Features on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and accuracy of echocardiographic findings for diagnosing constrictive pericarditis

Constrictive pericarditis is a rare disease with a difficult diagnosis. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging data of Aga Khan University Hospital from January 2011 to March 2020 was retrospectively reviewed and patients with the diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis were included. A total of 22 patients were included with the mean age of 46±16 years and majority 17(77%) were male. The most common findings on transthoracic echo were significant respiratory variation in mitral and tricuspid inflow velocities in 20(91%), and septal annular e\u27\u3e9 in 10 (86%). The most common finding on CMR was respiratory septal shift in 22(100%), followed by septal bounce in 21(95%) and thickened pericardium in 18(82%). Nearly two-third of the patients, 15(70%) were considered for pericardiectomy but it was deferred in 5 patients due to high surgical risk. Ten patients underwent pericardiectomy, with no mortality on a mean follow up of 4±2 years

Comparison of Cryoballoon vs. Pulsed Field Ablation in Patients with Symptomatic Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (SINGLE SHOT CHAMPION): Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Single-shot devices are increasingly used for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in atrial fibrillation (AF). The Arctic Front cryoballoon is the most frequently used single-shot technology. A recently developed novel pulsed field ablation (PFA) device (FARAPULSE) has been introduced with the aim to improve procedural safety and efficacy. OBJECTIVE This study will compare the novel FARAPULSE PFA device and the Arctic Front cryoballoon for first PVI in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF. METHODS SINGLE SHOT CHAMPION is a multicenter, randomized controlled trial with blinded endpoint adjudication by an independent clinical events committee. Overall, 210 patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing their PVI are randomized 1:1 between PFA and cryoballoon ablation. Continuous rhythm monitoring with an implantable cardiac monitor is performed in all patients. RESULTS The primary endpoint is time to first recurrence of any atrial tachyarrhythmia (AF and/or organized atrial tachyarrhythmia) lasting ≥120 seconds and identified by the implantable cardiac monitor within 91 and 365 days postablation. The composite procedural safety endpoint includes cardiac tamponade requiring drainage, persistent phrenic nerve palsy, vascular complications requiring intervention, stroke/transient ischemic attack, atrioesophageal fistula, and death occurring during or up to 30 days after the procedure. Key secondary endpoints include (1) increase in high-sensitivity troponin on day 1 postablation, (2) analysis of postablation 3-dimensional electroanatomic mapping (first 25 patients per study group), (3) AF burden, and (4) quality-of-life changes. CONCLUSION SINGLE SHOT CHAMPION will evaluate the efficacy and safety of PVI using the novel FARAPULSE PFA for patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF

Spectrum of antihypertensive therapy in South Asians at a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite available guidelines on hypertension (HTN), use of antihypertensives is variable. This study was designed to ascertain frequency of patients on monotherapy and > 1 antihypertensive therapy and also to ascertain proportion of patients on diuretic therapy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>It was a crossectional study conducted on 1191 adults(age > 18 yrs)hypertensive patients selected by computerized International Classification of Diseases -9-coordination and maintenance (ICD-9-CM) presenting to a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan. Data on demographics, comorbids, type of antihypertensive drug, number of antihypertensive drug and mean duration of antihypertensive drug was recorded over 1.5 year period (2008-09). Blood pressure was recorded on admission. Primary outcome was use of combination therapy and secondary outcome was use of diuretic therapy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 1191 participants were included. Mean age(SD) was 62.55(12.47) years, 45.3%(540) were males. Diabetes was the most common comorbid; 46.3%(551). Approximately 85% of patients had controlled hypertension. On categorization of anti hypertensive use into 3 categories;41.2%(491) were on monotherapy,32.2%(384) were on 2 drug therapy,26.5%(316) were on ≥3 drug therapy. Among those who were on monotherapy for HTN;34%(167) were on calcium channel blockers,30.10%(148) were on beta blockers, 22.80%(112) were on Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors,12%(59) were on diuretics and 2.20%(11) were on Angiotensin receptor blockers(ARB). Use of combination antihypertensive therapy was significantly high in patients with ischemic heart disease(IHD)(p < 0.001). Use of diuretics was in 31% (369) patients. Use of diuretics was significantly less in patients with comorbids of diabetes (p 0.02), Chronic kidney disease(CKD)(p 0.003), IHD (p 0.001) respectively</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Most patients presenting to our tertiary care center were on combination therapy. Calcium channel blocker is the most common anti hypertensive drug used as monotherapy and betablockers are used as the most common antihypertensive in combination. Only a third of patients were on diuretic as an antihypertensive therapy.</p

Impact of atrial fibrillation phenotype and left atrial volume on outcome after pulmonary vein isolation.

AIMS Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is increasingly performed in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Both AF phenotype and left atrial (LA) volume have been shown to influence ablation outcome. The inter-relationship of the two is incompletely understood. We aimed to investigate the impact of AF phenotype vs. LA volume on outcome after PVI. METHODS AND RESULTS In a retrospective analysis of a prospective registry of patients undergoing a first PVI, the association of AF phenotype and LA volume index (LAVI) was assessed as well as their impact on AF recurrence during follow-up. Overall, 476 patients were enrolled (median age 63 years, 29% females, 65.8% paroxysmal AF). Obesity, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure were all significantly more frequent in persistent AF. After 1 year, single-procedure, freedom from arrhythmia recurrence was 61.5%. Patients with paroxysmal AF had better outcomes compared with patients with persistent AF (65.6 vs. 52.7%, P = 0.003), as had patients with no/mild vs. moderate/severe LA dilation (LAVI <42 mL/m2 67.1% vs. LAVI ≥42 mL/m2 53%, P < 0.001). The combination of both parameters refined prediction of 1-year recurrence (P < 0.001). After adjustment for additional clinical risk factors in multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis, both AF phenotype and LAVI ≥42 mL/m2 contributed significantly towards the prediction of 1-year recurrence. CONCLUSION Atrial fibrillation phenotype and LA volume are independent predictors of outcome after PVI. Persistent AF with no/mild LA dilation has a similar risk of recurrence as paroxysmal AF with a moderate/severe LA dilation and should be given similar priority for ablation

Pulsed-field vs. Cryoballoon vs. Radiofrequency ablation: outcomes after pulmonary vein isolation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND Pulsed-field ablation (PFA) has shown promising data in terms of safety and procedural efficiency for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), with similar long-term outcomes compared to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryoballoon ablation (CBA) in patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) OBJECTIVE: To compare the procedural and long-term outcomes of patients with persistent AF undergoing PVI using PFA, CBA, or RFA. METHODS Consecutive patients with persistent AF undergoing a first PVI with PFA, CBA, or RFA were included. Patients underwent 7d-Holter-ECG at 3, 6, and 12 months post-ablation. The primary outcome was recurrence of any atrial arrhythmia after a 90-day blanking period. Safety outcomes included the composite of in-hospital major adverse events. RESULTS A total of 533 patients with persistent AF underwent PVI using PFA (n=214), CBA (n=190), or RFA (n=129). Procedures with PFA guided by fluoroscopy were shorter compared to CBA (median 60 min, IQR 53-80 vs. 84 min, IQR 68-101, p=<0.001), and procedures with PFA in combination with 3D-electroanatomical mapping were shorter compared to RFA (median 101 min, IQR 85-126 vs. 171 min, IQR 141-204, p<0.001). Acute safety events occurred in 2.3%, 2.6% and 0.8% in the PFA, CBA and RFA group (p=0.545). The 1-year confounder-adjusted estimate for freedom from atrial arrhythmias was 62.1% for CBA, 55.3% for PFA and 48.3% for RFA (CBA vs. PFA p=0.79, CBA vs. RFA p=0.009; PFA vs. RFA p=0.010). CONCLUSION In patients with persistent AF undergoing a first PVI, 1-year confounder-adjusted outcomes are better with PFA and CBA compared to RFA