Benjamin Berte

Role of electrophysiological studies in predicting risk of ventricular arrhythmia in early repolarization syndrome.

BACKGROUND The early repolarization (ER) pattern is associated with an increased risk of arrhythmogenic sudden death. However, strategies for risk stratification of patients with the ER pattern are not fully defined. OBJECTIVES This study sought to determine the role of electrophysiology studies (EPS) in risk stratification of patients with ER syndrome. METHODS In a multicenter study, 81 patients with ER syndrome (age 36 ± 13 years, 60 males) and aborted sudden death due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) were included. EPS were performed following the index VF episode using a standard protocol. Inducibility was defined by the provocation of sustained VF. Patients were followed up by serial implantable cardioverter-defibrillator interrogations. RESULTS Despite a recent history of aborted sudden death, VF was inducible in only 18 of 81 (22%) patients. During follow-up of 7.0 ± 4.9 years, 6 of 18 (33%) patients with inducible VF during EPS experienced VF recurrences, whereas 21 of 63 (33%) patients who were noninducible experienced recurrent VF (p = 0.93). VF storm occurred in 3 patients from the inducible VF group and in 4 patients in the noninducible group. VF inducibility was not associated with maximum J-wave amplitude (VF inducible vs. VF noninducible; 0.23 ± 0.11 mV vs. 0.21 ± 0.11 mV; p = 0.42) or J-wave distribution (inferior, odds ratio [OR]: 0.96 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.33 to 2.81]; p = 0.95; lateral, OR: 1.57 [95% CI: 0.35 to 7.04]; p = 0.56; inferior and lateral, OR: 0.83 [95% CI: 0.27 to 2.55]; p = 0.74), which have previously been demonstrated to predict outcome in patients with an ER pattern. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that current programmed stimulation protocols do not enhance risk stratification in ER syndrome.

nMARQ Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Results from a Multicenter Study

nMARQ is a multipolar catheter designed to simultaneously ablate at multiple sites around the pulmonary vein (PV) circumference with a single radiofrequency application. We sought to define the safety and efficacy of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation with the nMARQ catheter.

Postmyocarditis ventricular tachycardia in patients with epicardial-only scar: a specific entity requiring a specific approach.

Nonischemic cardiomyopathy is a heterogeneous condition providing a favorable substrate for ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Image Integration to Guide Catheter Ablation in Scar-Related Ventricular Tachycardia

Although multi‐detector computed tomography (MDCT) and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can assess the structural substrate of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), non‐ICM (NICM), and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), the usefulness of systematic image integration during VT ablation remains undetermined.

Substrate mapping and ablation for ventricular tachycardia: the LAVA approach.

Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is proven effective therapy particularly in patients with frequent defibrillator shocks. However, the optimal endpoint for VT ablation has been debated and additional endpoints have been proposed. At the same time, ablation strategies aiming at homogenizing the substrate of scar‐related VT have been reported.

Variability in interpretation of the electrocardiogram in young athletes: an unrecognized obstacle for electrocardiogram-based screening protocols.

AIMS To assess in young athletes (i) the variability in the percentage of abnormal electrocardiograms (ECGs) using different criteria and (ii) the variability in ECG interpretation among cardiologists and sport physicians. METHODS AND RESULTS Electrocardiograms of 138 athletes were categorized by seven cardiologists according to the original European Society of Cardiology (ESC) criteria by Corrado (C), subsequently modified by Uberoi (U), Marek (M), and the Seattle criteria (S); seven sports physicians only used S criteria. The percentage of abnormal ECGs for each physician was calculated and the percentage of complete agreement was assessed. For cardiologists, the median percentage of abnormal ECGs was 14% [interquartile range (IQR) 12.5-20%] for C, 11% (IQR 9.5-12.5%) for U [not significant (NS) compared with C], 11% (IQR 10-13%) for M (NS compared with C), and 7% (IQR 5-8%) for S (P < 0.005 compared with C); complete agreement in interpretation was 64.5% for C, 76% for U (P < 0.05 compared with C), 74% for M (NS compared with C), and 84% for S (P < 0.0005 compared with C). Sport physicians classified a median of 7% (IQR 7-11%) of ECGs as abnormal by S (P = NS compared with cardiologists using S); complete agreement was 72% (P < 0.05 compared with cardiologists using S). CONCLUSION Seattle criteria reduced the number of abnormal ECGs in athletes and increased agreement in classification. However, variability in ECG interpretation by cardiologists and sport physicians remains high and is a limitation for ECG-based screening programs.

History and clinical significance of early repolarization syndrome.

The early repolarization (ER) pattern has historically been regarded as a benign ECG variant. However, in recent years this view has been challenged based on multiple reports linking the ER pattern with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. The mechanistic basis of ventricular arrhythmogenesis in ER syndrome is presently incompletely understood. Furthermore, strategies for risk stratification and therapy for ER syndrome remain suboptimal. The recent emergence of novel mapping techniques for cardiac arrhythmia has ushered a new era of research into the mechanistic basis of ER syndrome. This review provides an overview of current evidence relating to ER and risk of ventricular arrhythmias and discusses potential future areas of research to elucidate the mechanisms of ventricular arrhythmogenesis.

Safety and prevention of complications during percutaneous epicardial access for the ablation of cardiac arrhythmias

Cite this article as: Han S. Lim MBBS, PhD, Frédéric Sacher MD, Hubert Cochet MD, Benjamin Berte MD, Seigo Yamashita MD, Saagar Mahida MBChB, Stephan Zellerhoff MD, Yuki Komatsu MD, Arnaud Denis MD, Nicolas Derval MD, Mélèze Hocini MD, Michel Haïssaguerre MD, Pierre Jaïs MD, Safety and Prevention of Complications during Percutaneous Epicardial Access for the Ablation of Cardiac Arrhythmias, Heart Rhythm, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.hrthm.2014.05.041

Noninvasive Mapping to Guide Atrial Fibrillation Ablation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a dynamic rhythm. Noninvasive mapping overcomes many previous barriers to mapping such a dynamic rhythm, by providing a beat-to-beat, biatrial, panoramic view of the AF process. Catheter ablation of AF drivers guided by noninvasive mapping has yielded promising clinical results and has advanced understanding of the underlying pathophysiologic processes of this common heart rhythm disorder.

Contribution of PET Imaging to the Diagnosis of Septic Embolism in Patients With Pacing Lead Endocarditis.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the role of 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scanning in identifying septic embolism in patients with lead endocarditis. BACKGROUND Lead endocarditis may be associated with septic embolism, in which case the administration mode, type, and duration of antibiotic therapy must be adapted. However, diagnosis can be challenging: magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) cannot be performed in the vast majority of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). FDG PET/CT scanning has been proposed as a diagnostic tool for suspected CIED infection. METHODS Thirty-five consecutive patients with lead endocarditis were prospectively studied. FDG PET/CT scanning was performed and analyzed blindly by experienced nuclear medicine physicians to assess for the presence of septic embolism 2 days before lead extraction. RESULTS FDG PET/CT scanning identified septic emboli in 10 patients (29%): 7 with spondylodiscitis, 2 with septic pulmonary emboli, and 1 with an infected vascular prosthesis. Among the 7 patients with occult spondylodiscitis, 4 were asymptomatic, and 3 had back pain with negative CT imaging, MRI being contraindicated due to non MRI-compatible CIEDs. Antimicrobial therapy was adapted (double antibiotic therapy with good bone penetration) and prolonged. Among other important ancillary findings, 3 patients presented focal FDG uptake in the colon (1 adenocarcinoma, and 2 resected polyps) and 2 in the esophagus (both cases confirmed as neoplasia). CONCLUSIONS This study emphasizes the potential utility of FDG PET/CT scanning as a diagnostic tool for septic emboli in patients with pacing lead endocarditis. This promising diagnostic tool may be integrated in the diagnostic algorithm of patients with lead endocarditis because diagnosis of septic embolisms has a direct and significant impact on the therapeutic care pathway.