Background: Although catheter ablation (CA) is an effective treatment for patients with AF and LVSD, the efficacy of an initial cryo-ablation strategy is unknown. This study evaluated long term outcomes of patients with an initial cryo-ablation strategy for AF and LV systolic dysfunction (LVSD). Methods: Outcomes of patients undergoing index cryoablation for AF from January 2008 until March 2018, with documented pre-ablation LVEF45% were evaluated for long term freedom from AF and change in ventricular function from baseline. Results: 76 patients met inclusion criteria. Patients were predominantly male (80%), aged 63 11yrs, with an average CHADS2 VASc score of 2.66  1.40, baseline LVEF 34  8.7% (ischaemic in 37%) and NYHA class 2.37  0.72. Repeat procedures were performed in 13%. The single procedure success was 70% at 1 year (81% for paroxysmal AF, 65% for persistent AF, 29% for long-standing persistent AF) and at 28  13 months follow up was 43% (50%, 41% and 21% respectively), increasing to 59% allowing for subsequent redo procedure with RF ablation (64%, 57%, and 50% respectively). At follow up, LVEF significantly improved to 46  16% (p<0.001), and NYHA reduced to 1.51  0.66 (p<0.001). Conclusion: An initial strategy of cryoablation in patients with AF and LVSD is an effective approach in the treatment of patients with concurrent AF and LVSD. Larger, randomised prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

Introduction: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and atrial fibrillation (AF) require chronic anticoagulation due to a high thromboembolic risk. Evidence supporting use of non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with HCM remains sparse, and there are no data regarding the use of NOACs in HCM patients undergoing catheter ablation of AF. Methods: Observational non-randomised study in 4 European Centres. We aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of NOACs compared with vitamin-K antagonists (VKAs) in patients with HCM undergoing catheter ablation for AF. Results: One hundred thirty-seven HCM patients (mean age 55.0±13.4, 29.1% female) underwent 230 catheter ablations for AF (1.7±1.0 per patient). A total of 55 patients (39.4%) underwent 70 procedures (30.4%) on NOAC, while the remaining were on VKA. Warfarin (97.6%) and rivaroxaban (56.4%) were the most frequently used agents in the respective groups. No procedure-related deaths were reported. We observed no significant difference in the rate of thromboembolism (VKA 0.6%; NOAC 0%; p=1.0) or minor bleeding (VKA 0.6%; NOAC 1.4%; p=0.54). There was a non-significant trend towards a lower incidence of major bleeding (VKA 6.8%; NOAC 1.4%; p=0.09). Conclusion: These preliminary data suggest that NOACs are at least as safe and effective as VKAs in patients with HCM undergoing catheter ablation for AF.