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Background: Superior vena cava (SVC) has been considered a specific trigger in atrial fibrillation development., Methods: We investigated the efficacy and safety of combining cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with SVC ablation compared with PVI alone in 100 patients with paroxysmal or non-long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation. Patients were randomly assigned to either the PVI+SVC ablation group or the PVI-only group. Each patient was given a mobile device to record a daily ECG and detect atrial tachyarrhythmias., Results: The primary end point, freedom from any atrial tachyarrhythmia recurrence between 91 and 365 days post-catheter ablation, did not significantly differ between the 2 groups (62.9% versus 72%; P =0.41). However, the PVI+SVC group exhibited higher rates of phrenic nerve paralysis (20.8% versus 6%; P =0.003) and transient sinus node injury (18.8% versus 0%; P =0.001) compared with the PVI-only group. The median burden of atrial tachyarrhythmia showed no significant difference ( P =0.91)., Conclusions: The addition of SVC ablation to PVI did not enhance freedom from atrial tachyarrhythmia at 12 months, and it led to increased complications. These findings do not support the routine inclusion of SVC ablation in cryoballoon procedures for first-time catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal or non-long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation., Competing Interests: None.

Background and Objectives: The common practice after atrial fibrillation ablation is to admit patients for an overnight stay. The aim of this study was to compare a strategy of vascular suture mediated closure system utilization and early discharge (strategy A) compared to traditional closure and overnight hospitalization (strategy B) regarding feasibility, safety, quality of life and health care cost effectiveness., Methods and Results: Hundred patients were randomized to compare both strategies. No clinical differences were reported except diabetes mellitus. Six patients (6%) had and emergency visit or were admitted in the first 30 days after procedure. Three occurred in strategy A versus three in strategy B (p = 1) (p < .005 for non-inferiority). Forty out of 50 patients (80%) were safely discharged in a time frame of 3 h and 42 patients (84%) were discharged in the same day of the procedure in strategy A. Time to discharge was shorter in strategy A compared to strategy B. (5.89 ± 7.47 h vs. 27.09 ± 2.29 p < .005). No differences were obtained in quality-of-life outcomes. Mean (95% CI) euros cost saving per patient in strategy A was 379.16 ± 93.55 p < .001. Ten acute complications (10% patients CI 95% 4.02%-15.98%) were reported during the trial. Seven (14% CI 95% 4.04%-23.96%) occurred in strategy A patients versus 3 (6% CI 95% 0.8%-12.8%) in strategy B. (p = .182) CONCLUSION: A strategy of vascular suture mediated closure system utilization and early discharge was feasible, reduced time to discharge, saved costs and was not associated with more complications or admissions/emergency visits in a 30-day time frame after procedure compared to a strategy of regular admission and discharge after overnight stay. There were no differences regarding quality-of-life parameters between both strategies., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Objective: Anxiety is often present among patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This condition has been associated with greater symptom severity and worse quality of life in these patients. However, the influence of anxiety on the risk of AF recurrence is not well known. We aimed to define the level of anxiety in patients with persistent AF undergoing elective cardioversion (EC) and determine whether there is an association between anxiety and the risk of early AF recurrence after EC., Methods: Anxiety was measured before EC using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Early AF recurrence was assessed with a control electrocardiogram at 30-day follow-up., Results: We included 107 patients undergoing effective EC. Early AF recurrence was diagnosed in 40 patients (37.4%). Compared with those who remained in sinus rhythm, individuals with early AF recurrence had significantly higher levels of trait anxiety (23.1 [10.4] versus 17.9 [9.5]; p = .013) and larger left atrial volume index (45.8 [12.3] versus 37.9 [13.3] ml/m; p = .004). Both variables remained independently associated with early AF recurrence after multivariate analysis. A predictive model including trait anxiety score >20 and left atrial volume index >41 ml/m showed acceptable accuracy for the diagnosis of early AF recurrence (area under the curve = 0.733; 95% confidence interval = 0.634-0.832; p < .001)., Conclusions: Our study shows that trait anxiety is an independent risk factor for early AF recurrence after EC. Further studies are warranted to assess the beneficial role of anxiety-reducing strategies on the outcomes of patients with AF.

Background: Embolic cerebrovascular events that remain of unknown etiology after a thorough diagnostic evaluation, are known as Embolic Strokes of Undetermined Source (ESUS). Subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) represents a significant underlying cause of ESUS. Our aims were to examine the overall diagnostic yield of a prolonged cardiac monitoring wearable system (PCMw) after an ESUS to detect AF and factors associated with it, including the time frame from the ESUS event to PCMw initiation. Additionally, to evaluate the frequency of unexpected arrhythmic events (UAE) and their prognostic implications. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 200 ECG recordings (3‐leads, 30 days duration) by means of a PCMw in patients with an ESUS to detect AF lasting longer than 30 s, between 2017 and 2021. UAE were defined as arrhythmia events that were not correlated to the main reason of prolonged cardiac monitoring. Results: AF was detected in 21 patients (10.5%). Patients with AF had more left atrial enlargement (OR = 4.22 [1.59–6.85]; p =.01) and atrial arrythmias in the initial 24‐h Holter during hospitalization (OR = 5.73 [2.03–16.49]; p =.001). The detection of AF was significatively higher if the PCMw was worn within the first 30 days after the ESUS compared to beyond 30 days (17% vs. 10.3%; p =.002). Fifty three patients (26.5%) had UAE during PCMw. In six of them these findings led to targeted treatment. Conclusion: PCMw represents a feasible non‐invasive device that could reliably detect subclinical AF episodes after an ESUS. Diagnostic yield was significatively higher when used within the first 30 days after the event, especially in selected patients. UAE were common, but did not impact prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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