Background. Cerebral thromboembolism is a rare but feared complication of transcatheter ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Here, we aimed to test which pre-procedural anticoagulation strategy results in less intracardiac activation of hemostasis during ablation. Patients and methods. In this observational study, 54 paroxysmal/persistent AF patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation were grouped according to their periprocedural anticoagulation strategy: no anticoagulation (oral anticoagulation (OAC) free; n = 24), uninterrupted vitamin K antagonists (VKA) (n = 11), uninterrupted dabigatran (n = 17). Blood was drawn from the left atrium before and immediately after the ablation procedure. Cryoablations were performed according to standard protocols, during which heparin was administered. Heparin-insensitive markers of hemostasis and endothelial damage were tested from intracardiac samples: D-dimer, quantitative fibrin monomer (FM), plasmin-antiplasmin complex (PAP), von Willebrand factor (VWF) antigen, chromogenic factor VIII (FVIII) activity. Results. D-dimer increased significantly in all groups post-ablation, with lowest levels in the dabigatran group (median [interquartile range]: 0.27 [0.36] vs. 1.09 [1.30] and 0.74 [0.26] mg/L in OAC free and uninterrupted VKA groups, respectively, p < 0.001). PAP levels were parallel to this observation. Post-ablation FM levels were elevated in OAC free (26.34 [30.04] mg/L) and VKA groups (10.12 [16.01] mg/L), but remained below cut-off in all patients on dabigatran (3.98 [2.0] mg/L; p < 0.001). VWF antigen and FVIII activity increased similarly post-ablation in all groups, suggesting comparable procedure-related endothelial damage. Conclusion. Dabigatran provides greater inhibition against intracardiac activation of hemostasis as compared to VKAs during cryoballoon catheter ablation.

Anatomical characteristics of the left atrium and the pulmonary veins (PVs) may be relevant to the success rate of cryoballoon (CB)-ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Cardiac computed tomography (CCT) is considered as the gold standard for preablation imaging. Recently, three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTOE) has been proposed for preprocedural assessment of cardiac structures relevant to CB-ablation. The accuracy of 3DTOE has not been validated by other imaging modalities. We prospectively evaluated the feasibility and the accuracy of 3DTOE imaging for the assessment of left atrial and PV structures prior to pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). In addition, CCT was used to validate the measurements obtained with 3DTOE. PV anatomy of 67 patients (59.7% men, mean age 58.5 ± 10.5 years) was assessed using both 3DTOE and CCT scan prior to PVI with the Arctic Front CB. The following parameters were measured bilaterally: PV ostium area (OA), the major and minor axis diameters of the ostium (a > b) and the width of the carina between the superior and the inferior PVs. In addition, the width of the left lateral ridge (LLR) between the left atrial appendage and the left superior PV. Evaluation of inter-technique agreement was based on linear regression with Pearson correlation coefficient (PCC) and Bland–Altman analysis of biases and limits of agreement. Moderate positive correlation (PCC 0.5–0.7) was demonstrated between the two imaging methods for the right superior PV’s OA and both axis diameters, the width of the LLR and left superior PV (LSPV) minor axis diameter (b) with limits of agreement ˂50% and no significant biases. Low positive or negligible correlation (PCC < 0.5) was found for both inferior PV parameters. Detailed assessment of the right superior PV parameters, LLR and LSPV b is feasible with 3DTOE prior to AF ablation. This 3DTOE measurements demonstrated a clinically acceptable inter-technique agreement with those obtained with CCT.

Background/Objectives: Conduction system pacing (CSP) is a potential alternative to biventricular pacing (BVP) in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and left bundle branch block (LBBB) or non-LBBB. Available data also suggest that unlike BVP, CSP may improve clinical outcome in patients with right bundle branch block (RBBB), although its effects on cardiac mechanics and energetics are ill-defined. Herein, we report on echocardiographic and clinical outcomes of CSP in this patient cohort. Methods: CSP either with His bundle pacing or LBB area pacing was attempted as a primary strategy in patients with RBBB, QRS duration ≥ 130 ms, LVEF < 35% and NYHA II-IV symptoms after optimized medical therapy for 6 months. Data on functional status, NT-proBNP and echocardiographic parameters were collected at baseline and 6 months after CSP. Results: CSP performed in 16 patients reduced QRS duration from 155.3 ± 12.8 ms to 130 ± 16.5 ms (p < 0.001), increased LVEF from 27 ± 7% to 33 ± 9% (p = 0.01), improved LV global longitudinal strain from −7 ± 3% to −10 ± 4% (p = 0.004) and improved LV peak strain dispersion from 126 ± 28 ms to 96 ± 23 ms (p = 0.004). Global myocardial work index increased from 582 ± 277 mmHg% to 840 ± 306 mmHg% (p = 0.003), as did global constructive work (900 ± 374 mmHg% to 1203 ± 393 mmHg%; p = 0.006) and global work efficiency (from 71 ± 7% to 77 ± 8%; p = 0.004). NYHA class (12.5% with NYHA II, 87.5% with NYHA III before vs. 25% with NYHA I, 50% with NYHA II and 25% with NYHA III at 6 months; p = 0.002) and 6 min walk distance (from 354 ± 88 m to 411 ± 95 m; p = 0.003) improved, while NT-proBNP decreased (from 4093 ± 7215 ng/L to 2087 ± 2872 ng/L, p = 0.003). Conclusions: CSP improved functional capacity and echocardiographic parameters related to cardiac functions and myocardial work in HFrEF patients with RBBB. Nevertheless, these results await further confirmation by large-scale, multi-center randomized trials.

Background: A direct comparison of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) and cardiac computed tomography imaging has demonstrated good inter-technique agreement for the following pulmonary vein (PV) parameters: the ostium area of the right superior PV (RSPV) and its major (a) and minor axis (b) diameters, the left lateral ridge and the minor axis (b) diameter of the left superior PV. Herein, under investigation, was the predictive value of these parameters for arrhythmia recurrence (AR) after PV isolation with the 28 mm second generation cryoballoon (CBG2). Methods: One hundred eleven patients (67 men, mean age 58.06 ± 10.58 years) undergoing 3DTEE before PV isolation with the CBG2 for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were followed. “Point by point” redo intervention was offered in case of AR and reconnected PVs were defined. Results: During a mean follow-up of 617 ± 258.86 days, 65 (58.9%) patients remained free of AR. Longer RSPV b was found to be the only significant predictor for AR (hazard ratio [HR] 1.059; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.000–1.121; p = 0.048). RSPV b ≥ 28 mm resulted in a threefold (HR 3.010; 95% CI 1.270–7.134, p = 0.012) increase in the risk of AR. The association of RSPV b with AR was independent of the biophysical parameters of cryoapplications. In 25 “redo” patients, reconnections were found 1.75 times more common in the RSPV than in the other 3 PVs altogether. Conclusions: Right superior PV b measured with 3DTEE might be a significant predictor of AR after PV isolation with the CBG2. In case of RSPV b exceeding 28 mm, alternative PV isolation techniques or use of a larger balloon might be considered. Background: A direct comparison of three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) and cardiac computed tomography imaging has demonstrated good inter-technique agreement for the following pulmonary vein (PV) parameters: the ostium area of the right superior PV (RSPV) and its major (a) and minor axis (b) diameters, the left lateral ridge and the minor axis (b) diameter of the left superior PV. Herein, under investigation, was the predictive value of these parameters for arrhythmia recurrence (AR) after PV isolation with the 28 mm second generation cryoballoon (CBG2). Methods: One hundred eleven patients (67 men, mean age 58.06 ± 10.58 years) undergoing 3DTEE before PV isolation with the CBG2 for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation were followed. “Point by point” redo intervention was offered in case of AR and reconnected PVs were defined. Results: During a mean follow-up of 617 ± 258.86 days, 65 (58.9%) patients remained free of AR. Longer RSPV b was found to be the only significant predictor for AR (hazard ratio [HR] 1.059; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.000–1.121; p = 0.048). RSPV b ≥ 28 mm resulted in a threefold (HR 3.010; 95% CI 1.270–7.134, p = 0.012) increase in the risk of AR. The association of RSPV b with AR was independent of the biophysical parameters of cryoapplications. In 25 “redo” patients, reconnections were found 1.75 times more common in the RSPV than in the other 3 PVs altogether. Conclusions: Right superior PV b measured with 3DTEE might be a significant predictor of AR after PV isolation with the CBG2. In case of RSPV b exceeding 28 mm, alternative PV isolation techniques or use of a larger balloon might be considered.

Background: Sacubitril/valsartan (S/V) improves left ventricular (LV) function and clinical outcome in heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Data on its clinical value in the specific cohort of HFrEF patients demonstrating no adequate response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT nonresponders; CRT-NRs) are limited. Herein, we investigated the impact of S/V initiated as a replacement for ACEi/ARB therapy in CRT nonresponder (CRT-NR) patients. Methods: Our HF database was searched to identify CRT-NRs who received S/V treatment for at least 6 months as a replacement for ACEi/ARB (Group I; 70 patients) and CRT-NRs who remained on ACEi/ARB (Group II, 70). In addition, HFrEF patients without CRT indication who received S/V therapy for at least 6 months (Group III; 135) were also included in this analysis. The primary endpoint was the composite of all-cause mortality including heart transplantation (HTx) or left ventricular assist device implantation (LVAD) and HF hospitalization (HFH). Secondary endpoints were (i) all-cause mortality+HTx+LVAD and (ii) HFH analyzed separately. Results: Over a median follow-up of 22 months, the primary composite endpoint occurred in 27 out of 70 patients (38.57%) in Group I, 43 out of 70 patients (61.42%) in Group II, and 60 out of 135 patients (44.42%) in Group III. The differences were significant between Groups I and II (p: 0.005), as well as between Group II and III (p: 0.012), while the two groups on S/V (Group I and III) demonstrated similar outcomes (p = 0.465). HFH analyzed separately as a secondary endpoint occurred in 19 out of 70 patients (27.14%) in Group I, 38 out of 70 patients (54.28%) in Group II, and 36 out of 135 patients (26.66%) in Group III (Group I vs. II p: 0.001; Groups II vs. III p: 0.001, Group I vs. III, p: 0.896). All-cause mortality+HTx+LVAD analyzed separately as the other secondary endpoint demonstrated no significant differences among the three groups. Conclusions: S/V therapy improved HFH but not mortality in CRT-NR patients. Comparable improvement was demonstrated after SV in the CRT-NR and in the general HFrEF cohort with no CRT indication.