Cardioneuroablation for the Treatment of Vasovagal Syncope: Current Status and Impact on Quality of Life

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a common entity causing transient loss of consciousness and affecting quality of life. Guideline-recommended therapy involves conservative measures and pacing in selected patients. Cardioneuroablation (CNA) targeting the ganglionated plexi in the heart has been shown to reduce excessive vagal excitation, which plays a major role in the pathophysiology of VVS and functional bradycardia.

RECENT FINDINGS

The introduction of CNA has fueled research into its value for the treatment of VVS. Multiple observational studies and one randomized trial have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of CNA and the positive impact on quality of life. This review describes the rationale and CNA procedural techniques and outcomes. Patient selection and future directions have also been described. Cardioneuroablation is a promising treatment for patients with recurrent VVS and functional bradycardia. Further large-scale randomized studies are needed to further verify the safety and efficacy of this approach.

Outcomes of early catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia in adult patients with structural heart disease and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials

Aims

Catheter ablation (CA) for ventricular tachycardia (VT) can improve outcomes in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Data on patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy are scarce. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to compare early CA for VT to deferred or no ablation in patients with ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Methods and results

Studies were selected according to the following PICOS criteria: patients with structural heart disease and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) for VT, regardless of the antiarrhythmic drug treatment; intervention–early CA; comparison–no or deferred CA; outcomes–any appropriate ICD therapy, appropriate ICD shocks, all-cause mortality, VT storm, cardiovascular mortality, cardiovascular hospitalizations, complications, quality of life; published randomized trials with follow-up ≥12 months. Random-effect meta-analysis was performed. Outcomes were assessed using aggregate study-level data and reported as odds ratio (OR) or mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Stratification by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was also done. Eight trials (n = 1,076) met the criteria. Early ablation was associated with reduced incidence of ICD therapy (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.33–0.83, p = 0.005), shocks (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.35–0.77, p = 0.001), VT storm (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.39–0.85, p = 0.006), and cardiovascular hospitalizations (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.49–0.92, p = 0.01). All-cause and cardiovascular mortality, complications, and quality of life were not different. Stratification by LVEF showed a reduction of ICD therapy only with higher EF (high EF OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.20–0.80, p = 0.01 vs. low EF OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.34–1.12, p = 0.11), while ICD shocks (high EF OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.25–1.15, p = 0.11 vs. low EF OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.30–0.83, p = 0.008) and hospitalizations (high EF OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.58–1.58, p = 0.85 vs. low EF OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.40–0.82, p = 0.002) were reduced only in patients with lower EF.

Conclusion

Early CA for VT in patients with structural heart disease is associated with reduced incidence of ICD therapy and shocks, VT storm, and hospitalizations. There is no impact on mortality, complications, and quality of life. (The review protocol was registered with INPLASY on June 19, 2022, #202260080).

Systematic review registration

[https://inplasy.com/], identifier [202260080].

Epidemiology and impact of frailty in patients with atrial fibrillation in Europe

BACKGROUND

Frailty is a medical syndrome characterised by reduced physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stressors. Data regarding the relationship between frailty and atrial fibrillation (AF) are still inconsistent.

OBJECTIVES

We aim to perform a comprehensive evaluation of frailty in a large European cohort of AF patients.

METHODS

A 40-item frailty index (FI) was built according to the accumulation of deficits model in the AF patients enrolled in the ESC-EHRA EORP-AF General Long-Term Registry. Association of baseline characteristics, clinical management, quality of life, healthcare resources use and risk of outcomes with frailty was examined.

RESULTS

Among 10,177 patients [mean age (standard deviation) 69.0 (11.4) years, 4,103 (40.3%) females], 6,066 (59.6%) were pre-frail and 2,172 (21.3%) were frail, whereas only 1,939 (19.1%) were considered robust. Baseline thromboembolic and bleeding risks were independently associated with increasing FI. Frail patients with AF were less likely to be treated with oral anticoagulants (OACs) (odds ratio 0.70, 95% confidence interval 0.55-0.89), especially with non-vitamin K antagonist OACs and managed with a rhythm control strategy, compared with robust patients. Increasing frailty was associated with a higher risk for all outcomes examined, with a non-linear exponential relationship. The use of OAC was associated with a lower risk of outcomes, except in patients with very/extremely high frailty.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large cohort of AF patients, there was a high burden of frailty, influencing clinical management and risk of adverse outcomes. The clinical benefit of OAC is maintained in patients with high frailty, but not in very high/extremely frail ones.

Present criteria for prophylactic ICD implantation: Insights from the EU-CERT-ICD (Comparative Effectiveness Research to Assess the Use of Primary ProphylacTic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators in EUrope) project

BACKGROUND

The clinical effectiveness of primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy is under debate. It is urgently needed to better identify patients who benefit from prophylactic ICD therapy. The EUropean Comparative Effectiveness Research to Assess the Use of Primary ProphylacTic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (EU-CERT-ICD) completed in 2019 will assess this issue.

SUMMARY

The EU-CERT-ICD is a prospective investigator-initiated non-randomized, controlled, multicenter observational cohort study done in 44 centers across 15 European countries. A total of 2327 patients with heart failure due to ischemic heart disease or dilated cardiomyopathy indicated for primary prophylactic ICD implantation were recruited between 2014 and 2018 (>1500 patients at first ICD implantation, >750 patients non-randomized non-ICD control group). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality, and first appropriate shock was co-primary endpoint. At baseline, all patients underwent 12‑lead ECG and Holter-ECG analysis using multiple advanced methods for risk stratification as well as documentation of clinical characteristics and laboratory values. The EU-CERT-ICD data will provide much needed information on the survival benefit of preventive ICD therapy and expand on previous prospective risk stratification studies which showed very good applicability of clinical parameters and advanced risk stratifiers in order to define patient subgroups with above or below average ICD benefit.

CONCLUSION

The EU-CERT-ICD study will provide new and current data about effectiveness of primary prophylactic ICD implantation. The study also aims for improved risk stratification and patient selection using clinical risk markers in general, and advanced ECG risk markers in particular.

Rationale and design of the EU-CERT-ICD prospective study: comparative effectiveness of prophylactic ICD implantation

Aims

The clinical effectiveness of primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy is under debate. The EUropean Comparative Effectiveness Research to Assess the Use of Primary ProphylacTic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (EU‐CERT‐ICD) aims to assess its current clinical value.

Methods and results

The EU‐CERT‐ICD is a prospective investigator‐initiated non‐randomized, controlled, multicentre observational cohort study performed in 44 centres across 15 European Union countries. We will recruit 2250 patients with ischaemic or dilated cardiomyopathy and a guideline indication for primary prophylactic ICD implantation. This sample will include 1500 patients at their first ICD implantation and 750 patients who did not receive a primary prevention ICD despite having an indication for it (non‐randomized control group). The primary endpoint is all‐cause mortality; the co‐primary endpoint in ICD patients is time to first appropriate shock. Secondary endpoints include sudden cardiac death, first inappropriate shock, any ICD shock, arrhythmogenic syncope, revision procedures, quality of life, and cost‐effectiveness. At baseline (and prior to ICD implantation if applicable), all patients undergo 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and Holter ECG analysis using multiple advanced methods for risk stratification as well as detailed documentation of clinical characteristics and laboratory values. Genetic biobanking is also organized. As of August 2018, baseline data of 2265 patients are complete. All subjects will be followed for up to 4.5 years.

Conclusions

The EU‐CERT‐ICD study will provide a necessary update about clinical effectiveness of primary prophylactic ICD implantation. This study also aims for improved risk stratification and patient selection using clinical and ECG risk markers.

The non-fluoroscopic navigation reduces significantly not only the fluoroscopic exposure during catheter ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus but the total radiofrequency time as well

Objective The non-fluoroscopic navigation (NFN) is known to reduce the fluoroscopic time during catheter ablation of various arrhythmias. We aimed to study the impact of NFN over several procedural parameters during radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation of the cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) in patients with CTI-dependent atrial flutter. Methods Data about 124 consecutive patients with CTI ablation performed were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into two groups: (1) ablation with two diagnostic catheters deployed in the coronary sinus and around the tricuspid annulus (NFN-, n = 62); (2) ablation with the same two catheters plus NFN system using cutaneous patches (NFN+, n = 62). Several procedural parameters were analysed. The non-parametric Mann-Whitney test was used for statistical analysis. A P-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results Acute success was achieved in 122 patients (98.4%), recurrences of atrial flutter were observed in 11 patients (8.9%). There were no significant differences between the NFN + and NFN- groups in the procedural duration (169.6 vs 157.6 min) and the recurrences (6.5 vs 11.3%). In the NFN + group the fluoroscopic time was shorter (9.4 vs 16.7 min), DAP was lower (2,128.3 vs 4,129.9 μGy*m²), the total RF time was shorter (1,870.5 vs 2,335.5 sec), Р < 0.05 for all parameters. Conclusions NFN reduces significantly not only the x-ray exposure but the total RF time as well. It does not influence the procedural duration and the recurrence rate. The acute and long-term success of catheter ablation of CTI is high irrespective of the use of NFN.

Ice mapping during tachycardia in close proximity to the AV node is safe and offers advantages for transcatheter ablation procedures

BACKGROUND

Ablation during ongoing orthodromic reentry tachycardia (AVRT) and atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) is not recommended using radiofrequency energy when the arrhythmia substrate is located in close proximity to the atrioventricular (AV) node due to a significant risk for inadvertent AV block. The aim of the study is to test the feasibility of ice mapping during tachycardias involving arrhythmia substrate located in close proximity to the AV node.

METHODS

This was a single-centre, prospective, randomized study. A total of 65 patients was screened and 30 patients with supraventricular arrhythmias were assigned either to a cryo or RF energy group after diagnosis of AVNRT (17 pts) or AVRT (13 pts) with an anteroseptal accessory pathway. RF ablation was performed using standard ablation techniques. In the cryo group, ice mapping was performed during tachycardia with cooling of the catheter tip temperature to a maximum of -40 degrees C. Ablation was performed only if ice mapping terminated the tachycardia without prolongation of the AV conduction.

RESULTS

The overall acute success rate was 84%, and was not different in the cryo and RF groups (85% vs. 82.4%, P = 0.43). Both fluoroscopy and the procedure times were comparable. There was a marked reduction in the mean number of applications in the cryo group [2 (1-6) vs. 7 (1-41), P = 0.002]. In one patient ablation was not attempted in the cryo group because of AV prolongation, and in two patients temporary second-degree AV block was observed in the RF group. After 12 months follow-up the long-term success rate was similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

(I) Ice mapping is a feasible method to determine the exact location of accessory pathways and of the slow pathway during tachycardia. (2) Ice mapping performed during tachycardia causes less ablation lesions without increasing the procedure and fluoroscopy times.

Evolution of left ventricular function in paediatric patients with permanent right ventricular pacing for isolated congenital heart block: a medium term follow-up

AIMS

We aimed to assess the evolution of left ventricular (LV) systolic function in children with right ventricular apical (RVA) pacing for isolated congenital heart block (ICHB) and to identify possible predictors of LV function deterioration. Right ventricular apical pacing can be detrimental to LV function in a significant number of adults. Effects in children are still controversial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Left ventricular shortening fraction (LV SF) and QRS duration were retrospectively assessed in 45 children with RVA pacing for ICHB: before pacemaker (PM) implantation, immediately after and then regularly during a follow-up of 58.69 +/- 45.23 months. Patients were categorized as stable or deteriorators according to an arbitrarily chosen cut-off point of > or =7% decrease in LV SF. Lupus status was unknown. Overall LV SF did not change significantly (41.42% +/- 8.21 before pacing, 39.77% +/- 7.03 immediately after PM implant, 37.43% +/- 9.91 with chronic pacing, P = NS). Deteriorators (n = 13) had significantly higher baseline heart rate (57.5 +/- 8.7 vs. 46.9 +/- 10.5 bpm, P < 0.05) and baseline LV SF (46.17 +/- 8.13 vs. 38.4 +/- 6.4%; P < 0.05), a significantly higher proportion of them being implanted before 2 years of age: 8 of 13 (61.5%) vs. 5 of 25 (20%) in the stable group (P < 0.05). Deteriorators had a higher incidence of an initial epicardial lead and narrower native QRS.

CONCLUSION

Permanent RVA pacing for ICHB does not necessarily affect LV function in children. The risk of deterioration of LV function seems to be higher in children with higher baseline heart rate and better baseline LV SF, especially with pacing at a younger age, a narrower native QRS and RVA epicardial pacing site.

Right diaphragmatic paralysis following endocardial cryothermal ablation of inappropriate sinus tachycardia

Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) is a rare disorder amenable to catheter ablation when refractory to medical therapy. Radiofrequency (RF) catheter modification/ablation of the sinus node (SN) is the usual approach, although it can be complicated by right phrenic nerve paralysis. We describe a patient with IST, who had symptomatic recurrences despite previous acutely successful RF SN modifications, including the use of electroanatomical mapping/navigation system. We decided to try transvenous cryothermal modification of the SN. We used 2 min applications at -85 degrees C at sites of the earliest atrial activation guided by activation mapping during isoprenaline infusion. Every application was preceded by high output stimulation to reveal phrenic nerve proximity. During the last application, heart rate slowly and persistently fell below 85 bpm despite isoprenaline infusion, but right diaphragmatic paralysis developed. At 6 months follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic and the diaphragmatic paralysis had partially resolved. This is the first report, we believe, of successful SN modification for IST by endocardial cryoablation, although this case also demonstrates the considerable risk of right phrenic nerve paralysis even with this ablation energy.