CHA 2DS 2_VASc 评分与射频消融术前心房颤动患者左心房／左心耳血栓形成的关系

目的探讨CHA2DS2-VASc评分与射频消融术前心房颤动患者左心房（left atrium ,LA）/左心耳（left atrial ap-pendage ,LAA ）发生血栓事件的关系。方法根据术前食管超声心动图检查结果,将接受射频消融术的心房颤动患者分为LA/LAA血栓形成组（n＝21）与血栓未形成组（n＝21）,对照分析CHA2 DS2-VASc及CHADS2评分对血栓事件的预测价值。结果血栓形成组21例（3.8％）患者血栓均位于LAA ,低危组（0分）、中危组（1分）、高危组（≥2分）间,LA/LAA血栓事件发生率无统计学意义（ P＞0.05）,但≥3分患者血栓形成明显多于＜2分（ P＜0.01）。血栓形成组CHA2 DS2-VASc评分、CHADS2评分、左心房内径（LAD ）显著高于血栓未形成组外,其余临床因素间比较均无统计学意义。多元Logistic回归分析显示：LAD、CHA2 DS2-VASc评分是LA/LAA血栓形成的独立危险因素（OR＝0.81、0.89,P＜0.05）。结论无论CHA2 DS2-VASc评分的高低,所有房颤患者射频消融术前均需接受食管超声心动图探查,LAD越大、CHA2 DS2-VASc评分越高,LA/LAA血栓事件发生可能性越高。     

非瓣膜性心房颤动患者左心耳结构与血栓形成的相关性

目的 探讨非瓣膜性心房颤动(NVAF)患者左心耳(LAA)结构与血栓形成的相关性。方法 选取2012年1月至2021年1月于山西医科大学第三医院因NVAF拟行射频消融术的患者283例。收集患者病历资料及影像学检查结果。依据经食管超声心动图将患者分为血栓组和非血栓组,分析血栓形成相关危险因素。采用SPSS 24.0软件进行数据分析。根据数据类型,组间比较分别采用t检验、Wilcoxon检验及χ²检验。采用单因素分析发现具有预测能力的变量,然后进行多因素分析探讨血栓形成的独立危险因素。构建受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线,评价各危险因素对血栓形成的预测价值。结果 血栓组与非血栓组间体质量指数、心房颤动病程、CHA2DS2-VASc评分、持续性心房颤动比例、尿酸、脑钠肽、左室射血分数、左房前后径(LAD)、左心耳容积(LAA-V)、左心耳长径(LAA-L)、左心耳第一弯曲度和左心耳叶数比较,差异均有统计学意义(均P＜0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析显示,CHA2DS2-VASc评分(OR=1.898,95%CI 1.223~2.944)、LAD(OR=1.214,95%CI 1.087~1.355)、LAA-V(OR=1.230,95%CI 1.023~1.480)、LAA-L(OR=1.154,95%CI 1.005~1.326)、左心耳第一弯曲度(OR=1.032,95%CI 1.003~1.063)及左心耳叶数(OR=2.024,95%CI 1.331~3.077)是血栓形成的独立危险因素。ROC曲线分析显示,当CHA2DS2-VASc评分≥4分(灵敏度 0.575,特异度 0.844),LAD≥39.5 mm(灵敏度 0.825,特异度 0.716),LAA-V≥7.155 cm³(灵敏度 0.850,特异度 0.724),LAA-L≥25.01 mm(灵敏度 0.775,特异度 0.938),LAA第一弯曲度≥121.5°(灵敏度 0.450,特异度 0.951)及LAA叶数≥3叶(灵敏度 0.900,特异度 0.646)时,LAA血栓形成风险显著增加。结论 LAA结构对血栓形成具有较好预测作用。提示临床上为NVAF患者提供抗凝治疗时,可在CHA2DS2-VASc评分基础上考虑LAA结构复杂性。     

B型脑钠肽对老年非瓣膜性房颤病人发生左心耳血栓风险的预测价值

目的探讨B型脑钠肽(BNP)水平对于老年非瓣膜性房颤(NVAF)病人发生左心耳(LAA)血栓风险的预测价值。方法选取256例NVAF病人,均检测BNP水平,并行经食管超声心动图检查明确有无LAA血栓,将病人根据有无LAA血栓分为LAA血栓组(18例)和对照组(238例)。结果 LAA血栓组病人BNP水平高于对照组(758±474 pg/mL与375±258 pg/mL,P=0.001)。ROC曲线分析BNP对于LAA血栓的预测价值较好(AUC=0.75,95%CI 0.64～0.89,P=0.001),BNP≥500 pg/mL时,诊断敏感度为55%,特异度为79%。多元Logistic回归分析显示,BNP不是LAA血栓的独立危险因素(OR=1.05,95%CI0.97～1.13,P=0.125,校正CHA2DS2-VASc评分),BNP是自发性显影的独立危险因素(OR=1.07,95%CI1.01～1.17,P=0.005)。结论 BNP有助于老年NVAF病人LAA血栓和自发性显影的预测,预测价值优于CHA2DS2-VASc评分。     

左心耳结构复杂性与非瓣膜性心房颤动患者左心耳血栓形成的关系

目的:探讨左心耳结构复杂性与非瓣膜性心房颤动(NVAF)患者左心耳血栓形成的关系。方法:连续入选拟行射频消融术治疗的NVAF患者295例,记录病史资料和化验指标,进行CHA2DS2-VASc评分。行经食道超声心动图和计算机断层扫描血管造影(CTA)检查了解左心耳有、无血栓形成,以此将患者分为血栓组(n=42)和无血栓组(n=253)。应用CT影像后处理系统对左心房CTA影像进行三维重建,获取每例患者的左心耳形态,将左心耳形态分为单纯型和复杂型两类。分析左心耳血栓形成与各项潜在危险因素的关系。结果:血栓组非阵发性心房颤动(76.2%vs 18.2%)、复杂型左心耳比例(66.7%vs 45.1%)显著高于无血栓组(P均<0.01)。此外,血栓组患者的年龄、心房颤动病程、左心房前后径、B型利钠肽、血尿酸、CHA2DS2-VASc评分均大于无血栓组(P均<0.05)。相对于无血栓组,血栓组患者的高血压、糖尿病、冠心病、慢性心力衰竭、脑卒中/短暂性脑缺血发作/血栓栓塞以及血管疾病的患病率更高(P均<0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,复杂型左心耳(OR=4.129,95%CI:1.413~12.069)、心房颤动病程(OR=1.021,95%CI:1.006~1.036)、非阵发性心房颤动(OR=13.910,95%CI:4.563~42.406)与CHA2DS2-VASc评分(OR=2.580,95%CI:1.115~5.966)均是左心耳血栓形成的独立危险因素(P均<0.05)。结论:复杂型左心耳为NVAF患者左心耳血栓形成的独立危险因素。     

CHADS2评分及CHA2DS2-VASc评分预测老年非瓣膜性心房颤动合并缺血性脑卒中患者短期预后的意义

目的探讨CHADS2评分及CHA2DS2-VASc评分预测老年非瓣膜性心房颤动(NVAF)合并缺血性脑卒中患者短期预后的意义。方法调查我院2011年6月至2013年8月老年医学科216例老年NVAF合并缺血性脑卒中患者,应用CHADS2评分(0~6分)及CHA2DS2-VASc评分(0~9分)进行卒中风险评分,分为3组,低危组(0分)、中危组(1分)和高危组(2~9分),在发病后3个月时,采用改良Rankin量表(mRS)评定患者的预后,将患者分为预后良好和预后不佳组,比较两组临床资料、CHADS2评分及CHA2DS2一VASc评分差异,并进行Logistic回归分析。结果共纳入符合条件的206例(95.3%)患者,其中CHADS2评分0、1、2~6分组各31、83、92例,CHA2DS2-VASc评分0、1、2~9分组各24、78、104例,预后良好89例(43.2%),预后不佳117例(56.8%)。预后良好与预后不佳患者的年龄、性别、卒中史、CHADS2评分、CHA2DS2-VASc评分的差异均有统计学意义(均为P<0.05)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄(OR:1.23,95%CI:1.07~1.54,P=0.01)、CHADS2评分(OR:1.36,95%CI:1.17~2.36,P=0.00)和CHA2DS2-VASc评分(OR:3.24,95%CI:1.32~6.98.P=0.00)为预后不佳的独立预测因素。结论年龄、CHADS2评分和CHA2DS2-VASc评分是老年NVAF缺血性脑卒中患者短期预后不佳的独立预测因素;对于老年NVAF缺血性脑卒中早期病情改善的预测作用,CHA2DS2-VASc评分优于CHADS2评分。     

CHA2DS2-VASc评分非高危的心房颤动患者左心耳血栓形成的危险因子分析

目的:分析CHA_2DS_2-VASc评分非高危的非瓣膜性心房颤动(AF)患者左心耳(LAA)血栓形成的相关危险因子。方法:连续入选拟行射频消融术治疗的CHA_2DS_2-VASc评分低、中危的AF患者320例,收集病例资料和实验室检查结果。通过经食管超声心动图(TEE)判断有无LAA血栓形成,并据此将患者分为血栓组和无血栓组,分析LAA血栓形成的相关危险因素。结果:320例AF患者中,16例(5.0%)存在LAA血栓。血栓组患者平均年龄大于无血栓组[(62.7±12.1)岁∶(53.1±11.0)岁,P=0.005],AF病程长于无血栓组[48(12～84)个月∶12(3～36)个月,P=0.001],非阵发性AF(NPAF)、饮酒和充血性心力衰竭患者比例均高于无血栓组(62.5%∶14.1%,P0.001;81.3%∶11.7%,P0.001;18.8%∶3.3%,P=0.022)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,校正混杂因素后,年龄(OR=0.939,95%CI:0888～0.993,P=0.035)、AF病程(OR=1.023,95%CI:1.005～1.042,P=0.014)、NPAF(OR=9.251,95%CI:2.494～34.320,P=0.001)和饮酒(OR=16.015,95%CI:3.727～69.590,P0.001)为LAA血栓形成的独立危险因素。结论:对于CHA_2DS_2-VASc评分非高危的AF患者,年龄、AF病程、NPAF和饮酒为LAA血栓形成的独立危险因素,该评分体系以外的卒中危险因子预测LAA血栓形成的价值更大。     

老年非瓣膜病心房颤动患者左心房血栓的影响因素

目的探讨老年非瓣膜病心房颤动(房颤)患者左心房血栓的影响因素。方法选择本院2011年4月~2015年10月收治的116例老年非瓣膜病房颤、食管超声发现左心房/左心耳血栓的患者作为血栓组,以同期收治的116例未发现左心房/左心耳血栓的老年非瓣膜病房颤患者作为对照组,分析2组患者基本指标差异,采用多因素logistic回归分析左心房/左心耳血栓形成的高危因素。结果血栓组较对照组高血压、脑卒中比例增高(65.52%vs 51.72%,13.79%vs 5.17%,P<0.05),2组慢性心力衰竭比例、左心房内径(LAD)、左心室舒张末内径、LVEF、N末端B型脑钠肽前体(NT-proBNP)水平、持续性/永久性房颤比例、CHA2DS2-VASc评分有统计学差异(P<0.01)。多因素logistic回归分析显示,持续性/永久性房颤(OR=5.721,95%CI:2.069~15.820,P=0.001)、NT-proBNP(OR=1.001,95%CI:1.000~1.002,P=0.002)、CHA2DS2-VASc评分(OR=2.021,95%CI:1.316~3.103,P=0.001),LAD(OR=1.104,95%CI:1.002~1.216,P=0.046)是老年非瓣膜病房颤患者左心房血栓形成的独立影响因素。结论持续性/永久性房颤、LAD扩大、NT-proBNP水平高、CHA2DS2-VASc评分高为老年非瓣膜病房颤患者左心房血栓形成的高危因素。     

瓣膜性房颤血栓栓塞事件的危险因素和CHA2DS2-VASc评分对其血栓栓塞事件的预测价值

目的 分析瓣膜性房颤患者血栓栓塞危险因素和CHA2DS2-VASc评分对其血栓栓塞事件预测价值。 方法 纳入2016年9月至2019年9月就诊于本院的瓣膜性房颤患者137例,按是否发生血栓栓塞事件分为栓塞组（n=50)与非栓塞组（n=87),在单因素分析基础上,进行多因素logistic回归分析判定血栓栓塞危险因素,并进行Cochran-Armitage趋势检验判断CHA2DS2-VASc评分与血栓栓塞是否存在线性趋势,制作ROC曲线,判定曲线下面积和截断点,并计算评价指标。 结果 研究组年龄≥75岁占比、女性患者占比、高血压、糖尿病、心衰患病率与对照组差异均无统计学意义,而两组间血管疾病患病率及CHA2DS2-VASc评分差异均有统计学意义（P<0.01）。多因素回归分析显示,血管疾病（OR: 7.463,95%CI 1.575-35.714,P<0.05）是卒中/TIA/血栓栓塞发生的独立危险因素;在控制其他变量后,CHA2DS2-VASc评分与卒中/TIA/血栓栓塞事件显著相关（OR: 2.688,95%CI: 1.776-4.065,P<0.01）及对栓塞事件预测的ROC曲线下面积为0.869（95%CI: 0.809-0.928,P<0.01）。Cochran-Armitage趋势检验显示CHA2DS2-VASc评分与卒中/TIA/血栓栓塞间存在线性趋势,卒中/TIA/血栓栓塞发生率随着CHA2DS2-VASc评分升高而升高（P<0.01）。 结论 血管疾病是瓣膜性房颤血栓栓塞事件发生的独立危险因素;CHA2DS2-VASc评分与此类患者血栓栓塞事件发生显著相关且对其预测价值较好。     

非瓣膜性心房颤动患者左心房血栓形成与外周血中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值的关系

目的]探讨非瓣膜性心房颤动(NVAF)患者左心房血栓形成与外周血中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值(NLR)的关系。 [方法]选取2016年3月—2020年8月于本院接受诊疗的NVAF患者207例,根据外周血NLR水平分为低NLR组和高NLR组,比较两组患者的临床资料,分析NLR与临床指标及左心房血栓发生的相关性,分析左心房血栓发生的影响因素及各因素的预测价值。 [结果]与低NLR组相比,高NLR组CHADS2评分、CHA2DS2-VASc评分、NLR、D-二聚体(D-D)、血清尿酸(SUA)、脑钠肽(BNP)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、左心房内径(LAD)、二尖瓣舒张早期血流速度峰值(E)与二尖瓣环舒张早期运动速度峰值(Em)的比值(E/Em)均显著升高,左心房射血分数(LAEF)显著降低(P＜0.05)。NLR与CHADS2评分、CHA2DS2-VASc评分、D-D、SUA、BNP、CRP、LAD、E/Em均呈显著正相关,与LAEF呈显著负相关(P＜0.000 1)。CHADS2评分、CHA2DS2-VASc评分、NLR、D-D、SUA、BNP、CRP、LAD、E/Em与左心房血栓的发生均呈显著正相关(P＝0.000),LAEF与左心房血栓的发生呈显著负相关(P＝0.000)。CHADS2评分、CHA2DS2-VASc评分、NLR、D-D以及LAD是左心房血栓发生的危险因素(P＜0.05)。NLR取最佳截断值1.85,预测NVAF左心房血栓发生的ROC曲线下面积为0.806(95%CI:0.746～0.865),灵敏度为74.82%(95%CI:0.668～0.818),特异度为67.65%(95%CI:0.552～0.785)。 [结论]NLR水平升高使NVAF患者左心房血栓形成的风险明显增加。作为NVAF患者左心房血栓形成的独立危险因素,NLR对左心房血栓具有一定的预测价值。     

Nod样受体蛋白3与非瓣膜性心房颤动患者左心房血栓形成的相关性

目的探讨Nod样受体蛋白3(NLRP3)炎性小体与非瓣膜性心房颤动(NVAF)患者左心房血栓形成的相关性及预测价值。方法选取我院收治的怀疑存在左心房血栓的NVAF患者260例,根据食管心脏超声检查结果分为血栓组55例和非血栓组205例。检测外周血单核细胞(PBMC)中NLRP3、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶1(caspase-1)mRNA和蛋白表达及相关细胞因子白细胞介素(IL)1β、IL-18水平,分析NVAF患者左心房血栓形成的独立危险因素,绘制ROC曲线分析NLRP3炎性小体对NVAF患者左心房血栓形成的预测价值。结果与非血栓组比较,血栓组短暂性脑缺血发作/脑卒中、持续性心房颤动、CHADS2评分、CHA2DS2-VASc评分、IL-1β及IL-18水平明显升高,心房颤动病程更长,PBMC中NLRP3、caspase-1mRNA及蛋白表达水平明显升高(P0.05,P0.01)。持续性心房颤动、心房颤动病程、CHA2DS2-VASc评分、CHADS2评分、NLRP3mRNA及caspase-1mRNA是血栓形成的独立危险因素(P0.05,P0.01)。相关性分析显示,血栓组NLRP3 mRNA水平与NLRP3蛋白表达、caspase-1mRNA和蛋白表达、IL-1β、IL-18、持续性心房颤动、心房颤动病程、CHADS2评分及CHA2DS2-VASc评分呈正相关(r=0.890,r=0.905,r=0.904,r=0.862,r=0.827,r=0.706,r=0.742,r=0.762,r=0.690,P0.01)。ROC曲线显示,NLRP3炎性小体曲线下面积为0.891(95%CI:0.837～0.944),阈值点为1.90,敏感性和特异性分别为79.03%和84.51%。结论 PBMC中NLRP3炎性小体在NVAF并发左心房血栓形成患者中表达明显升高,可作为左心房血栓形成的独立危险因素,对评估NVAF并发左心房血栓形成有一定价值。     

Indexed left atrial volume is superior to left atrial diameter in predicting nonvalvular atrial fibrillation recurrence after successful cardioversion: a prospective study

Background: Although indexed left atrial volume (iLAV) is the most accurate measure of left atrial size, it has not been evaluated prospectively as predictor of recurrence of atrial fibrillation (AFib) after successful cardioversion (CV). Methods: We prospectively selected 76 patients (mean age 66.1 ± 13.6 years, 65.8% men) with AFib who underwent successful CV. Baseline clinical and echocardiographic characteristics were obtained before CV. LAV was measured using Simpson's method and indexed to body surface area. All patients were scheduled for follow‐up visit at 1, 6, 12 months, and then annually. A 24‐hour Holter ECG was performed within 6 months and each time the patients reported symptoms suggestive of arrhythmia. Results: The 52 patients (68.4%) with AFib recurrence had larger iLAV (35.5 ± 8.9 mL/m² vs 27.0 ± 6.7 mL/m², P < 0.001). Anteroposterior LA diameter was not associated with AFib relapse (OR 1.08, 95% CI: 0.96–1.21, P = 0.09). Each unit increase in iLAV was associated with a 1.15‐fold increased risk of recurrence (OR 1.15, 95% CI: 1.06–1.25, P < 0.001). In a multivariable model, iLAV remained the only independent predictor of relapse (adjusted OR 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02–1.28, P = 0.02). The area under ROC curves, generated to compare LA diameter, and iLAV as predictors of AFib recurrence were 0.56 (SE 0.07) versus 0.78 (SE 0.05), respectively (P = 0.003). Conclusion: This is the first prospective study to show that larger iLAV, as a more accurate measure of LA remodeling than anteroposterior diameter, is strongly and independently associated with a higher risk of AFib recurrence after CV. (Echocardiography 2012;29:276‐284)     

Dual independent atrial tachycardias after ablation of chronic atrial fibrillation

We report the case of a 71-year-old man with two atrial tachycardias evolving simultaneously and independently in two dissociated regions after extensive ablation for chronic atrial fibrillation. One tachycardia was a focal tachycardia originating from the right inferior pulmonary vein and activating the posterior left atrium with a 2:1 conduction block, while the other tachycardia was an atrial flutter circulating around the tricuspid annulus, activating the right atrium and the anterior wall of the left atrium. These two atrial tachycardias were successfully ablated prior to restoration of sinus rhythm.     

Electrocardiographic differentiation of atrial flutter from atrial fibrillation by physicians

The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of physicians to differentiate atrial flutter from atrial fibrillation on a surface electrocardiogram (ECG). A questionnaire containing three 12-lead ECGs was mailed to 689 physicians, with multiple-choice questions asking whether the rhythm on each ECG was atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation. ECG 1 showed atrial fibrillation with prominent atrial activity (>0.2 mV) in lead V1; ECG 2 displayed atrial fibrillation with prominent atrial activity (>0.2 mV) in leads III and V1; and ECG 3 displayed atrial flutter. Overall, ECG1 was correctly identified as atrial fibrillation by 79% of physicians, ECG 2 was correctly identified as atrial fibrillation by 31%, and ECG 3 was correctly identified as atrial flutter by 90%. Cardiology fellows and cardiologists correctly identified ECG 1 more often than house officers and internists (95% vs 63%; P < or = .01). ECG 2 was correctly identified by 26% of cardiology fellows and cardiologists and by 37% of house officers and internists (P = .10). ECG 3 was correctly identified by 91% of cardiology fellows and cardiologists and by 82% of house officers and internists (P = .06). In conclusion, atrial fibrillation is frequently misdiagnosed as atrial flutter. Misdiagnosis of atrial fibrillation occurs more often when atrial activity is prominent on an ECG in more than one lead.     

左房异常与心房颤动的关系

目的探讨左房异常与心房颤动发生的关系。方法应用心电图和动态心电图进行,持续性房颤患者为A组,阵发性房颤、房扑患者为B组,仅有心电图P波增宽的患者为C组,A、B、C三组各40例。所有入选患者均经超声心动图检测左房大小,观察患者窦性心律时心电图P波时限、切迹和P波离散度,并分析与房颤发生的关系。结果房颤男性多于女性,年龄大于60岁者94例(占78.3%),三组中86.7%的患者存在器质性心脏病(104例)。心电图P波切迹明显、P波离散度大者快速房颤发生率高;超声心动图检测左房直径大者房颤发生率高,持续性房颤比阵发性房颤患者左房直径大(p<0.05)。结论左房扩大、房内阻滞及P波离散度增大的患者易发生房颤。     

Simultaneous occurrence of atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter

INTRODUCTION: Early reports suggested that some patients with "atrial fibrillation/flutter" might have atrial fibrillation in one atrium and atrial flutter in the other. However, more recent conceptions of atrial fibrillation/flutter postulate that the pattern is due to a relatively organized (type I) form of atrial fibrillation. We report the occurrence and ECG manifestations of simultaneous atrial fibrillation and flutter in patients undergoing attempted catheter ablation of atrial flutter. METHODS AND RESULTS: In patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for atrial flutter, an attempt was made to entrain atrial flutter by pacing in the right atrium. The arrhythmias observed occurred following attempts at entrainment, or spontaneously in one case. Twelve transient episodes of simultaneous atrial fibrillation and flutter were observed in five patients. The atrial fibrillation was localized to all or a portion of one atrium, during which the other atrium maintained atrial flutter. In each case, the surface 12-lead ECG reflected the right atrial activation pattern. No patients had interatrial or intra-atrial conduction block during sinus rhythm, suggesting functional intra-atrial block as a mechanism for simultaneous atrial fibrillation/flutter. CONCLUSION: In certain patients, the occurrence of transient, simultaneous atrial fibrillation and flutter is possible. In contrast to prior studies in which it was suggested that left atrial or septal activation determines P wave morphology, the results of the present study show that P wave morphology is determined by right atrial activation. Functional interatrial block appears to be a likely mechanism for this phenomenon.     

Importance of right and left atrial dilation and linear ablation for perpetuation of sustained atrial fibrillation

INTRODUCTION: Atrial dilation associated with increasing atrial pressure plays an apparent role in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). We characterized a new model of separate and biatrial dilation in the Langendorff-perfused rabbit heart. The aim of this study was to examine if sustained AF in this model (1) would be inducible by separate right atrial (RA) and left atrial (LA) dilation; (2) would be reproducibly inducible at the same pressure level; and (3) could be suppressed by RA, LA, or biatrial ablation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Intra-atrial pressure was increased stepwise in the RA (n = 13), LA (n = 12), or both atria (n = 25) until sustained AF could be induced or a pressure of 20 cm H2O was reached. The stimulation protocol was repeated once in RA and LA dilation (n = 9) and three times in biatrial dilation (n = 7). Then, RA orifices (superior and inferior caval veins, tricuspid valve annulus, and foramen ovale) or LA orifices (pulmonary veins, mitral valve annulus, and foramen ovale) were connected by radiofrequency (RF) lesions. Sustained AF was rendered inducible in 100% of hearts with biatrial dilation, but in only 92% of hearts with RA dilation and 67% with LA dilation. Inducibility of sustained AF was reproducible. Under biatrial dilation, not RA ablation (0/10 hearts; P = NS) but LA ablation (4/11 hearts; P < 0.05) and biatrial ablation (16/21; P < 0.01) reduced the inducibility of sustained AF. CONCLUSION: The inducibility of sustained AF due to increased intra-atrial pressure differs between the RA and LA. LA and biatrial lesions, not RA RF lesions, reduce the ability to perpetuate sustained AF.     

Effect of gender on atrial electrophysiologic changes induced by rapid atrial pacing and elevation of atrial pressure

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of atrial fibrillation is greater in men than in women, but the reasons for this gender difference are unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of gender on the atrial electrophysiologic effects of rapid atrial pacing and an increase in atrial pressure. METHODS AND RESULTS: Right atrial pressure and effective refractory period (ERP) were measured during sinus rhythm and during atrial and simultaneous AV pacing at a cycle length of 300 msec in 10 premenopausal women, 11 postmenopausal women, and 24 men. The postmenopausal women were significantly older than the premenopausal women (61 +/- 8 years vs 34 +/- 10 years; P < 0.01). During sinus rhythm, mean atrial ERP in premenopausal women was shorter (211 +/- 19 msec) than in postmenopausal women and age-matched men (242 +/- 18 msec and 246 +/- 34 msec, respectively; P < 0.05). Atrial ERPs in all patients shortened significantly during atrial and simultaneous AV pacing. However, the degree of shortening during atrial pacing (43 +/- 8 msec vs 70 +/- 20 msec and 74 +/- 21 msec; P < 0.05) and during simultaneous AV pacing (48 +/- 16 msec vs 91 +/- 27 msec and 84 +/- 26 msec; P < 0.05) was significantly less in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women or age-matched men. CONCLUSION: The results of this study demonstrate a significant gender difference in atrial electrophysiologic changes in response to rapid atrial pacing and an increase in atrial pressure. The effect of menopause on the observed changes suggests that the gender differences may be mediated by the effects of estrogen on atrial electrophysiologic properties.     

Acute effects of left atrial radiofrequency ablation on atrial fibrillation

INTRODUCTION: Acutely, when left atrial ablation is performed during atrial fibrillation (AF), the AF may persist and require cardioversion, or it may convert to sinus rhythm or to atrial tachycardia/flutter. The prevalence of these acute outcomes has not been described. METHODS AND RESULTS: Left atrial ablation, usually including encirclement of the pulmonary veins, was performed during AF in 144 patients with drug-refractory AF. Conversion to sinus rhythm occurred in 19 patients (13%), to left atrial tachycardia in 6 (4%), and to atrial flutter in 6 (4%). In the 6 patients with a focal atrial tachycardia, the mean cycle length was 294 +/- 45 ms. The tachycardia arose in the left atrial roof in 3 patients, the left atrial appendage in 2, and the anterior left atrium in 1. In 3 of 6 patients, the focal atrial tachycardia originated in an area that displayed a relatively short cycle length during AF. In 6 patients, AF converted to macroreentrant atrial flutter with a mean cycle length of 253 +/- 47 ms, involving the mitral isthmus in 5 patients and the septum in 1 patient. All atrial tachycardias and flutters were successfully ablated with 1 to 15 applications of radiofrequency energy. CONCLUSION: When left atrial ablation is performed during AF, the AF may convert to atrial tachycardia or flutter in approximately 10% of patients. Focal atrial tachycardias that occur during ablation of AF may be attributable to driving mechanisms that persist after AF has been eliminated, whereas atrial flutter results from incomplete ablation lines.     

Atrial electromechanical interval can identify patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and is associated with CHADS2 score and peak velocity of left atrial appendage

Electromechanical Interval and Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation . Introduction: It is difficult to discriminate patients with and without paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). The atrial electromechanical interval determined by the transthoracic echocardiogram is demonstrated to be a predictor of new onset AF. The aim of our study was to investigate whether the electromechanical interval is a useful parameter to identify patients with PAF. Methods and Results: A total of 297 patients (PAF group = 103; control group = 194) with mean age of 59.4 ± 12.4 years were enrolled. The electromechanical interval (PA‐PDI) defined as the time interval from the initiation of the P‐wave deflection to the peak of the mitral inflow A wave on the pulse‐wave Doppler imaging was measured for every patient. Patients with PAF had significantly longer PA‐PDI intervals compared with that of patients without it (152.7 ± 13.8 ms vs 133.4 ± 16.8 ms). The area under ROC curve based on the PA‐PDI interval to diagnose PAF was 0.803 (95% confidence interval = 0.755–0.851, P < 0.001). At the cut‐off value of 142 ms, the sensitivity and specificity in identifying PAF were 77.7% and 80.1%, respectively. In the PAF group, the PA‐PDI interval was closely associated with the CHADS₂ score and inversely related with the peak velocity of left atrial appendage. Conclusions: The PA‐PDI interval may be a useful parameter to identify patients with PAF. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the usefulness of PA‐PDI intervals in diagnosing PAF in addition to the current methods and tools. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 22, pp. 1325‐1330, December 2011)     

静脉地尔硫治疗快速房颤、房扑的疗效分析

为检验静脉地尔硫艹卓控制房颤、房扑心室率的有效性和安全性，对４７例快速房颤、房扑患者一次静脉注射０．２５ｍｇ／ｋｇ地尔硫艹卓后以５ｍｇ／ｈ～１０ｍｇ／ｈ微泵维持，平均起效时间５．２±２．７ｍｉｎ，总有效率９３．６％，心功能较用药前明显改善（Ｐ＜０．０５），对血压无明显影响，副作用发生率为１０．６％，均不严重。结果提示地尔硫艹卓是一种能迅速、安全、有效控制房颤、房扑患者心室率的药物