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Medicine Apr 2024Tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (TBS) is a subtype of sick sinus syndrome characterized by prolonged sinus pause (≥3 s) following termination of tachyarrhythmias,... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (TBS) is a subtype of sick sinus syndrome characterized by prolonged sinus pause (≥3 s) following termination of tachyarrhythmias, primarily atrial fibrillation (AF). There is controversy regarding whether the long-term prognosis of AF ablation is superior to pacemaker implantation. This study aimed to compare the effects of AF ablation and pacemaker therapy in patients with TBS.
METHODS
We conducted a comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, EmBase, Web of Science, and Chinese BioMedical, up until December 1, 2023. We included studies that reported the effects of AF ablation vs pacemaker therapy in patients with TBS. From this search, we identified 5 studies comprising 843 participants with TBS who underwent catheter AF ablation or pacemaker therapy.
RESULTS
Our meta-analysis revealed that AF ablation and pacemaker therapy had similar effects on cardiovascular death (odds ratio [OR] = 0.62 and 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.14-2.65), procedural complications (OR = 1.53 and 95% CI: 0.67-3.48), and cardiovascular rehospitalization (OR = 0.57 and 95% CI: 0.26-1.22). However, AF ablation provided greater benefits than pacemaker therapy in terms of all-cause mortality (OR = 0.37 and 95% CI: 0.17-0.82), thromboembolism (OR = 0.25 and 95% CI: 0.12-0.49), stroke (OR = 0.28 and 95% CI: 0.13-0.57), heart failure (OR = 0.27 and 95% CI: 0.13-0.56), freedom from AF (OR = 23.32 and 95% CI: 7.46-72.92), and prevention of progression to persistent AF (OR = 0.12 and 95% CI: 0.06-0.24). Furthermore, AF ablation resulted in a reduced need for antiarrhythmic agents (OR = 0.21 and 95% CI: 0.08-0.59).
CONCLUSION
AF ablation can effectively reduce the risk of all-cause mortality, thromboembolism, stroke, heart failure, and progression to persistent AF in patients with TBS. Additionally, it may eliminate the need for further pacemaker therapy in most cases after ablation. Therefore, AF ablation is considered superior to pacemaker therapy in the management of patients with TBS.
Topics: Humans; Atrial Fibrillation; Sick Sinus Syndrome; Bradycardia; Treatment Outcome; Pacemaker, Artificial; Tachycardia; Catheter Ablation; Stroke; Heart Failure; Thromboembolism
PubMed: 38640303
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037543 -
Indian Pacing and Electrophysiology... 2024While atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation has proven beneficial for heart failure (HF) patients, most reports were performed with radiofrequency ablation. We aimed to...
INTRODUCTION
While atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation has proven beneficial for heart failure (HF) patients, most reports were performed with radiofrequency ablation. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cryoballoon AF ablation in patients with HFrEF.
METHOD
We comprehensively searched the databases of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane database from inception to December 2022. Studies that reported the outcomes of freedom from atrial arrhythmia, complications, NYHA functional class (NYHA FC), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after Cryoballoon AF ablation in HF patients were included. Data from each study were combined with a random-effects model.
RESULT
A total of 9 studies observational studies with 1414 HF patients were included. Five studies had only HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 1 study with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), and others with mixed HF types. Freedom from AA in HFrEF at 12 months was 64% (95% CI 56-71%, I 58%). There was a significant improvement of LVEF in these patients with a standard mean difference of 13% (95% CI 8.6-17.5%, I 99% P < 0.001. The complication rate in HFrEF group was 6% (95% CI 4-10%, I 0%). The risk of recurrence of atrial arrhythmia was not significantly different between HF and no HF patients (RR 1.34, 95% CI 0.8-2.23, I2 76%).
CONCLUSION
Cryoballoon AF ablation is effective in HFrEF patients comparable to radiofrequency ablation. The complication rate was low.
PubMed: 38218450
DOI: 10.1016/j.ipej.2024.01.001 -
Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery Mar 2024Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of cardiac arrythmia, with a key importance in the perioperative setting of cardiac surgery. In recent years, the...
BACKGROUND
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common form of cardiac arrythmia, with a key importance in the perioperative setting of cardiac surgery. In recent years, the question as to whether pre-existent AF should be treated concomitantly when undergoing cardiac surgery has been heatedly debated. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to delineate the outcomes of patients undergoing concomitant AF ablation procedures alongside cardiac surgery.
METHODS
The methods for this systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses statement. Four databases were searched, ultimately yielding 22 papers for inclusion, using appropriate search terminology. Meta-analysis using proportions or means, as appropriate, were applied. Kaplan-Meier curves were digitized and aggregated using previously reported and validated techniques.
RESULTS
A total of 9,428 patients (67% male) were identified across the study period as having received non-mitral cardiac surgery and concomitant AF ablation procedures. On actuarial assessment, freedom from AF was found to be 93%, 88%, 85%, 82%, and 79% at 1 through to 5 years, respectively. Freedom from mortality was found to be 94%, 93%, 91%, 90%, and 87% at 1 through to 5 years, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
This review demonstrated excellent freedom from AF out to a long-term follow-up of 5 years. Freedom from mortality was also encouraging. Emerging data are increasingly illustrating that in this patient cohort, concurrent treatment of pre-existent AF with cardiac and/or valvular disease at the point of operation should be the standard of care. Robust data in the form of randomized control trials will hopefully solidify this assertion.
PubMed: 38590993
DOI: 10.21037/acs-2023-afm-17 -
Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery Mar 2024Cox-Maze procedure is currently the gold standard treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data on the effectiveness of the Cox-Maze procedure after concomitant... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
BACKGROUND
Cox-Maze procedure is currently the gold standard treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data on the effectiveness of the Cox-Maze procedure after concomitant mitral valve surgery (MVS) are not well established. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of Cox-Maze procedure versus no-maze procedure n in AF patients undergoing mitral valve surgery through a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis.
METHODS
A systematic search on PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials (Cochrane Library, Issue 02, 2017) databases were performed using three databases from their inception to March 2023, identifying all relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing Cox-Maze procedure versus no procedure in AF patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. Data were extracted and analyzed according to predefined clinical endpoints.
RESULTS
Nine RCTs meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this systematic review with 663 patients in total (341 concomitant Cox-Maze with MVS and 322 MVS alone). Across all studies with included AF patients undergoing MV surgery, the concomitant Cox-Maze procedure was associated with significantly higher sinus rhythm rate at discharge, 6 months, and 12 months follow-up when compared with the no-Maze group. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between the Cox-Maze and no-Maze groups in terms of 1 year all-cause mortality, pacemaker implantation, stroke, and thromboembolism.
CONCLUSIONS
Our systematic review suggested that RCTs have demonstrated the addition of the Cox-Maze procedure for AF leads to a significantly higher rate of sinus rhythm in mitral valve surgical patients, with no increase in the rates of mortality, pacemaker implantation, stroke, and thromboembolism.
Topics: Humans; Atrial Fibrillation; Mitral Valve; Maze Procedure; Treatment Outcome; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stroke; Thromboembolism; Catheter Ablation
PubMed: 38504314
DOI: 10.1186/s13019-024-02622-0 -
Frontiers in Neurology 2023Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an independent and modifiable risk factor in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the effective of the...
Continuous positive airway pressure therapy might be an effective strategy on reduction of atrial fibrillation recurrence after ablation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: insights from the pooled studies.
BACKGROUND
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an independent and modifiable risk factor in the initiation and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the effective of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on AF patients with OSA after ablation is elusive.
METHODS
Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were systematically searched up to February 1, 2023. Studies comprising the AF recurrence rate between the CPAP therapy group and non-CPAP therapy group for the AF patients with OSA were included. Meanwhile, trial sequential analysis (TSA) was conducted to adjust the lower statistical power and random error in this study. Subgroup analysis identified the potential determinants for the AF recurrence rate with CPAP therapy.
RESULTS
A total of eight studies including 1,231 AF patients with OSA were eligible. Compared with non-CPAP treatment group, CPAP treatment group was statistically associated with a lower AF recurrence rate (risk ratio [RR], 0.58; = 0.000). TSA indicated the firm evidence favoring CPAP group for AF recurrence risk. Three significant intervention-covariate interactions for AF recurrence was identified, including study design, non-paroxysmal AF (PAF) proportion, and CPAP treatment strategy.
CONCLUSION
Our study suggests that CPAP therapy might be an effective strategy on reducing AF recurrence post-ablation for AF patients with OSA. The CPAP treatment strategy and the non-PAF proportion might be the possible determinants on AF recurrence for AF patients with OSA after ablation.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023398588, identifier (CRD42023398588).
PubMed: 38020619
DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1269945