Jeffrey L. Anderson, MD, FACC, FAHA, Chair 

Jonathan L. Halperin, MD, FACC, FAHA, Chair-Elect 

Nancy M. Albert, PhD, RN, FAHA

Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA

Ralph G. Brindis, MD, MPH, MACC

Mark A. Creager, MD, FACC, FAHA[#][1]

Lesley H. Curtis, PhD, FAHA

David DeMets, PhD[#][1]

Robert A

/pdf/2014-aha-acc-hrs-guideline-for-the-management-of-patients-1v8ficsqox.pdf

2014 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society

March 5, 2019 e1 WRITING GROUP MEMBERS Emelia J. Benjamin, MD, ScM, FAHA, Chair Paul Muntner, PhD, MHS, FAHA, Vice Chair Alvaro Alonso, MD, PhD, FAHA Marcio S. Bittencourt, MD, PhD, MPH Clifton W. Callaway, MD, FAHA April P. Carson, PhD, MSPH, FAHA Alanna M. Chamberlain, PhD Alexander R. Chang, MD, MS Susan Cheng, MD, MMSc, MPH, FAHA Sandeep R. Das, MD, MPH, MBA, FAHA Francesca N. Delling, MD, MPH Luc Djousse, MD, ScD, MPH Mitchell S.V. Elkind, MD, MS, FAHA Jane F. Ferguson, PhD, FAHA Myriam Fornage, PhD, FAHA Lori Chaffin Jordan, MD, PhD, FAHA Sadiya S. Khan, MD, MSc Brett M. Kissela, MD, MS Kristen L. Knutson, PhD Tak W. Kwan, MD, FAHA Daniel T. Lackland, DrPH, FAHA Tené T. Lewis, PhD Judith H. Lichtman, PhD, MPH, FAHA Chris T. Longenecker, MD Matthew Shane Loop, PhD Pamela L. Lutsey, PhD, MPH, FAHA Seth S. Martin, MD, MHS, FAHA Kunihiro Matsushita, MD, PhD, FAHA Andrew E. Moran, MD, MPH, FAHA Michael E. Mussolino, PhD, FAHA Martin O’Flaherty, MD, MSc, PhD Ambarish Pandey, MD, MSCS Amanda M. Perak, MD, MS Wayne D. Rosamond, PhD, MS, FAHA Gregory A. Roth, MD, MPH, FAHA Uchechukwu K.A. Sampson, MD, MBA, MPH, FAHA Gary M. Satou, MD, FAHA Emily B. Schroeder, MD, PhD, FAHA Svati H. Shah, MD, MHS, FAHA Nicole L. Spartano, PhD Andrew Stokes, PhD David L. Tirschwell, MD, MS, MSc, FAHA Connie W. Tsao, MD, MPH, Vice Chair Elect Mintu P. Turakhia, MD, MAS, FAHA Lisa B. VanWagner, MD, MSc, FAST John T. Wilkins, MD, MS, FAHA Sally S. Wong, PhD, RD, CDN, FAHA Salim S. Virani, MD, PhD, FAHA, Chair Elect On behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee and Stroke Statistics Subcommittee

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2019 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

The Task Force for the management of atrial fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)  

Developed with the special contribution of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the ESC  

Endorsed by the European Stroke Organisation (ESO)

/pdf/2016-esc-guidelines-for-the-management-of-atrial-ba0601yb9m.pdf

2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS

Background: The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports on the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovas...

Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics—2020 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association

/pdf/2016-esc-guidelines-for-the-management-of-atrial-36b2cidm1x.pdf

2016 ESC Guidelines for the management of atrial fibrillation developed in collaboration with EACTS: The Task Force for the management of atrial fibrillation of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Developed with the special contribution of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the ESC. Endorsed by the European Stroke Organisation (ESO)

Atrial Wall Thickness and Risk of Hemopericardium in Elderly Women After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

PURPOSE: Although current guidelines recommend continuing the same antithrombotic strategy regardless of rhythm control after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial fibrillation (AF), anticoagulation has a risk of major bleeding. We evaluated the safety of switching warfarin to aspirin in patients with successful AF ablation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 721 patients who underwent RFCA of AF, 608 patients (age, 57.3±10.9 years; 77.0% male, 75.5% paroxysmal AF) who had no evidence of AF recurrence at 3 months post-RFCA were included. We compared the thromboembolic and hemorrhagic events in patients for whom warfarin was switched to aspirin (ASA group; n=296) and patients who were kept on warfarin therapy (W group; n=312). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in CHA₂DS₂-VASc or HAS-BLED scores between the groups. In 30 patients in the ASA group and 37 patients in W group, AF recurred and warfarin was restarted or maintained during the 18.0±12.2 months of follow-up. There were no significant differences in thromboembolic (0.3% vs. 1.0%, p=0.342) and major bleeding incidences (0.7% vs. 0.6%, p=0.958) between ASA and W groups during the follow-up period. In the 259 patients with a CHA₂DS₂-VASc score≥2, there were no significant differences in thromboembolism (0.8% and 2.2%, p=0.380) or major bleeding incidences (0.8% and 1.4%, p=0.640) between ASA and W groups. CONCLUSION: Switching warfarin to aspirin 3 months after successful RFCA of AF could be as safe and efficacious as long-term anticoagulation even in patients with CHA₂DS₂-VASc score≥2. However, strict rhythm monitoring cannot be overemphasized.

/pdf/safety-and-efficacy-of-switching-anticoagulation-to-aspirin-4vhs3ngzae.pdf

Safety and Efficacy of Switching Anticoagulation to Aspirin Three Months after Successful Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

AIMS: Multisite atrial pacing has been suggested to be effective in suppressing atrial fibrillation (AF), however, the effect of linear triple-site atrial pacing (LTSP) in humans has not been evaluated. We compared the effects of LTSP to single-site atrial pacing (SSP) on the atrial activation and wavefront propagation pattern in patients with persistent AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 10 patients with persistent AF, the effects of LTSP and SSP were evaluated by left atrial (LA) endocardial non-contact multielectrode array mapping and multipolar catheters. LTSP and SSP were delivered from the high right atrium (HRA), the distal coronary sinus (CS), and within the LA at the site showing maximal overlay of low-voltage zones during sinus rhythm and pacing at HRA and CS. Atrial activation time and pattern, P wave duration, and the prevention of AF induced by burst pacing were assessed with these pacing interventions. Compared with SSP, LTSP at the HRA, CS, and LA shortened atrial activation times (183 +/- 24 vs. 174 +/- 24 ms, 186 +/- 29 vs. 166 +/- 28 ms, and 171 +/- 40 vs. 163 +/- 39 ms; P < 0.05, respectively). P wave duration was shorter with LTSP than SSP at all three sites (141.7 +/- 35.1 vs. 146.9 +/- 38.5 ms, 138.1 +/- 34.6 vs. 145.7 +/- 33.7 ms, and 142.7 +/- 33.4 vs. 151.3 +/- 35.1 ms; P < 0.05, respectively). LTSP initially depolarized a larger area than SSP, and produced more uniform and planar wavefront propagation. LTSP prevented the burst-induction of AF during LA pacing in 3 of 10 patients, while SSP was never successful. CONCLUSION: In patients with persistent AF, LTSP provided more rapid and uniform activation of the atria compared with SSP, which was associated with prevention of burst-induction of AF in some patients. Further study is required to determine whether LTSP can modify the substrate of chronic AF, leading to frank AF suppression.

Atrial activation time and pattern of linear triple-site vs. single-site atrial pacing after cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation

Acute myocarditis associated with cardiac amyloidosis manifesting as transient complete atrioventricular block and slow ventricular tachycardia

Complete hardware removal is recommended in the case of patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infections. However, the complete extraction of chronically implanted leads is not always achieved. The outcomes and optimal management of CIED infections with retained material after lead extractions have not been elucidated. In this case report, we present five patients with CIED infections with remnant lead tips even after lead extractions. Two patients had localized pocket infections, and were managed with antibiotics for a period of more than two weeks. The other three patients had infective endocarditis, and were managed with antibiotics for a period of more than four weeks. In one patient, the lead tip migrated to the right pulmonary artery, but did not produce any symptoms or complications. Only one of five patients experienced a resurgence of an infection.

/pdf/remnant-pacemaker-lead-tips-after-lead-extractions-in-4vph4iqwds.pdf

Hui Nam Pak

Papers

Atrial Wall Thickness and Risk of Hemopericardium in Elderly Women After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Safety and Efficacy of Switching Anticoagulation to Aspirin Three Months after Successful Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial activation time and pattern of linear triple-site vs. single-site atrial pacing after cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation

Acute myocarditis associated with cardiac amyloidosis manifesting as transient complete atrioventricular block and slow ventricular tachycardia

Remnant Pacemaker Lead Tips after Lead Extractions in Pacemaker Infections.