A Decrease in Pulmonary Vein Diameter After Radiofrequency Ablation Predicts the Development of Severe Stenosis

A decrease in ostial pulmonary vein (PV) diameter was observed in patients on the day after radiofrequency ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study examined whether a relative reduction in PV diameter on day 1 (RRPVD1) after the procedure predicts the late development of severe PV stenosis (PVS). The study included 104 consecutive patients (mean age = 55 years, range 46–61, 34 women) with drug refractory AF. Pulmonary vein diameter was measured using MR angiography (MRA) on the day before and on day 1 after the ablation procedure. The MRA was repeated every 3 months after the procedure. Severe PVS was defined as a >70% diameter reduction from the initial ostial diameter. The cut-off of RRPVD1 was prespecified as 25% decrease in initial diameter. The data are presented as medians and interquartile range. A total of 357 PV were treated. The RRPVD1 was 0.0% (0.0–11.1%). Severe PVS was found in 18 PV during a follow-up of 12 months (range 6–13). The log-rank analysis confirmed a strong association between a RRPVD1 ≥25% and the development of PVS (hazard ratio: 7.1; 95% confidence interval 3.8–13.5, P < 0.0001). By multivariate Cox regression model, after adjustment of procedure variables, RRPVD1 was the strongest predictor of development of severe PVS. RRPVD1 ≥25% was a strong independent predictor of development of severe PVS.     

Evolution of Late Potentials During the First 8 Hours of Myocardial Infarction Treated with Thrombolysis

It has been demonstrated that successful thrombolytic therapy is associated with a reduction of late potentials in the signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) recorded within 48 hours after hospital admission. This study extends these observations, using for the first time a longitudinal design investigating whether ischemia and its potential reversal by thrombolytic therapy are associated with dynamic changes in SAECG recordings obtained continuously for 8 hours after the start of therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI). SAECGs were obtained from 12 patients (2 women and 10 men; ages 63 ± 13 years) with acute MI. The SAECG (X²+ Y²+ Z²)^1/2 was generated with a high pass filter of 40 Hz, noise ≤ 0.3 μV. Comparing the SAECG recordings during the first and eighth hours, there was a significant decrease in filtered QRS duration (fQRS; 119.5 ± 17.1 vs 106.3 ± 15.3 ms) and duration of the low amplitude signals ≤ 40 μV of the terminal QRS (LAS40; 48.8 ± 18 vs 34.2 ± 14.2 ms), and increase of root mean square voltage of the last 40 ms of the QRS (t-RMS; 14.8 ± 9.3 vs 37.8 ± 34.4 μV) (rank test, P ≤ 0.05). In this patient series, there was a significant improvement of fQRS, t-RMS, and LAS40 during the first 8 hours of acute MI, perhaps indicating reversal of ischemia with thrombolysis. Even during acute MI, these markers of delayed conduction allow investigation of intervention induced changes in myocardial conduction and possibly prediction of the patency of the infarct related artery using signal-averaging techniques.     

Ventricular Oversensing:

WERETKA, S., et al. : Ventricular Oversensing: A Study of 101 Patients Implanted with Dual Chamber Defibrillators and Two Different Lead Systems . Modern dual chamber ICD systems are able to overcome various sensing problems. However, improvement of their performance is still required. The aim of this study was to assess the sensing function in 101 consecutive patients (84 men, 17 women; mean age 63 ± 12 years; mean follow-up 24 ± 4 months) implanted with dual chamber defibrillators and integrated (IB) or dedicated bipolar (DB) lead systems. Follow-up data were analyzed for the presence of ventricular oversensing. Oversensing occurred in 25 (25%) patients, significantly more frequent in patients implanted with IB compared to DB lead systems (21/52 vs 4/49, P = 0.0002). Patients with cardiomyopathies (CMs) were more prone to sensing malfunctions than patients with no CM (12/30 vs 13/71, P = 0.04). T wave oversensing (n = 14), respirophasic ventricular oversensing (n = 4), and P wave oversensing (n = 6) were the most common pitfalls of ventricular sensing. P wave oversensing was unique to the IB lead system. CT scans performed in these patients disclosed the position of the RV coil to be proximal to the tricuspid area. Four patients received inappropriate ICD shocks due to oversensing. In all but two patients who received lead revision, oversensing was resolved by noninvasive means. In conclusion: (1) ventricular oversensing is a common problem occurring in up to 25% of patients with dual chamber ICDs; (2) P wave oversensing is a ventricular sensing problem affecting function of 11% of dual chamber devices with IB lead systems; (3) IB leads are significantly more susceptible to T wave and P wave oversensing than DB leads; and (4) patients with cardiomyopathies are more prone to oversensing than patients with other heart diseases. (PACE 2003; 26[Pt. I]:65–70)     

Successful Topical Treatment of Sorafenib-Induced Hand–Foot Skin Reaction in a Child with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Abstract:  Orally active kinase inhibitors such as Sorafenib are known to elicit cutaneous side effects in the majority of adult patients, whereas specific cutaneous complications of this agent have not been described in children so far. We here present the first pediatric case of Sorafenib-induced hand-foot-skin reaction and its successful topical therapy facilitating continuation of kinase inhibitor treatment.     

Pulmonary Vein Stenting for the Treatment of Acquired Severe Pulmonary Vein Stenosis after Pulmonary Vein Isolation: Clinical Implications after Long-Term Follow-Up of 4 Years

Introduction: Severe pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a well-recognized complication with a further reported incidence of 1.3%. The preferred therapy for symptomatic PVS is pulmonary vein (PV) angioplasty, but this treatment modality is followed by restenosis in 44–70%. Whether there is additional long-term benefit from PVS stenting is uncertain. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the long-term success after PV stenting of severe stenosis.
Methods and Results: Ten patients (pts) with 13 PVS were prospectively evaluated. PV stenting was performed with Palmaz Genesis stents. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), lung perfusion scans, and CT-scans were performed before, directly after, and every 12 months thereafter. Primary endpoint of the study was the occurrence of restenosis after PV stenting. After a median follow-up of 47.7 (IQRs 25/75 47.2–48.5) months, the primary endpoint was achieved in 3 out of 13 PVs (23% of the treated PVs). We observed two in-stent restenosis 2 and 4 years after PV stenting. These pts experienced onset of dyspnea some weeks before. After an additional balloon angioplasty, the in-stent restenosis was resolved. In one asymptomatic patient, we observed an occlusion of the PV stent 13 months poststenting. Normalization of lung perfusion was noted 4 years after PV stenting versus directly poststenting in all pts without in-stent restenosis (n = 7).
Conclusion: PVS stenting with stent sizes ≥10 mm seems to be an adequate therapy modality for treatment of severe acquired PVS. Late in-stent restenosis after PVS stenting can occur. The normalization of the initially disturbed lung perfusion scan is possible and remains stable, even 4 years after PVS stenting.     

Pulmonary Vein Antrum Isolation and Terminal Part of the P Wave

Background: Delayed interatrial conduction, manifested on the electrocardiogram as a P wave ≥110 ms (interatrial block, IAB), is highly prevalent and associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). It is correlated with P‐terminal force (Ptf; product of the duration and amplitude of the negative terminal phase of the P wave in lead V1). Our purpose was to describe the modifications of the P‐wave duration and Ptf after pulmonary vein antrum isolation (PVAI) in patients with paroxysmal AF. Methods: PVAI was performed in 45 patients with paroxysmal AF, either with the cryoballoon technique (n = 15) or radiofrequency ablation (n = 30). Electrocardiograms were recorded before PVAI, 3 and 6 months after ablation. Results: From the sample (median age 60 [53; 66] years; female 40%), median P‐wave duration was 122 [114; 134] ms before PVAI and 116 [106; 124] ms at 3‐month follow‐up (P < 0.001). IAB was observed in 42 patients (93.3%) before ablation and in 31 patients (68.9%) at 3‐month follow‐up. Median Ptf was 0.047 [0.020; 0.068] before ablation and 0.013 [0.004; 0.025] at 3‐month follow‐up (P < 0.001). Twenty‐six patients (57.8%) had a Ptf > 0.04 mV x ms before ablation and only one (2.2%) at 3‐month follow‐up. P‐wave duration and Ptf were not significantly modified between 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up. Conclusion: The terminal part of the P wave is modified after PVAI, perhaps due to the loss of pulmonary vein antrum signals. P‐wave duration and Ptf must be carefully interpreted after such a procedure. The prognostic value of these modifications should be evaluated. (PACE 2010; 784–789)