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Catheter manipulation in the left-sided heart is known as a risk for cerebral embolisms (CEs). However, anticoagulation therapy is terminated before catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) concerning adverse bleeding events. Little is known whether uninterrupted direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) during perioperative period of CA could render the ablation procedure safer and reduce the incidence of CEs compared to interrupted DOACs. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and usefulness of uninterrupted dabigatran during the periprocedural period for CA of AF.We included 333 patients with paroxysmal AF undergoing cryoballoon CA (CBA). They were prospectively divided into 2 groups based on whether DOACs were interrupted on the day of the CA (Group A, n=228) or dabigatran was not interrupted throughout perioperative period (Group B, n=105) in a non-randomized fashion. When the Group B patients had taken other DOACs rather than dabigatran before assignment, we changed those DOACs to dabigatran. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was undertaken on the following day of the CA. Serious bleeding event cases were excluded from the study.The baseline characteristics including the CHADs2 score did not exhibit any significant differences between the groups. The brain MRI revealed an acute CEs in 82 patients, and was significantly higher in Group A than B (29% vs. 13%, respectively, p0.01). There were no significant differences regarding the bleeding events (7% vs. 4%, respectively, p=0.62).Uninterrupted dabigatran therapy during the CBA of paroxysmal AF could significantly reduce the incidence of CEs.

INTRODUCTION The left atrial (LA) posterior wall (LAPW) has been targeted to improve the clinical outcomes in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PersAF). This study aimed to investigate the feasibility, safety, and clinical implications of cryoballoon (CB) applications on the LAPW to accomplish electrical isolation (EI) of the LAPW with CB. METHODS A total of 100 patients (males, 84; mean age, 64 ± 10 years) with PersAF were enrolled. The first 50 patients underwent only pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) (PVI-only group) and the remaining 50 patients underwent PVI and EI of the LAPW with CB (EI-LAPW group). RESULTS One-year sinus rhythm maintenance probability was significantly higher in the EI-LAPW group than in PVI-only group (80.0% vs 55.1%, P = 0.01). The success rate of constructing an LA roof block line (LA-RB), bottom block line, and EI of the LAPW was 92%, 60%, and 58%, respectively. The nadir CB temperature (-45°C ± 4°C vs -39°C ± 5°C, P = 0.005) and anatomical angle of the left atrial roof (106°C ± 30°C vs 144°C ± 17°C, P

Background Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) can provoke acute reconnections after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). This study aimed to investigate dormant conduction (DC) after ablation with second-generation cryoballoon (CB). Methods Two hundred sixteen patients (148 male; age 64 ± 9 years) with atrial fibrillation (AF) were included. After a successful PVI with the CB, 20 mg of ATP was administered. All patients were followed up for 425 ± 56 days. Results Seven hundred ninety-five out of 864 (92%) PVs were successfully isolated solely by the CB. DCs were revealed in 8 (3.7%) after ATP injections. AF recurrences occurred in 2 out of 8 patients, while no AF recurrences could be documented in 6 out of 8 patients with DCs after a blanking period of 3 months (25% vs. 75%). In contrast, 29 (13.9%) patients without DCs had AF recurrences, and there was no significant difference between those with and without DCs regarding the recurrence rate of AF ( p = 0.38). There were no reliable predictors of DCs after the PVI with the CB. Conclusion The present study demonstrated a low rate of transient PV reconnection after adenosine infusion following successful PVI with the CB. There was no reliable predictor of DCs. Further studies will be needed in order to appreciate the prognostic value of adenosine testing after successful PVI with the CB.

Introduction Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using a cryoballoon (CB) is a useful tool for treating atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the clinical efficacy of the CB has never been fully investigated in patients with a left common pulmonary vein (LCPV). Methods and results Three hundred twenty-four consecutive paroxysmal AF patients underwent PVI with a CB. Three-dimensional computed tomography was performed in all patients before the ablation. The clinical outcomes of the AF ablation between patients with (Group A) and without an LCPV (Group B) were compared. An LCPV was observed in 27 (8%) patients. There were no significant differences in the procedure time (149±45 min vs. 143±40 min, respectively; P = 0.42) and percentage needing touch up ablation between the two groups (26% vs. 20%, respectively; P = 0.45). At a mean follow-up of 454±195days, 282 of 324 (87%) patients were free from any atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs) after a single procedure. Twenty out of 27 (74%) Group A patients and 262 of 297 (88%) Group B patients were free from ATs (15-month Kaplan-Meier event free rate estimates, 77% and 89%, respectively; P = 0.02). A multivariate analysis identified the presence of an LCPV and the left atrial diameter as reliable predictors of recurrent ATs. Conclusions The long-term clinical outcomes of ablation of AF with the CB was worse in patients with an LCPV than in those without. The presence of an LCPV and the LA size seemed to be reliable predictors of a worse outcome. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using a cryoballoon (CB) is a useful tool for treating atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the clinical efficacy of the CB has never been fully investigated in patients with a left common pulmonary vein (LCPV).Three hundred twenty-four consecutive paroxysmal AF patients underwent PVI with a CB. Three-dimensional computed tomography was performed in all patients before the ablation. The clinical outcomes of the AF ablation between patients with (Group A) and without an LCPV (Group B) were compared. An LCPV was observed in 27 (8%) patients. There were no significant differences in the procedure time (149 ± 45 min vs. 143 ± 40 min, respectively; P = 0.42) and percentage needing touch up ablation between the 2 groups (26% vs. 20%, respectively; P = 0.45). At a mean follow-up of 454 ± 195 days, 282 of 324 (87%) patients were free from any atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs) after a single procedure. Twenty out of 27 (74%) Group A patients and 262 of 297 (88%) Group B patients were free from ATs (15-month Kaplan-Meier event free rate estimates, 77% and 89%, respectively; P = 0.02). A multivariate analysis identified the presence of an LCPV and the left atrial diameter as reliable predictors of recurrent ATs.The long-term clinical outcomes of ablation of AF with the CB was worse in patients with an LCPV than in those without. The presence of an LCPV and the LA size seemed to be reliable predictors of a worse outcome.

Two Successful Cases of Tolvaptan Therapy for Water Retention in Patients with Adult Congenital Heart Disease MASAO YAMAGUCHI, TATSUYA FUNIMAMI, TAKATOSHI SHIGETA, KENJI KOURA, GO ISHIMARU, HIROYUKI OKADA, HIROSHI INAGAKI, NOBUO TOSHIDA, TOSHIHIKO TAKAMOTO, MITSUAKI ISOBE Department of Cardiology, Soka Municipal Hospital, Soka, Japan; Tokyo Medical and Dental University Department of Cardiovascular Medicine