Search

Clinical observation of a patient with atrial fibrillation persisting throughout 21 years is presented with discussion of results of radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Aim: To evaluate long-term results of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) vs. rate-control strategy in patients with long-lasting persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) METHODS: We assessed 5-years results in 66 patients (53.3+/-12.3 years old, 8 women) with long-lasting persistent AF who underwent RFA (ablation group), as well as in age-gender-AF duration-matched patients who were treated with rate-control strategy (rate-control group).The ablation strategy consisted of wide-area circumferential lines around pulmonary veins, roof lines and extensive RFA of the left atrial substrate modification using a three-dimensional mapping system. Incidence of sinus rhythm (SR) maintenance, death, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), worsening of heart failure (NYHA) were evaluated after 5 years of follow-up., Results: After 5 years of follow up SR was present in 38 (56%) of 42 who were under follow up patients of ablation group and all patients had AF in rate-control group (95% CI 0.02247-0.3598; p=0.0001). Seventeen (27%) patients of ablation group continued to take atniarrhythmic drugs. 29 (44%) patients of ablation group vs. 48 (73%) patients of rate-control group received warfarin (95% CI 0.442-1.1; p=0.046) at five years of follow up. After five years of follow up the incidence of MI, stroke, worsening of heart failure functional class, and death in the ablation/rate-control groups were 0%/7.5% (95% CI 0.05247-0.30898; p=0,006), 0%/9% (95% CI 0.08903-0.32561; p=0.001), 6%/25% (95% CI 0.147-0.894; p=0.006), and 0.02%/0%, respectively., Conclusions: In patients with long-lasting persistent AF ablation strategy results in stable SR in the majority of patients, and decreased incidence of cardiovascular events compared with rate-control strategy during up to 5 years of follow-up.

We present here results of dynamic assessment of morphofunctional state of the myocardium by the method of transthoracic echocardiography (EchoCG) in patients with paroxysmal and chronic forms of typical atrial flutter (AF) before and during one year after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) of cavo-tricuspid isthmus, and comparison of them with analogous parameters in a group of healthy volunteers. Eighty six patients participated in the study. Group 1 comprised 48 patients suffering from paroxysmal form of typical AF including 42 (87.5%) men, 6 (12.5%) women (mean age 50.9+/-18.1 years). Group 2 consisted of 18 patients with permanent form of typical AF including 16 (88.9%) men and 2 (11.1%) women (mean age 53.6+/-9.4 years). The group of clinical comparison comprised 20 practically healthy persons (mean age 41.9+/-5.3 years) without structural pathology from the side of cardiovascular system including 15 (75.0%) men and 5 (25.0%) women. All group 1 and 2 patients were subjected to RFA of typical AF. In patients of groups 1 and 2 EchoCG was carried out before and in 2, 6, and 12 months after operation of RFA, in control group--once. Analysis of parameters of central hemodynamicas in patients with typical AF detected significantly lowered values of characteristics of myocardial contractile function compared with the group of practically healthy subjects. But these parameters did not differ significantly between patients with different variants of clinical course of arrhythmia. It was established that in patients with typical AF in 2 months after conduct of procedure significant improvement of myocardial inotropic function and diminishment of dimensions of cardiac chambers was noted. In 6 months after fulfilled RFA values of investigated parameters approximated analogous parameters in the group of clinical comparison.

We present in this paper results of assessment of morphofunctional state of myocardium in patients with the Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome before and during one year after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) of accessory atrioventricular junction (AAVJ) and comparison of them with analogous parameters of the group of healthy volunteers as well as in dependence on electrophysiological properties of AAVJ and its localization. One hundred sixty patients took part in the conducted study: main group comprised 160 patients (80.7%) with WPW syndrome (114 men [81.4%], 26 women [18.6%], mean age 39.5+/-15.3 years), comparison group comprised 20 practically healthy persons (15 men [75.0%], 5 women [25%], mean age 41.9+/-5.3 years). All main group patients were subjected to endocardial electrophysiological investigation and RFA of AAVJ. Transthoracic echocardiography (EchoCG) was carried out in patients of main group before and in 2, 6, and 12 months after operation of RFA of AAVJ, and once in control group. Analysis of parameters of central hemodynamics according to data of transthoracic EchoCG in patients with WPW syndrome before RFA of AAVJ demonstrated that before conduct of operative intervention no significant differences were revealed in the studied parameters compared with analogous characteristics of the clinical comparison group. During whole period of dynamic observation (2, 6, and 12 months after fulfilled RFA of AAVJ) in patients with WPW syndrome the studied parameters of central hemodynamics did not undergo substantial changes compared with initial characteristics. We failed to establish significant differences of EchoCG parameters in patients with WPW syndrome in dependence on electrophysiological properties of AAVJ (concealed, manifest) and on AAVJ localization (right, left, septal). According to EchoCG data in patients with WPW syndrome so called "minor" anomalies of development of connective tissue of the heart were diagnosed in 69 (49.3%) patients while in control group - in 2 (10%) patients.

The paper contains comparison of sensitivity and rates of false negative results of transthoracic (TT), transesophageal (TE), and intracardiac (IC) echocardiography (echoCG) during transseptal puncture in the run of the procedure of radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation. In the work fulfilled we analyzed results of 208 echocardiographical intraprocedural investigations conducted with the aim of visualization of interatrial septum (IAS) during transseptal puncture. TT, TE and IC echoCG were carried out in 32, 26, and 150 cases, respectively. Phenomenon of IAS stretching was visualized by TT echoCG in 2 (6%) cases (sensitivity 6.7%). At TE tenting phenomenon was verified in 20 patients (20%) (sensitivity 86.9%). Puncture of IAS was carried out under IC echoCG control in 127 patients. Puncture was made in the center of thin portion of IAS (in the region of fossa ovalis), in its upper and lower portions in 65, 28, and 15.7% of cases, respectively. Sensitivity of IC echoCG was 98.4%. Rate of false positive results reached 92.8, 13.04 and 1.5% for TT, TE and IC echoCG, respectively. At present IC echoCG is most sensitive and safe ultrasound technique for verification of optimal positioning of the system for conduct of transseptal puncture in the region of IAS in comparison with TT and TE echoCG.

The paper contains presentation of complex analysis of quality of life (QL) of 140 patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome before and during one year after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of accessory pathways (AP) . Assessment of QL was based on the use of nonspecific and specific questionnaires. Parameters of QL were analyzed in dependence on localization of AP and its electrophysiological properties (concealed, manifested). It was shown that before intervention parameters of QL in patients with WPW syndrome were significantly lower than in the group of clinical comparison (practically healthy persons). Complex study of criteria of QL allows to assert that just after 2 months after RFCA there occurs considerable improvement of the general condition of patients with WPW syndrome. 6 and 12 months after operation complete restoration of both physical and mental working capacity was noted. This is confirmed by absence of significant differences between QL criteria in patients with WPW syndrome and in the group of healthy volunteers.

We discuss approaches to the treatment of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, problems of prevention of sudden cardiac death in subjects with this pathology, and present results of multicenter study assessing efficacy of cardioverter defibrillator implantation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Special attention is devoted to the method of alcohol septal ablation in patient with obstructive form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and discussion of indications to this intervention. Clinical case is presented demonstrating early and long time results of alcohol septal ablation of pronounced obstruction of left ventricular outflow tract in a woman with high risk of sudden cardiac death.

Primary procedure of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) using nonfluoroscopic mapping system was carried out in 49 patients (mean age 52.2 +/- 11.3 years, 6 women). Etiology of AF was coronary artery disease, cardiosclerosis after myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy in 32, 11 and 2 patients, respectively. AF was idiopathic in 4 patients. History of chronic AF varied from 6 months to 17 years (mean 1.8 years). During follow-up for 14 +/- 5 months total efficacy of RFA was 86%. Redo procedures of endocardial electrophysiological study EPS and RFA were performed in 3 cases because of atypical atrial flutter in 2, 3, and 6 months after initial intervention, and in 1 case because of focal left atrial tachycardia (2 months after initial procedure of EPS and RFA for AF). After repetitive sessions because of atypical atrial flutter and focal left atrial tachycardia efficacy was 98%. There were no complications related to the operations.

The authors present first experience of application of the system for rheolytic therapy AngioJet in a group of patients with acute myocardial infarction. They describe principle of the work of rheolytic systems, possible procedure related complications. They also discuss results of clinical studies analyzing efficacy of antithrombotic therapy, efficacy and safety of rheolytic therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome and complicated atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries.

An experience of the use of rotational atherectomy during interventions on calcified stenoses of coronary arteries in survivors of myocardial infarction is presented. The article contains consideration of potential advantages of the use of rotablation, indications to its application and possible complications, as well as discussion of results of clinical studies of assessment of efficacy and safety of this procedure in patients with ischemic heart disease.

The authors present first experience of application of the system for rheolytic therapy AngioJet in a group of patients with acute myocardial infarction. They describe principle of the work of rheolytic systems, possible procedure related complications. They also discuss results of clinical studies analyzing efficacy of antithrombotic therapy, efficacy and safety of rheolytic therapy in patients with acute coronary syndrome and complicated atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries.

We present first in Russia experience of interventional treatment of 15 patients (11 men, 4 women, mean age 34.2 +/- 13.9 years) in whom operations of endocardial electrophysiological study (endoEPS) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with the help of robotic system of magnetic navigation were carried out because of various disturbances of cardiac rhythm. WPW syndrome and atrioventricular reciprocal tachycardia were verified in 8 patients (in 2 women), ventricular disturbances of rhythm -- in 4 (2 women), atrioventricular nodal reciprocal tachycardia in 3. RFA was effective in all cases what was confirmed in the course of control protocol of endoEPS. Complications related to the conduction of the procedure were not noted. Average duration of the operation was 82 +/- 32 min, mean duration of RF application -- 3.2 +/- 1.1 min. Average duration of fluoroscopic exposure of a patient and physician was 22 +/- 4 min and 3 +/- 1 min, respectively. In 1 patient with WPW syndrome recurrence of anterograde conduction along right anterior-septal accessory atrioventricular pathway (AAP) emerged on the second day after operation. Repeat session with the use of manual technique of irrigation RFA lead to persistent elimination of conduction along AAP. In other cases no recurrences of cardiac rhythm disturbances were observed during 10.2 +/- 1.2 months of follow up in the absence of antiarrhythmic maintenance therapy. The use of robotic system of magnetic navigation for mapping and RFA is highly effective and safe method of treatment of patients with various disorders of cardiac rhythm allowing to lessen significantly radiation burden on the operating physician.