Atrial fibrillation ablation techniques

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Upgrades from a previous device compared to de novo cardiac resynchronization therapy in the European Society of Cardiology CRT Survey II

Background: To date, there are no data from randomized controlled studies on the benefit of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) when implanted as an upgrade in patients with a previous device as compared to de novo CRT. In the CRT Survey II we compared the baseline data of patients upgraded to CRT (CRT‐P/CRT‐D) from a previous pacemaker (PM) or implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) to de novo CRT implantation. Methods and results: In the European CRT Survey II, clinical practice data of patients undergoing CRT and/or ICD implantation across 42 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) countries were collected between October 2015 and December 2016. Out of a total of 11 088 patients, 2396 (23.2%) were upgraded from a previous PM or ICD and 7933 (76.8%) underwent de novo implantation. Compared to de novo implantations, upgraded patients were older, more often male, more frequently had ischaemic heart failure aetiology, atrial fibrillation, reduced renal function, worse heart failure symptoms, and higher N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide levels. Upgraded patients were more often PM‐dependent and less frequently received CRT‐D. Total peri‐procedural, in‐hospital complications and length of hospital stay were similar. Upgraded patients were less frequently treated with heart failure medication at discharge. Conclusion: Despite a lack of evidenced‐based data, close to one quarter of all CRT implantations across 42 ESC countries were upgrades from a previous PM or ICD. Despite older age and worse symptoms, the CRT implantation procedures in upgraded patients were equally frequently successful and complications similar to de novo implantations. These results call for more studies

2015 ESC Guidelines for the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death the Task Force for the Management of Patients with Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Endorsed by: Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC)

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European Society of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Disease Statistics 2017

Background: The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Atlas has been compiled by the European Heart Agency to document cardiovascular disease (CVD) statistics of the 56 ESC member countries. A major aim of this 2017 data presentation has been to compare high income and middle income ESC member countries, in order to identify inequalities in disease burden, outcomes and service provision. Methods: The Atlas utilizes a variety of data sources, including the World Health Organization, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, and the World Bank to document risk factors, prevalence and mortality of cardiovascular disease and national economic indicators. It also includes novel ESC sponsored survey data of health infrastructure and cardiovascular service provision provided by the national societies of the ESC member countries. Data presentation is descriptive with no attempt to attach statistical significance to differences observed in stratified analyses. Results: Important differences were identified between the high income and middle income member countries of the ESC with regard to CVD risk factors, disease incidence and mortality. For both women and men, the age-standardised prevalence of hypertension was lower in high income countries (18.3% and 27.3%) compared with middle income countries (23.5% and 30.3%). Smoking prevalence in men (not women) was also lower (26% vs 41.3%), and together these inequalities are likely to have contributed to the higher CVD mortality in middle income countries. Declines in CVD mortality have seen cancer becoming a more common cause of death in a number of high income member countries, but in middle income countries declines in CVD mortality have been less consistent where CVD remains the leading cause of death. Inequalities in CVD mortality are emphasised by the smaller contribution they make to potential years of life lost in high income compared with middle income countries both for women (13% vs. 23%) and men (20% vs. 27%). The downward mortality trends for CVD may, however, be threatened by the emerging obesity epidemic that is seeing rates of diabetes increasing across all ESC member countries. Survey data from the National Cardiac Societies (n=41) showed that rates of cardiac catheterization and coronary artery bypass surgery, as well as the number of specialist centres required to deliver them, were greatest in the high income member countries of the ESC. The Atlas confirmed that these ESC member countries, where the facilities for the contemporary treatment of coronary disease were best developed, were often those in which declines in coronary mortality have been most pronounced. Economic resources were not the only driver for delivery of equitable cardiovascular healthcare, as some middle income ESC member countries reported rates for interventional procedures and device implantations that matched or exceeded the rates in wealthier member countries. Conclusion: In documenting national CVD statistics, the Atlas provides valuable insights into the inequalities in risk factors, healthcare delivery and outcomes of CVD across ESC member countries. The availability of these data will underpin the ESC’s ambitious mission “to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease” not only in its member countries, but also in nation states around the world

Defibrilation testing at the time of implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation: results of the European Heart Rhythm Association survey

This survey assesses the current practices of testing defibrillation function at the time of the first implanted cardioverter defibrillator placement. Responses have been collected from 57 European heart rhythm management centres. The results of the survey show an extraordinary inconsistency in the approaches to defibrillation testing (19.3% of responders report no testing at the time of implantation). A policy statement on this topic would help to improve patient care and unify the procedure according to evidence based dat

Deactivation of implanted cardioverter-defibrillators at the end of life: results of the EHRA survey

This survey assesses the current opinion on and practice of the management of terminally ill patients with implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in 47 large European centres. The principal findings of this survey were that most physicians (62%) from European centres who responded to this survey would consider deactivating ICDs at the patient's endoflife. In these circumstances, multiple appropriate ICD shocks may be an indication to deactivate an ICD (83% positive answers). Remote deactivation by a remote monitoring system is not considered appropriate by 68%. Practices of deactivating procedure differ and approach to standardized clinical scenarios is inhomogeneous. Patients are provided with surprisingly little information on the possibility of deactivation of ICDs since this subject is only actively discussed in 4% of centres.Cardiac Dysfunction and Arrhythmia

X-ray exposure hazards for physicians performing ablation procedures and device implantation: Results of the European Heart Rhythm Association survey

The purpose of the survey was to evaluate physician's and authorities policies and clinical practices when using occupational X-ray during ablation procedures and device implantation. This survey shows infrequent use of lead gloves, radiation absorbing pads, and lead glass cabins, but increasing use of three-dimensional mapping systems to decrease X-ray radiation hazards. Digital fluoroscopy with decreased frame rate is not used by approximately one-third of responding centres. © 2013 Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2013. For permissions please email: [email protected]

Current strategy for treatment of patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and asymptomatic preexcitation in Europe: European Heart Rhythm Association survey

The aims of this survey was to provide insight into treatment activity, the strategy of treatment, and risk stratification of patients with asymptomatic and symptomatic ventricular pre-excitation across Europe. Fifty-eight centres, members of the European Heart Rhythm Association EP research network, covering 20 countries answered the survey questions. All centres were high-volume ablation centres. A younger person with asymptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) pattern has a higher likelihood of being risk-stratified or receiving ablation therapy compared with an older subject. Two-thirds of centres report that they have observed a decline in the number of patients ablated for an accessory pathway during the last 10 years. Pre-excited atrial fibrillation is rarely seen. Discontinuation of a scheduled WPW ablation due to close vicinity of the accessory pathway to the AV node happens very rarely. Patients with a first episode of pre-excited atrial fibrillation would immediately be referred for catheter ablation to be performed within weeks by 80.4% of the centres. A significant proportion of responders (50.9%) would use electrical cardioversion to restore sinus rhythm in a patient with pre-excited atrial fibrillation. With respect to the choice of antiarrhythmic medication for a patient with pre-excited AF, the majority (80.0%) would choose class 1C antiarrhytmic drugs while waiting for a catheter ablation. A patient seen in the emergency room with a second episode of orthodromic atrioventricular reentry tachycardia would be referred for immediate ablation by 79.2-90.6% of centres depending on the presence of pre-excitation. The volume of paediatric ablations performed on children younger than 12 years was low (46.4%: 0 patients per year; 46.4%: 1-9 patients per year). The majority of responding centres (61-69%) report that their country lack national guidelines dealing with clinical strategies related to WPW. There is a need for national guidelines dealing with clinical strategy in patients with WPW syndrome. Older individuals with asymptomatic WPW pattern have a higher risk of not receiving risk stratification or curative therapy with ablation compared with younger patients, despite the higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation. © 2013 Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved