Surgical Treatment of Concomitant Atrial Fibrillation: Focus onto Atrial Contractility

Background. Maze procedure aims at restoring sinus rhythm (SR) and atrial contractility (AC). This study evaluated multiple aspects of AC recovery and their relationship with SR regain after ablation. Methods. 122 mitral and fibrillating patients underwent radiofrequency Maze. Rhythm check and echocardiographic control of biatrial contractility were performed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. A multivariate Cox analysis of risk factors for absence of AC recuperation was applied. Results. At 2-years follow-up, SR was achieved in 79% of patients. SR-AC coexistence increased from 76% until 98%, while biatrial contraction detection augmented from 84 to 98% at late stage. Shorter preoperative arrhythmia duration was the only common predictor of SR-AC restoring, while pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) negatively influenced AC recuperation. Early AC restoration favored future freedom from arrhythmia recurrence. Minor LA dimensions correlated with improved future A/E value and vice versa. Right atrial (RA) contractility restoring favored better left ventricular (LV) performance and volumes. Conclusions. SR and left AC are two interrelated Maze objectives. Factors associated with arrhythmia “chronic state” (PAP and arrhythmia duration) are negative predictors of procedural success. Our results suggest an association between postoperative LA dimensions and “kick” restoring and an influence of RA contraction onto LV function

Clinical Study Surgical Treatment of Concomitant Atrial Fibrillation: Focus onto Atrial Contractility

Background. Maze procedure aims at restoring sinus rhythm (SR) and atrial contractility (AC). This study evaluated multiple aspects of AC recovery and their relationship with SR regain after ablation. Methods. 122 mitral and fibrillating patients underwent radiofrequency Maze. Rhythm check and echocardiographic control of biatrial contractility were performed at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. A multivariate Cox analysis of risk factors for absence of AC recuperation was applied. Results. At 2-years follow-up, SR was achieved in 79% of patients. SR-AC coexistence increased from 76% until 98%, while biatrial contraction detection augmented from 84 to 98% at late stage. Shorter preoperative arrhythmia duration was the only common predictor of SR-AC restoring, while pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) negatively influenced AC recuperation. Early AC restoration favored future freedom from arrhythmia recurrence. Minor LA dimensions correlated with improved future A/E value and vice versa. Right atrial (RA) contractility restoring favored better left ventricular (LV) performance and volumes. Conclusions. SR and left AC are two interrelated Maze objectives. Factors associated with arrhythmia "chronic state" (PAP and arrhythmia duration) are negative predictors of procedural success. Our results suggest an association between postoperative LA dimensions and "kick" restoring and an influence of RA contraction onto LV function

Successful Open Chest Epicardial Ablation for Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia in an LVAD Recipient

A patient with history of dilated cardiomyopathy, a cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator, and endocardial ablation presented for refractory ventricular tachycardia 3 years after implantation of a Jarvik 2000 left ventricular assist device (Jarvik Heart, Inc., New York, New York). Open-chest epicardial ablation safely and effectively terminated the arrhythmia, without ventricular tachycardia recurrence at 9-month follow-up and in the absence of complications during the hospital stay. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)

The role of tissue factor and P-selectin in the procoagulant response that occurs in the first month after on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting

BackgroundIt has been previously shown that a persistent (up to 1 month) prothrombotic status occurs after coronary bypass surgery performed both on pump and off pump. To assess the pathways involved in the occurrence of postoperative prothrombotic state, in this study we evaluated plasma, monocyte-bound, and platelet-bound tissue factor expression, as well as platelet and soluble P-selectin expression, up to 1 month after off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.MethodsThirty patient candidates for coronary surgery were randomized to undergo off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 15) or on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (n = 15). Blood samples were collected before the intervention, after protamine administration, and 4, 8, and 30 days after surgical intervention.ResultsPlasma tissue factor levels were significantly higher than baseline both in the on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting group (from protamine administration up to 4 postoperative days) and in the off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting group (at 4 postoperative days), with no differences between groups. Basal and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocyte tissue factor expression, as well as basal and adenosine diphosphate–stimulated platelet tissue factor expression, did not show significant variations over time and were similar in the on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting groups throughout the course of the study. Platelet expression of P-selectin, both basal and after adenosine diphosphate stimulation, did not significantly change over time and was not different in the on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting groups. Soluble P-selectin levels in plasma were significantly higher in patients receiving on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting only at the time point after protamine administration, whereas this variable behaved similarly in the on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting groups for the whole postoperative period.ConclusionsThe postoperative tissue factor and P-selectin expression did not differ between the on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting groups. The distinct increase of plasma tissue factor occurring after both surgical procedures might represent a mechanism that might explain, in part, the early postoperative prothrombotic state occurring after on-pump and off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting