Mathieu Granier

Aims: Obesity is associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial remodelling, and cardiometabolic comorbidities. Whether baseline body mass index (BMI) influences procedural safety and effectiveness of pulsed-field ablation (PFA) remains uncertain. We evaluated the association of baseline BMI with procedural characteristics, periprocedural safety, and 1-year arrhythmia recurrence after first-time PFA for AF. Methods and results: FRANCE-PFA is a nationwide registry including consecutive patients undergoing first-time AF ablation with a pentaspline PFA catheter. Patients with available BMI were categorized as <25, 25 to <30, 30 to <35, or ≥35 kg/m2. Periprocedural complications and 1-year atrial arrhythmia recurrence were assessed across BMI categories. Among 5223 patients, BMI was available in 4573 (87.6%). Higher BMI was associated with greater cardiometabolic burden, more persistent AF, larger atria, and more extensive ablation strategies, including fewer pulmonary vein isolation-only procedures and more additional lesion sets (all P < 0.001). Periprocedural complications remained infrequent (1.0%), with no significant difference across BMI categories. At 1 year, recurrence was driven mainly by AF type rather than obesity. Within paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal AF, recurrence rates were comparable between patients with BMI < 35 and ≥35 kg/m2 (13.8% vs. 9.1% and 22.9% vs. 23.3%, respectively; log-rank P = 0.925). Severe obesity was not associated with recurrence after multivariable adjustment (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.65–1.14; P = 0.299), with similar findings when BMI was analysed continuously. Conclusion: In this nationwide PFA cohort, higher BMI identified a more advanced AF phenotype and more extensive ablation strategies but was not independently associated with periprocedural complications or 1-year arrhythmia recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) is a novel and rapidly expanding energy for the ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). The relationships between the characteristics of pulmonary vein (PV) and extra-PV PFA applications, and the type of arrhythmia recurrence or durable lesion observed during redo procedures remain unclear. METHODS: In this substudy of the FRANCE PFA national exhaustive multicentric registry, we collected detailed data on PFA applications delivered during the initial AF ablation procedure. Among patients with arrhythmia recurrence undergoing redo procedures with 3-dimensional mapping (n=145), we analyzed the type of recurrence, rates of durable PV isolation (PVI), and the presence of complete block over the ablation lines. RESULTS: Recurrent arrhythmias comprised AF in 58%, atrial tachycardia in 23%, and typical atrial flutter in 9%. AF was less frequently observed when initial ablation targeted extra-PV areas (45 versus 71%; P =0.01) and when a 35-mm diameter catheter was used for PVI only (50 versus 77%; P =0.01). Complete durable PVI was observed in 42% of patients (69% to 76% for each separate PV), and durable roof/PW and mitral isthmus blocks were observed in 62% and 31% of cases, respectively. The rate of durable PVI increased with the number of PFA applications ( P 12 applications. Similarly, roof/PW block rates increased to 88% with >16 applications ( P 12 PFA applications per PV and >16 for the roof/PW. Long-term durability of mitral isthmus block was poor using the Pentaspline PFA catheter.

Background/Objectives: Most data on radiofrequency (RF) effects come from ex vivo or in vitro studies that quantify lesions using width and/or depth, while electrophysiologists use manufacturers’ indirect indices. The objective of this study was to evaluate RF lesion volume by high-resolution MRI of excised lesions in an in vivo porcine model, comparing a low-energy long-duration (LE) (20 W, 50 s) RF application strategy with a high-energy short-duration (HE) (50 W, 20 s) one. Methods: Eighteen piglets were divided into LE (n = 9) and HE groups (n = 9). RF applications were performed at four locations in both atria. Animals were sacrificed after 5–7 days, and RF lesion specimens were excised, fixed, and analyzed by 9.4 Tesla MRI. RF lesion volume, variability (variance), depth, and any extracardiac lesions were compared between the groups. Results: Seventy RF applications were performed (36 LE, 34 HE). MRI analyzed 26 LE and 28 HE samples. The HE group showed 35% higher volume than the LE group (100.2 mm³ (±81.2) in LE vs. 178.3 mm³ (±163.7) in HE, p = 0.033). RF volume variance was 6.6 mm³ in LE and 40.3 mm³ in HE. The HE group had more complications (seven vs. zero, p = 0.02) and extracardiac lesions (18 vs. 14, p = 0.613). Conclusions: There was large and unpredictable variability in RF injury on the atrial wall, even under controlled conditions, which could explain arrhythmia recurrences. The greatest lesion variability was found during HE applications. The dose/effect relationship of RF needs careful study for treating cardiac arrhythmias.

The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) has been proven to be effective in preventing sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients soon after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%. The aim of this study was to assess whether a WCD may shorten the length of an initial hospital stay (total length, days in the intensive care unit (ICU) and in the acute cardiac care unit (ACCU)) among these patients. This was a single-centre, retrospective observational study of patients referred for the management of SCD risk post-AMI and LVEF ≤35%, in a tertiary care hospital. The clinical characteristics and length of index hospitalization of the group of patients discharged, with or without WCD, were compared. A propensity score analysis was performed, then weighted regression models were conducted. A total of 101 patients in the WCD group and 29 in the control group were enrolled in the analysis. In the weighted regression models, WCD significantly reduced the days spent in ACCU (p < 0.001). WCD patients had significantly fewer days spent in ACCU (5.5 ± 2.6 vs. 8.4 ± 12.8 days, p < 0.001) and shorter hospitalizations (10.2 ± 5.7 vs. 13.4 ± 17.6 days, p = 0.005), compared with the control group. It was concluded that the WCD appears to reduce the total length of hospitalization and lengths of stay in ACCU for patients post-AMI and with left ventricular dysfunction.

Aims: Virtual reality hypnosis (VRH) has been used successfully in various clinical settings to decrease anxiety and the sensation of pain. We aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of VRH in patients undergoing electrophysiology and pacing procedures under conscious sedation. Methods: During a two-month period, VRH support was proposed and accepted by 25 patients undergoing electrophysiological procedures. Data were compared with a control group (n = 61) enrolled during the following three-month period. Both groups underwent the measurement of the duration of intervention, the consumption of analgesics and hypnotics, and their pain and comfort using a validated visual analogue scale (VAS 0−10). Results: The baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups, including age. There were no differences in procedure duration (46 (±29) vs. 56 (±32) min, p = 0.18) or in hypnotic/antalgic consumption (midazolam 1.95 (±1.44) vs. 2.00 (±1.22) mg, p = 0.83; sufentanyl 3.78 (±2.87) vs. 3.58 (±2.48) μg, p = 0.9) between the control and VRH groups. In a multivariate analysis, the use of VRH was independently associated with lower comfort during the procedure assessed by postoperative visual analogue scale (OR 15.00 [95% CI 4.77−47.16], p < 0.01). There was no influence of VRH use on pain or drug consumption. Conclusions: In our experience, compared with VRH, human care is preferable during procedures in electrophysiology lab to improve the comfort of the patient. VRH has no influence on pain or drug consumption.

UNSTRUCTURED Aims: Virtual reality Hypnosis (VRH) has been used successfully in different clinical settings to treat anxiety and the sensation of pain. We aimed to investigate the feasibility and safety of VRH in patients undergoing electrophysiology and stimulation procedures under conscious sedation. Methods: During a two-month period, VRH support was proposed to patients undergoing interventions. Data were compared with a control group (n=61) enrolled during the following three-month period. In the intervention group (n=25), the dedicated VR hypnosis programme was projected during the procedure. In both groups, pain and comfort were measured at the end of the procedure and at discharge, using visual analogue scales (VASs; 0-10). Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. There was no difference in procedure duration (46 (±29) vs 56 (±32) min, p=0,18) nor in hypnotic / antalgic consumption (1.95 (±1.44) vs 2.00 (±1.22) mg, p=0,83 and 3.78 (±2.87) vs 3.58 (±2.48) μg, p=0,9) for the control and VR groups respectively. In a multivariate analysis, the use of VR was independently associated with lower comfort during the procedure, assessed by post-operative VAS (OR 15.00 (IC95%4.77;47.16), p<0.01). There was no influence of VR use on pain or drug consumption. Conclusions: In our experience, VR hypnosis in the EP lab doesn’t improve comfort during the procedure, compared to conventional human care. It has no influence on pain or drug consumption.