0000000000291410
AUTHOR
Torsten Konrad
showing 8 related works from this author
Primary Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: A Distinct Arrhythmia Subentity of an Ablation Population
2015
INTRODUCTION Persistent atrial fibrillation (persAF) can occur either as a sustained arrhythmia that has progressed from initially paroxysmal AF or as primary persAF without a history of any spontaneously terminated episode. There is a paucity of data differentiating between the 2 different persAF entities. Thus, we prospectively evaluated baseline characteristics, electrophysiological features, and ablation outcome in these 2 patient cohorts. METHODS AND RESULTS A total number of 154 consecutive persAF patients (63 ± 10 years, f = 42, longstanding persAF = 60) were characterized in terms of having primary persAF (P-persAF group) or persAF that secondarily progressed from paroxysmal AF (S-p…
Reduction of ICD Shock Burden by Eliminating Back-Up Pacing Induced Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias
2014
ICD Shock Reduction by Subthreshold Pacing Introduction Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) may have the capacity to provoke or worsen ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VT). It has been reported that ICD shocks by itself can increase mortality. This study aimed to determine the role of back-up pacing-induced VT (PIT) in the overall ICD shock burden by avoiding pause-related ventricular back-up pacing. Methods and Results A population of 550 single-chamber ICD patients was studied. Of them, 17 (3%, 69 ± 16 years, 14 male) patients had documented episodes of PIT. A total of 431 VT episodes were documented including 89 (21%) due to PIT. In 3 patients, VT events were exclusively PITs. Aft…
A 35-year effective treatment of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia with propafenone
2018
Key Teaching Points • Despite proven catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) with pathogen RyR2 mutation and recurrent syncope, patients could have a favorable long-term outcome over 35 years under treatment. • Propafenone could be effective for treatment of patients with CPVT. • The beneficial effect of the monotherapy with propafenone in our patient may result from the combined antiarrhythmic effect of this drug with Na+ channel blockade and beta blocker capabilities.
Simplifying atrial fibrillation ablation: how far can we go?
2013
The procedural end point of electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVs) for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been debated extensively. After identifying the PVs as the dominant arrhythmogenic site of paroxysmal AF, 2 fundamentally different approaches to the interventional treatment of AF were introduced. Haissaguerre et al developed a technique to electrically isolate the PVs by targeting electrophysiological (EP) breakthroughs from the left atrium to the PVs guided by a circular mapping catheter. In contrast, Pappone et al implemented an anatomical approach that used circumferential ablation lines around the PVs guided by a 3-dimensional mapping system. This latter appr…
Cardiac arrhythmias in patients with Danon disease.
2016
Aims Different cardiac arrhythmias have been suggested to be associated with Danon disease, e.g. Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome. However, a systematic electrophysiological investigation of patients with Danon disease is lacking thus far. Methods and results Seven patients with Danon disease (4 males, 35.8 ± 10.8 years; 3 females, 51.3 ± 19.9 years) from 3 different families were studied. In all patients, the presence of Danon disease was confirmed by western blot of biopsy material or genetic testing. The patients were characterized by 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), Holter ECG, echocardiography, and serial implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) interrogations (in ICD recipients). Al…
Systematic ajmaline challenge in patients with long QT 3 syndrome caused by the most common mutation: a multicentre study
2016
Aims Overlap syndromes of long QT 3 syndrome (LQT3) and the Brugada syndrome (BrS) have been reported. Identification of patients with an overlapping phenotype is crucial before initiation of Class I antiarrhythmic drugs for LQT3. Aim of the present study was to elucidate the yield of ajmaline challenge in unmasking the Brugada phenotype in patients with LQT3 caused by the most common mutation, SCN5A-E1784K. Methods and results Consecutive families in tertiary referral centres diagnosed with LQT3 caused by SCN5A-E1784K were included in the study. Besides routine clinical work-up, ajmaline challenge was performed after informed consent. A total of 23 subjects (11 female, mean age 27 ± 14 yea…
The Incidence of Audible Steam Pops Is Increased and Unpredictable With the ThermoCool® Surround Flow Catheter During Left Atrial Catheter Ablation: …
2015
Audible Steam Pops During Left Atrial Catheter AblationIntroduction Open irrigated radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheters with a porous tip (56 holes, TC-SF) permit delivering RF energy in a temperature-controlled mode without temperature rise. This prospective observational study investigated the association of different catheter parameters on the occurrence of audible steam pops during left atrial (LA) ablation. Methods and Results A total of 226 patients underwent TC-SF catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. RF power delivery, impedance and catheter tip temperature were continually recorded throughout the ablation. Pulmonary vein isolation was performed with a maximum of 27 W and LA …
Arrhythmia Termination Versus Elimination of Dormant Pulmonary Vein Conduction as a Procedural End Point of Catheter Ablation for Paroxysmal Atrial F…
2015
Background— Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is still associated with a substantial number of arrhythmia recurrences in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). This prospective, randomized study aimed to compare 2 different procedural strategies. Methods and Results— A total of 152 patients undergoing de novo ablation for paroxysmal AF were randomized to 2 different treatment arms. The procedure in group A consisted of PVI exclusively. In this group, all isolated PVs were challenged with adenosine to reveal and ablate dormant conduction. In group B, PVI was performed with the patient either in spontaneous or in induced AF. If AF did not terminate with PVI, ablation was continued by targeting ex…