Walid Saliba

Prevalence, Predictors, and Mortality Significance of the Causative Arrhythmia in Patients with Electrical Storm

Introduction: Electrical storm (ES) is characterized by either refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). However, little is known about the prevalence, predictors, and mortality implications of the causative arrhythmia in ES. We sought to assess the prevalence, predictors, and survival significance of VT and VF as the causative arrhythmia of ES in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients.

Usefulness of Midodrine in Patients with Severely Symptomatic Neurocardiogenic Syncope: A Randomized Control Study

Midodrine for Neurocardiogenic Syncope. Introduction: The efficacy of midodrine for the management of patients with neurocardiogenic syncope was assessed prospectively in a randomized control study.

Efficacy of Adjuvant Anterior Left Atrial Ablation During Intracardiac Echocardiography‐Guided Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Recent data have shown that the septum and anterior left atrial (LA) wall may contain “rotor” sites required for AF maintenance. However, whether adding ablation of such sites to standard ICE‐guided PVAI improves outcome is not well known.

Efficacy, safety, and outcome of atrial fibrillation ablation in septuagenarians.

Aims: Catheter ablation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). The outcome of AF ablation in septuagenarians is not clear. Our aim was to evaluate success rate, outcome, and complication rate of AF ablation in septuagenarians.

Experience with the Hansen Robotic System for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation—Lessons Learned and Techniques Modified: Hansen in the Real World

Introduction: The Hansen robotic system has only recently been used in the United States for catheter ablation procedures in humans. Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation may be performed utilizing this system. We report our management of complications with early experience of this system.

Incidence of atrial arrhythmias detected by permanent pacemakers (PPM) post-pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) for atrial fibrillation (AF): correlation with symptomatic recurrence.

Background: Studies examining AF recurrences post‐PVAI base recurrence on patient reporting of symptoms. However, whether asymptomatic recurrences are common is not well known.

Capsule endoscopy in examination of esophagus for lesions after radiofrequency catheter ablation: a potential tool to select patients with increased risk of complications.

Capsule Endoscopy in Examination of Esophagus.u2002Background: Esophageal injury can result from left atrial radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy, with added concern because of its possible relationship to the development of atrial‐esophageal (A‐E) fistulas.

Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Symptomatic Sinus Bradycardia or Pauses

Introduction: Sick sinus syndrome is commonly associated with tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmias that often are symptomatic. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of pulmonary vein isolation in patients with sick sinus syndrome and atrial fibrillation (AF).

Our Approach to Management of Patients With Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Following AF Ablation

Our Approach to Management of Patients With Pulmonary Vein Stenosis. Despite advances in the approach to pulmonary vein isolation, pulmonary vein stenosis remains an important morbid complication affecting approximately 1.3% of procedures. Patients with symptomatic pulmonary vein stenosis are typically referred for intervention with either balloon angioplasty or stenting. A significant portion of patients with severe pulmonary vein stenosis are asymptomatic and are identified only if routine screening is preformed following ablation. Based on available evidence, CT scanning 3 months postablation appears to be an effective and reliable screening tool that can be used to identify asymptomatic patients with significant stenosis. The best clinical management for asymptomatic patients with severe stenosis is poorly defined. We typically refer these patients for pulmonary vein intervention; however, the patients age, comorbidities, functional capacity, as well as the size of the pulmonary vein affected, all need to be carefully considered with the patient before proceeding. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 364‐367, March 2011)

Surgical options for refractory ventricular tachycardia.

Abstractu2003 Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is most often treated with antiarrhythmic drug therapy. When standard drugs fail, percutaneous, endocardial ablation guided by electroanatomic mapping is usually curative. Occasionally, these options are either unsuccessful or are not feasible, and surgical ablation is required. Surgical ablation of VT employs electroanatomic mapping and a variety of ablation strategies and technologies. The specific approach (endocardial vs. epicardial, beating heart vs. arrested) and ablation device must be tailored to the patients anatomy and presentation. We present three cases to illustrate the range of surgical options available for ablation of VT arising from different anatomic foci.