Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia, associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality including thromboembolic events. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombi in Japanese non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients undergoing preprocedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) during anticoagulation therapy, and to compare the efficacy of warfarin and direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC).
Methods and Results:This retrospective study reviewed records of 559 consecutive NVAF patients (445 men; age, 62±11 years) undergoing preprocedural TEE following at least 3 weeks of anticoagulation therapy. Of these, 275 patients had non-paroxysmal AF (49%). LAA thrombus was observed in 15 patients (2.7%). The prevalence of LAA thrombi was similar between the DOAC group (2.6%) and the warfarin group (2.8%, P=0.86). No patients with CHA2DS2-VASc score=0, or paroxysmal AF without prior stroke or transient ischemic attack, had LAA thrombi. On univariate analysis, non-paroxysmal AF, structural heart disease, antiplatelet therapy, larger left atrium, higher brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), reduced LAA flow, and higher CHA2DS2-VASc score were all associated with LAA thrombi. On multivariate analysis, BNP ≥173 pg/mL remained the only independent predictor of LAA thrombi.Conclusions: LAA thrombi were found in 2.7% of Japanese NVAF patients scheduled for procedures despite ongoing oral anticoagulation therapy. Incidence of thrombi was similar for patients on DOAC and on warfarin.
Background: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICD) could eliminate lead-associated complications. We assessed the prevalence of S-ICD ineligibility in conventional ICD recipients and compared it in patients with and without Brugada syndrome (BrS).
Methods and Results:Consecutive patients with a transvenous ICD without an indication for antibradycardia pacing were assessed. A patient was considered eligible for S-ICD if the ECG satisfied the screening template, both supine and standing, in ≥1 lead. Among 130 patients (103 men, age 57±15 years), a total of 18 (13.8%) patients were ineligible. The BrS group (n=33) had a significantly higher prevalence of S-ICD screening failure as compared with the non-BrS group (P=0.003; 30% vs. 8.2%). In the BrS group, the body mass index (BMI) was significantly lower, and T/QRS amplitude in lead I was significantly higher in those who were ineligible than that in the patients who were eligible. Of the 10 BrS patients failing the screening, 4 became eligible in the right parasternal electrode position.
Conclusions:Among current ICD patients, there was a high incidence of patients with BrS who were unsuitable for S-ICD based on the left parasternal screening test. Suitability screening of patients for S-ICDs should be conducted carefully in patients with BrS, particularly if the BMI is low. Right parasternal electrode positioning should also be tested in such BrS patients.
sheaths have become available. Theoretically, these sheaths deliver twice as many pulses per second. 2 Mechanical force has been suggested to be a major cause of complications during the procedures. However, few reports have compared 40-and 80-Hz laser sheaths, particularly in Japan. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the safety and efficacy of the low-and high-frequency laser sheaths for lead extractions in Japanese institutions. Methods Study Patients A total of 418 leads in 215 patients were extracted transvenously, mainly using an excimer laser sheath, from May 2013 through April 2018 at Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital. In total, 122 patients were implanted with pacemakers, 64 of which were implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICDs) and 29 cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator/pacemakers (CRT-D/Ps). A low
Transvenous extractions of advisory ICD leads with relatively long implant duration were performed with a high success rate and low complication and mortality rate in Japanese patients.
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