Late presentation of constrictive pericarditis after limited epicardial ablation for inappropriate sinus tachycardia

Epicardial ventricular arrhythmia ablation: a clinical consensus statement of the European Heart Rhythm Association of the European Society of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society, the Asian Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, the Latin American Heart Rhythm Society, and the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society

Epicardial access during electrophysiology procedures offers valuable insights and therapeutic options for managing ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). The current clinical consensus statement on epicardial VA ablation aims to provide clinicians with a comprehensive understanding of this complex clinical scenario. It offers structured advice and a systematic approach to patient management. Specific sections are devoted to anatomical considerations, criteria for epicardial access and mapping evaluation, methods of epicardial access, management of complications, training, and institutional requirements for epicardial VA ablation. This consensus is a joint effort of collaborating cardiac electrophysiology societies, including the European Heart Rhythm Association, the Heart Rhythm Society, the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, the Latin American Heart Rhythm Society, and the Canadian Heart Rhythm Society.

Intrapericardial Corticosteroids and Colchicine Prevent Pericarditis and Atrial Fibrillation After Epicardial Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias

BACKGROUND

Postprocedural pericarditis (PP) can occur in up to 29.4% of patients undergoing epicardial catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Despite several proposed strategies to mitigate this adverse outcome, rates of PP and pericarditic pain remain high.

OBJECTIVES

This study sought to assess the impact of intrapericardial steroids instillation (ISI) combined with periprocedural colchicine on PP after epicardial VT ablation.

METHODS

This prospective multicenter study included patients undergoing epicardial VT ablation between June 2021 and December 2023. The primary outcome was the occurrence of pericarditis, defined as the presence of pericarditic chest pain and pericarditic electrocardiographic (ECG) changes. Secondary outcomes included the pericarditic pain score at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after the procedure, pericardial effusion, postprocedural new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF), constrictive pericarditis, admission due to pericarditis, and gastrointestinal side effects. A systematic literature search was performed to identify historical control groups to compare with our cohort.

RESULTS

A total of 129 patients underwent epicardial VT ablation with subsequent ISI and colchicine therapy. The combination of ISI and colchicine resulted in a nonsignificant trend of lower rates of pericarditis when compared with all historical control groups (3.1% [4 of 129] vs 7.0% [12 of 172]; P = 0.109) and a significant difference when compared to intrapericardial steroids (3.1% vs 13.2%; P = 0.030). The rates of pericarditic pain (10.9% [14 of 129] vs 30.9% [21 of 68]; P = 0.001), pericarditic ECG changes (5.4% [7 of 129] vs 33.8% [23 of 68]; P < 0.001) and new-onset atrial fibrillation (0.8% vs 19.5%; P = <0.001) were significantly lower in our study than in historical control groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The instillation of intrapericardial steroids along with periprocedural colchicine after epicardial VT ablation led to a decreased incidence of adverse effects associated with pericardial inflammation when compared with historical control groups. Further research with contemporary control groups is needed to confirm the suggested impact of the strategy described here.

Heartfelt struggles: When ablation brings the squeeze

Pericarditis frequently occurs as a complication following pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF), yet it seldom progresses to constrictive pericarditis (CP). The diagnosis of constrictive pericarditis is often challenging owing to nonspecific signs and symptoms. Nevertheless, a high level of suspicion and prompt diagnosis offer an ultimate cure. We present a case of a 65-year-old patient who developed chronic pericarditis following PVI. This instance underscores the importance of promptly identifying this complication within this particular group of patients.

Post cardiac injury syndromes: diagnosis and management

Post cardiac injury syndromes (PCIS) are becoming increasingly common, due to the growing number of cardiovascular procedures (cardiac surgery, percutaneous interventions) and the high burden of cardiovascular diseases such as acute coronary syndromes. This review aims to provide an overview of the main clinical characteristics of PCIS, along with their management in clinical practice.

Epicardial Ablation Complications

The percutaneous epicardial approach has become an adjunctive tool for electrophysiologists to treat disparate cardiac arrhythmias, including accessory pathways, atrial tachycardia, and particularly ventricular tachycardia. This novel technique prompted a strong impulse to perform epicardial access as an alternative strategy for pacing and defibrillation, left atrial appendage exclusion, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and genetically engineered tissue delivery. However, because of the incremental risk of major complications compared with stand-alone endocardial ablation, it is still practiced in a limited number of highly experienced centers across the world.