One-Day Interruption of NOAC Is Associated with Low Risk of Periprocedural Adverse Events during Pulmonary Vein Isolation If Combined with Left Atrial Thrombus Exclusion with Computed Tomography.

Background: Safety, efficacy, and patient comfort are the expectations during pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). We aimed to validate the combined advantages of pre- and periprocedural anticoagulation with non-vitamin K anticoagulants (NOACs) and rigorous left atrial appendage thrombus (LAAT) exclusion with computed tomography (CT).

Methods: This study included a population of consecutive patients, between March 2018 and June 2020, who underwent cardiac CT within 24 h before PVI to guide the ablation and rule out LAAT.

Machine-Learning-Based Prediction of 1-Year Arrhythmia Recurrence after Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation in Patients with Structural Heart Disease.

Background: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) recurrence after catheter ablation remains a concern, emphasizing the need for precise risk assessment. We aimed to use machine learning (ML) to predict 1-month and 1-year VT recurrence following VT ablation.

Methods: For 337 patients undergoing VT ablation, we collected 31 parameters including medical history, echocardiography, and procedural data.

Zero fluoroscopy ablation for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and typical atrial flutter is equally safe and effective with EnSite NavX, Carto3, and Rhythmia mapping systems.

Purpose: Our purpose was to compare the procedural characteristics, success rate, and complication rate of the conventional fluoroscopic (CF) and the zero-fluoroscopic (ZF) approach in patients undergoing catheter ablation of AVNRT or typical atrial flutter (Aflu).

Methods: 186 consecutive patients with an indication for AVNRT or Aflu ablation were enrolled. Based on the operator's preference, the patients were assigned to either CF or ZF group.

Sex differences in one-year recurrence and all-cause mortality following catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in structural heart disease.

Aims: We aimed to establish sex-specific predictors for 1-year VT recurrence and 1-year all-cause mortality in patients with structural heart disease undergoing catheter ablation.

Methods: We analyzed data of 299 patients recorded in our structured registry. These included medical history, echocardiography parameters, laboratory results, VT properties, procedural data.

Characteristics of Very High-Power, Short-Duration Radiofrequency Applications.

Introduction: Pulmonary vein isolation is the cornerstone of rhythm-control therapy for atrial fibrillation (AF). The very high-power, short-duration (vHPSD) radiofrequency (RF) ablation is a novel technology that favors resistive heating while decreasing the role of conductive heating. Our study aimed to evaluate the correlations between contact force (CF), power, impedance drop (ID), and temperature; and to assess their role in lesion formation with the vHPSD technique.

Impact of High-Power and Very High-Power Short-Duration Radiofrequency Ablation on Procedure Characteristics and First-Pass Isolation During Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

Introduction: High-power short-duration (HPSD) radiofrequency ablation has been proposed to produce rapid and effective lesions for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). We aimed to evaluate the procedural characteristics and the first-pass isolation (FPI) rate of HPSD and very high-power short-duration (vHPSD) ablation compared to the low-power long-duration (LPLD) ablation technique.

Methods: One hundred fifty-six patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) were enrolled and assigned to LPLD, HPSD, or vHPSD PVI.

The effect of left atrial wall thickness and pulmonary vein sizes on the acute procedural success of atrial fibrillation ablation.

Nowadays, a novel contact-force guided ablation technique is used for enclosing pulmonary veins in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We sought to determine whether left atrial (LA) wall thickness (LAWT) and pulmonary vein (PV) dimensions, as assessed by cardiac CT, could influence the success rate of first-pass pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). In a single-center, prospective study, we enrolled consecutive patients with symptomatic, drug-refractory AF who underwent initial radiofrequency catheter ablation using a modified CLOSE protocol.

The role of local impedance drop in the acute lesion efficacy during pulmonary vein isolation performed with a new contact force sensing catheter-A pilot study.

Introduction: Our pilot study aimed to evaluate the role of local impedance drop in lesion formation during pulmonary vein isolation with a novel contact force sensing ablation catheter that records local impedance as well and to find a local impedance cut-off value that predicts successful lesion formation.

Materials And Methods: After completing point-by-point radiofrequency pulmonary vein isolation, the success of the applications was evaluated by pacing along the ablation line at 10 mA, 2 ms pulse width. Lesions were considered successful if loss of local capture was achieved.