Notes

[A case of neuromyelitis optica associated with lung Mycobacterium avium complex disease].
Patients with paroxysmal AF had more WMH than patients with SR (p 0.04). No differences were found in relevant MTA between patients with AF or SR.

Cognitive decline in patients with AF is better detected using the MoCA than the MMSE. This means that in daily clinical practice, the MOCA should be used instead of the MMSE for patients with AF.
Cognitive decline in patients with AF is better detected using the MoCA than the MMSE. This means that in daily clinical practice, the MOCA should be used instead of the MMSE for patients with AF.
Catheter ablation has shown to reduce mortality in patient with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction. Its effect on mortality in patients without HF has not been well elucidated.

Thirteen randomized controlled trials encompassing 3856 patients were selected using PubMed, Embase and the CENTRAL till April 2019. Estimates were reported as random effects risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Compared with medical therapy, catheter ablation did not reduce the risk of all-cause mortality (RR, 0.86, 95% CI, 0.62-1.19, P=0.36; I2=0), stroke (RR, 0.55, 95% CI, 0.18-1.66, P=0.29; I2=0), need for cardioversion (RR, 0.84, 95% CI, 0.66-1.08, P=0.17; I2=0) or pacemaker (RR, 0.59, 95% CI, 0.34-1.01, P=0.06; I2=0). However, ablation reduced the RR of cardiac hospitalization (0.37, 95% CI, 0.18-0.77, P=0.01; I2=86), and recurrent atrial arrhythmia (0.46, 95% CI, 0.35-0.60, P<0.001; I2=87). There were non-significant differences among treatment groups with respect to major bleeding (RR, 1.89, 95% CI, 0.59-6.08, P=0.29; I2=15), and pulmonary vein stenosis (RR, 3.00, 95% CI, 0.83-10.87, P=0.09; I2=0), but had significantly higher rates of pericardial tamponade (RR, 4.46, 95 % CI, 1.70-11.72, P<0.001; I2=0).

Catheter ablation did not improve survival compared with medical therapy in patients with AF without HF. Catheter ablation reduced cardiac hospitalization and recurrent atrial arrhythmia at the expense of pericardial tamponade.
Catheter ablation did not improve survival compared with medical therapy in patients with AF without HF. Catheter ablation reduced cardiac hospitalization and recurrent atrial arrhythmia at the expense of pericardial tamponade.
To evaluate the clinical outcome of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) comparing a strategy using Ablation Index (AI) and lesion contiguity with Contact Force (CF) only.

In a single-center retrospective design, we included 479 patients with AF (n=341 (71.2%) paroxysmal AF (PAF) and n=138 (28.8%) persistent AF (PeAF)) treated with first time radiofrequency ablation. In 2015, 210 patients underwent PVI based on a drag-and-ablate technique using CF only. In 2017, 269 patients underwent point-by-point PVI using AI and a maximum inter-lesion distance of 6 mm ensuring contiguity. Follow-up was performed after 12 months. Outcome was freedom from documented AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) after single procedure without use of anti-arrhythmic drugs at follow-up.

There was no significant difference in baseline characteristics between the groups. The median procedure time and mean ablation time were significantly longer in the AI-group compared to the CF-group (131.5[113;156] min vs. 120.0[97;140] min, P < 0.01) and (44.1±10.0 min vs. 37.1±13.3 min, P < 0.01), respectively. Freedom from documented AF/AT was significantly higher in the AI-group compared to the conventional CF -group (71.0% vs. 62.4%, P = 0.046). The improvement in clinical outcome in the AI group is mainly driven by the outcome in patients with PeAF (64.9% vs. 50.0%, P = 0.078) and not PAF.

An ablation strategy combining AI and lesion contiguity improves the clinical outcome after first time PVI in patients with AF compared to a strategy using CF only.
An ablation strategy combining AI and lesion contiguity improves the clinical outcome after first time PVI in patients with AF compared to a strategy using CF only.
Catheter ablation (CA) is an established treatment for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of single CA in AF patients with extreme obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 40 kg/m2) and its long-term impact on body weight.

Patients with BMI ≥40 kg/m2 who underwent CA at the Ohio State University between 2012 and 2016 were included. The primary efficacy endpoint was no atrial arrhythmia lasting > 30 seconds without anti-arrhythmic drugs during 1-year follow-up after a single procedure.

Out of 230 AF patients with BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 undergoing CA, pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in 226 (98%) patients.Seventeen patients (7.4%) experienced acute major complications, including pericardial effusion, vascular complications and respiratory failure. Patient characteristics for 135 patients with complete 1-year follow-up were as follows mean age 58.6 ± 9.6 years, mean BMI 44.5±4.7 kg/m2, female 63 (47%), non-paroxysmal AF 100 (74%), median CHA2DS2-VASc score 2 (IQR1-3). In this cohort, the primary efficacy endpoint was achieved in 44 (33%) patients. Paroxysmal AF was associated with higher CA success compared to non-paroxysmal (51 vs. 26% [p < 0.01]).There was no significant weight change even in patients with successful AF CA.

Extreme obesity is associated with low AF CA success, particularly in those with non-paroxysmal AF. Successful AF CA was not associated with long-term weight reduction. A better treatment strategy is needed in this population of AF and extreme obesity.
Extreme obesity is associated with low AF CA success, particularly in those with non-paroxysmal AF. Successful AF CA was not associated with long-term weight reduction. A better treatment strategy is needed in this population of AF and extreme obesity.
Post cardiac surgery atrial fibrillation (POAF) is common, with adverse implications. However, relatively little is known regarding the time varying nature of risk factors associated with POAF. We describe variation in POAF along with its associated risk factors.

Medical records of adult patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery from 2003-13, without a history of pre-operative AF were analyzed retrospectively. POAF was adjudicated using inpatient and outpatient electrocardiograms (EKG). Risk of AF over time along with time-varying risk factors were estimated using multiphase non-linear logistic mixed effects model.

10,461 patients with 100,149 EKGs were analyzed [median follow-up 4 months (IQR 48 hours-2 years)]. AF prevalence changed with time since surgery and two distinct phases were identified. Prevalence peaked to 13% at 2 weeks (early phase) and 9% near 7 years post-operatively (late phase). GSK2636771 price Older age, greater severity of preoperative tricuspid valve (TV) regurgitation, mitral valve replacement and prior cardiac surgery were time-independent risk factors for POAF.
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