Moises Levinstein

One‐Year Follow‐Up After Single Procedure Cryoballoon Ablation: A Comparison Between the First and Second Generation Balloon

With respect to the first generation Cryoballoon (CB), the second generation (Cryoballoon Advance [CB‐A], Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) was designed with technical modifications resulting in a larger and more uniform zone of freezing on the balloons surface aiming at procedural outcome improvement in the setting of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. However, a comparison between both technologies on a midterm follow‐up is missing in todays literature.

Phrenic nerve paralysis during cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation: A comparison between the first- and second-generation balloon

BACKGROUND Phrenic nerve palsy (PNP) is the most frequently observed complication during cryoballoon ablation (CB; Arctic Front, Medtronic, MN) occurring in roughly 7%-9% of the cases. The new second-generation cryoballoon ablation Arctic Front Advance (CB-A) (Arctic Front) has recently been launched in the market. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incidence of right PNP with the new CB-A in comparison with the first-generation balloon in a series of consecutive patients that underwent pulmonary vein isolation with this modality. METHODS The study was designed as an observational study with a prospective follow-up. In total, 121 consecutive patients were included: 80 patients with the CB (group 1) and 41 with the CB-A (group 2). RESULTS Mean procedural times, fluoroscopic times, and time to pulmonary vein isolation documented by real-time recordings were significantly lower in group 2 (P ≤ .05). The occurrence of PNP was significantly higher in group 2 (6.25% [5 of 80] in group 1 vs 19.5% [8 of 41] in group 2; P = .033). At 7 months, PNP persisted in 1 (2.5%) patient in the CB-A group. CONCLUSIONS Right PNP seems to occur in a significantly larger number of patients with the second-generation CB-A. However, this complication is reversible in nearly all cases on short-term follow-up. More refined phrenic nerve monitoring during right-sided pulmonary vein ablation and less vigorous wedging maneuvers in the pulmonary vein ostia might significantly reduce the occurrence of this complication.

Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Therapy in Brugada Syndrome: A 20-Year Single-Center Experience

BACKGROUND Patients with Brugada syndrome and aborted sudden cardiac death or syncope have higher risks for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and should undergo implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement. Device-based management of asymptomatic patients is controversial. ICD therapy is associated with high rates of inappropriate shocks and device-related complications. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to investigate clinical features, management, and long-term follow-up of ICD therapy in patients with Brugada syndrome. METHODS Patients presenting with spontaneous or drug-induced Brugada type 1 electrocardiographic findings, who underwent ICD implantation and continuous follow-up at a single institution, were eligible for this study. RESULTS A total of 176 consecutive patients were included. During a mean follow-up period of 83.8 ± 57.3 months, spontaneous sustained VAs occurred in 30 patients (17%). Eight patients (4.5%) died. Appropriate ICD shocks occurred in 28 patients (15.9%), and 33 patients (18.7%) had inappropriate shocks. Electrical storm occurred in 4 subjects (2.3%). Twenty-eight patients (15.9%) experienced device-related complications. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, aborted sudden cardiac death and VA inducibility on electrophysiologic studies were independent predictors of appropriate shock occurrence. CONCLUSIONS ICD therapy was an effective strategy in Brugada syndrome, treating potentially lethal arrhythmias in 17% of patients during long-term follow-up. Appropriate shocks were significantly associated with the presence of aborted sudden cardiac death but also occurred in 13% of asymptomatic patients. Risk stratification by electrophysiologic study may identify asymptomatic patients at risk for arrhythmic events and could be helpful in investigating syncope not related to VAs. ICD placement is frequently associated with device-related complications, and rates of inappropriate shocks remain high regardless of careful device programming.

Drug-Induced Brugada Syndrome in Children: Clinical Features, Device-Based Management, and Long-Term Follow-Up

OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to investigate the clinical features, management, and long-term follow-up of children with drug-induced Brugada syndrome (BS). BACKGROUND Patients with BS <12 years of age with a spontaneous type I electrocardiogram have a higher risk of arrhythmic events. Data on drug-induced BS in patients <12 years of age are lacking. METHODS Among 505 patients with ajmaline-induced BS, subjects ≤12 years of age at the time of diagnosis were considered as children and eligible for this study. RESULTS Forty children (60% male; age 8 ± 2.8 years) were included. Twenty-four children (60%) had a family history of sudden death. Two (5%) had a previous episode of aborted sudden death, and 8 (20%) had syncope. Children experienced more frequent episodes of sinus node dysfunction (SND) compared with older subjects (7.5% vs. 1.5%; p = 0.04) and had a comparable incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmias. Children more frequently experienced episodes of ajmaline-induced sustained ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) compared with older patients (10.0% vs. 1.3%; p = 0.005). Twelve children (30%) received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). After a mean follow-up time of 83 ± 51 months, none of the children died suddenly. Spontaneous sustained VAs were documented in 1 child (2%). Among children with ICD, 1 (8%) experienced an appropriate shock, 4 (33%) had inappropriate ICD shocks, and 4 (33%) experienced device-related complications. CONCLUSIONS Drug-induced BS is associated with atrial arrhythmias and SND. Children are at higher risk of ajmaline-induced VAs. The rate of device-related complications, leading to lead replacement or inappropriate shocks, is considerable and even higher than with appropriate interventions. Based on these findings, the optimal management of BS in childhood should remain individualized, taking into consideration the patients clinical history and familys wishes.

Clinical Characteristics, Management, and Prognosis of Elderly Patients with Brugada Syndrome.

The clinical course and prognosis of Brugada syndrome (BS) in the elderly is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics, management, and prognosis of BS in an elderly population.

Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias during ajmaline challenge in patients with Brugada syndrome: Incidence, clinical features, and prognosis

BACKGROUND Sustained ventricular arrhythmias (sVAs), such as polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, can complicate ajmaline challenge in patients with Brugada syndrome (BS). OBJECTIVE To assess the incidence of life-threatening sVAs during ajmaline administration in a large series of patients with BS. In addition, clinical characteristics as well as prognosis of these patients were evaluated. METHODS All consecutive patients with ajmaline-induced diagnosis of BS were eligible for this study. RESULTS A total of 503 patients were included. Nine (1.8%) patients (44% men; mean age 26 ± 18 years) developed a life-threatening sVA during ajmaline challenge. Three patients (33%)were children, and 2 (22%) patients experienced sVAs refractory to the first external defibrillation. One patient underwent venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to restore sinus rhythm. Age at the time of ajmaline challenge was significantly lower in patients with sVAs compared with patients without sVAs (26 ± 18 years vs 41 ± 18 years; P = .01). Moreover, patients with sVAs presented more frequently with sinus node dysfunction compared with patients with normal response to ajmaline (22.2% vs 1.4%; P = .01). After a mean follow-up time of 29 ± 8 months, none of the patients who had developed a sVA during ajmaline challenge died suddenly or developed further life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. CONCLUSIONS sVA during ajmaline challenge is not a rare event in BS occurring in 9 (1.8%) patients. Despite its challenging acute treatment, the occurrence of ajmaline-induced sVAs in patients with BS might not identify a category at higher risk for further arrhythmic events.

Comparison of the patient-activated event recording system vs. traditional 24 h Holter electrocardiography in individuals with paroxysmal palpitations or dizziness

AIMS Electrocardiographic documentation of symptomatic episodes of palpitations by means of traditional methods such as 24 h Holter monitoring (HM) or loop recorders is challenging. Patient-activated electrocardiography (ECG) recorders have been proved to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of arrhythmias in these patients. However, no comparison studies between the two techniques have been conducted. The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic value of Holter ECG and a patient-activated event recorder (OMRON portable HeartScan ECG Monitor(®)) (HeartScan) in the detection of arrhythmias in patients with paroxysmal palpitations or dizziness suggestive of cardiac arrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS Patients with paroxysmal palpitations or dizziness were eligible for this study. All patients underwent an HM for 24 h and a 15-day HeartScan after the HM. Six hundred and twenty-five patients (48% male, mean age: 37 ± 11 years) were included in the study. All patients present with normal heart structure, normal baseline 12-lead ECG, and normal echocardiogram. Indications for ECG monitoring were palpitations in 577 patients (92.3%) and dizziness in 48 (7.7%). Holter monitoring offered a clinical diagnosis in 11 patients (1.8%). Conversely, HeartScan diagnosed the clinical arrhythmia in 558 individuals (89%). Detection of symptoms-related arrhythmias by means of HeartScan was significantly higher when compared with HM (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The studied system proved to be an efficient event recorder providing the diagnosis of the clinical arrhythmia in 89% of patients with paroxysmal palpitations or dizziness. Further studies are needed to confirm our results.

Pulmonary vein isolation in patients with Brugada syndrome and atrial fibrillation: a 2-year follow-up.

AIMS Pharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the setting of Brugada syndrome (BS) might be challenging as many antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) with sodium channel blocking properties might expose the patients to the development of ventricular arrhythmias. Moreover, patients with BS and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) might experience inappropriate shocks because of AF with rapid ventricular response. The role of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with BS and recurrent episodes of AF has not been established yet. In this study, we analysed the outcome of PVI using radiofrequency energy or cryoballoon (CB) ablation at 2 years follow-up. METHODS AND RESULTS Consecutive patients with BS having undergone PVI for drug-resistant paroxysmal AF were eligible for this study. Nine patients (three males; mean age: 52 ± 26 years) were included. Six patients (67%) had an ICD implanted of whom three had inappropriate shocks because of rapid AF. At a mean 22.1 ± 6.4 months follow-up, six patients (67%) were free of AF without AADs. None of the three patients who had experienced inappropriate ICD interventions for AF had further ICD shocks after ablation. CONCLUSION In our study PVI can be an effective and safe procedure to treat patients with BS and recurrent episodes of paroxysmal AF.

One Year Incidence of Iatrogenic Atrial Septal Defect After Cryoballoon Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation by means of cryoballoon (CB) technology is an effective treatment for symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) refractory to antiarrhythmic drug therapy. The CB requires a 15F transseptal sheath that may lead to the creation of a iatrogenic atrial septal defect (IASD).

The clinical significance of pregnancy in Brugada syndrome.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Little is known about the risks and outcomes of pregnancy in women with Brugada syndrome. We therefore evaluated pregnancy outcomes and the influence of pregnancy in patients with Brugada syndrome. METHODS A retrospective analysis was performed in all pregnant women with Brugada syndrome. We included 104 women with a total of 219 deliveries. RESULTS There were 15 spontaneous abortions. One infant died suddenly during the night 3 months after birth. Six pregnant women reported they had experienced at least 1 syncope during the pregnancy. Of the 3 women who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator before the pregnancy, none received arrhythmia episodes. There were no events during the pregnancy in 4 patients with a previously aborted sudden cardiac death. Of 24 patients with syncope when not pregnant, 18 were asymptomatic and 6 experienced a recurrent syncope during the pregnancy. During the follow-up (mean follow-up 298.9 days; 95% confidence interval, 289.6-308.2), 2 women received appropriate shocks. CONCLUSIONS In this retrospective, single-center study, serious events were not more frequent during pregnancy and the peripartum period in women with Brugada syndrome. The occurrence of syncope during pregnancy was not associated with a worst outcome in the peri- and postpartum periods or during follow-up. The reported rate of miscarriage and sudden infant death will require further studies to confirm or rule out its association with Brugada syndrome.