| 1. |
- Charitakis, Emmanouil, et al.
(författare)
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Comparing efficacy and safety in catheter ablation strategies for atrial fibrillation: a network meta-analysis
- 2022
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Ingår i: BMC Medicine. - : BMC. - 1741-7015. ; 20:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: There is no consensus on the most efficient catheter ablation (CA) strategy for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of different CA strategies for AF ablation through network meta-analysis (NMA). Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, and CENTRAL was performed up to October 5th, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCT) comparing different CA approaches were included. Efficacy was defined as arrhythmia recurrence after CA and safety as any reported complication related to the procedure during a minimum follow-up time of 6 months. Results: In total, 67 RCTs (n = 9871) comparing 19 different CA strategies were included. The risk of recurrence was significantly decreased compared to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) alone for PVI with renal denervation (RR: 0.60, CI: 0.38-0.94), PVI with ganglia-plexi ablation (RR: 0.62, CI: 0.41-0.94), PVI with additional ablation lines (RR: 0.8, CI: 0.68-0.95) and PVI in combination with bi-atrial modification (RR: 0.32, CI: 0.11-0.88). Strategies including PVI appeared superior to non-PVI strategies such as electrogram-based approaches. No significant differences in safety were observed. Conclusions: This NMA showed that PVI in combination with additional CA strategies, such as autonomic modulation and additional lines, seem to increase the efficacy of PVI alone. These strategies can be considered in treating patients with AF, since, additionally, no differences in safety were observed. This study provides decision-makers with comprehensive and comparative evidence about the efficacy and safety of different CA strategies.
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| 2. |
- Charitakis, Emmanouil, et al.
(författare)
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Comparing Efficacy and Safety in Catheter Ablation Strategies for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation : A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
- 2022
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Ingår i: Diagnostics. - : MDPI. - 2075-4418. ; 12:2
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Although catheter ablation (CA) is an established treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), there is no consensus regarding the most efficient CA strategy. The objective of this network meta-analysis (NMA) was to compare the efficacy and safety of different CA strategies for PAF. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and CENTRAL until the final search date, 5 October 2020. Randomised controlled trials (RCT) comparing different CA strategies and methods for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) were included. Efficacy was defined as lack of arrhythmia recurrence after CA and safety as any reported complication related to the procedure during a minimum follow-up time of six months. In total, 43 RCTs comparing 11 different CA strategies involving 6701 patients were included. The risk of recurrence was significantly decreased in comparison with PVI with radiofrequency only for the following treatments: PVI with adjuvant ablation (RR: 0.79, CI: 0.65-0.97) and PVI with sympathetic modulation (RR: 0.64, CI: 0.46-0.88). However, PVI with radiofrequency was superior to non-PVI strategies (RR: 1.65, CI: 1.2-2.26). No statistically significant difference was found in safety between different CA strategies. Concerning different PVI strategies, no difference was observed either in efficacy or in safety between tested strategies. This NMA suggests that different PVI strategies are generally similar in terms of efficacy, while PVI with additional ablation or sympathetic modulation may be more effective than PVI alone. This study provides decision-makers with insights into the efficacy and safety of different CA strategies.
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| 3. |
- Charitakis, Emmanouil, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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Endocrine and Mechanical Cardiacfunction Four Months after Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrialfibrillation.
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Atrial Fibrillation. - Overland Park, KS, United States : Cardiofront, Inc. - 1941-6911. ; 14:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)is an important treatment option for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). During RFA, a significant amount of energy is delivered into the left atrium (LA), resulting in considerable LA-injury. The impact of this damage on mechanical and endocrine LA-function, however, is often disregarded.We therefore aimed to evaluate the endocrine- and mechanical function of the heart 4-months after RFA of AF.Methods: In total 189 patients eligible for RFA of AF were studied. The levels of the N-terminal pro-B-natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and the mid-regional fragment of the N-terminal pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP)were measured. The maximum LAvolume (LAVmax),the LAejection fraction (LAEF) and the LA peak longitudinal strain (PALS), were measured usingtransthoracic echocardiography. The measurements were performed before and 4-months after the intervention.Results: 87 patients had a recurrence during a mean follow-up of 143±36 days.NT-proBNPand MR-proANPdecreased significantly at follow-up. This reduction was greater in patients who did not suffer any recurrence after RFA.The LAVmax decreased significantly, whereasthe PALS only improved in patients who did not suffer from any recurrence. On the other hand, LAEF did not change significantly after RFA of AF.Conclusions: Despite extensiveablation during RFA of AF, the endocrine function of the heart improved 4-months after the index procedure. Patients with no arrhythmia recurrence showed a more pronounced improvement in their endocrinal function. Mechanically, the LAVmax was reduced, and the LA strain improved significantly.
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| 4. |
- Charitakis, Emmanouil, et al.
(författare)
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Predictors of recurrence after catheter ablation and electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: an umbrella review of meta-analyses
- 2023
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Ingår i: Europace. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS. - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 25:1, s. 40-48
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Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims The recurrence rates after catheter ablation (CA) and direct current (DC) cardioversion remain high, although they have been established treatments of rhythm control of atrial fibrillation (AF). This umbrella review systematically appraises published meta-analyses of both observational and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for the association of risk and protective factors for arrhythmia recurrence after CA and DC cardioversion of AF. Methods and results Three bibliographic databases were searched up to June 2021. Evidence of association was rated as convincing, highly suggestive, suggestive, weak, or not significant with respect to observational studies and as high, moderate, low, or very low with respect to RCTs, according to established criteria. Thirty-one meta-analyses were included. Of the 28 associations between CA and the risk of arrhythmia recurrence, none presented convincing evidence, and only the time from diagnosis to ablation over 1 year provided highly suggestive evidence. The association between hypertension and metabolic profile provided suggestive evidence. The associations of Class IC and III antiarrhythmic drugs use with the recurrence after DC cardioversion were supported by an intermediate level of evidence. Conclusion Although AF is a major health issue, few risk- and protective factors for AF recurrence have been identified. None of these factors examined were supported by convincing evidence, whereas established factors such as female gender and left atrial volume showed only weak association. An early CA strategy combined with treatment of metabolic syndrome and hypertension prior to CA may reduce the risk of arrhythmia recurrence. The use of antiarrhythmics can increase the success rate of DC cardioversion. Systematic review registration PROSPERO registry number: CRD42021270613.
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| 5. |
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| 6. |
- Karlsson, Lars O, et al.
(författare)
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Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in a patient with a left endoventricular patch : a case report
- 2017
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Ingår i: European Heart Journal - Case Reports. - : Oxford Academic. - 2514-2119. ; 1:2, s. 1-4
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Surgical resection of a left ventricular aneurysm in the setting of ventricular tachycardia (VT) was first described by Couch in 1959. The technique was further developed by Dor et al. with performance of endocardiectomy and complete myocardial revascularization. Despite an attempt to remove the arrhythmogenic substrate, however, recurrences of VT remain an issue. Furthermore, the surgical technique used entails limited access to the potential area of interest with regard to a percutaneous catheter ablation procedure. We present a case report of a 65-year-old man who was referred for catheter ablation due to recurrent episodes of VT. He had undergone a coronary artery bypass surgery 8 years previously. During surgery, resection of an apical thrombus and reconstruction of an apical aneurysm with a Fontan stitch and an endoventricular patch were performed. The mapping and ablation procedure was aided by intracardiac echocardiography. During mapping, the ablation catheter was noticed to enter the apical pouch from the inferoseptal border of the endoventricular patch. During the ablation procedure, one of the VTs was successfully ablated in the inferior aspect of the apical pouch. This report confirms that the arrhythmogenic substrate underneath an endoventricular patch may be accessed in some instances and that these complex catheter ablation procedures may benefit from the use of intracardiac echocardiography.
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| 7. |
- Liuba, Ioan, et al.
(författare)
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Activation mapping of focal atrial tachycardia : the impact of the method for estimating activation time
- 2009
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Ingår i: Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology. - : Springer. - 1383-875X .- 1572-8595. ; 26:3, s. 169-180
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeDifferent methods can be used to estimate activation time during the mapping of focal atrial tachycardia. The present study aimed to compare activation maps generated by three widely used methods of determining activation time.MethodsFourteen patients (mean age 48 ± 17 years) with focal atrial tachycardia were investigated. Mapping was performed with the CARTO system. All patients underwent successful ablation. Local activation time was successively defined as the peak amplitude (Bi-peak), the steepest downslope (Bi-dslope), and the onset (Bi-on) of the bipolar electrograms.ResultsThe three methods of activation time determination were highly correlated with one another but generated foci with different locations. The distances between the foci generated by the different methods were 4.36 ± 4.91 mm (Bi-peak–Bi-dslope), 7.21 ± 5.11 mm (Bi-peak–Bi-on), and 7.21 ± 5.87 mm (Bi-dslope–Bi-on) (p = 0.26). Also, the three methods generated foci with different diameters: 3.13 ± 2.17 mm for Bi-peak, 2.81 ± 0.78 for Bi-dslope, and 2.54 ± 0.14 mm for Bi-on (p = 0.60). However, the foci tended to cluster within relatively wide regions of low-amplitude fractionated electrograms. The surface of these regions was 3.81 ± 2.34 cm2 (Bi-peak), 3.38 ± 2.12 cm2 (Bi-dslope), and 4.76 ± 3.01 cm2 (Bi-on) (p = 0.34).ConclusionThe three methods of activation time determination, although highly correlated with one another, may generate foci of different sizes and in different locations. However, the foci tend to cluster within relatively large areas of low-amplitude fractionated electrograms. These findings suggest a sizeable atrial region with particular electrophysiological proprieties and raise the possibility of an anatomical substrate of the tachycardia. During mapping, this region can be roughly delineated by all three methods of activation time estimation. However, details concerning the activation pattern within the region and the location of the focus vary among the methods.
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| 8. |
- Liuba, Ioan, et al.
(författare)
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Corrigendum for: Focal atrial tachycardia : increased electrogram fractionation in the vicinity of the earliest activation site. In Europace (ISSN 1099-5129), vol 10, issue 11, pg 1357
- 2008
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Ingår i: Europace. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1099-5129 .- 1532-2092. ; 10:11, s. 1357-1357
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- P values of P < 0.0001 should have been given in the abstractfor the increase within the region activated during the first15 ms of both the incidence of bipolar electrograms with multiplenegative deflections and of the incidence of unipolar electrogramswith multiple negative deflections.In the section ‘Characteristics of electrograms in theregion surrounding the earliest activation site and in the remainingatrium’ the P value for bipolar voltage should be P <0.0001, not P < 0001. In the same section the P value forthe decrease of unipolar and bipolar peak-to-peak voltage shouldbe P < 0.0001, not P < 0001.
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| 9. |
- Liuba, Ioan, et al.
(författare)
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Electroanatomic Mapping of Focal Atrial Tachycardia : Reproducibility ofActivation Time Measurement and Focus Localization
- 2010
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Different algorithms of estimating local activation time (LAT) can be usedduring the mapping of focal atrial tachycardia (FAT). Objective: The impact of these algorithms on the reproducibility of LAT measurementand the location of the focus. Methods: Fifteen patients (48 ± 17 yrs) with FAT were studied. Three independentobservers reviewed 1438 bipolar electrograms and successively assigned the LAT on thepeak amplitude (Bi-peak), the steepest downslope (Bi-dslope), and the onset (Bi-on) ofthe electrograms. The reproducibility of LAT measurement was estimated. Results: The mean interobserver absolute differences in LAT for the three algorithmswere 1.47 ± 2.75 ms (Bi-peak) vs. 2.15 ± 3.89 ms (Bi-dslope) vs. 2.87 ± 3.47 (Bi-on) (p <0.0001). The corresponding intraobserver differences were 2.29 ± 3.74 ms (Bi-peak) vs2.47 ± 4.17 ms (Bi-dslope) vs 3.16 ± 4.49 ms (Bi-on) (p < 0.0001). The interobserverdifferences in the location of the focus were 3.57 ± 3.81 mm (Bi-peak) vs 5.47 ± 4.98mm (Bi-dslope) vs 6.57 ± 6.94 mm (Bi-on) (p = 0.03), with differences of up to 13 mm(Bi-peak), 16 mm (Bi-dslope), and 25 mm (Bi-on). However, regardless of the method ofLAT determination, the foci computed by the three observers clustered within regions oflow-amplitude fractionated electrograms. Conclusions: Significant observer variability exists among the three algorithms, whichtend to compute different LAT and foci with different locations. However, the foci aresituated in regions of low voltage fractionated electrograms.
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| 10. |
- Liuba, Ioan, 1969-
(författare)
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Focal atrial tachycardia : Insights concerning the arrhythmogenic substrate based on analysis of intracardiac electrograms and inflammatory markers
- 2009
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: Focal atrial tachycardias are tachycardias characterized by a radial spread of activation from a discrete area of the atrial myocardium. They account for 10-15% of supraventricular tachycardias and are generally poorly responsive to pharmacological treatment. The pathophysiologic substrate of these arrhythmias remains poorly understood. Computational studies suggest that a certain degree of intercellular uncoupling and anisotropy are important prerequisites for the development of focal arrhythmias. The anisotropy and intercellular uncoupling could promote focal arrhythmias by minimizing the suppressive effect of the surrounding atrial muscle on the pacemaking process in the focus. This hypothesis would be in agreement with the fact that fractionated electrograms, a marker of anisotropy and reduced intercellular coupling, are often recorded at the site of earliest activated site. Reduced intercellular coupling could be induced by factors enhancing the amount of intracardiac connective tissue, such as advancing age or cardiac disease states. Indeed, focal inflammatory processes have been reported in atrial specimens resected from patients with focal tachycardia undergoing arrhythmia surgery.Methods: In a group of patients with paroxysmal and permanent atrial fibrillation we sought to assess whether there is a link between inflammation and the occurrence of atrial arrhythmia. We therefore analyzed different inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 and 8) in the systemic and pulmonary circulation as well as in the heart in these patients. In addition, we assessed the extent of intercellular uncoupling in the vicinity of tachycardia origin in patients with focal atrial tachycardia. We also assessed the impact of electrogram fractionation on the method of activation time determination, by comparing different methods for estimating activation time with regard to the appearance of the resultant activation maps and the location of the foci. We also assessed the observer variability in the estimation of activation time during mapping of these tachycardias.Results: There was no evidence of elevated circulatory levels of inflammatory markers in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. However, patients with permanent atrial fibrillation had increased levels of inflammatory markers (interleukin-8) in the systemic circulation but not in the pulmonary circulation or in the heart. In patients with focal atrial tachycardia, a higher degree of electrogram fractionation existed in the region surrounding the earliest activation site and activated within the first 15 ms as compared with the remaining atrium. Moreover, within this region, from the periphery towards the earliest activated site, there was a gradual increase in electrogram fractionation as well as a gradual decrease in the peak-to-peak voltage. When comparing different methods for estimating local activation time we found that different methods can generate activation maps with different appearances and foci with different locations. However, regardless of the method of activation time determination, the foci tend to cluster within relatively large areas of low-amplitude fractionated electrograms. In addition we found significant observer variability in the estimation of the local activation time.Conclusion: Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (and probably focal atrial tachycardia) do not have elevated levels of inflammatory markers. The increased levels of interleukin-8 in the systemic circulation suggest a link between long-lasting arrhythmia and inflammation. A relatively wide area of increased electrogram fractionation exists around the site of origin of focal atrial tachycardia. These findings suggest a sizeable atrial region with particular electrophysiological proprieties and raise the possibility of an anatomical substrate of the tachycardia. Increased electrogram fractionation can impact the process of activation determination, as suggested by the fact that different methods compute foci with different locations. In addition, there is significant observer variability in the estimation of local activation time in these patient.
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