Post-chest closure values of CVP and PAPi were significantly associated with severe RVF. Echocardiographic assessment of RV function post-CPB was weakly associated with severe RVF.

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Background Transmural lesion creation is essential for effective atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Lesion characteristics between conventional energy and high-power short-duration (HPSD) setting in contact force-guided (CF) ablation for AF remained unclear. Methods Eighty consecutive AF patients who received CF with conventional energy setting (power control: 25–30 W, force–time integral = 400 g s, n = 40) or with HPSD (power control: 40–50 W, 10 s, n = 40) ablation were analyzed. Of them, 15 patients in each conventional and HPSD group were matched by age and gender respectively for ablation lesions analysis. Type A and B lesions were defined as a lesion with and without significant voltage reduction after ablation, respectively. The anatomical distribution of these lesions and ablation outcomes among the 2 groups were analyzed. Results 1615 and 1724 ablation lesions were analyzed in the conventional and HPSD groups, respectively. HPSD group had a higher proportion of type A lesion compared to conventional group (P < 0.01). In the conventional group, most type A lesions were at the right pulmonary vein (RPV) posterior wall (50.2%) whereas in the HPSD group, most type A lesions were at the RPV anterior wall (44.0%) (P = 0.04). The procedure time and ablation time were significantly shorter in the HPSD group than that in the conventional group (91.0 ± 12.1 vs. 124 ± 14.2 min, P = 0.03; 30.7 ± 19.2 vs. 57.8 ± 21 min, P = 0.02, respectively). At a mean follow-up period of 11 ± 1.4 months, there were 13 and 7 patients with recurrence in conventional and HPSD group respectively (P = 0.03). Conclusion Optimal ablation lesion characteristics and distribution after conventional and HPSD ablation differed significantly. HPSD ablation had shorter ablation time and lower recurrence rate than did conventional ablation.

Introduction The efficacy of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) as an alternative treatment for recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) is still unclear. This study aimed to report the outcome of SBRT in VT patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). Methods The determination of the target substrate for radiation was based on the combination of CMR results and electroanatomical mapping merged with the real‐time CT scan image. Radiation therapy was performed by Flattening‐filter‐free (Truebeam) system, and afterward, patients were followed up for 13.5 ± 2.8 months. We analyzed the outcome of death, incidence of recurrent VT, ICD shocks, anti‐tachycardia pacing (ATP) sequences, and possible irradiation side‐effects. Results A total of three cases of NICM patients with anteroseptal scar detected by CMR. SBRT was successfully performed in all patients. During the follow‐up, we found that VT recurrences occurred in all patients. In one patient, it happened during a 6‐week blanking period, while the others happened afterward. Re‐hospitalization due to VT only appeared in one patient. Through ICD interrogation, we found that all patients have reduced VT burden and ATP therapies. All of the patients died during the follow‐up period. Radiotherapy‐related adverse events did not occur in all patients. Conclusions SBRT therapy reduces the number of VT burden and ATP sequence therapy in NICM patients with VT, which had a failed previous catheter ablation. However, the efficacy and safety aspects, especially in NICM cases, remained unclear.