Yasuhiro Matsuda

and 12 more

Introduction: Although decompensated heart failure (DHF) can complicate catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), its incidence and risk factors have not been defined. We sought to investigate the incidence and risk factors for DHF in these patients. Methods: In total, 1004 consecutive patients who underwent initial ablation for AF (age, 68 ± 10 years old; females, 346 [34%]; and persistent AF, 513 [51%]) were enrolled. Δheart rate, which was defined as heart rate after ablation minus heart rate before ablation, were calculated. DHF was defined as heart failure requiring medical therapy during post-procedure hospitalization, or re-hospitalization due to heart failure < 90 days after the procedure. DHF was classified into early peri-procedual DHF, which occurring within 2 days after the procedure, and late peri-procedual DHF, which occurring ≥ 3 days after the procedure. Results: The incidence of DHF was 32/1004 (3%) patients. Patients with DHF had a higher prevalence of a past history of symptomatic heart failure (17/32 [53%] versus 154/972 [16%], P < 0.01) and lower Δheart rate after the procedure than those without (−16 ± 28 versus 2 ± 21 beats/min, P < 0.01). On multivariate analysis, lower Δheart rate was a significant independent predictor of early peri-procedual DHF, while early recurrence of AF was a significant independent predictor of late peri-procedual DHF. Conclusion: In patients with AF, lower Δheart rate was an independent predictor of early peri-procedual DHF, and early recurrence of AF was an independent predictor of late peri-procedual DHF.

Naoya Kurata

and 12 more

Background: The efficacy of ablation targeting low-voltage areas (LVAs) is controversial, although LVA presence is well known to be associated with AF recurrence after ablation. Atrial fibrillation (AF) substrate may not localize within LVAs. Methods and results: This observational study enrolled 405 consecutive patients who underwent an initial AF ablation procedure. The left atrial voltage map was obtained after pulmonary vein isolation. LVAs were defined as areas with voltage < 0.5 mV. To estimate whole atrial electrophysiological degeneration, mean regional voltage at each of 6 regions and left atrial total conduction velocity were measured. LVAs existed in 143 of 405 (35.3%) patients. Patients with LVAs demonstrated lower mean regional voltages throughout all 6 regions than those without LVAs (1.3 [1.8, 0.8] vs. 0.6 [1.0, 0.2] for anterior wall, p<0.001). On the other hand, left atrial conduction velocity was lower in patients with LVAs than in those without (0.89 [1.01, 0.74] vs. 0.93 [1.03, 0.87] m/s, p<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that low left atrial total conduction velocity and a higher number of regions with mean voltage reduction were independently associated with AF recurrence, although LVA presence was not. Conclusion: Patients with localized left atrial LVAs were characterized by whole left atrial electrophysiological degeneration as assessed by mean regional voltage and conduction velocity. In addition, whole left atrial electrophysiological degeneration parameters were well associated with AF recurrence.

Masaharu Masuda

and 11 more

Introduction: The randomized controlled VOLCANO trial demonstrated comparable 1-year rhythm outcomes between patients with and without ablation targeting low-voltage areas (LVAs) in addition to pulmonary vein isolation among paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with LVAs. To compare long-term AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) recurrence rates and types of recurrent-atrial-tachyarrhythmia between treatment cohorts during a > 2-year follow-up period. Methods: An extended-follow-up study of 402 patients enrolled in the VOLCANO trial with paroxysmal AF, divided into 4 groups based on the results of voltage mapping: Group A, no LVA (n=336); group B, LVA ablation (n=30); group C, LVA presence without ablation (n=32); and group D, incomplete voltage map (n=4). Results: At 25 (23, 31) months after the initial ablation, AF/AT recurrence rates were 19% in group A, 57% in group B, 59% in group C, and 100% in group D. Recurrence rates were higher in patients with LVAs than those without (group A vs. B+C, p<0.0001), and were comparable between those with and without LVA ablation (group B vs. C, p=0.83). Among patients who underwent repeat ablation, ATs were more frequently observed in patients with LVAs (Group B+C, 50% vs. A, 14%, p<0.0001). In addition, LVA ablation increased the incidence of AT development (group B, 71% vs. C, 32%, p<0.0001), especially biatrial tachycardia (20% vs. 0%, p=0.01). Conclusion: Patients with LVAs demonstrated poor long-term rhythm outcomes irrespective of LVA ablation. ATs were frequently observed in patients with LVAs, and LVA ablation might exacerbate iatrogenic ATs.

Yasuhiro Matsuda

and 11 more

Introduction: Although the presence of left atrial low-voltage areas (LVAs) is strongly associated with the recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) after ablation, few methods are available to classify the prevalence of LVAs. The purpose of this study was to establish a risk score for predicting the prevalence of LVAs in patients undergoing ablation for AF. Methods: We enrolled 1004 consecutive patients who underwent initial ablation for AF (age, 68 ± 10 years old; female, 346 (34%); persistent atrial fibrillation, 513 (51%)). LVAs were deemed present when the voltage map after pulmonary vein isolation demonstrated low-voltage areas with a peak-to-peak bipolar voltage of <0.5 mV covering ≥5 cm2 of the left atrium. Results: LVAs were present in 206 (21%) patients. The SPEED score was obtained as the total number of independent predictors as identified on multivariate analysis, namely female sex (odds ratio (OR) 3.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.2-5.2], p <0.01), persistent AF (OR 1.8 [95% CI 1.1-3.0], p=0.02), age ≥70 years (OR 2.3 [95% CI 1.5-3.4], p <0.01), elevated brain natriuretic peptide ≥100 pg/ml or N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide ≥400 pg/ml (OR 1.7 [95% CI 1.02-2.8], p=0.04), and diabetes mellitus (OR 1.8 [95% CI 1.1-2.8], p=0.02). LVAs were more frequent in patients with a higher SPEED score, and prevalence increased with each additional SPEED score point (OR 2.4 [95% CI 2.0-2.8], p <0.01). Conclusion: The SPEED score accurately predicts the prevalence of LVAs in patients undergoing ablation for AF.

Masaharu Masuda

and 12 more

Introduction: A novel ablation catheter that can measure local impedance (LI) was recently launched. We aimed to explore target LI measurements at each radiofrequency application (RFA) for creating sufficient ablation lesions during pulmonary vein (PV) isolation. Methods: This prospective study included 15 consecutive patients scheduled to undergo an initial ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Circumferential ablation around both ipsilateral PVs was performed using a 4-mm irrigated ablation catheter with an LI sensor. Point-by-point ablation was used with a 4-mm inter-ablation-point distance. Operators were blinded to LI measurements during the procedure. Creation of sufficient ablation lesions was assessed by the absence of a conduction gap. Results: After first-pass encircling PV antrum ablation, left atrium to PV conduction remained in 12 of 30 (40%) ipsilateral PVs. Mapping using the mini-basket catheter identified 48 ablation points through which the propagation wave entered the PV. At ablation points with a gap, the LI drop during RFA was half that at points without a gap (12 ± 7 vs. 23 ± 12 ohm, p<0.001). The GI drop did not differ between ablation points with and without a gap (12 ± 7 vs. 14 ± 10 ohm, p=0.10). An LI drop of 15 ohm predicted sufficient lesion formation without a gap with a sensitivity of 0.71, specificity of 0.81, and predictive accuracy of 0.75. Conclusion: A target LI drop of 15 ohm at each RFA with a 4-mm distance between adjacent ablation points may facilitate creation of sufficient ablation lesions during PV isolation

Naoya Kurata

and 11 more

Background: Atrial conduction velocity may represent atrial fibrillation (AF) substrate after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). To elucidate the association between whole left atrial conduction velocity (LACV) and AF recurrence after PVI. Methods and Results: This observational study enrolled 279 patients who underwent PVI alone as an initial AF ablation procedure. After PVI, the left atrium was mapped with a 20-pole multielectrode in conjunction with the CARTO3 system during 100-ppm right atrial pacing. Left atrial conduction distance and conduction time were calculated from the start to the end of the propagation wave front in the left atrium. LACVs on the anterior and posterior routes were calculated as conduction distance divided by conduction time. Anterior and posterior LACVs were slower in patients with AF recurrence than in those without (anterior, 0.79 [0.71, 0.86] vs. 0.96 [0.90, 1.06], p < 0.001; posterior, 0.99 [0.89, 1.14] vs. 1.10 [1.00, 1.29], p < 0.001). AF recurrence was best predicted by anterior LACV with a cut-off value of 0.87 m/s (sensitivity 87%, specificity 81%, and predictive accuracy 84%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a slow anterior LACV < 0.87 m/s was an independent predictor of AF recurrence with an adjusted hazard ratio of 11.8 (6.36 – 22.0). Patients with anterior low-voltage areas demonstrated slower anterior LACV than those without low-voltage areas (0.89 [0.71, 1.00] vs. 0.94 [0.87, 1.05], p < 0.001). Conclusion: A slow LACV in the entire left atrium was an excellent predictor of AF recurrence after PVI, suggesting the necessity of additional ablations.