Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Parahisian Accessory Pathway

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of parahisian accessory pathways in pre-excitation syndrome is a challenging task, due to the extremely high risk of complete atrioventricular block. In this brief report we describe the case of a 32 year-old man presenting a parahisian accessory pathway, who has been successfully treated by radiofrequency ablation. Radiofrequency catheter ablation using low-power radiofrequency current is considered to be the most appropiate method of ablation in adult patients

Inflammatory and Imaging-based Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence after Pulmonary Vein Isolation Using Electroanatomical Mapping – the INFLAMAP Study

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent form of supraventricular arrhythmia in medical practice. It is characterized by chaotic electrical activity in the atria, which often leads to irregular and fast ventricular contractions. Pulmonary veins (PV) play an essential part in the genesis of AF. There are a series of risk factors that trigger the development and recurrence of AF after PV isolation. Despite advanced medical technology, the success rate of AF ablation is not satisfactory. The purpose of this study is to assess the preprocedural imaging and serum biomarkers linked to an increased recurrence of AF after PV isolation. The primary endpoint is represented by AF recurrence after PV isolation. In addition, the rate of cardiovascular death and the rate of major adverse cardiovascular events will be assessed in relation to the enlargement of the left atrium and the volume of epicardial adipose tissue surrounding the heart

Epicardial Fat, Paracrine-mediated Inflammation and Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most frequent arrhythmia in adults, becoming more frequent with age. Recent clinical studies demonstrated that epicardial fat is linked with atrial fibrillation induction and recurrence. The arrhythmogenic mechanism consists in the fact that the epicardial adipose tissue is metabolically active, inducing local inflammation and enhancing the oxidative stress, which lead to atrial fibrillation as well as atherosclerosis. Having metabolic activity and secreting various anti- and pro-inflammatory biomarkers, the fat surrounding the heart has been linked to the complex process of coronary plaque vulnerabilization. This clinical update aims to summarize the role of epicardial adipose tissue in the pathogenesis, persistence, and severity of atrial fibrillation