Abstract Background The past decades have seen the rapid development of the invasive treatment of arrhythmias by catheter ablation procedures. Despite its safety and efficacy being well-established in adults, to date there has been little data in pediatric scenarios. One of the main concerns is the possible expansion of the ablation procedure scar in this population and its consequences over the years. Objectives This study aimed to analyze the risk of myocardial injury progression after radiofrequency catheter ablation in pediatric […]

Introduction Fatal ventricular arrhythmias have an increased incidence in the case of structural heart diseases such as ischemic cardiomyopathy. It is known that ventricular premature contractions (PVCs) originating from Purkinje fibers can induce polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PMVT) and, subsequently, ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy., Ventricular arrhythmias associated with Purkinje usually do not respond to conventional antiarrhythmic drugs. Catheter ablation is a favorable and life-saving treatment strategy for VF triggered by Purkinje fibers. […]

Abstract Background Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) allows visualization of cardiac structures and recognition of complications during atrial fibrillation ablation (AFA). Compared to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), ICE is less sensitive to detecting thrombus in the atrial appendage but requires minimal sedation and fewer operators, making it attractive in a resource-constrained setting. Objective To compare 13 cases of AFA using ICE (AFA-ICE group) with 36 cases of AFA using TEE (AFA-TEE group). Methods This is a single-center prospective cohort study. The main outcome […]

Abstract Background Catheter ablation is a well-established therapy for rhythm control in patients who are refractory or intolerant to anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD). Less is known about the efficacy of catheter ablation compared with AAD as a first-line strategy for rhythm control in atrial fibrillation (AF). Objectives We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of catheter ablation vs. AAD in patients naïve to prior rhythm control therapies. Methods PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials […]

The complex post-surgical anatomy after the Senning procedure presents several challenges for catheter ablation. Transbaffle approach allows access to the pulmonary venous atrium and better catheter manipulation. However, this modified transseptal puncture can be challenging to perform. The authors present the case of a 29-year-old woman who underwent a Senning procedure for dextro-transposition of the great arteries. The patient had recurrent episodes of atrial flutter despite adequate antiarrhythmic therapy and was referred for catheter ablation. […]

Treatment of Secondary Mitral Regurgitation Before considering percutaneous treatment of mitral regurgitation (MR) for patients with heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and severe MR, we recommend that guideline-directed medical therapy be optimized, including cardiac resynchronization therapy and revascularization, where appropriate. The use of the edge-to-edge device could benefit patients with moderately severe or severe secondary MR (effective regurgitant orifice area [EROA] ≥ 30 mm2 and/or regurgitant volume > 45 mL) with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) […]

Abstract Background The use of ionizing radiation in medical procedures is associated with significant health risks for patients and the health care team. Objectives Evaluate the safety and acute efficacy of ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) and supraventricular arrhythmias (SVTs) using an exclusively non-fluoroscopic approach guided by intracardiac echo (ICE) and 3D-mapping. Methods 95 pts (mean age 60 ± 18 years, 61% male) scheduled for AF Ablation (69 pts, 45 paroxysmal AF and 24 persistent AF) or non-AF SVT (26 […]