Publications by authors named "William H Sauer"

Background: Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) imaging is commonly used to facilitate diagnosis in suspected cardiac sarcoidosis (CS). However, there is a gap in evidence regarding the diagnoses and outcomes of patients who undergo FDG PET/CT.

Objectives: Evaluate the diagnoses and outcomes of patients referred for FDG PET/CT imaging for suspected CS.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Differences in cardiac sarcoidosis between racial groups remain understudied. Therefore, this study aims to explore race differences in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.

Methods: We analyzed data from the Cardiac Sarcoidosis Consortium, an international registry including over 25 centers.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) have been reported to independently predict incident atrial fibrillation in the general population. The prognostic importance of PVCs after catheter ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is unknown.

Objectives: In patients undergoing catheter ablation for PAF, we assessed whether postablation PVCs influence the risk for recurrence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: High-frequency low-tidal-volume (HFLTV) ventilation is a safe and cost-effective strategy that improves catheter stability, first-pass pulmonary vein isolation, and freedom from all-atrial arrhythmias during radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the incremental value of adding rapid-atrial pacing (RAP) to HFLTV-ventilation has not yet been determined.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of HFLTV-ventilation plus RAP during RFCA of paroxysmal AF on procedural and long-term clinical outcomes compared to HFLTV-ventilation alone.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The Automated Arrhythmia Origin Localization (AAOL) algorithm was developed for real-time prediction of early ventricular activation origins on a patient-specific electroanatomic (EAM) surface using a 3-lead electrocardiogram (AAOL-Surface). It has not been evaluated in 3-dimensional (3D) space (AAOL-3D), however, which may be important for predicting the arrhythmia origin from intramural or intracavity sites.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the accuracy of AAOL for localizing earliest ventricular activation in 3D space.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Postprocedural pericarditis (PP) can occur in up to 29.4% of patients undergoing epicardial catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Despite several proposed strategies to mitigate this adverse outcome, rates of PP and pericarditic pain remain high.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aims: Studies have shown correlations between early recurrence (ER) and late recurrence (LR) of atrial arrhythmia after ablation with thermal technologies. This admIRE trial (NCT05293639) subanalysis aims to analyse ER vs. LR in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) undergoing pulsed field ablation (PFA).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Safe and efficient radiofrequency catheter ablation depends significantly on the proper placement of dispersive patch electrodes (DPEs), on the skin. This viewpoint describes the role of DPE positioning in optimizing lesion creation and reducing the risk of complications. Incorrect DPE placement can lead to suboptimal energy delivery, prolonging the procedure and/or increasing the risk of adverse events, such as steam pops and potentially fatal atrio-oesophageal fistula.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has emerged as an innovative therapy for cardiac arrhythmias. Drawing parallels with PFA's application in solid tumors, calcium chloride (CaCl) as an adjuvant therapy, known as calcium electroporation, may amplify PFA's apoptotic effects. We propose that PFA in the atrium could enhance calcium uptake through PFA-created pores, thereby increasing ablation efficacy even at reduced power levels by exploiting PFA's permeabilization effects.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Evidence from clinical trials of early pulsed field ablation (PFA) systems in treating atrial fibrillation has demonstrated their promising potential to reduce complications associated with conventional thermal modalities while maintaining efficacy. However, the lack of a fully integrated mapping system, a staple technology of most modern electrophysiology procedures, poses limitations in lesion creation and workflow options. A novel variable-loop PFA catheter integrated with an electroanatomic mapping system has been developed that allows for real-time nonfluoroscopic procedural guidance and lesion indexing as well as feedback of tissue-to-catheter proximity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Researchers developed a potato model to test cardiac pulsed field ablation (PFA), addressing the lack of established in vitro methods for this evaluation.
  • Using a specific electrode setup and high-voltage generator, they created lesions in potato slabs, which were stained to visualize damage.
  • The study found that lesion size grew consistently with higher voltage and more applications, mirroring results seen in heart cell studies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • High-frequency low-tidal-volume (HFLTV) ventilation is more effective than standard ventilation (SV) during radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for treating paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), as it enhances procedural efficiency and patient outcomes.
  • A study analyzed 70 patients who underwent pulmonary vein isolation with either HFLTV or SV, revealing that HFLTV led to shorter ablation durations, higher contact force, and better impedance reduction while maintaining the same ablation index.
  • Overall, HFLTV ventilation resulted in significant reductions in total procedural time, ablation time, and RF time compared to SV, indicating its advantages in improving ablation parameters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • HFLTV ventilation during radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF) may improve procedural efficiency and long-term outcomes compared to standard ventilation (SV).
  • Results showed significantly shorter procedural time and total radiofrequency time with HFLTV, along with a higher freedom from all-atrial arrhythmias (82.1% vs. 68.7%).
  • No substantial differences were found in long-term complications between the two ventilation methods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Scar substrate in nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) patients is often difficult to identify. Advances in cardiac imaging, especially using late iodine-enhanced computed tomography (LIE-CT), allow better characterization of scars giving rise to ventricular tachycardia (VT). Currently, there are limited data on clinical correlates of CT-derived scar substrates in NICM.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Training in clinical cardiac electrophysiology (CCEP) involves the development of catheter handling skills to safely deliver effective treatment. Objective data from analysis of ablation data for evaluating trainee of CCEP procedures has not previously been possible. Using the artificial intelligence cloud-based system (CARTONET), we assessed the impact of trainee progress through ablation procedural quality.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF