NOGAMI A et al.(5) View the monitor during imaging During imaging, the heart rate must be continuously monitored using a pulse oximeter or an ECG monitor. (6) Prepare for unexpected situations It should be ensured that the room is equipped with an electrical defibrillator to be used in an emergency, if necessary. A hospital manual for handling unexpected situations should be established. In addition, it should be kept in mind that the threshold and lead resistance need to be re-measured after imaging and the mode needs to be returned to the original setting.Recommendations are shown in Table 6. Electrophysiology StudiesThe clinical significance of induced arrhythmia depends on the underlying heart disease, type of arrhythmia, and induction protocol. Electrophysiology studies are considered less useful in patients with frequent premature ventricular contraction (PVCs) without structural heart disease.

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AimsAlthough contact force (CF)-guided circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is useful, AF recurrence at long-term follow-up still remains to be resolved. The purpose of this study was to assess safety and efficacy of CF-guided CPVI and to compare residual conduction gaps during CPVI and long-term outcome between the conventional (non-CF-guided) and the CF-guided CPVI.Methods and resultsWe studied the 50 consecutive PAF patients undergoing CPVI by a ThermoCool EZ Steer catheter (conventional group, mean age 61 ± 10 years) and the other 50 consecutive PAF patients by a ThermoCool SmartTouch catheter (CF group, 65 ± 11 years). The procedure parameters and residual conduction gaps during CPVI, and long-term outcome for 12 months were compared between the two groups. Circumferential pulmonary vein isolation was successfully accomplished without any major complications in both groups. Total procedure and total fluoroscopy times were both significantly shorter in the CF group than in the conventional group (160 ± 30 vs. 245 ± 61 min, P < 0.001, and 17 ± 8 vs. 54 ± 27 min, P < 0.001, respectively). Total number of residual conduction gaps was significantly less in the CF group than in the conventional group (2.7 ± 1.7 vs. 6.3 ± 2.7, P < 0.05). The AF recurrence-free rates after CPVI during 12-month follow-up were 96% (48/50) in the CF group and 82% (41/50) in the conventional group (P = 0.02 by log rank test). Multivariate Cox regression analysis further supported this finding.ConclusionContact force-guided CPVI is safe and more effective in reducing not only the procedure time but also the AF recurrence than the conventional CPVI, possibly due to reduced residual conduction gaps during CPVI procedure.

rence, 2,3 and thus might yield improved clinical outcomes in terms of ischemic stroke, heart failure, and death. For patients in whom PVI is truly curative, it should be possible to discontinue oral anticoagulants (OACs) without fear that an AF-related clinical event will occur. Despite A trial fibrillation (AF) affects quality of life and increases the risks of stroke, heart failure, and death. 1 Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is reported to be more effective than antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy for relief of symptoms and freedom from AF recur

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