implantation of a LLPM, data were pooled in a random-effects meta-analysis.
Results:We included 69 patients (median age 78 years [interquartile range (IQR) 72-84 years], 26% women). Follow-up duration between baseline and follow-up TTE was 11.4 months (IQR 3.5-20.1 months). At follow-up, overall TR severity was not different compared to baseline (p = .49). Six patients (9%) had new significant TR during follow-up after LLPM implantation, whereas TR severity improved in seven patients (10%). In the systematic review, we identified seven additional articles that
Aims
To validate the performance of a multipolar pulsed-field ablation (PFA) catheter compared to a standard pentaspline 3D-mapping catheter for endpoint assessment of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). PFA for PVI using single-shot devices combines the benefits of high procedural efficacy and safety. A newly available multipolar PFA catheter allows real-time recording of pulmonary vein (PV) signals during PVI.
Methods and results
Patients undergoing first PVI using PFA with the standard ablation protocol (eight applications per PV) were studied. Entrance and exit block (10 V/2 ms) were assessed using the PFA catheter. Subsequently, a high-density 3D electroanatomical bipolar voltage map (3D-EAM) was constructed using a standard pentaspline 3D-mapping catheter. Additional PFA applications were delivered only after confirmation of residual PV connection by 3D-EAM. In 56 patients, 213 PVs were targeted for ablation. Acute PVI was achieved in 100% of PVs: in 199/213 (93%) PVs with the standard ablation protocol alone and in the remaining 14 PVs after additional PFA applications. The accuracy of PV assessment with the PFA catheter after the standard ablation protocol was 91% (194/213 veins). In 5/213 (2.3%) PVs, the PFA catheter incorrectly indicated PV-isolation. In 14/213 (6.6%), the PFA catheter incorrectly indicated residual PV-conduction due to high-output pace-capture. Lowering the output to 5 V/1 ms reduced this observation to 0.9% (2/213) and increased the overall accuracy to 97% (206/213).
Conclusion
A novel multipolar PFA catheter allows reliable endpoint assessment for PVI. Due to its design, far-field sensing and high-output pace-capture can occur. Lowering the pacing output increases the accuracy from 91 to 97%.
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