Effect of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation on left and right atrial function

Aim. To evaluate the effect of catheter ablation on left (LA) and right atria (RA) function in patients with atrial fibrillation.Material and methods. The study included 28 patients (14 men and 14 women) aged 33 to 72 years (mean age, 57,7±9,9 years) with paroxysmal (n=23) and persistent AF (n=5). All patients underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with pulmonary vein antrum isolation. Before ablation and 3 days after, transthoracic twodimensional echocardiography was performed in sinus rhythm with an assessment of LA reservoir, conduit and booster pump function and RA peak longitudinal strain.Results. In the studied patients, a significant decrease in the reservoir, conduit and booster pump function of the LA was revealed after RFA, while there was no significant change in RA peak longitudinal strain after catheter ablation. LA reservoir, conduit and booster pump function decreased by 6,45% (p<0,001), 3,59% (p<0,001), 2,85% (p<0,001), respectively, while RA peak longitudinal strain increased by 0,73% (p=0,43).Conclusion. Catheter ablation has a significant damaging effect on the LA tissue, inhibiting the reservoir, pumping and pipeline functions. At the same time, the contractility of the PP in the early postoperative period improves, but not significantly

ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ АБЛАЦИИ ПЕРСИСТИРУЮЩЕЙ ФОРМЫ ФИБРИЛЛЯЦИИ ПРЕДСЕРДИЙ У ПАЦИЕНТОВ С СИНДРОМОМ ТАХИБРАДИ И САХАРНЫМ ДИАБЕТОМ 2-ГО ТИПА

Aim. To estimate the efficacy of catheter ablation in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) present with atrial fibrillation and sick sinus syndrome (SSS) undergoing permanent pacemaker implantation.Methods. 56 patients (34 females) with persistent AF and SSS were enrolled in the study. The mean age of patients was 67.7±10.7 years. Dual chamber cardiac pacemaker with remote monitoring function were implanted in all patients. All the patients were assigned to two groups: Group 1 comprised 31 patients aged 67.3±9.6 years, and Group 2 comprised 25 patients aged 72.6±9.9 years, including 22 (39.2%) diabetic patients. 2-3 days after pacemaker implantation, group 1 patients underwent intracardiac electrophysiology study and RFA of the pulmonary vein ostia, mitral isthmus and the left atrial posterior wall. Group 2 patients received antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Results. 3 patients (9%) in Group 1 had recurrent AF within the 6-month follow-up. The efficacy of the RFA for AF was 55% (n = 17) 1 year after the indexed hospitalization. 8 patients had short paroxysmal attacks which gradually lessened and stopped after. 5 patients (21%) in Group 2 did not have any AF paroxysms within the 1-year follow-up (Х2 = 5.52, р = 0.02). All these patients received amiodarone as antiarrhythmic drug therapy, whereas the others had paroxysmal attacks. Frequent attacks in 10 patients (40%) led to a change in antiarrhythmic drug use. Hospital readmission rates for AF were 16% and 52%, respectively (Х2 = 4.15, р = 0.04). The impact of atrial and ventricular stimulation on the development of recurrent AF was statistically insignificant (atrial stimulation – X2 = 0.01, cc = 1, p = 0.90; ventricular stimulation – X2 = 0.15, cc = 1, p = 0.69). None paroxysmal attacks were recorded in 10 diabetic patients (45%) after the RFA within the 1-year follow-up.Conclusion. Catheter ablation for persistent AF and SSS treated with permanent pacemakers is highly effective and safe method. In addition, it is superior to pharmacological approach. The presence of T2D likely did not significantly affect the efficacy of RFA for persistent form of AF. Цель. Изучение эффективности катетерного лечения у пациентов с фибрилляцией предсердий (ФП), сахарным диабетом 2-го типа (СД) и синдромом слабости синусового узла (СССУ), корригированного электрокардиостимулятором (ЭКС).Материалы и методы. В исследование включено 56 пациентов с персистирующей формой ФП и СССУ, средний возраст 67,7±10,7 лет, из них 34 (60%) женщины. Всем пациентам был имплантирован двухкамерный ЭКС с функцией удаленного мониторинга. Пациенты разделены на две группы. В первую вошел 31 больной, средний возраст – 67,3±9,6 года, во вторую – 25, средний возраст – 72,6±9,9 года, 22 (39,2%) пациента – с СД 2-го типа. Пациентам первой группы через 2-3 дня после имплантации ЭКС проведено внутрисердечное электрофизиологическое исследование и РЧА устьев легочных вен, задней стенки, митрального истмуса. Во второй группе пациенты получали антиаритмическую терапию.Результаты. Рецидив ФП до 6 месяцев наблюдения у пациентов первой группы зарегистрирован в трех случаях (9%), а эффективность РЧА ФП после года составила 55% (n = 17). У четверти больных (n = 8) наблюдались короткие пароксизмы ФП, которые купировались самостоятельно и не ощущались пациентами. Во второй группе пароксизмы ФП отсутствовали в течение года у 5 пациентов (21%) (Х2 = 5,52, р = 0,02). В качестве антиаритмической терапии у них использовался амиодарон. У остальных зарегистрированы пароксизмы ФП и у 10 (40%) в связи с частыми приступами потребовалась смена препарата. Количество госпитализаций у пациентов обеих групп по поводу пароксизмов аритмии составило 16% и 52% соответственно (Х2 = 4,15, р = 0,04). Анализ влияния доли стимуляции предсердий и желудочков на развитие рецидива ФП не показал статистической достоверности (для стимуляции предсердий – Х2 = 0,01, сс = 1, p = 0,90, для желудочков – Х2 = 0,15, сс = 1, p = 0,69). У 10 пациентов (45%) с СД после РЧА в течение года наблюдения не зарегистрировано ни одного пароксизма ФП.Заключение. Полученные результаты катетерного лечения пациентов с персистирующей формой ФП в сочетании с СССУ, корригированного имплантацией ЭКС, и СД свидетельствуют о его высокой эффективности и безопасности, а также подтверждают его преимущество перед фармакологическим подходом

HEART RHYTHM DISORDERS IN NEW-BORNS AND INFANTS: CLINICAL COURSE AND PERINATAL RISK FACTORS OF ARRHYTHMIAS APPEARANCE

Clinical course, prognosis and mechanisms of separate forms of heart rhythm disorders in children differ from those in adults. Especially, it refers to new-borns and infants whose conduction system differs by functional and morphologic immaturity. In connection with it, the assessment of natural history of heart rhythm disorders, occurred in a perinatal period, and determination of risk factors of arrhythmia appearance in infants are of some interest. 88 newborns took part in the study. The patients were involved by continuous sampling technique. Risk factors, occurred in a perinatal period and potentially influenced on development of heart rhythm disorders, were assessed. In our study we took biological, gynecologic and obstetric history, data of gestation and delivery course, early and late neonatal period, early infancy, Echo, neurosonography, Holter monitoring with determination of heart rhythm variability, and determined thyroid hormonal status. Maximum specific gravity had extrasystoles – 32.4% – in the structure of idiopathic arrhythmias in infants. Heart rhythm disorders with natural history were kept at six months of life only in 5,4% of children. Persistence of arrhythmias was marked during one year only for WPW syndrome. Heart rhythm disorders are often marked significantly in children whose mothers had acute respiratory disease during the pregnancy, or if the children were born from the first pregnancy, had the signs of central nervous system damage syndromes in an early perinatal period (arrest, intracranial hypertension, convulsive disorder). Disorders of autonomic imbalance of cardiac function and peculiarities of hemodynamics of pulmonary circulation contribute significantly into appearance and persistence of all types of arrhythmias. On the whole, the prognosis of heart rhythm disorders, occurred in the perinatal period, without organic and structural changes of myocardium is favorable. The exclusion can be made for congenital atrioventricular block and some types of supraventricular tachycardia which are not responded to treatment

CLINICAL AND HEMODYNAMIC INTERRELATIONS OF ARRHYTHMIA COURSE IN CHILDREN OF 0 TO 7 YEARS OLD

Aim. To study clinical and hemodynamic parallels in preschool children with arrhythmias in different age groups.Material and methods. Totally 195 children studied with idiopathic arrhythmias at the age of 0 to 7 y. o. — 82 with WPW syndrome, 55 with atrial tachiarrhythmias, 7 with AVNRT, 13 — with ventricular tachis (VT), 38 with ventricular and supraventricular onsets (isolated, group and their combination). Age groups: 1 — children 1 y. o. (n=72; 37%); 2 — 1-3 y. o. (n=37; 19%); 3 — 3-7 y. o. (n=87; 44%). All patients underwent standart laboratory assessment, electrocardiography in 12 standard leads, Holter monitoring, echocardiography.Results. In analysis of tachicardias course variants there was prevalence of of paroxysmal tachicardia in children of 3 to 7 y. o. (p=0,001) and permanent tachicardia in children less than 1 y. o. (p<0,001). Frequency of episodes in paroxysmal tachicardias in 1 y. o. children was higher than in those from 1 to 3 y. o. (p=0,028) and 3-7 y. o. children (p<0,001). In assessment of echocardiography of arrhythmic children depended on age there was significant prevalence of ACMP in older children comparing to the younger (p=0,002). Signs of heart failure were more common in children of 1 y. o. comparing to those of 1-3 and 3-7 y. o. (F=44,117; p=<0,001).Conclusion. So the arrhythmogenic heart remodeling mostly common for the children of 3 to 7 y. o. In less 1 year infants with arrhythmias clinical signs of HF are followed by diastolic disorders that develop before ACMP development, that is traditionally regarded as systolic dysfunction. Into the factors that influence these hemodynamic relations we include high mean heartrate, tendency of tachicardias to recurrent and permanent course, high frequency of attacks in paroxysmal tachicardias in infants before 1 year old

Clinical efficacy of atrial fibrillation ablation depending on histological changes in the myocardium

There is a group of patients with so-called idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) without the causes of arrhythmia established by a standard examination.Aim. To study the effect of histological changes in the myocardium in patients with idiopathic AF on the effectiveness of ablation.Material and methods. The study included 101 patients with idiopathic AF All patients underwent ablation, during which a myocardial biopsy was performed. Depending on the results of intervention, 3 groups were formed: 1 — no AF within 12 months, 2 — recurrent arrhythmia within first 3 months of follow-up, 3 — recurrent arrhythmia after first 3 months of follow-up. To assess inflammatory changes and the severity of fibrosis, histological and immunohistochemical tests of myocardial biopsies were performed.Results. Histological criteria for lymphocytic myocarditis in group 1 observed in 47,5% of patients, in groups 2 and 3 in 27,3% and 25%, respectively. Infiltration of less than 7 cells per 1 mm2 by CD3+ lymphocytes prevailed in group 3. The activity of inflammation in the studied groups did not significantly differ. The minimum severity of fibrosis was significantly less frequently recorded in group 1 than in group 2 and 3. Nonexpression of viral antigens in the first group was significantly less common than in the second and third groups. Moreover, the combination of expression of enterovirus VP1 and human herpesvirus 6 antigens was significantly more often recorded in the first group. Positive correlation was found between the expression of viral antigens and markers of endo- and myocardial fibrosis.Conclusion. The primary risk factor for recurrent arrhythmia was the initial stage of fibrosis, while inflammatory changes and viral infection were not risk factors. The presence of viral antigens in the myocardium had an indirect effect on the clinical outcome

A case of non-invasive topical diagnostics with successful ablation during persistent atrial fibrillation

Treatment of persistent and long-persistent forms of atrial fibrillation remains a pressing issue. Using a personalized approach can help to more successfully eliminate arrhythmias and reduce the return probability. One of these approaches is the use of radiofrequency ablation in conjunction with modern high-tech research methods. The article describes a clinical case of successful catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation in a patient with a mechanical mitral valve prosthesis, due to the use of non-invasive topical diagnostics prior to surgery

SPECKLE-TRACKING INTRACARDIAC ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION PATIENTS DURING RADIOFREQUENCY ISOLATION OF PULMONARY VEINS

Aim. To evaluate the speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) application in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients during catheter treatment, by the data from intracardiac echocardiography (ICE).Material and methods. Totally, 30 patients included, with persistent and paroxysmal AF. In 25 (84%) the main disease was arterial hypertension, of those 14 (46%) had hypertension together with coronary heart disease. In 16% cases (4 patients) AF was idiopathic. All patients had indications for catheter treatment of the arrhythmia.Results. Before the start of radiofrequency intervention (RFI), superior pulmonary vein (PV) deformation was 24,5±1,5%, after the intervention 17,5±1,1%, tissue deformation decreased by 7% (р<0,001); of the left inferior PV before RFI — 21,5±0,9%, after — 14,4±0,9%, tissue deformation decreased by 7,1% (р<0,001); right inferior PV before RFI — 21,2±1,3%, after — 14,9±1,1%, tissue deformation decreased by 6,2% (р<0,001); right inferior before RFI — 20,5±1,1%, after — 14,4±1,1%, deformation change 6,1% (р<0,001). Under the influence of RFI, velocity of upper PV deformation decreased by 8,1% (р<0,001),  to -5,36±0,5%, after — 4,93±0,35%; in lower inferior PV decrease of velocity by 8,3% (р<0,001), before RFI -5,38±0,6%, after — 4,93±0,55%; right superior PV — decrease of PV deformation by 8,5% (р<0,001),  before RFI -5,5±0,15%, after -5,0±0,33%; in right inferior 8,2% (р<0,001) before RFI -5,9±0,4%, after -5,4±0,4%.Conclusion. Decrease of deformation by more than 6% and velocity of deformation by 8% after radiofrequency intervention are relevant signs of pulmonary veins ostia isolation