Yong-Mei Cha

Long-term outcome of atrial fibrillation ablation: Impact and predictors of very late recurrence

Long‐Term Outcome of AF Ablation. Introduction: Ablation eliminates atrial fibrillation (AF) in studies with 1 year follow‐up, but very late recurrences may compromise long‐term efficacy. In a large cohort, we sought to describe the determinants of delayed recurrence after AF ablation.

No Increased Bleeding Events with Continuation of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy for Patients Undergoing Cardiac Device Procedure

Background: Switching warfarin for heparin has been a practice for managing periprocedural anticoagulation in high‐risk patients undergoing device‐related procedures. We sought to investigate whether continuation of warfarin sodium therapy without heparin bridging is safe and, when it is continued, the optimal international normalized ratio (INR) without increased bleeding risk at time of device‐related procedure.

Noise, artifact, and oversensing related inappropriate ICD shock evaluation: ALTITUDE noise study.

Background: Approximately 12–21% of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) patients receive inappropriate shocks. We sought to determine the incidence and causes of noise/artifact and oversensing (NAO) resulting in ICD shocks.

Pneumopericardium Following Radiofrequency Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Insights into the Natural History of Atrial Esophageal Fistula Formation

Pneumopericardium Following Atrial Fibrillation Ablation.u2002We present a case of large pneumopericardium resulting from an esophageal pericardial fistula following ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). The presentation, evaluation, and management of this specific patient, along with a review of present techniques to diagnose esophageal injury, provide a unique insight into the pathophysiology of left atrial‐esophageal fistula formation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 21, pp. 1046‐1049, September 2010)

Cardiac resynchronization therapy: do women benefit more than men?

Gender and Resynchronization Therapy. Introduction: Women are underrepresented in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) trials. Whether there is a gender difference in the benefit derived from CRT has not been well studied.

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Electrogram Adjudication for Device Registries: Methodology and Observations from ALTITUDE

Background: The increasing use of remote monitoring with the associated large retrievable databases provides a unique opportunity to analyze observations on implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) therapies. Adjudication of a large number of stored ICD electrograms (EGMs) presents a unique challenge. The ALTITUDE study group was designed to use the LATITUDE remote monitoring system to evaluate ICD patient outcomes across the United States.

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Upregulates Cardiac Autonomic Control

Objective: To determine the effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) on sympathetic nervous function in heart failure (HF).

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Recently Implanted Pacemakers

Recent studies have shown that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with pacemakers can be safely performed under careful monitoring, but they excluded patients with recently implanted devices. Patients with recent implants may be at a greater risk for complications during MRI imaging due to lack of lead and wound maturity.

Outcomes and Complications of Lead Removal: Can We Establish a Risk Stratification Schema for a Collaborative and Effective Approach?

Removal of an entire cardiovascular implantable electronic device is associated with morbidity and mortality. We sought to establish a risk classification scheme according to the outcomes of transvenous lead removal in a single center, with the goal of using that scheme to guide electrophysiology lab versus operating room extraction.

Utilization of Retrograde Right Bundle Branch Block to Differentiate Atrioventricular Nodal from Accessory Pathway Conduction

Introduction: Defining whether retrograde ventriculoatrial (V‐A) conduction is via the AV node (AVN) or an accessory pathway (AP) is important during ablation procedures for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). With the introduction of ventricular extrastimuli (VEST), retrograde right bundle branch block (RBBB) may occur, prolonging the V‐H interval, but only when AV node conduction is present. We hypothesized that when AP conduction was present, the V‐A interval would increase less than the V‐H interval, whereas with retrograde nodal conduction, the V‐A interval would increase at least as much as the V‐H interval.