Raymond Yee

Evaluation of Early Complications Related to De Novo Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation : Insights From the Ontario ICD Database

OBJECTIVESnThis study examined the predictors of early complications after defibrillator implantation.nnnBACKGROUNDnAlthough implantable cardioverter-defibrillators are widely used, predictors of procedural complications and the consequences of these events have not been determined.nnnMETHODSnIn a prospective, multicenter, population-based clinical outcomes registry of all newly implanted defibrillator patients at 18 centers in Ontario, Canada, we examined 45-day complications and all-cause mortality from February 2007 to May 2009. Complications were determined longitudinally and were categorized as direct implant-related or indirect events.nnnRESULTSnAmong 3,340 patients (mean age 63.8 +/- 12.5 years, 78.5% men), major complications occurred in 4.1% of de novo procedures. Compared with those undergoing a single-chamber device, implantation of a cardiac resynchronization defibrillator (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38 to 3.43, p < 0.001) or dual-chamber device (adjusted HR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.19 to 2.79, p = 0.006) was associated with increased risk of major complications. Major complications were increased in women (adjusted HR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.16, p = 0.037) and when left ventricular end-systolic dimension exceeded 45 mm (adjusted HR: 1.54, 95% CI: 1.08 to 2.20, p = 0.018). Major complications (excluding death) occurring early after defibrillator implantation were associated with increased adjusted risk of subsequent death up to 180 days after defibrillator implant (adjusted HR: 3.70, 95% CI: 1.64 to 8.33, p = 0.002). Direct implant-related complications were associated with increased risk of early death (adjusted HR: 24.89, p = 0.01), whereas indirect clinical complications conferred increased risk of near-term death (adjusted HR: 12.35, p < 0.001) after defibrillator implantation.nnnCONCLUSIONSnComplications after de novo defibrillator implantation were strongly associated with device type. Major complications were associated with increased risk of mortality.

Differential ventricular entrainment: A maneuver to differentiate AV node reentrant tachycardia from orthodromic reciprocating tachycardia

BACKGROUNDnDistinguishing atrioventricular node reentry (AVNRT) from orthodromic reentrant tachycardia (ORT) utilizing an accessory pathway (AP) can sometimes be challenging. A pacing maneuver that reliably distinguishes between the two would be of value.nnnOBJECTIVEnThis study sought to assess the utility of differential entrainment for the diagnosis of supraventricular tachycardia.nnnMETHODSnConsecutive patients underwent prospective electrophysiological study of regular paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Overdrive pacing with entrainment of tachycardia from each of the right ventricular apex and right ventricular base was performed. The post-pacing interval (PPI), PPI minus the tachycardia cycle length and corrected for AV node decrement (cPPI-TCL), and the ventriculoatrial (VA) interval (last RV pacing stimulus to last entrained high right atrial signal) were calculated at each site.nnnRESULTSnEntrainment at both RV sites was achieved in 35 patients, 16 with typical AVNRT, 1 with atypical AVNRT, and 18 with ORT (13 left free wall, 3 right free wall, and 2 septal APs). The cPPI-TCL and VA intervals were significantly longer from base than apex in AVNRT (cPPI-TCL 61 ms longer, VA 38 ms longer, both P < .0001). There was no significant difference in differential entrainment intervals in patients with ORT. A differential cPPI-TCL >30 ms or VA interval >20 ms identified patients with AVNRT with a positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of 100%.nnnCONCLUSIONnDifferential ventricular entrainment is a useful tool for diagnosing between AVNRT and ORT. A differential cPPI-TCL >30 ms or VA interval of >20 ms reliably predicts AVNRT.

Design and implementation of a population-based registry of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in Ontario

BACKGROUNDnThere are scarce population-based data on the use, complication rates, and outcomes of patients receiving implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).nnnOBJECTIVEnThis study sought to describe the methodology of the Ontario ICD Database, a prospective study of all ICD recipients in Ontario, Canada.nnnMETHODSnIn this registry, web-based data collection will be performed in all patients referred to a cardiac electrophysiologist for consideration of an ICD. The variables included in the database were determined by consensus. Outcomes to be assessed will include defibrillator device therapies (e.g., shock or antitachycardia pacing), morbidity, and death. Preliminary statistics are reported after the first 6 months of data collection.nnnRESULTSnOf 208 total variables selected by consensus, 111 (53.4%) were referral/patient characteristics, 12 (5.8%) were implant-related, and 85 (40.9%) were outcome variables. Among 990 referred patients, 902 were accepted, with the following ICD indications: primary prevention (63.3%), secondary prevention (21.6%), and generator replacement (15.1%). The mean (SD) age of patients with implants was 63.9 +/- 12.6 years, and 79% were men. Among accepted ICD patients, 66% had ischemic heart disease, 23% had nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, and 11% had other cardiac conditions. Left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction was highly prevalent, with 82% of primary and 44% of secondary prevention patients having LV ejection fraction <or=30%. The perioperative complication rate was 3.69%.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe Ontario ICD Database will examine defibrillator patient characteristics and clinical and device-related outcomes. Contemporary ICDs are implanted largely for primary prevention, and the majority of these conformed with LV ejection fraction guidelines.

Atrial Response to Ventricular Antitachycardia Pacing Discriminates Mechanism of 1:1 Atrioventricular Tachycardia

Background: Inappropriate shocks from implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) remain a significant clinical problem despite device discrimination algorithms. The atrial response to antitachycardia pacing (ATP) may determine the mechanism of 1:1 A:V tachycardia.

Clinical Risk Stratification for Primary Prevention Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Background—A conceptualized model may be useful for understanding risk stratification of primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators considering the competing risks of appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shock versus mortality. Methods and Results—In a prospective, multicenter, population-based cohort with left ventricular ejection fraction ⩽35% referred for primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillator, we developed dual risk stratification models to determine the competing risks of appropriate defibrillator shock versus mortality using a Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard model. Among 7020 patients referred, 3445 underwent defibrillator implant (79.7% men, median, 66 years [25th, 75th: 58–73]). During 5918 person-years of follow-up, appropriate shock occurred in 204 patients (3.6 shocks/100 person-years) and 292 died (4.9 deaths/100 person-years). Competing risk predictors of appropriate shock included nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, serum creatinine concentration, digoxin or amiodarone use, and QRS duration near 130-ms peak. One-year cumulative incidence of appropriate shock was 0.9% in the lowest risk category, and 1.7%, 2.5%, 4.9%, and 9.3% in low, intermediate, high, and highest risk groups, respectively. Hazard ratios for appropriate shock ranged from 4.04 to 7.79 in the highest 3 deciles (all P⩽0.001 versus lowest risk). Cumulative incidence of 1-year death was 0.6%, 1.9%, 3.3%, 6.2%, and 17.7% in lowest, low, intermediate, high, and highest risk groups, respectively. Mortality hazard ratios ranged from 11.48 to 36.22 in the highest 3 deciles (all P<0.001 versus lowest risk). Conclusions—Simultaneous estimation of risks of appropriate shock and mortality can be performed using clinical variables, providing a potential framework for identification of patients who are unlikely to benefit from prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Canadian Cardiovascular Society/Canadian Heart Rhythm Society Joint Position Statement on the Use of Remote Monitoring for Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Follow-up

Remote monitoring (RM) is a form of telemedicine technology that permits implanted pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators to transmit diagnostic information for review by health care professionals without patients needing to visit the device follow-up clinic. A bedside transmitter in the patients home conveys the device data using standard telecommunication protocol to a protected internet-accessible RM data server, which authorized health care professionals can access at any time using standard web browser software. Evidence indicates it can accelerate identification of clinical events and potential device problems. RM raises important medicolegal issues concerning the protection of a patients rights and the safeguarding of patient health information related to the collection, storage, and use of patient device information that must be addressed by follow-up centres. This position statement recommends that remote monitoring be available at all device follow-up clinics as an integral part of the standard of care of device patients and also provides helpful advice to centres for the proper design, implementation, and integration of a remote monitoring system into the clinic.

Rate-control versus conversion strategy in postoperative atrial fibrillation: trial design and pilot study results.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) remains a frequent complication of cardiac surgery. The optimal treatment strategy has not been established. Retrospective studies have suggested that a primary rate-control strategy may be equivalent to a strategy that restores sinus rhythm. Fifty patients with postoperative atrial fibrillation were randomly assigned to a strategy of antiarrhythmic therapy +/- electrical cardioversion or ventricular rate control. Anticoagulation with heparin overlapped with coumadin was administered to both arms. The primary endpoint of the study was time to conversion to sinus rhythm analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. The effects of strategy on hospital length of stay was examined as well as the incidence of recurrent AF. This study demonstrated no significant difference between an antiarrhythmic conversion strategy (n = 27) and a rate-control strategy (n = 23) in time to conversion to sinus rhythm (11.2 +/- 3.2 vs. 11.8 +/- 3.9 hours; p = 0.8). With Cox multivariate analysis to control for the effects of age, sex, beta-blocker usage, and type of surgery, the conversion strategy showed a trend toward reducing the time from treatment to restoration of sinus rhythm (p = 0.08). The length of hospital stay was reduced in the antiarrhythmic arm compared with the rate-control strategy (9.0 +/- 0.7 vs. 13.2 +/- 2.0 days; p = 0.05). In hospital relapse rates in the antiarrhythmic arm were 30% compared with 57% in the rate-control strategy (p = 0.24). At the termination of the study, 91% of the patients in the rate-control arm were in sinus rhythm compared with 96% in the antiarrhythmic arm. In conclusion, this pilot study shows little difference between a rate-control strategy and a strategy to restore/maintain sinus rhythm. Regardless of the strategy, majority of patients will be in sinus rhythm after two months. A larger randomized, controlled study is needed to assess the impact of restoration of sinus rhythm on length of stay.

When should we recommend catheter ablation for patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome?

Purpose of review Catheter ablation has been proven as very effective and safe therapy for patients with symptomatic Wolff–Parkinson–White (WPW) syndrome. Its application in asymptomatic individuals with WPW pattern remains controversial. This review will elaborate on the role of catheter ablation in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with WPW pattern on ECG. Recent findings Several recent prospective studies evaluated invasive risk stratification followed by prophylactic catheter ablation in asymptomatic patients with WPW pattern. Inducibility of arrhythmias in these patients during invasive electrophysiological study was shown to predict the development of future symptomatic arrhythmias. Although ablation of accessory pathways performed in ‘inducible’ patients decreased the incidence of subsequent symptomatic arrhythmias, the studies were not powered to detect a reduction in life-threatening arrhythmias. Summary Radiofrequency catheter ablation remains the first-line therapy for patients with symptomatic WPW syndrome. Invasive electrophysiological study and possible ablation of accessory pathway may be offered to well informed asymptomatic individuals with WPW if they are willing to trade the very small risk of subsequent sudden death or incapacity for a small immediate procedural risk of serious complications or death. Asymptomatic patients may require invasive risk stratification and possible catheter ablation for important social or professional reasons.

Acute Testing of the Rate‐Smoothed Pacing Algorithm for Ventricular Rate Stabilization

We evaluated the capability of a new pacemaker‐based rate‐smoothing algorithm (RSA) to reduce the irregular ventricular response of AF. RSA prevents sudden decreases in rate using a modified physiological band and flywheel feature. Twelve patients (51 ± 21 years) with hemodynamically tolerated AF of 4 months to 20 years duration were studied. Atrial and ventricular leads were connected to the external pacemaker device in the electrophysiology laboratory. Consecutive RR intervals during AF were measured at baseline and after ventricular pacing with RSA ON. Ventricular pacing with the rate smoothing algorithm reduced maximum RR intervals (1,207 ± 299 vs 855 ± 148 ms, P = 0.0005), with no significant change in the minimum RR interval (401 ± 55 vs 393 ± 74 ms, P = 0.292). A small shortening of the mean RR interval (634 ± 153 vs 594 ± 135 ms, P = 0.007) was seen with no change in the median RR interval (609 ± 153 vs 595 ± 143 ms, P = 0.388). There was a 43% reduction in RR standard deviation (145 ± 52 vs 82 ± 28, P = 0.0005), 49% reduction in mean absolute RR interval difference (MAD) (152 ± 64 vs 77 ± 34, P = 0.0005) and MAD/mean RR ratio (0.23 ± 0.05 vs 0.13 ± 0.04, P = 0.0005). We conclude that rate‐smoothed pacing effectively reduces RR variability of AF in the acute setting.

Noninvasive Assessment of Atrial Substrate Change after Wide Area Circumferential Ablation: A Comparison with Segmental Pulmonary Vein Isolation

Background: The wide area circumferential ablation (WACA) approach to atrial fibrillation is thought to result in ‘substrate modification’ perhaps related to autonomic denervation. We examined this prospectively by comparing WACA and segmental pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using noninvasive surrogate markers.