Comparison of postprocedural new-onset atrial fibrillation between transcatheter and surgical aortic valve replacement: A systematic review and meta-analysis based on 16 randomized controlled trials

Background:Presently, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) as an effective and convenient intervention has been adopted extensively for patients with severe aortic disease. However, after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and TAVR, the incidence of new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) is prevalently found. This meta-analysis was designed to comprehensively compare the incidence of NOAF at different times after TAVR and SAVR for patients with severe aortic disease.Methods:A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science up to October 1, 2020 was conducted for relevant studies that comparing TAVR and SAVR in the treatment of severe aortic disease. The primary outcomes were the incidence of NOAF with early, midterm and long term follow-up. The secondary outcomes included permanent pacemaker (PM) implantation, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiogenic shock, as well as mortality and other complications. Two reviewers assessed trial quality and extracted the data independently. All statistical analyses were performed using the standard statistical procedures provided in Review Manager 5.2.Results:A total of 16 studies including 13,310 patients were identified. The pooled results indicated that, compared with SAVR, TAVR experienced a significantly lower incidence of 30-day/in-hospital, 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year NOAF, with pooled risk ratios (RRs) of 0.31 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23–0.41; 5725 pts), 0.30 (95% CI 0.24–0.39; 6321 pts), 0.48 (95% CI 0.38–0.61; 3441 pts), and 0.45 (95% CI 0.37–0.55; 2268 pts) respectively. In addition, TAVR showed lower incidence of MI (RR 0.62; 95% CI 0.40–0.97) and cardiogenic shock (RR 0.34; 95% CI 0.19–0.59), but higher incidence of permanent PM (RR 3.16; 95% CI 1.61–6.21) and major vascular complications (RR 2.22; 95% CI 1.14–4.32) at 30-day/in-hospital. At 1- and 2-year after procedure, compared with SAVR, TAVR experienced a significantly higher incidence of neurological events, transient ischemic attacks (TIA), permanent PM, and major vascular complications, respectively. At 5-year after procedure, compared with SAVR, TAVR experienced a significantly higher incidence of TIA and re-intervention respectively. There was no difference in 30-day, 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year all-cause or cardiovascular mortality as well as stroke between TAVR and SAVR.Conclusions:Our analysis showed that TAVR was superior to SAVR in decreasing the both short and long term postprocedural NOAF. TAVR was equal to SAVR in early, midterm and long term mortality. In addition, TAVR showed lower incidence of 30-day/in-hospital MI and cardiogenic shock after procedure. However, pooled results showed that TAVR was inferior to SAVR in reducing permanent pacemaker implantation, neurological events, TIA, major vascular complications, and re-intervention.     

Association of clinic and ambulatory blood pressure with new‐onset atrial fibrillation: A meta‐analysis of observational studies

The aim of this study was to perform a meta‐analysis of studies evaluating the association of clinic and daytime, nighttime, and 24‐h blood pressure with the occurrence of new‐onset atrial fibrillation. We conducted a literature search through PubMed, Web of science, and Cochrane Library for articles evaluating the occurrence of new‐onset atrial fibrillation in relation to the above‐mentioned blood pressure parameters and reporting adjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval. We identified five studies. The pooled population consisted of 7224 patients who experienced 444 cases of atrial fibrillation. The overall adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.05 (0.98‐1.13), 1.19 (1.11‐1.27), 1.18 (1.11‐1.26), and 1.23 (1.14‐1.32), per 10‐mmHg increment in clinic, daytime, nighttime, and 24‐h systolic blood pressure, respectively. The degree of heterogeneity of the hazard ratio estimates across the studies (Q and I‐squared statistics) were minimal. The results of this meta‐analysis strongly suggest that ambulatory systolic blood pressure prospectively predicts incident atrial fibrillation better than does clinic systolic blood pressure and that daytime, nighttime, and 24‐h systolic blood pressure are similarly associated with future atrial fibrillation.     

小剂量口服胺碘酮在心脏瓣膜疾病合并心房颤动患者围术期的应用

目的 评估围术期口服胺碘酮对心脏瓣膜疾病合并心房颤动患者术后心房颤动心律的转复和窦性心律维持,以及术后并发症的影响.方法 78例心房颤动且择期行心脏瓣膜手术的患者被分为试验组（38例）和对照组（38例）.试验组开始口服胺碘酮每天2次,每次200 mg至术后第3天,术后第4天至出院前胺碘酮剂量改为每天1次,每次200 mg.对照组以安慰剂代替胺碘酮,服药时间、剂量和方法同实验组.比较两组术后窦性心律的转复和维持、有无低心排血量综合征、心律失常发生及类型、重症监护病房停留时间、住院时间、出院时心房颤动患者的心律和心室率,及术前、术后患者肝功能、甲状腺功能的变化,有无发生肺纤维化.结果 术后两组比较,试验组窦性心律患者比例在手术复跳时（39.4％ vs.10.5％,P＜0.01）、出院前（46.7％ vs.2.6％,P＜0.01）及术后1个月（36.8％ vs.2.6％,P＜0.01）均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义.试验组与对照组比较,术后快速性心房颤动（15.8％ vs.31.6％,P＜0.05）、发作时心室率[（136.5±25.2）次/min vs.（158.6±30.9）次/min,P＜0.05]及室性心律失常（7.9％ vs.18.4％,P＜0.05）低于对照组,差异有统计学意义.试验组重症监护病房停留时间[（40.9±11.2）hvs.（58.5±13.8）h,P＜0.05）]、心房颤动患者出院时心室率[（74.2±8.4）次/min vs.（91.7±10.2）次/min,P＜0.05]均小于对照组,差异有统计学意义.两组患者术后无死亡,无肝功能及甲状腺功能异常及无肺纤维化.结论 行心脏瓣膜置换或整形手术的心房颤动患者围术期口服胺碘酮可明显提高患者术后窦性心律转复率、维持窦性心律时间、降低快速心房颤动及室性心律失常发生率,对心室率的控制满意,减少重症监护病房入住时间,无明显不良反应.     

Association between adiponectin‐to‐leptin ratio and heart rate variability in new‐onset paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: A retrospective cohort study

BackgroundThe adiponectin‐to‐leptin (A/L) ratio has been identified as a potential surrogate biomarker for metabolic disorders. However, it remains unknown whether the serum A/L ratio is associated with heart rate variability in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF).MethodsFor this retrospective study, we included consecutive patients who underwent 24‐h long‐range electrocardiogram examination in our center for paroxysmal AF. The results of echocardiography, heart rate variability tests, and blood tests were also retrieved. Multivariate line regression analysis was performed to evaluate identify factors independently associated with heart rate variability.ResultsAmong the 85 included patients with paroxysmal AF, the median A/L ratio was 1.71. Univariate analysis indicated that patients with a low A/L ratio (<1.71, n = 42) had a lower high‐frequency (HF) power and a higher hs‐CRP level, low‐frequency (LF) power, and LF/HF ratio than those with a high A/L ratio (≥1.71, n = 43). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that the serum leptin concentration was independently and positively associated with LF (β = 0.175, p = .028), while the serum adiponectin concentration was independently and positively associated with HF (β = 0.321, p = .001). Moreover, the A/L ratio was independently and negatively associated with the LF/HF ratio (β = −0.276, p = .007).ConclusionsThe A/L ratio was independently and negatively associated with the LF/HF ratio in patients with new‐onset paroxysmal AF.     

Aortic valve hemodynamics in atrial fibrillation: Should the highest Doppler signal be used to estimate severity of aortic stenosis?

Grading severity of AS in AF is complicated by varying stroke volumes associated with fluctuating maximum velocities and pressure gradients across the aortic valve. Current guidelines recommend averaging five continuous‐wave peak velocity and mean gradient (MG) Doppler signals across the aortic valve when estimating severity of AS in AF. However, it is unknown when grading severity of AS how the average of multiple Doppler signals vs the highest Doppler signal in AF compares to the Doppler signals when the patient is in normal sinus rhythm. We present a series of patients with AS who had two echocardiograms performed within 2‐4 months of each other, one when in normal sinus rhythm and one when in AF, and compare the aortic valve hemodynamics associated with the two rhythms.     

Effect of prophylactic oral amiodarone on postoperative outcomes in patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation undergoing cardiac valve surgery for rheumatic heart disease

Background Atrial fibrillation（AF） is the most common arrhythmia in patients with rheumatic heart disease（RHD）. The impact of prophylactic oral amiodarone and total dosage on postoperative outcomes in RHD patients accompanied by AF after cardiac valve surgery（CVS） is still unknown. Methods This retrospective analysis was performed on a total of 562 RHD patients with preoperative permanent AF undergoing CVS. One hundred and thirty-five patients receiving preoperative oral amiodarone were in the amiodarone group, 427 patients with no exposure to amiodarone were in the control group. Data gathered included constitution of the surgical approaches, postoperative incidence of conversion from AF to sinus rhythm, low cardiac output, rapid AF and ventricular arrhythmias, mechanical ventilation time, length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay, and average ventricular rates in patients with AF at discharge. Results In the amiodarone group, 30 patients converted to sinus rhythm after surgery, the incidence（30/135, 22.2%） was higher than that in the control group（45/427, 10.5%, P 〈 0.05）. Compared with patients in the control group,incidence of rapid AF（19.3% vs 27.4%） and ventricular arrhythmias（6.7% vs 12.1%） in the amiodarone group were significantly lower（P 〈 0.05）. Length of ICU stay and hospital stay in the amiodarone group were significantly shorter than those in the control group（P 〈 0.05）. The sinus rhythm conversion rate of the patients with total dosage of above 10 g（14/43, 32.6%） was significantly higher than that of the patients receiving less than 10 g（16/92, 17.4%） amiodarone（P 〈 0.05）. Conclusions Prophylactic oral amiodarone increases postoperative sinus rhythm conversion rate in RHD patients with preoperative permanent AF after CVS, and shows a dose-response relationship with the conversion rate. It also reduces the incidences of tachyarrhythmia and ventricular arrhythmias, shortens ICU stay and hospital stay, thus improving the prognosis of those pati     

Mini-maze suffices as adjunct to mitral valve surgery in patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation

INTRODUCTION: After mitral valve (MV) surgery, preoperative atrial fibrillation (AF) often recurs while cardioversion therapy generally fails. Additional Cox maze surgery improves postoperative arrhythmia outcome, but the extensive nature of such an approach limits general appliance. We investigated the clinical outcome of a simplified, less extensive Cox maze procedure ("mini-maze") as adjunct to MV surgery. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirteen patients with MV disease and preoperative AF were treated with combined surgery (group 1). Nine control patients without previous AF underwent isolated MV surgery (group 2). We retrospectively compared the results to findings in 23 patients with preoperative AF who had undergone isolated MV surgery (group 3). In group 1, mini-maze took an additional 46 minutes of perfusion time. One 75-year-old patient died of postoperative multiple organ failure. Seven patients showed spontaneously converting (within 2 months) postoperative AF. After 1 year, 82% were in sinus rhythm (SR). No sinus node dysfunction was observed. In group 2, all patients were in SR after 1 year. In group 3, only 53% were in SR after 1 year, despite serial cardioversion and antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Exercise tolerance and heart rate were comparable for groups 1 and 2. Left atrial function was present in all but one patient in group 1 and in all patients in group 2 (after MV reconstruction). CONCLUSION: Adding a relatively simple mini-maze to MV surgery improves arrhythmia outcome in patients with preoperative AF without introducing sinus node dysfunction or persistent absence of left atrial function. The results of this type of combined surgery are encouraging and deserve further attention.     

胺碘酮在预防心脏瓣膜置换术后房颤中的作用

目的研究胺碘酮在预防心脏瓣膜置换术后高危患者房颤中的作用。方法常规体外循环下92例窦性心律、年龄〉50岁的瓣膜性心脏病择期行瓣膜置换术的患者,随机分为试验组（47例）和对照组（45例）。对照组术后给予常规药物和安慰剂。试验组除常规药物外,术后加用胺碘酮。两组比较瓣膜置换术后房颤的发生率。试验终点为术后第30天。结果瓣膜置换术后两组比较,试验组房颤发生率（8.5%）小于对照组（33.3%）,有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论胺碘酮能降低瓣膜置换术后高危患者房颤发生率,有效预防术后房颤的发生。     

Efficiency and safety of ablation procedure for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in valve surgery: A PRISMA-compliant cumulative systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Atrial fibrillation is the main complication of patients who suffer from valvular heart disease (VHD), which may lead to an increased susceptibility to ventricular tachycardia, atrial dysfunction, heart failure, and stroke. Therefore, seeking a safe and effective therapy is crucial in prolonging the lives of patients with VHD and improving their quality of life.Methods:Our target database included PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library, from which published articles were retrieved from inception to June 2020. We retrieved all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared patients undergoing valve surgery with (VSA) or without ablation (VS) procedure. Studies to be included were screened and data extraction was performed independently by 2 investigators. The Cochrane risk-of-bias table was used to evaluate the methodological quality of the included RCTs. The mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) and relative risk (RR) ratio was calculated to analyze the data. Heterogeneity was evaluated using I² and chi-square tests. Egger test and the trim and fill analysis were used to further determine publication bias.Results:Fourteen RCTs that included 1376 patients were eventually selected for this meta-analysis. Surgical ablation was found to be effective in restoring sinus rhythm in valvular surgery patients at discharge (RR 2.91, 95% CI [1.17, 7.20], I² 97%, P = .02), 3 to 6 months (RR 2.85, 95% CI [2.27, 3.58], I² 49%, P < .00001), 12 months, and more than 1 year after surgery (RR 3.54, 95% CI [2.78, 4.51], I² 27%, P < .00001). All-cause mortality (RR 0.98, 95% CI [0.64, 1.51], I² 0%, P = .94) and stroke (RR 1.29, 95% CI [0.70, 2.39], I² 0%, P = .57) were similar in the VSA and VS groups. Compared with VS, VSA prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time (MD 30.44, 95% CI [17.55, 43.33], I² 88%, P < .00001) and aortic cross-clamping time (MD 19.57, 95% CI [11.10, 28.03], I² 89%, P < .00001). No significant differences were found between groups with respect to the risk of bleeding (RR 0.64, 95% CI [0.37, 1.12], I² 0%, P = .12), heart failure (RR 1.11, 95% CI [0.63, 1.93], I² 0%, P = .72), and low cardiac output syndrome (RR 1.41, 95% CI [0.57, 3.46], I² 18%, P = .46). However, the demand for implantation of a permanent pacemaker was significantly higher in the VSA group (RR 1.84, 95% CI [1.15, 2.95], I² 0%, P = .01).Conclusion:Although we found high heterogeneity in the restoration of sinus rhythm at discharge, we assume that the comparison is valid at this time, given the current state in the operating room. This study provides evidence of the efficacy and security of concomitant ablation intervention for patients with VHD and atrial fibrillation. Surgical ablation would increase the safety of implantation of a permanent pacemaker in the population that underwent valve surgery.     

New-onset atrial fibrillation and outcomes following isolated coronary artery bypass surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Prior meta-analyses have shown that new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) occurs in up to 40% of patients following cardiac surgery and is associated with substantial major adverse cardiovascular events. The stroke and mortality implications of NOAF in isolated CABG without concomitant valve surgery is not known. We thought that NOAF would be associated with increased risk of stroke and mortality, even in patients undergoing isolated CABG. A blinded review of studies from MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and Web of Science was done by two independent investigators. Stroke, 30-day/hospital mortality, long-term cardiovascular mortality, and long-term (>1 year) all-cause mortality were analyzed. We used Review Manager Version 5.3 to perform pooled analysis of outcomes. Of 4461 studies identified, 19 studies (n = 129 628) met inclusion criteria. NOAF incidence ranged from 15% to 36%. NOAF was associated with increased risk of stroke (unadjusted OR 2.15 [1.82, 2.53] [P < .00001]; adjusted OR 1.88 [1.02, 3.46] [P = .04]). NOAF was associated with increased 30-day/hospital mortality (OR 2.35 [1.67, 3.32] [P < .00001]) and long-term cardiovascular mortality (OR 2.04 [1.35, 3.09] [P = .0007]) NOAF was associated with increased long-term all-cause mortality (unadjusted OR 1.79 [1.63, 1.96] [P < .00001]; adjusted OR 1.58 [1.24, 2.00] [P = .0002]). We found that the incidence of NOAF following isolated CABG is high and is associated with increased stroke rate and mortality. Early recognition and management of NOAF could improve outcomes.     

Management of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery

A best evidence topic in cardiac surgery was written according to a structured protocol addressing the question ‘for post‐cardiac surgery atrial fibrillation (AF), do clinical outcomes differ between rate or rhythm control strategies?’ Altogether, 2174 papers were found using the reported searches, of which 5 represented the best evidence to answer the clinical question. Hospital length of stay ranged from 5.0 to 13.2 days for rate control and 5.2 to 10.3 days for rhythm control. Freedom from AF at follow up was achieved in 84.2–91 and 84.2–96% in rate and rhythm control groups respectively. Minimal serious adverse events were noted in all studies analysed and there was no difference between rate and rhythm control groups. We conclude that in the management of post‐cardiac surgery, AF, rate control and rhythm control are equivalent in terms of hospital length of stay, freedom from arrhythmia at follow up and complication rates.     

心房颤动患者经导管主动脉瓣植入术后1年随访结果

目的:探讨经导管主动脉瓣植入（TAVI）术前合并心房颤动（房颤）是否会对患者的预后产生影响。方法:本研究为单中心回顾性研究。入选2016年5月至2020年11月于北部战区总医院住院并成功接受TAVI治疗且顺利出院的重度主动脉瓣狭窄患者115例。根据入选患者是否合并房颤将其分为房颤组（21例）及非房颤组（94例）。随访纳...     

Clinical and prognostic implications of atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation

AIM: To study a cohort of consecutive patients under-going transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and compare the outcomes of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients vs patients in sinus rhythm (SR). METHODS: All consecutive patients undergoing TAVI in our hospital were included. The AF group comprised patients in AF at the time of TAVI or with history of AF, and were compared with the SR group. Procedural, echocardiographic and follow-up variables were compared. Likewise, the CHA 2 DS 2-VASC stroke risk score and HAS-BLED bleeding risk score and antithrombotic treatment at discharge in AF patients were compared with that in SR patients. RESULTS: From a total of 34 patients undergoing TAVI, 17 (50%) were allocated to the AF group, of whom 15 (88%) were under chronic oral anticoagulation. Patients in the AF group were similar to those in the SR group except for a trend (P = 0.07) for a higher logistic EuroSCORE (28% vs 19%), and a higher prevalence of hypertension (82% vs 53%) and chronic renal failure (17% vs 0%). Risk of both stroke and bleeding was high in the AF group (mean CHA 2 DS 2-VASC 4.3, mean HAS-BLED 2.9). In the AF group, treatment at discharge included chronic oral anticoagulation in all except one case, and in association with an antiplatelet drug in 57% of patients. During a mean follow-up of 11 mo (maximum 32), there were only two strokes, none of them during the peri-procedural period: one in the AF group at 30 mo and one in the SR group at 3 mo. There were no statistical differences in procedural success, and clinical outcome (survival at 1 year 81% vs 74% in AF and SR groups, respectively, P = NS). CONCLUSION: Patients in AF undergoing TAVI show a trend to a higher surgical risk. However, in our cohort, patients in AF did not have a higher stroke rate compared to the SR group, and the prognosis was similar in both groups.