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Supraventricular macro re-entry tachyarrhythmias occupy the leading places among all types of tachyarrhythmias. The most common in this category is typical atrial flutter (AFL). This heart rhythm disorder has a negative impact on the patients’ quality of life. Its complications can lead to disability and death due to possible thromboembolism. Therapeutic treatment is limited in effectiveness. The main method of intervention is catheter radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The standard approach of RFA of AFL is performed without the use of navigation systems under fluoroscopy guidance. However, this results in an increased radiation exposure to the patient and the medical personnel. Modern technologies in the field of invasive electrophysiology make it possible to create anatomical models of heart and reproduce the spread of electrical excitation. However, the routine use of additional navigation methods remains controversial. The aim. To compare the duration of RFA of typical AFL and radiation exposure with the use of anatomical and propagation mapping. Materials and methods. This study is based on the analysis of the treatment results obtained for 53 patients at the National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery in the period from 2014 to 2023. Depending on imaging methods, the patients were divided into two groups. The first group included 27 patients with an anatomical mapping of the right atrium. The second group included 26 patients with propagation mapping. Results. In all the patients we have achieved a bidirectional conduction block through cavotricuspid isthmus. In the first group, the total duration of confirming the diagnosis and creating the anatomical model was 312 ± 26 seconds. The mean time to the moment of AFL termination and restoration of sinus rhythm was 230 ± 19 seconds. The average duration of the procedure was 41.5 ± 3.5 minutes, the average fluoroscopy time was 120 ± 10 seconds, the average dose area product (DAP) was 15 ± 1.3 Gy·cm2. In the second group, the average time for creating a 3D propagation model of right atrium and verifying the diagnosis was 748 ± 65 seconds. The average time from the first application to the termination of tachycardia was 227 ± 20 seconds. The average duration of the procedure was 55 ± 4.7 minutes, X-ray time was 93 ± 8 seconds, average DAP was 13 ± 1.1 Gy·cm2. The duration of the procedure in the second group was significantly longer (p = 0.03), however, the radiation exposure and DAP were not statistically different (p = 0.31) between the observation groups. Conclusions. The use of propagation mapping increases the time of the procedure by 24.5% and does not give a significant advantage in reducing the radiation exposure. The use of a navigation system during cavotricuspid isthmus RFA is recommended for concomitant radical treatment of complex supraventricular arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.

Premature ventricular complexes (PVC) is one of the most common arrhythmias in daily clinical practice. In the vast majority of cases, PVC has a good prognosis, but in some cases it can cause serious, including lifethreatening complications. On the other hand, asymptomatic, frequent PVC can lead to the development of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, which can be reversible with effective therapy. Medications remain the mainstay of therapy for PVC. However, the effectiveness of some drugs is quite low, while other drugs have significant side and proarrhythmic effects. Technological advances in the field of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation in recent years have opened up tremendous prospects in the radical correction of PVC and put forward this approach in selective cases as the method of choice. However, this invasive technology may at the same time carry the risks of serious complications, which can occur in up to 5% of individuals undergoing this procedure. The potential risks of RF catheter ablation largely depend on the accessibility of the ectopic focus. In this regard, differential diagnosis of the source of ectopia is of great importance for a balanced assessment of the possible risks and effectiveness of this invasive method. Standard diagnostic methods, such as 12-lead electrocardiography, Holter monitoring and echocardiography, allow in many cases to make the best decision regarding further management tactics. Frequent, asymptomatic PVC needs in annual monitoring to prevent LV systolic dysfunction development in cases high potential RF catheter ablation risks and drugs ineffectiveness. Traditional echocardiography and novel ultrasound technologies can help in this difficult of choice cases.

Macro-re-entrant atrial tachyarrhythmias occupy the leading positions in the structure of tachyarrhythmias, and one of the most common in this group is atrial flutter. These abnormal rhythms lead to a significant decrease in the quality of patients’ life, and sometimes, indirectly due to complications, can lead to disability and fatal consequences. Medical treatment for this group of arrhythmias has limited effectiveness, and the surgical method of treatment – catheter ablation – comes to the first place. Ablation of atrial flutter is traditionally performed under the guidance of fluoroscopy without the use of a navigation system, but this is associated with increased radiation exposure to patients and staff. Advances in modern arrhythmology make it possible to create anatomical models of heart chambers and activation models of the excitation spreading along anatomical models, reducing the radiation load, but requiring additional equipment and skills. Aim: to compare the procedure duration and radiation load during radiofrequency catheter ablation of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus using 3D navigation with traditional methods. Materials and methods. The work was based on the analysis of treatment results in 84 patients at National M. Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery affiliated to National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine in the period from 2014 to 2021. Depending on the imaging method, patients were divided into 2 groups. Group I included 31 patients who underwent radiofrequency cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation according to the traditional method under fluoroscopic control without using a navigation system. Group II comprised 27 patients in whom an anatomical model of the right atrium was created. Results. Success criteria were achieved in all groups, bidirectional block line was created at the level of the CTI. In group I, the average time from the first application to the restoration of sinus rhythm was 325 ± 25 s with an average number of applications of 7.4 ± 0.6 (from 5 to 10). The average procedure time was 43.0 ± 3.3 min, with an average X-ray time of 572 ± 44 s and an average dose area product (DAP) was 62.0 ± 5.0 Gy.cm2. In group II, the total duration of the first stage of the intervention was 312 ± 26 s. The average time to stopping tachycardia and restoring sinus rhythm was 230 ± 19 s. The average time from sinus rhythm restoration to confirmation of bidirectional CTI block was 71 ± 6 s with an average number of applications of 3.2 ± 3.0 per the procedure. The average procedure time was 41.5 ± 3.5 min, the average X-ray time was 120 ± 10 s, the average DAP was 15.0 ± 1.3 Gy.cm2. Conclusions. The usage of the anatomical model of the right atrium reduces X-ray exposure by 75.8 %, in comparison to the traditional technique, during radiofrequency catheter ablation of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus with similar procedure time. The anatomical model can be recommended for ablation of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and coexistent typical atrial flutter (AFL) interventional treatment strategy remains unresolved in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery. Results of this approach remain suboptimal. There are several approaches to the interventional treatment of patients with coexistent AF and AFL: simultaneous pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) and cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA), PVI or CTI RFCA only and two-stage approach. To our knowledge, cumulative efficacy of two-stage approach has not been previously reported. The aim. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of two-stage approach for interventional treatment of coexistent AF and AFL for sinus rhythm maintenance in long-term. Methods: Patients (pts) (n=34) with AF and AFL aged 4182 years (11 women) were divided into two groups (1:1): One-stage Approach (group 1; n=17): PVI+СTI RFСA and Two-stage approach (group 2; n=17): first stage CTI RFCA (group 2.1); second stage PVI in case of AF recurrence after RFCA (group 2.2). Primary endpoint (PEP) was defined as any recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia at the end of follow-up; group 2 events have been considered after PVI. Secondary endpoint (SEP) recurrent any atrial tachyarrhythmia in groups 1 and 2 after CTI RFCA in group 2. PEP and SEP were evaluated at the end of the blind period (3 months after procedure). Results: Registered recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia in pts who reached PEP or SEP was AF. AFL has not been detected in any cases. PEP was noted in 8 (47.06%) pts in group 1 and 1 (5.88%) pts in group 2. Further, SEP was observed in 3 pts (17.65%) in group 1 and in 4 (23.53%) pts in group 2 (p=0.671). The probability of long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm was significantly higher in Two-stage approach than in One-stage approach (94.12% and 52.94%, respectively, p=0.001). Significant differences in procedure length and fluoroscopy time have been found. Those were longer in group 1 compared to group 2.1 (p 0.001) and in group 2.2 compared to group 2.1 (procedure duration p 0.001; fluoroscopy time p=0.013). No differences were noted in length of procedure and fluoroscopy time between groups 1 and 2.2 (p=0.374 and p=0.028, respectively). Conclusion: The two-stage approach for interventional treatment of coexistent AF and AFL results in better long-term arrhythmia-free survival than one-stage approach (94.12% and 52.94%, respectively, p=0.001). CTI RFCA alone in pts with coexistent AF and AFL cause 23.53% AF recurrence rate and associated with shorter procedure duration and fluoroscopy time compared to simultaneous PVI and CTI RFCA (p 0.001).

The WolfParkinsonWhite (WPW) syndrome is a condition with early excitation of the heart ventricles due to the conduction of an electrical pulse along the atrioventricular pathway, such as the Kent, James bundle, and Mahaim fibers; the pulse is usually accompanied by supraventricular tachycardia, atrioventricular reciprocal tachycardia in 95% of cases, and fibrillation, atrial flutter, and other supraventricular tachycardia in other cases. WPW syndrome can be observed in patients of any age, approximately 130 per 10,000 people, with male predominance. The disease affects 0.150.25% of the population. Sudden cardiac death occurs in one patient per 1000 annually, and sometimes this is the first "business card" of the disease. This is mainly due to the lightning-fast formation of life-threatening arrhythmias, for example, with the transformation of atrial fibrillation into ventricular fibrillation. The morphological substrate is an additional atrioventricular connection. Currently, transcatheter radiofrequency ablation is the standard of the interventional treatment of WPW syndrome. WPW syndrome has a diverse etiology. Numerous studies reported that genetics play a significant role in the development of WPW syndrome. Several genetic predictors of WPW syndrome are presented in the modern literature, which may be relevant in predicting and diagnosing hidden forms of this syndrome, such as course, development of symptoms and manifestations, and reduction of the risks of sudden cardiac death.

Macro-re-entrant atrial tachyarrhythmias occupy the leading positions in the structure of tachyarrhythmias, and one of the most common in this group is atrial flutter. These abnormal rhythms lead to a significant decrease in the quality of patients' life, and sometimes, indirectly due to complications, can lead to disability and fatal consequences. Medical treatment for this group of arrhythmias has limited effectiveness, and the surgical method of treatment - catheter ablation - comes to the first place. Ablation of atrial flutter is traditionally performed under the guidance of fluoroscopy without the use of a navigation system, but this is associated with increased radiation exposure to patients and staff. Advances in modern arrhythmology make it possible to create anatomical models of heart chambers and activation models of the excitation spreading along anatomical models, reducing the radiation load, but requiring additional equipment and skills. Aim: to compare the procedure duration and radiation load during radiofrequency catheter ablation of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus using 3D navigation with traditional methods. Materials and methods. The work was based on the analysis of treatment results in 84 patients at National M. Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery affiliated to National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine in the period from 2014 to 2021. Depending on the imaging method, patients were divided into 2 groups. Group I included 31 patients who underwent radiofrequency cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation according to the traditional method under fluoroscopic control without using a navigation system. Group II comprised 27 patients in whom an anatomical model of the right atrium was created. Results. Success criteria were achieved in all groups, bidirectional block line was created at the level of the CTI. In group I, the average time from the first application to the restoration of sinus rhythm was 325 ± 25 s with an average number of applications of 7.4 ± 0.6 (from 5 to 10). The average procedure time was 43.0 ± 3.3 min, with an average X-ray time of 572 ± 44 s and an average dose area product (DAP) was 62.0 ± 5.0 Gy.cm². In group II, the total duration of the first stage of the intervention was 312 ± 26 s. The average time to stopping tachycardia and restoring sinus rhythm was 230 ± 19 s. The average time from sinus rhythm restoration to confirmation of bidirectional CTI block was 71 ± 6 s with an average number of applications of 3.2 ± 3.0 per the procedure. The average procedure time was 41.5 ± 3.5 min, the average X-ray time was 120 ± 10 s, the average DAP was 15.0 ± 1.3 Gy.cm². Conclusions. The usage of the anatomical model of the right atrium reduces X-ray exposure by 75.8 %, in comparison to the traditional technique, during radiofrequency catheter ablation of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus with similar procedure time. The anatomical model can be recommended for ablation of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), an informative indicator for predicting the effectiveness of catheter ablation (CA) is atrial function, assessed using speakle treaking echocardiography (EchoCG). A pronounced effect of CA on atrial function was proven, but the study of the dynamics of deformation of both the left (LA) and right atria (RA) has not been previously carried out, despite the fact that many sources describe a significant contribution of LA to the development and maintenance of arrhythmia.Target. To evaluate the dynamics of changes in the function of the left and right atria in patients with atrial fibrillation after radiofrequency ablation.Materials and methods. The study included 57 patients aged 31 to 72 years (55.4±9.8 years) with paroxysmal (n=40) and persistent (n=17) forms of AF. The main diagnoses were hypertension (n=51), coronary heart disease (n=17) without indications for myocardial revascularization, myocarditis without signs of activity (n=3). All patients underwent RFA. Before RFA, 3 days, 3 months and 12 months after, echocardiography was performed in sinus rhythm with an assessment of LA deformity (reservoir, conduction and pumping) and LA (peak longitudinal deformity, PPD).Results. In patients before RFA, the function of the LA reservoir was 26.0±4.99%, the function of the conductor was 16.4 [12.5;20.0]%, the pumping function was 9.19±3.86%, the peak longitudinal deformation of the LA was 28, 1±5.99%. After RFA, a statistically significant decrease in LA function was noted: reservoir 20.2±4.07% (p

The trigeminal nerve is a mixed fifth cranial nerve, consisting of motor and sensory components. The sensitive component receives somesthetic information from the skin and mucous membranes of the face into the central nervous system, and the motor component is responsible for the innervation of chewing muscles. One of the manifestations of the pathology of the trigeminal nerve is pain syndrome. Trigeminal neuralgia occupies the main place among neurogenic pain syndrome in the face, is characterized by а severe course and the absence of sufficiently effective methods of treatment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the prevalence of trigeminal neuralgia in different countries is 2–5 cases per 100 thousand people per year. Trigeminal neuralgia is classified into 3 etiologic categories. Idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia occurs without apparent cause. Classical trigeminal neuralgia is caused by vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve root. Secondary trigeminal neuralgia is the consequence of a major neurologic disease, e. g., a tumor of the cеrеbеllоpоntine angle or multiple sclerosis. Today, there are many different options for the surgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. microvascular decompression of the root, radiosurgical destruction of the Gasser’s node, radiofrequency destruction, glycerol rhizotomy, balloon microcompression are considered the main effective and proven surgical methods for treating trigeminal neuralgia. But the questions of diagnosing the cause of the disease and choosing an adequate surgical method for treating therapeutically resistant trigeminal neuralgia for a particular patient remain open. The development of surgical methods begins from ancient times to the present day. The main stages in the development of neurosurgical treatment methods are presented. The following surgical techniques are described: open method – microvascular decompression, and closed percutaneous destructive methods – radiofrequency destruction, glycerol rhizotomy, balloon compression, radiosurgery, cryodestruction, laser destruction, botulinum toxin injections.

Background: Pre-excitation syndrome (premature excitation of the ventricles) is a congenital anomaly in the structure of the cardiac conduction system and consists in the presence of an additional atrioventricular connection. The possibility to assume the presence of pre-excitation syndrome accompanied by tachycardia based on an electrocardiogram provides a clue to the correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment of the patient. Clinical case description: A clinical case of a 56-year-old patient is presented, who was admitted to the FRCC of the FMBA of Russia in January, 2021 with paroxysms of previously undiagnosed tachycardia. During Holter monitoring, an episode of heart palpitations was recorded. When analyzing an ECG fragment, it was possible, by calculating the tachycardia cycle length, to suspect the presence of a latent ventricular pre-excitation syndrome, which was accompanied by the development of orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocal tachycardia with a bundle branch block on the side of the additional atrioventricular connection (ipsilateral block). The patient underwent endocardial electrophysiological examination to confirm the presence of the bundle, followed by the catheter treatment of the atrioventricular connection. A good postoperative clinical result was obtained. Conclusion: It is important to be able to make a differential diagnosis between the presence of a latent pre-excitation syndrome with the development of orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocal tachycardia with the bundle branch block on the side of the extra atrioventricular junction (ipsilateral block) and other supraventricular tachycardias with an aberration along one of the bundle branches, in order to determine the tactics of the patient management and to control the effectiveness of the treatment.

Atrial fibrillation is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders. The most prominent risk factor for atrial fibrillation is advanced age. Population ageing contributes to an increase in both the prevalence of this pathology and socio-economic burden of the disease for society in general and the patient in particular. Adequate therapy and prevention of atrial fibrillation requires the search for novel prognostic risk markers for disease development, progression, and patients response to therapy. One of these markers is the length of telomeres structures at the ends of chromosomes that protect them from degradation during cell division. The article provides an overview of world studies, both confirming and disproving the role of leukocyte telomere length in atrial fibrillation development.

Introduction. The case report describes radiofrequency ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) using robotic magnetic navigation (RMN) in a teenager after surgery of congenital heart disease (CHD) and transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) using an occluder.Short description. The 16-year-old female patient was operated on in 2005 for CHD. In 2018, the patient underwent resection of ascending aortic sub-valvular membrane, followed by transcatheter closure of VSD with an occluder. After surgery, VT of 294 bpm was documented, which required an emergency hospitalization. Decision was taken to perform a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using RMN. RFA was performed from the pulmonary artery valve through the scar to upper occluder edge spreading to tricuspid valve. After procedure, VT paroxysms were not induced with all pacing types. According to ECG series and 24-hour Holter monitoring on the 2nd day after surgery, VT episodes were not recorded. During the 6-month follow-up period, VT episodes were not registered without taking antiarrhythmic drugs.Discussion. This case report demonstrates the effectiveness of using RMN system for VT ablation in a teenager with CHD, who underwent open surgical interventions and transcatheter VSD closure using an occluder.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disorder present in up to 1/500 individuals, about 20–30% of them presenting with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) due to left ventricle outflow tract obstruction. This is an important cause of sudden cardiac death. Endocardial radiofrequency ablation of septal hypertrophy (ERASH) might be an attractive treatment for HOCM, particularly in patients who do not respond to transcoronary alcohol septal ablation (TASA).Aim: To describe technical aspects related to the procedure and anesthetic management of an ERASH case.Case report: A 64-year-old woman with HOCM was scheduled for ERASH. She had worsening of dyspnea on exertion and generalized fatigue for the previous weeks after previous surgical myomectomy about 6 months ago. The anatomy was unfavorable for TASA and the patient was not willing to undergo another surgery. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed asymmetric mid-septal hypertrophy, systolic anterior motion with septal contact and left ventricular outflow tract maximum gradient of 68 mmHg at rest and 105 mmHg after the Valsalva maneuver. General anesthesia was performed. Pulse pressure variation, echocardiography parameters and passive leg raising test where used to guide fluid therapy. At the end of the procedure, analgesia was provided together with prophylaxis of nausea and vomiting. Extubation was uneventful and the patient was transported to the intensive care unit eupneic and hemodynamically stable. On the fourth postoperative day, TTE showed septal hypocontractility and maximum gradient reduction of 33% at rest (68 mmHg to 45 mmHg) and 31% after the Valsalva maneuver (105 mmHg to 73 mmHg). The patient was discharged from hospital at the sixth postoperative day. One month later, she reported progressive improvement of symptoms and expressed satisfaction with the results.Conclusion: Better understanding of the pathophysiology and natural history of HCM has enabled earlier diagnosis, as well as a more adequate therapeutic approach. Anesthesiologists should be aware of the pathophysiology of HOCM and must be prepared to anticipate the hemodynamic changes and cardiovascular instability that such patients may show perioperatively. ERASH is a promising therapeutic modality increasingly used for HOCM and anesthesiologists should become more familiar with it.

Premature ventricular contractions (PVC) is a very common type of arrhythmia. Some patients require surgical treatment. The search for the safest methods of surgical treatment is an important research task.Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation in patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias depending on the implementation of X-ray control.Material and methods. The study included 183 patients admitted to the Federal Center for Cardiovascular Surgery for elective surgery, with frequent idiopathic PVC and indications for surgical treatment of arrhythmia. In the majority of patients with idiopathic PVC, the central origin of ectopia is the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 (n=90) — patients with idiopathic PVC after fluoroscopy-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA); group 2 (n=93) — patients after RFA without fluoroscopy. All patients underwent electrocardiography, echocardiography, and electrophysiological testing. All patients before and after RFA underwent 24-hour Holter monitoring.Results. Among patients of group 1, the initial success of RFA was 62,2%, and in group 2 — 71% (p=0,21). Surgery complications were registered in 3,3% and 4,3% of patients of groups 1 and 2. No deaths have been reported. The duration of surgery did not depend on the use of fluoroscopy. Among patients with failed initial RFA, the effectiveness of subsequent interventions was 88,6%. The greatest efficiency of initial RFA was observed when the ectopic ventricular focus was located in RVOT The lowest efficiency of RFA was observed when the focus was located in the left ventricular papillary muscles.Conclusion. RFA in patients with idiopathic PVC without fluoroscopy does not increase the complication rate and the duration of surgery and have a comparable efficacy compared to fluoroscopy-guided RFA.

The article presents a case of diagnosis and treatment of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome combined with early ventricular repolarization syndrome in a 19-year-old patient. The clinical presentation was characterized by a rarer variant of tachycardia involving the manifest atrioventricular accessory pathway – antidromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia accompanied by syncope. The risk of sudden cardiac death was estimated based on the concomitant pathology. The indications for radiofrequency ablation of accessory pathway are presented and the method of carrying out ablation in the above patient is described.

The aim of this study was to identify possible ECG predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in the early period after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RCA). We compare P-waves parameters before and after radiofrequency catheter ablation. In total 12 lead surface ECG of forty-two patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation were analyzed before and after catheter ablation. The 12 lead surface ECG was recorded on sinus rhythm before and within 24-48 h after RCA . 13 patients out of 42 had atrial fibrillation recurrence. Patients with early AF recurrence were significantly older than patients with sinus rhythm. In the group of patients with AF recurrence, the duration of P wave was longer than in the group without AF recurrence. After RCA in both groups there were observed reducing of PQ interval and increasing of heart rate.

Из 360 пациентов без структурной патологии сердца, оперированных по поводу желудочковых нарушений ритма сердца, у 46 (12,8%) пациентов желудочковая экстрасистолия (ЖЭС) или желудочковые тахикардии (ЖТ) локализовались в области папиллярных мышц (ПМ) правого (ПЖ) и левого (ЛЖ) желудочков, а также волокон Пуркинье (ВП) и ножек пучка Гиса (НПГ; система Гиса - Пуркинье). Средний период наблюдения пациентов составил 40,63,6 мес. Отдаленная эффективность после одной или нескольких процедур аблации без приема антиаритмических препаратов (ААП) в группе пациентов с ЖЭС/ЖТ из ПМПЖ/ВП составила 78,6 и 92,9%, в группе ЖЭС/ЖТ из ПМЛЖ/НПГ 81,3 и 90,6%. Радиочастотная аблация (РЧА) ЖТ из папиллярных мышц ПЖ и ЛЖ, а также системы Гиса - Пуркинье позволяет устранить данные виды аритмий у большинства пациентов в течение отдаленного периода наблюдения.

Aims Distinguishing between ventricular arrhythmias originating from the left ventricular infero-septal papillary muscles (PM) and those from the left posterior fascicle (LPF) by surface electrocardiography (ECG) is very difficult. This study aimed to report the ECG characteristics and radiofrequency catheter ablation of PM and LPF ventricular arrhythmias. Methods and results A total of 127 patients underwent catheter ablation of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias originating from the LPF (n  = 106; 85 males; 10–70 years) or PM (n  = 21; 14 males; 4–68 years) were studied. A three-dimensional electroanatomic system (3D-EAS) was used to aid ablation. PM ventricular arrhythmias had a longer QRS duration (154.4 ± 18.0 vs. 119.7 ± 12.6 ms, P  < 0.001) than LPF ventricular arrhythmias. All 7 ventricular arrhythmias with QRS duration >160 ms originated from the PM, whereas all 87 ventricular arrhythmias with QRS duration <130 ms arose from the LPF. In 33 ventricular arrhythmias with QRS 130–160 ms, all 13 with V i/ V t ≤ 0.85 originated from the PM, and 19 of 20 with V i/ V t > 0.85 arose from the LPF. Of the 8 PM ventricular arrhythmias patients whose initial ablation was undertaken using a non-irrigated 4 mm-tip catheter, 1 failed and 6 recurred. However, of the remaining 13 ones using an irrigated catheter and the 3D-EAS, all succeeded and 2 recurred. No complications were noted in any patient. Conclusion PM ventricular arrhythmias could be identified from LPF ventricular arrhythmias by calculation of QRS duration combined with V i/ V t using ECG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy with its physiological neurohumoral and hemodynamic changes may cause new-onset cardiac arrhythmia or worsen existing arrhythmias. It is important to single out the arrhythmias in pregnant women, which pose no risk for mother or fetus and therefore are not a contraindication to vaginal delivery and occasionally need no medical treatment. On the other hand, the arrhythmias, that impair hemodynamics and those that are referred to as the so-called potentially malignant and malignant cardiac arrhythmias, require specific pharmacotherapy and, in a number of cases, invasive treatments. Arrhythmias pharmacotherapeutic challenges in pregnant women are determined by that many antiarrhythmic agents may be harmful to the fetus and that the results of controlled trials of this problem are few and conflicting. The paper covers the current areas and some disputable issues of medical and surgical treatments for a wide spectrum of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias in pregnant women and gives practical recommendations for the use of different classes of antiarrhythmic agents in them to stop and prevent cardiac arrhythmias depending on their fetal safety and the pattern of maternal cardiovascular and concomitant diseases.