Insertion of an active fixation lead in the inferior interatrial septum via a 9.0 Fr guiding catheter

Placing an atrial lead in the inferior interatrial septum (IAS) reportedly reduces the incidence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and slows the progression to chronic AF; however, in certain cases, inferior IAS pacing is technically difficult. When this procedure is unsuccessful, insertion of the lead in the right atrial appendage can be considered, but it is associated with a risk of cardiac perforation. Here, we describe a technique for lead insertion in the inferior IAS via a 9.0 Fr guiding catheter, which may serve as an alternative technique for inferior IAS pacing when the conventional stylet-guided insertion is not successful

Extracardiac compression of the inferolateral branch of the coronary vein by the descending aorta in a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy

Extracardiac structures can cause distortion of cardiac anatomy particularly in patients presenting with a significantly dilated heart, and/or thoracic deformities. We present the case of a 69-year-old woman with dilated cardiomyopathy who underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy. Preoperative electrocardiography-gated contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed the inferolateral wall of her significantly dilated and leftward-rotated heart was close to the descending aorta, and the descending aorta compressed the sandwiched inferolateral branch of the coronary vein. Retrograde coronary venography performed at the time of device implantation confirmed focal stenosis of the inferolateral branch of the coronary vein. Keywords: Cardiac resynchronization therapy, Computed tomography, Dilated cardiomyopath

The effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy for patients with New York Heart Association class IV non-ambulatory heart failure

Background: We reviewed the effectiveness and safety of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) for patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV non-ambulatory heart failure (NAHF). Methods: From 2006 to 2011, 310 patients underwent CRT at Kobe University Hospital and Himeji Cardiovascular Center because of heart failure. Of these, 29 NAHF patients were retrospectively analyzed. The control group comprised 21 age- and ejection fraction-matched patients with NAHF who did not undergo CRT from the ICU database of Kobe University Hospital. The primary endpoint was all-cause death and hospitalization for heart failure. Response was defined as a >15% reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV). Results: CRT was performed successfully without serious complications in all patients. Twenty-three patients (79%) were discharged 19±15 days after CRT implantation, while 6 (21%) died during their hospital stay due to progressive heart failure. Compared with the control group, patients in the CRT group showed significant improvements in the primary endpoint (log-rank p=0.04). Six patients (21%) were defined as responders and the Kaplan–Meier curve showed that responders experienced a better outcome than non-responders (log-rank p=0.029). LV dyssynchrony before implantation was significantly related to the occurrence of the primary endpoint (p=0.02). Conclusions: CRT can be safely used in patients with NAHF and can improve long-term patient outcomes, especially in treatment responders

Prophylactic catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia before cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy: Clinical outcomes after a single endocardial ablation

Background: Outcomes related to prophylactic catheter ablation (PCA) for ventricular tachycardia (VT) before implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) are not well characterized. We assessed the efficacy of single endocardial PCA in NICM patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 101 consecutive NICM patients with sustained VT. We compared clinical outcomes of patients who underwent PCA (ABL group) with those who did not (No ABL group). Successful PCA was defined as no inducible clinical VT. We also compared the clinical outcomes of patients with successful PCA (PCA success group) with those of the No ABL group. Endpoints were appropriate ICD therapy (shock and anti-tachycardia pacing) and the occurrence of electrical storm (ES). Results: PCA was performed in 42 patients, and it succeeded in 20. The time to ES occurrence was significantly longer in the ABL group than in the No ABL group (p=0.04). The time to first appropriate ICD therapy and ES occurrence were significantly longer in the PCA success group than in the No ABL group (p=0.02 and p<0.01, respectively). Conclusion: Single endocardial PCA can decrease ES occurrence in NICM patients. However, high rates of VT recurrence and low success rates are issues to be resolved; therefore, the efficacy of single endocardial PCA is currently limited