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Background: Ablation emerged as first line therapy in the treatment of various arrhythmias. Nevertheless, in older patients (pts), decision is often made pro drug treatment as more complications and less benefit are suspected. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that different kind of ablations can be performed safely regardless of the pts age. Methods: We enrolled all pts aged >80 years (yrs) who underwent ablation for three different arrhythmias (atrial flutter [AFL], atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia [AVNRT], ventricular tachycardia [VT]) between August 2002 and December 2018. Procedural data and outcome were compared with matched groups aged 60 to 80 years and 40 to 60 years, respectively. Periprocedural and in-hospital complications were analyzed. Results: The analysis included 1191 patients (397 pts per group: 63% AFL, 23% AVNRT, 14% VT) who underwent ablation. Acute success was high in all types of arrhythmias irrespective of age (>80, 60-80, 40-60 years: AFL 97%/98%/98%, AVNRT 97%/95%/97%, VT 82%/86%/93%). Rate of periprocedural complications were similar in all groups treated for AFL and AVNRT. For VT ablations significant differences were noted between pts > 80 or 60 to 80 years and those aged 40-60 years (16.1%/14.3%/3.6%). Most complications were infections and groin haematoma. No strokes, iatrogenic atrioventricular blocks and deaths related to the ablation occurred. Conclusion: Ablation appears safe in pts > 80 years. Success rates were comparable to matched younger cohorts. A significant difference was observed for VT patients., Finanziert über die DEAL-Vereinbarung mit Wiley 2019-2022.

There is conflicting evidence regarding the impact of propofol on cardiac repolarization and the risk of torsade de pointes (TdP). The purpose of this study was to elucidate the risk of propofol-induced TdP and to investigate the impact of propofol in drug-induced long QT syndrome. 35 rabbit hearts were perfused employing a Langendorff-setup. 10 hearts were perfused with increasing concentrations of propofol (50, 75, 100 µM). Propofol abbreviated action potential duration (APD90) in a concentration-dependent manner without altering spatial dispersion of repolarization (SDR). Consequently, no proarrhythmic effects of propofol were observed. In 12 further hearts, erythromycin was employed to induce prolongation of cardiac repolarization. Erythromycin led to an amplification of SDR and triggered 36 episodes of TdP. Additional infusion of propofol abbreviated repolarization and reduced SDR. No episodes of TdP were observed with propofol. Similarly, ondansetron prolonged cardiac repolarization in another 13 hearts. SDR was increased and 36 episodes of TdP occurred. With additional propofol infusion, repolarization was abbreviated, SDR reduced and triggered activity abolished. In this experimental whole-heart study, propofol abbreviated repolarization without triggering TdP. On the contrary, propofol reversed prolongation of repolarization caused by erythromycin or ondansetron, reduced SDR and thereby eliminated drug-induced TdP., Finanziert durch den Open-Access-Publikationsfonds der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster (WWU Münster).

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using cryoenergy is safe and efficient for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Pre-existing upper gastrointestinal (GI) pathologies have been shown to increase the risk for AF. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing incidental pathologies of the upper GI tract in patients scheduled for PVI and to analyse the impact of patients’ characteristics on PVI safety outcome. In 71 AF patients, who participated in the MADE-PVI trial, oesophagogastroduodenoscopy and endosonography were prospectively performed directly before and the day after PVI to assess pre-existing upper GI pathologies and post-interventional occurrence of PVI-associated lesions. Subgroup analysis of the MADE-PVI trial identified clinically relevant incidental findings in 53 patients (74.6%) with age > 50 years being a significant risk factor. Pre-existing reflux oesophagitis increased risk for PVI-associated mediastinal oedema, while patients already treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) had significantly fewer mediastinal oedema. Our results suggest that AF patients with pre-existing reflux oesophagitis are at higher risk for PVI-associated mediastinal lesions, which is decreased in patients with constant PPI-treatment prior to PVI. Since PVI-associated mediastinal lesions are regarded as surrogate parameter for an increased risk of the fatal complication of an oesophago-atrial fistula, our findings hint at a beneficial effect of pre-interventional prophylactic PPI-treatment to reduce risk for PVI-associated complications., Finanziert über die DEAL-Vereinbarung mit Wiley 2019-2022.

Background:The role and technique of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the elderly is unclear. While in young patients pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has evolved as first option, in older patients decision is often made in favor of drugs as higher complication rates and less benefit are suspected. Therefore, data on PVI of paroxysmal and persistent AF in these patients is still sparse but of eminent importance. Hypothesis:PVI is comparably safe in the very elderly with similar recurrence and complication rates. Methods: We enrolled all patients (n = 146) aged >75 years who underwent a first PVI over a period of 10 years (2009-2019) from our prospective single-center ablation registry. Mean follow-up time was 231 ± 399 days. Results: Acute ablation success defined as complete PVI and sinus rhythm at the end of the ablation procedure was high (99%). Severe periprocedural complications occurred in 3.3% (stroke/TIA n = 2; 1.3%; pericardial effusion n = 3; 2%). In 4.6% of patients symptomatic sick-sinus-syndrome was unmasked after PVI resulting in pacemaker implantation. There were no deaths related to PVI. Recurrence rate of symptomatic AF was 37.3% resulting in a Re-PVI and/or substrate ablation in 32 pts (20.9%). During follow-up pacemaker implantation plus atrioventricular node ablation was performed in 10 pts (6.8%). There was a trend toward lower recurrence rates with single-shot devices (cryoballoon, multielectrode phased-radiofrequency ablation catheter) than with point-by-point radiofrequency while complication rates did not differ. Conclusion: PVI for AF is a feasible treatment option also in patients >75 years with a reasonable success and safety profile. Higher success rates occurred in patients treated with a single-shot device as compared to point-by-point ablation., Finanziert über die DEAL-Vereinbarung mit Wiley 2019-2022.

Background: Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disease of not sufficiently understood origin. Some patients develop cardiac involvement in course of the disease which is mostly responsible for adverse outcome. In addition to complications like high degree atrioventricular (AV) block or ventricular tachyarrhythmias, there is a certain percentage of patients developing atrial tachyarrhythmias. Data is limited and the role of catheter ablation uncertain. Therefore, we studied sarcoid patients who presented with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Hypothesis: Treatment and ablation of supraventricular tachycardia could be hampered by inflammation in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis. Methods: We enrolled 37 consecutive patients with cardiac sarcoidosis who presented with atrial tachyarrhythmias and underwent an electrophysiologic study over a period of 6 years (03/2013-04/2019). In total, 16 catheter ablations for atrial tachyarrhythmias were performed. Mean follow-up duration was 2.5 years. Results: Most common ablation performed was cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation for typical atrial flutter in seven patients (54%). Pulmonary vein isolation for treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) was performed in five patients (38%). Two patients received slow-pathway modulation for treatment of recurrent atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT). All but two patients with AF had no clinical recurrence during follow-up. Two patients had recurrence of AF but still reported markedly improved european heart rhythm association (EHRA) class. Periprocedural safety was very high. There were no adverse events related to the ablation procedure. One patient died during follow-up in the presence of electrical storm. Conclusion: Catheter ablations of supraventricular tachycardias seem to be safe and effective in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis. Outcome is comparable to patients without inflammatory heart disease, although data from larger patient collectives are mandatory to make recommendations in this special entity., Finanziert über die DEAL-Vereinbarung mit Wiley 2019-2022.