Humans ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Tachycardia, Ventricular/surgery*

Objective: To investigate the feature and treatment of atrial tachycardia (AT) originated from right atrial appendage (RAA) in children. Methods: The data of 42 children with AT originated from RAA, who were admitted the First Hospital of Tsinghua University from January 2010 to September 2022 were analyzed retrospectively.The clinical characteristics, treatment and efficacy were analyzed. The children were divided into tachycardia cardiomyopathy group and normal cardiac function group. The differences in the ablation age and the heart rate during AT between two groups were compared by independent sample t-test. Results: Among 42 children, there were 20 males and 22 females. The age of onset was 2.7 (0.6, 5.1) years. Their age at radiofrequency ablation was (6.5±3.6) years, and the weight was (23.4±10.0) kg. Thirty-two children (76%) had sustained AT. The incidence of tachycardia cardiomyopathy was 43% (18/42). Compared to that of the normal cardiac function group, the ablation age and the heart rate at atrial tachycardia of the tachycardia cardiomyopathy group were higher ((8.1±3.8) vs. (5.3±3.1) years, t=-2.63, P=0.012; (173±41) vs. (150±30) beats per minute, t=-2.05, P=0.047. Thirty-eight children (90%) responded poorly to two or more antiarrhythmic drugs. The immediate success rate of radiofrequency ablation (RFCA) was 57% (24/42), and the AT recurrence rate was 17% (4/24). Twenty-two children underwent RAA resection, and their AT were all converted to sinus rhythm after the surgery. During the RAA resection, 10 cases of right atrial appendage aneurysm were found, 9/18 of which failed the RFCA. Conclusions: The AT originated from the RAA in children tend to present with sustained AT, respond poorly to antiarrhythmic drugs, and has a low success rate of RFCA as well as high recurrence rate. Resection of the RAA is a safe and effective complementary treatment.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Atrial Appendage/surgery* ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Catheter Ablation ; Tachycardia/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Cardiomyopathies

Objectives: This study sought to describe our institutional experience of repeated percutaneous stellate ganglion blockade (R-SGB) as a treatment option for drug-refractory electrical storm in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). Methods: This prospective observational study included 8 consecutive NICM patients who had drug-refractory electrical storm and underwent R-SGB between June 1, 2021 and January 31, 2022. Lidocaine (5 ml, 1%) was injected in the vicinity of the left stellate ganglion under the guidance of ultrasound, once per day for 7 days. Data including clinical characteristics, immediate and long-term outcomes, and procedure related complications were collected. Results: The mean age was (51.5±13.6) years. All patients were male. 5 patients were diagnosed as dilated cardiomyopathy, 2 patients as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and 1 patient as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The left ventricular ejection fraction was 37.8%±6.6%. After the treatment of R-SGB, 6 (75%) patients were free of electrical storm. 24 hours Holter monitoring showed significant reduction in ventricular tachycardia (VT) episodes from 43.0 (13.3, 276.3) to 1.0 (0.3, 34.0) on the first day following R-SGB (P<0.05) and 0.5 (0.0, 19.3) after whole R-SGB process (P<0.05). There were no procedure-related major complications. The mean follow-up was (4.8±1.1) months, and the median time of recurrent VT was 2 months. Conclusion: Minimally invasive R-SGB is a safe and effective method to treat electrical storm in patients with NICM.
Humans ; Male ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Aged ; Female ; Stroke Volume ; Stellate Ganglion/surgery* ; Ventricular Function, Left ; Cardiomyopathies/complications* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular/therapy* ; Treatment Outcome ; Catheter Ablation

Objective: To investigate the acute and long-term outcome of catheter ablation for the treatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy (ALVC). Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study enrolled ALVC patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of VT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from January 2011 to December 2018 and collected their clinical characteristics and intraoperative electrophysiological examination. Patients were followed up every 6 months after radiofrequency ablation until August 2021. Echocardiographic results and VT recurrence post radiofrequency ablation were analysed. Results: Totally 12 patients were enrolled (mean age: (42±15) years, 11 males(11/12)). The mean of left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVDd) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were (51±5)mm and (65±5)%, respectively. Twelve VTs were induced in 10 patients during the electrophysiological study, and the mean tachycardia cycle length was (293±65) ms. Three-dimensional substrate mapping revealed the diseased area at endocardial site in one patient, at epicardial sites in the other 11 patients (involved endocardial sites in 2 cases) with the basal part near the mitral annulus being the predilection for the substrate (10/11). After the catheter ablation at the endocardial and epicardial sites respectively, the complete procedure endpoint was achieved in all patients (VT cannot be induced post ablation). The median follow-up time was 65 (25, 123) months. One patient was lost to follow-up, and the other 11 patients survived without VT. No significant cardiac function deterioration was detected by the echocardiographic examination ((51±5)mm vs. (52±5)mm, P>0.05 for LVDd, (65±5)% vs. (60±6)%, P>0.05 for LVEF) at the end of follow-up. Conclusion: After radiofrequency ablation, the complete procedure endpoint is achieved in ALVC patients, and the catheter ablation provides long-term ventricular tachycardia control during the long-term follow-up.
Adult ; Cardiomyopathies ; Catheter Ablation ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pericardium/surgery* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Tachycardia, Ventricular/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Function, Left

Pulsed electric field(PEF) provides high-energy instantaneous pulse and release energy to myocardial cell membrane, resulting in irreversible electroporation and causes myocardial cell contents leakage, destruction of intracellular homeostasis, cell death, and slight inflammatory response. PEF as non-thermal energy promotes the design and application of arrhythmia ablation catheter to enter a new stage. There are currently limited clinical studies that have proved the safety and effectieness of Farawave PEF catheter, PVAC GOLD PEF catheter, Lattice-tip Sphere-9 PEF and radiofrequency (RF) catheter used for atrial fibrillation ablation, but still need further discussion. The research of atrial fibrillation ablation with PEF is under study in China. In this paper, the design and application of PEF ablation for tachyarrhythmia are reviewed.
Atrial Fibrillation/surgery* ; Catheter Ablation ; Catheters ; Humans ; Pulmonary Veins/surgery* ; Tachycardia

Objective: To investigate the clinical and electrophysiological features of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) patients post surgical repair (rTOF) and to analyze the therapeutic effect and prognosis of radiofrequency ablation of rTOF-VT. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Consecutive patients with rTOF-VT, who were treated in Fuwai Hospital from January 2015 to March 2020, were enrolled. All the patients underwent right ventricular voltage mapping following routine cardiac electrophysiological examination, followed by linear or homogenizing radiofrequency ablation based on the low-voltage substrate. The clinical features, 3-dimentional electrophysiological substrate mapping, radiofrequency ablation and long-term prognosis of the enrolled patients were analyzed. Acute ablation success was defined as completion of linear or homogenizing ablation or intraoperative evoked VT as destination of the procedure. Patients were followed up at 3 and 6 months post operation and every year thereafter. The endpoints were sudden cardiac death (SCD) and recurrence of ventricular tachycardia. Results: A total of 20 patients with rTOF-VT were enrolled including 14 males with an age of (35.8±11.8) years. The electrocardiogram identified 23 types of ventricular tachycardia, 19 of which were originated from right ventricular inflow tract outlet. The most common clinical manifestations were heart murmur (19 cases, 95%) and syncope (4 cases, 25%). Electroanatomical substrate mapping was performed in 20 patients and evidenced localized or diffuse scar or low-voltage area of right ventricle. Intraoperative electrophysiological tests provoked ventricular tachycardia in 6 patients (30%), including 5 patients with hemodynamics disturbance. The acute success rate of radiofrequency ablation was 95% (19/20). The follow-up time was (31.1±17.7) months and the recurrence rate of ventricular tachycardia was 30% during follow-up period and 5 cases received repeat radiofrequency ablation and there was no recurrent ventricular tachycardia during follow-up post repeat radiofrequency ablation. Conclusions: The voltage substrate mapping under sinus rhythm is a feasible mapping method for rTOF-VT. Linear or flaky radiofrequency ablation of the slow conduction zone is safe and effective treatment strategy, the recurrence rate after the first radiofrequency ablation is still high, and the effectiveness of repeat radiofrequency ablation is satisfactory in this patient cohort.
Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Catheter Ablation ; Electrocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tachycardia, Ventricular/surgery* ; Tetralogy of Fallot/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective: To analyze the electrophysiological characteristics and the therapeutic efficacy of irrigated-tip catheter radiofrequency ablation(RFA) without radiation for pregnant women with focal atrial tachycardia(AT) originating from the right atrial appendage (RAA). Methods: Data from 55 women with focal AT, who underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from October 2016 to March 2019, were screened. 2 non-pregnant women with right atrial appendage tachycardia (RAAT) and 4 pregnant women with non-RAAT were excluded. The remaining 49 cases were divided into RAAT during pregnancy group (n=6, including 4 cases of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy) and non-pregnant and non-RAAT group (control, n=43). Under the guidance of three-dimensional mapping system, the earliest activation site was identified, RFA with the irrigated catheter without x-ray fluoroscopy was performed in RAAT patients during pregnancy, all patients in control group underwent non-zero-ray ablation. Patients were followed up at 3, 6, 12 months post procedure, and yearly follow up thereafter in outpatient clinic. Electrocardiogram or Holter monitoring was performed during follow up. AT recurrence and surgical complications were recorded during follow up. At 6 months after RFA, echocardiography examination and laboratory examination including N-terminal B-type brain natriuretic peptide measurement were performed in the pregnant patients, delivery results were also recorded in the pregnant patients. The electrophysiological characteristics of RAAT during pregnancy were analyzed, the therapeutic efficacy of RFA was compared between the two groups. Results: This study is a retrospective study. Age ((30.7±6.2)years vs. (57.2±11.7)years), left ventricular ejection fraction ((46.0±12.8)% vs. (60.1±5.9)%), proportions of organic heart disease (0% vs. 58%) were significantly lower in the RAAT patients during pregnancy group than in control group (P<0.05), while proportions of patients with persistent tachycardia (100% vs. 7%), symptoms of chest distress and palpitation (6/6 vs. 49%) and left ventricular ejection farction≤50% (4/6 vs. 9%) were significantly higher in RAAT group than in control group (P<0.05), heart rate was similar between the two groups ((163.7±11.1)beats/minutes vs. (153.7±15.2)beats/minutes, P>0.05). The characteristic P-wave morphology was observed in RAAT patients during pregnancy, i.e, P wave was mostly upright (5/6) in inferior-leads (Ⅱ, Ⅲ, aVF) and in lead I and aVL, deep and wide negative P wave was found in V₁ lead (5/6), and gradually became positive from V₂-V₆. The mean tachycardia cycle length was (361.7±38.5) ms. Three-dimensional mapping showed that the origin points of the 6 RAAT pregnant patients were all scattered in the local region, the local region was ablated accordingly, 2 patients (2/6) received extensive ablation of local areas. Immediate successful rate was similar between the two groups (6/6 vs. 93%). During follow up ((15.3±4.0) months), no complications were observed after RFA, postoperative recurrence rate was similar (1/6 vs. 12%). Uncomplicated delivery was reported in all 6 pregnant RAAT post ablation. Normal cardiac structure and function was observed in the 4 pregnant patients with tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy post ablation. Compared to pre-ablation phase, reduced left atrial dimension ((30.3±1.3) mm vs. (36.8±6.7) mm, P>0.05), increased left ventricular ejection fraction ((64.0±2.9)% vs. (39.8±10.7)%), reduced left ventricular end-diastolic dimension ((44.8±4.0) mm vs. (60.0±2.9) mm) and reduced N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide value ((136.2±47.5) ng/L vs. (3 408.4±901.3) ng/L) were observed at 6 months post ablation (P<0.05). Conclusion: The electrophysiological characteristics are suggestive for focal AT originating from RAA during pregnancy. Under the guidance of 3-dimension activation mapping, no fluoroscopic RFA with irrigated-tip catheter is a safe and effective strategy for the treatment of focal RAAT during pregnancy.
Atrial Appendage/surgery* ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke Volume ; Tachycardia ; Treatment Outcome ; Ventricular Function, Left

Atrial fibrillation is the most common persistent arrhythmia in the clinic. It affects a wide range of populations with high incidence, morbidity and mortality. Clinical studies have shown that ablation is one of the best means for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. However, after receiving ablation, some patients may experience atrial tachycardia and thus feel even deteriorated feelings. Understanding the predicting factors, electrophysiological mechanisms, and differential diagnosis and treatment strategies for post-ablation atrial tachycardia is essential for reducing the incidence and for the management of post-ablation atrial tachycardia. Therefore, we summarize the research progress of the above-mentioned aspects, and correspondingly proposes further research directions.
Atrial Fibrillation ; Catheter Ablation ; Humans ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

To explore the safety and efficacy for radiofrequency ablation of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) guided by Carto Univu three-dimensional mapping system.
 Methods: A total of 99 patients with PSVT underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) were assigned to a Carto Univu group (51 patients) and a two-dimensional X-ray group (48 patients) according to the mapping method. The operation time, X-ray exposure time, X-ray exposure dose, dose area product (DAP), operation success rate and complication rate were compared between the two groups.
 Results: The Carto Univu group and the two-dimensional X-ray group were not significant difference in the operation time, the X-ray exposure time of placing catheter, the X-ray DAP of placing catheter, the number of discharge, the discharge power, and the total discharge time (P>0.05). The mapping and ablation time, total exposure time, mapping and ablation DAP and total DAP in the Carto Univu group were significantly lower than those in the two-dimensional X-ray group (P<0.01). In the right accessory pathway cases, the mapping and ablation DAP and the total DAP in the Carto Univu group decreased compared with X-ray group (P<0.05), but it decreased more profound (P<0.01) in the left accessory pathway cases and the dual atrioventricular nodal pathways cases. Seven cases in the Carto Univu group achieved "zero X-ray", including 5 cases of the dual atrioventricular nodal pathways and 2 cases of the left accessory pathway. The immediate success rate for the two groups was 100%. After 3-12 months of follow-up, there was no recurrence in the Carto Univu group but 3 suspected recurrences in the two-dimensional X-ray group. In addition, no complications occurred in the two groups. 
 Conclusion: Carto Univu electroanatomic mapping system can guide PSVT safely and effectively during radiofrequency ablation and reduce radiation exposure to both doctors and patients. It is especially suitable for dual atrioventricular nodal pathways, which may even achieve "zero X-ray". Perhaps Carto Univu will be the first choice for RFCA of dual atrioventricular nodal pathways.
Catheter Ablation ; instrumentation ; methods ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; instrumentation ; methods ; Operative Time ; Radiation Exposure ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Radiography ; statistics & numerical data ; Recurrence ; Tachycardia, Supraventricular ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Adrenalectomy ; Female ; Humans ; Pheochromocytoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed