Project description:PurposeIndwelling urinary catheters are commonly inserted when administering general anesthesia. However, there are significant risks to routine IUC insertion. We compared urinary and other outcomes in a population of patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation with or without IUC.MethodsThis was a single center, retrospective review of patients undergoing AF ablation. Patients were identified by procedure codes and patient health characteristics and outcome data were manually extracted from electronic health records. The primary composite endpoint was 7-day periprocedural urinary outcomes including cystitis, dysuria, hematuria, urethral damage, or urinary retention.Results404 patients were included in the study, 297 with IUC and 107 without IUC. Uncatheterized patients were less likely to have congestive heart failure (CHF) (31.8% vs 43.4%; P = 0.039) and had a shorter procedure length (4.2 vs 4.9 hours; P < 0.001) with less fluid administered (1485 vs 2040 mL; P < 0.001). No urinary complications occurred in the uncatheterized group versus 14 in the catheterized group (P = 0.026). 3 patients in the uncatheterized group developed serious infections versus none in the catheterized group (P = 0.018). There was no incidence of death and no statistically significant difference in readmission in the 30 days after procedure.ConclusionsThere were no urinary complications in 107 patients who received no IUC during AF ablation. Avoiding bladder catheters during AF ablation procedures may lower incidence of adverse urinary complications without adding substantial risk of urinary retention.
Project description:Cardiovascular imaging is an important part of procedural planning and safety for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the costs of imaging surrounding catheter ablation of AF have not been described. Medicare fee-for-service data were used to evaluate Medicare expenditures before, during, and after catheter ablation for AF from July 2007 to December 2009. Among 11,525 patients who underwent catheter ablation for AF, the mean overall expenditure on the day of the procedure was $14,455 (SD $7,441). The mean imaging expenditure in the periprocedural period, which included the 30 days before the catheter ablation and the day of the ablation itself, was $884 (SD $455). Periprocedural imaging expenditures varied by the imaging strategy used, ranging from a mean of $557 (SD $269) for patients with electroanatomic mapping only to $1,234 (SD $461) for patients with electroanatomic mapping, transesophageal echocardiogram, and computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Mean patient-level imaging expenditures varied by provider (mean $872, SD $249). Periprocedural imaging expenditures also varied by patient risk, with mean expenditures of $862 (SD $444) for patients with a CHADS2 score of ?2 compared with $907 (SD $466) for CHADS2 score<2 (p<0.001). In conclusion, periprocedural imaging accounts for approximately 6% of mean Medicare expenditures for catheter ablation of AF. The expenditures for periprocedural imaging vary both at the patient and at the provider level and they are inversely related to stroke risk by CHADS2 score.
Project description:AimsVENTURE-AF is the first prospective randomized trial of uninterrupted rivaroxaban and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) undergoing catheter ablation (CA).Methods and resultsTrial size was administratively set at 250, the protocol-specified target. Events were independently and blindly adjudicated. We randomly assigned 248 NVAF patients to uninterrupted rivaroxaban (20 mg once-daily) or to an uninterrupted VKA prior to CA and for 4 weeks afterwards. The primary endpoint was major bleeding events after CA. Secondary endpoints included thromboembolic events (composite of stroke, systemic embolism, myocardial infarction, and vascular death) and other bleeding or procedure-attributable events. Patients were 59.5 ± 10 years of age, 71% male, 74% paroxysmal AF, and had a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 1.6. The average total heparin dose used to manage activated clotting time (ACT) was slightly higher (13 871 vs. 10 964 units; P < 0.001) and the mean ACT level attained slightly lower (302 vs. 332 s; P < 0.001) in rivaroxaban and VKA arms, respectively. The incidence of major bleeding was low (0.4%; 1 major bleeding event). Similarly, thromboembolic events were low (0.8%; 1 ischemic stroke and 1 vascular death). All events occurred in the VKA arm and all after CA. The number of any adjudicated events (26 vs. 25), any bleeding events (21 vs. 18), and any other procedure-attributable events (5 vs. 5) were similar.ConclusionIn patients undergoing CA for AF, the use of uninterrupted oral rivaroxaban was feasible and event rates were similar to those for uninterrupted VKA therapy.Name of the trial registryClinicaltrials.gov trial registration number is NCT01729871.
Project description:Atrial fibrillation is common among older persons. Catheter ablation is increasingly used in patients for whom medical therapy has failed.We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries ?65 years of age who underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation between July 1, 2007, and December 31, 2009. The main outcome measures were major complications within 30 days and mortality, heart failure, stroke, hospitalization, and repeat ablation within 1 year. A total of 15 423 patients underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Mean age was 72 years; 41% were women; and >95% were white. For every 1000 procedures, there were 17 cases of hemopericardium requiring intervention, 8 cases of stroke, and 8 deaths within 30 days. More than 40% of patients required hospitalization within 1 year; however, atrial fibrillation or flutter was the primary discharge diagnosis in only 38.4% of cases. Eleven percent of patients underwent repeat ablation within 1 year. Renal impairment (hazard ratio, 2.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.66-2.58), age ?80 years (hazard ratio, 3.09; 95% confidence interval, 2.32-4.11), and heart failure (hazard ratio, 2.54; 95% confidence interval, 2.07-3.13) were major risk factors for 1-year mortality. Advanced age was a major risk factor for all adverse outcomes.Major complications after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation were associated with advanced age but were fairly infrequent. Few patients underwent repeat ablation. Randomized trials are needed to inform risk-benefit calculations for older persons with drug-refractory, symptomatic atrial fibrillation.
Project description:BackgroundCatheter ablation for asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF) remains controversial. The aim of the present study was to explore the prognostic impact of catheter ablation in asymptomatic AF patients.MethodsWe performed a post-hoc analysis of 537 risk-matched pairs of AF patients receiving first-time catheter ablation or conservative management. The primary outcome measure was a composite of cardiovascular death, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, ischemic stroke, or major bleeding. The study patients were divided into asymptomatic and symptomatic patients, and were further divided according to the presence or absence of previous AF-related complications (ischemic stroke or HF hospitalization).ResultsMost baseline characteristics were well balanced between the catheter ablation versus conservative management groups. The median follow-up period was 5.3 years. Catheter ablation as compared to conservative management was associated with significantly lower incidence of the primary outcome measure in the asymptomatic AF patients (14.7% versus 25.4% at 8-year, log-rank P = 0.008). However, the advantage of catheter ablation was significant only in the high-risk subset of patients with the previous AF-related complications (19.2% versus 55.6% at 8-year, log-rank P = 0.006), but not in those without (13.9% and 17.3%, P = 0.08). On the other hand, among the symptomatic AF patients, catheter ablation was associated with significantly lower incidence of the primary outcome measure regardless of the previous AF-related complications.ConclusionsIn the post-hoc analysis of the matched AF cohort, catheter ablation as compared with conservative management was associated with better long-term clinical outcomes among asymptomatic AF patients only when the previous AF-related complications were present.
Project description:Ischemic stroke after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients is a great challenge for electrophysiologists. We performed this retrospective study to evaluate clinical and echocardiographic characteristics associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke following RFCA. A total of 2,352 consecutive patients with AF who underwent first-time RFCA were analyzed. Among 10,023 patient*year follow up, ischemic stroke occurred in 49 patients (0.49% per year). Late recurrence after last RFCA was significantly associated with ischemic stroke (3.8% vs. 12.9%, p < 0.001). Old age (≥60 years old) (3.2% vs. 15.4%, p = 0.001), non-paroxysmal AF (hazard ratio = 1.91, p = 0.024), left atrium (LA) size ≥45.0 mm (6.6% vs. 11.7%, p < 0.001), E over E' ≥10 (4.3% vs. 20.1%, p < 0.001), dense spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) (5.2% vs. 19.0%, p = 0.006), and decreased left atrial appendage (LAA) flow velocity (≤40 cm/sec) (4.1% vs. 10.8%, p < 0.001) were also associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke. The REVEEAL score derived from the risk factors identified in this study was superior to CHA2DS2-VASc score (p < 0.001) for the prediction of ischemic stroke. In conclusion, the risk factors for ischemic stroke in post-RFCA AF patients are not identical to RFCA naive AF patients and different approach to stratify the risk of ischemic stroke is needed.
Project description:BACKGROUND:Combined 'hybrid' thoracoscopic and percutaneous atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is a strategy used to treat AF in patients with therapy-resistant symptomatic AF. We aimed to study efficacy and safety of single-stage hybrid AF ablation in patients with symptomatic persistent AF, or paroxysmal AF with failed endocardial ablation, and assess determinants of success and quality of life. METHODS:We included consecutive patients undergoing single-stage hybrid AF ablation. First, we performed epicardial ablation, via thoracoscopic access, to isolate the pulmonary veins and superior caval vein and to create a posterior left atrial box. Thereafter, isolation was assessed endocardially and complementary endocardial ablation was performed, followed by cavotricuspid isthmus ablation. Efficacy was assessed by 12-lead electrocardiography and 72-hour Holter monitoring after 3, 6 and 12 months. Recurrence was defined as AF/atrial flutter/tachycardia recorded by electrocardiography or Holter monitoring lasting >30 s during 1‑year follow-up. RESULTS:Fifty patients were included, 57 ± 9 years, 38 (76%) men, 5 (10%) paroxysmal, 34 (68%) persistent and 11 (22%) long-standing persistent AF. At 1‑year 38 (76%) maintained sinus rhythm off antiarrhythmic drugs. Majority of recurrences were atrial flutter (9/12 patients). Success was associated with type of AF (p = 0.039). Patients with paroxysmal AF had highest success, patients with longstanding persistent AF had lowest success. Seven (14%) patients had procedure-related complications. Quality of life improved after ablation in patients who maintained sinus rhythm. CONCLUSION:Success of single-stage hybrid AF ablation was 76% off antiarrhythmic drugs, being associated with type of AF. Quality of life improved significantly, Procedure-related complications occurred in 14%.
Project description:Background: Little is known about the prognostic value of nutritional status among patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation (AFCA). We compared the risk of procedure-related complications and long-term rhythm outcomes of AFCA according to nutritional status. Methods: We included 3,239 patients undergoing de novo AFCA in 2009-2020. Nutritional status was assessed using the controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score. The association between malnutrition and the risk of AFCA complications or long-term rhythm outcomes was evaluated. We validated the effects of malnutrition using an external cohort of 360 patients undergoing AFCA in 2013-2016. Results: In the study population (26.8% women, median age: 58 years), 1,005 (31.0%) had malnutrition (CONUT scores ≥ 2); 991 (30.6%) had mild (CONUT 2-4) and 14 (0.4%) had moderate-to-severe (CONUT ≥ 5) malnutrition. The overall complication rates after AFCA were 3.3% for normal nutrition, 4.2% for mild malnutrition, and 21.4% for moderate-to-severe malnutrition. Moderate-to-severe malnutrition [odds ratio (OR) 6.456, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.637-25.463, compared with normal nutrition], older age (OR 1.020 per 1-year increase, 95% CI 1.001-1.039), female sex (OR 1.915, 95% CI 1.302-2.817), and higher systolic blood pressure (OR 1.013 per 1-mmHg increase, 95% CI 1.000-1.026) were independent predictors for the occurrence of complications. In the validation cohort, malnutrition (CONUT ≥ 2) was associated with a 2.87-fold higher risk of AFCA complications (95% CI 1.174-7.033). The association between malnutrition and a higher risk of AFCA complications was consistently observed regardless of body mass index and sex. Malnutrition did not affect rhythm outcomes during the median follow-up of 40 months (clinical recurrence: 37.0% in normal nutrition vs. 36.5% in malnutrition). Conclusion: Malnutrition, which is common in patients undergoing AFCA, was associated with a substantially higher risk for complications after AFCA.
Project description:Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation is associated with a transient increased risk of thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events. We hypothesized that dabigatran can be safely used as an alternative to continuous warfarin for the periprocedural anticoagulation in PVI.A total of 999 consecutive patients undergoing PVI were included; 376 patients were on dabigatran (150 mg), and 623 patients were on warfarin with therapeutic international normalized ratio. [corrected] Dabigatran was held 1 to 2 doses before PVI and restarted at the conclusion of the procedure or as soon as patients were transferred to the nursing floor. Propensity score matching was applied to generate a cohort of 344 patients in each group with balanced baseline data. Total hemorrhagic and thromboembolic complications were similar in both groups, before (3.2% versus 3.9%; P=0.59) and after (3.2% versus 4.1%; P=0.53) matching. Major hemorrhage occurred in 1.1% versus 1.6% (P=0.48) before and 1.2% versus 1.5% (P=0.74) after matching in the dabigatran versus warfarin group, respectively. A single thromboembolic event occurred in each of the dabigatran and warfarin groups. Despite higher doses of intraprocedural heparin, the mean activated clotting time was significantly lower in patients who held dabigatran for 1 or 2 doses than those on warfarin.Our study found no evidence to suggest a higher risk of thromboembolic or hemorrhagic complications with use of dabigatran for periprocedural anticoagulation in patients undergoing PVI compared with uninterrupted warfarin therapy.
Project description:Pulmonary vein isolation has become a cornerstone treatment for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Recent reports show that additional ablation targeting low-voltage zones reduces AF recurrence. However, the pre-procedural predictors of low-voltage zones remain elusive. We retrospectively enrolled 359 patients (mean age 63.7 ± 10.8 years; 73 females; and 149 had persistent atrial fibrillation) who underwent catheter ablation for AF and left atrial (LA) voltage mapping during sinus rhythm or atrial pacing. Low-voltage zones were defined as area of > 5 cm2 with a bipolar electrogram amplitude of < 0.50 mV. Overall, 51 (14.2%) patients had low-voltage zones. Patients with low-voltage zones were older (67.9 ± 9.9 vs. 63.0 ± 10.8 years; P = 0.003), predominantly female (33.3% vs. 18.2%; P = 0.013), had higher prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (11.8% vs. 1.6%; P = 0.002) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) (9.8% vs. 2.6%; P = 0.025), and had larger LA volumes (153.6 ± 46.4 vs. 117.7 ± 67.8 mL; P < 0.001) than those without low-voltage zones. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age (OR 1.060; 95% CI 1.022-1.101, P = 0.002), female sex (OR 2.978; 95% CI 1.340-6.615, P = 0.007), DCM (OR 8.341; 95% CI 1.381-50.372, P = 0.021), HCM (OR 5.044; 95% CI 1.314-19.363, P = 0.018), persistent AF (OR 4.188; 95% CI 1.928-9.100, P < 0.001), and larger LA volume (OR 3.215; 95% CI 1.378-7.502, P = 0.007) were independently associated with the presence of low-voltage zones. Patient age, female sex, DCM, HCM, persistent AF and larger LA volume may predict the presence of low-voltage zones and could be useful in selecting the appropriate ablation strategy for AF.