Editorial special issue Atrial fibrillation

Miloš Táborský

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e339-e340 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.013  

Long-term results of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in 866 patients

Martin Fiala, Libor Škňouřil, Ondřej Toman, Jakub Pindor, Veronika Bulková, Jan Chovančík, Radek Neuwirth, Růžena Lábrová, Jaroslav Januška, Jindřich Špinar

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e361-e368 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.10.006  

Purpose: This study presents eight-year experience with ablation techniques, recurrent arrhythmias, and long-term outcomes in patients undergoing catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods: Catheter ablation of AF was performed in 866 consecutive patients in a total of 1,272 ablation procedures. Ablation strategy and procedure endpoints were left at the operator's discretion. Total study population and groups of paroxysmal (n = 508/59%), persistent (n = 102/12%), and long-standing persistent AF (n = 256/29%) were evaluated.Results: Pulmonary vein isolation alone or with cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation was accomplished in 36% of...

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation - Single center experience

Luděk Haman, Hana Dostálová, Petr Pařízek

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e369-e374 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.007  

Aims: Catheter ablation (CA) has become standard therapy for atrial fibrillation, especially for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Precise single center follow-up (FU) data (especially long-term FU data) are published infrequently.Methods: We studied 303 consecutive patients (172 males, 131 females, mean age 57 years) who underwent catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (489 procedures) in years 2004-2012. Clinical examination, ECG, 24-h or 7-day Holter monitoring and quality-of-life (QoL) measurement (EQ-5D) was performed at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18- and 24-month FU.Results: FU data longer than 6 months after the first procedure are available for...

Poor relationship between left atrial diameter and volume in patients with atrial fibrillation

Štěpán Havránek, Veronika Bulková, Martin Fiala, Libor Škňouřil, Jan Chovančík, Jan Šimek, Dan Wichterle

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e386-e392 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.004  

Background: Left atrial (LA) enlargement is a predictor of worse outcome after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). We investigated the correspondence between single LA diameter (LAd) and LA volume (LAV) in patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF.Methods: Total 782 patients (aged 58 ± 11 yrs; 70% males; 56% paroxysmal AF) were enrolled in 2 centres in the period of 2007-2011. Echocardiographic antero-posterior LAd was assessed in parasternal long-axis view and LAV was derived from electroanatomical 3D reconstruction of LA (183 ± 50 CARTO mapping points; 55% CT image registration).Results: Mean LAd was 45 ±...

The influence of the technology on the success of the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation - Single center experience

Alan Bulava, Jiří Haniš

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e393-e400 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.005  

Introduction: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is considered to be a cornerstone of invasive therapy of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF). However, numerous technologies appeared on the market during last 10 years and besides typical "point-by-point" ablation, other "single-burn" technologies or remote navigation emerged.Goal: The aim of this article is to summarize single center experience with PVI using different technologies.Methods and results: The study was conducted in partially retrospective and mainly prospective manner. Consecutive cohorts of patients with PAF were followed after their index procedure using four different systems...

Quality of life and costs of conventional therapy in patients treated by catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

Veronika Bulková, Martin Fiala, Dan Wichterle, Luděk Haman, Jan Chovančík, Štěpán Havránek, Jiří Duda, Jakub Pindor, Miroslav Novák, Petr Pařízek

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e421-e427 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.003  

Aims: The purpose of the study was to assess quality of life, socioeconomic parameters, and costs of conventional therapy in patients treated by catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).Methods: The study included 160 patients treated by catheter ablation for AF who fulfilled a minimum of 2-year follow-up. Quality of life using EQ-5D questionnaire, and days of hospitalization and working incapacity were evaluated before ablation and every 6 months after ablation. Further, one-year costs of conventional therapy for AF were assessed before and after ablation.Results: Quality of life was significantly improved at each post-ablation stage....

Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation - Update focused on the Czech Republic

Robert Čihák

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e352-e360 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.010  

Today, catheter ablation has become a routine part of rhythm control in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). In the Czech Republic (C.R.), these procedures are recorded in a nationwide registry, which is ma-naged online and gives an overview on procedure rates and development trends. Palliative procedures, i.e. AV node ablation, are infrequently used nowadays and their rate did not change significantly within last 15 years. Contrary to that, the rate of selective ablation procedures of AF is steeply rising. In the C.R., these procedures are carried out in 10 centers, and 1,590 ablation procedures of AF were carried out in the year 2011. With its...

The role of imaging to support catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation

Josef Kautzner, Petr Peichl

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e375-e385 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.009  

Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is a complex procedure that requires transseptal puncture and extensive manipulation with catheter(s) in the left atrium and pulmonary veins. Individual anatomy of these structures contributes to a challenge of AF ablation. The proximity of surrounding structures, such as oesophagus, further increases risk of complications of this procedure. Increased risk of intracardiac thrombosis associated with AF is another factor that may complicate management of these patients. For all these reasons, imaging techniques play increasingly important role. Preprocedural imaging becomes important not only to rule out thrombus but...

Balloon technology for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation

Petr Neužil, Lucie Šedivá

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e401-e407 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.011  

Unlike the initial balloon ablation catheters which were designed to deliver ablation lesions within the pulmonary veins (PVs), the current balloon catheters are fashioned to deliver lesions out of the PV ostia. Using the current generation of balloon ablation catheters, electrical isolation occurs at the level of the PV ostia, but the antral regions are largely unablated. Because of its initial technical feasibility and presumed safety benefits, balloon cryoablation was being increasingly employed for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation. Other balloon technology - endoscopically navigated laser balloon - was introduced as the first real catheter "one fits...

Robot-assisted navigation in atrial fibrillation ablation - of any benefits?

Jan Petrů, Jan Škoda

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e408-e413 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.016  

In recent years, catheter ablation has established itself as a safe and effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). The benefits of robotic catheter navigation technology and techniques for AF ablation are currently a frequent topic of discussion. Most clinical trials have suggested that robotic ablation is (at least) as effective as the manual approach. The most important potential advantages of robotic ablation include excellent catheter stability and accuracy of its movement, reduced fluoroscopic time, catheter contact monitoring, improved comfort of the operator during the procedure as they can sit most of the time unexposed to radiation...

Complications of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation

Bashar Aldhoon, Josef Kautzner

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e414-e420 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.006  

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is a modern therapeutic method that effectively prevents arrhythmia recurrences. Because of the complexity nature of this procedure, it is not surprising that the rate of complications is higher compared with other types of catheter ablations. This review focuses on the most important complications, and discusses their prevention, diagnosis, and therapy.

Follow-up of patients after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and their clinical management

Tomáš Skála

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e428-e432 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.012  

ECG monitoring after catheter ablation is a necessary part of care of patients with atrial fibrillation. A significant number of patients after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation have sooner or later arrhythmia recurrence. The riskier the patient, the bigger the impact of a potential arrhythmia and the more intensive effort to monitor ECG after ablation should be made. An integral part of follow-up of patients after catheter ablation is not only monitoring for potential arrhythmia recurrence but also monitoring for complications of ablation, antiarrhythmic and antithrombotic drugs prescription, influencing of atrial fibrillation development risk...

Hypertension and ischemic heart disease

Jindřich Špinar

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e433-e438 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.002  

Summary of the 2012 focused update of the ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation. Prepared by the Czech Society of Cardiology

Robert Čihák, Luděk Haman, Petr Heinc

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):e341-e351 | DOI: 10.1016/j.crvasa.2012.11.008  

Dan Marek: Echokardiografie levé síně

Prof. MUDr. Jan Petrášek, DrSc.

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):639  

Martin Pleva, Petr Ouředníček: MRI srdce. Praktické využití z pohledu kardiologa

Prof. MUDr. Jan Petrášek, DrSc.

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):660  

Poznámka k článku J. Widimského Kardiologie v prvních 13 letech IKEM. Období II. interní výzkumné základny 1971-1983 [Cor et Vasa 54 (2012) 402-413]

MUDr. Jiří Spáčil

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):659  

Dabigatran v prevenci CMP u pacientů s fibrilací síní

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):633-634 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2012.057  

Snížení kardiovaskulárního rizika u osob s metabolickým syndromem, diabetem a chronickým onemocněním ledvin

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):635-638 | DOI: 10.33678/cor.2012.058  

Zápis ze schůze výboru ČKS konané dne 19. 6. 2012 v Praze

P. Widimský, I. Pavézková

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):631-632  

10. jubilejní konference Pracovní skupiny akutní kardiologie České kardiologické společnosti

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):641-659  

Erratum k: "Souhrn Doporučených postupů ESC pro diagnostiku a léčbu pacientů s akutním infarktem myokardu s elevacemi úseku ST z roku 2012. Připraven Českou kardiologickou společností" [Cor et Vasa 54 (2012) 447-463]

Petr Widimský, Petr Kala, Richard Rokyta

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):628  

Editorial Board

Editorial board

Cor Vasa 2012, 54(11-12):i | DOI: 10.1016/S0010-8650(12)00134-8