ORCID Profile
0000-0001-6420-8669
Current Organisation
Brigham and Women's Hospital
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Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-01-2017
DOI: 10.1111/JCE.13127
Abstract: Women are underrepresented in clinical studies on catheter ablation (CA) for ventricular tachycardia (VT). The role of gender as a predictor for VT recurrence after CA is unclear and complication rates have not been compared in a large cohort. We analyzed data of consecutive patients undergoing CA for sustained monomorphic VT at our center between 2005 and 2015. A total of 948 patients underwent 1314 ablation procedures: 114 patients without structural heart disease (SHD) (48% female), 486 with coronary artery disease (CAD) (9% female), 301 with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) (22% female), and 46 with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) (17% female). Women with CAD and NICM were younger than men at first ablation (63 years vs. 68 years, P = 0.05 resp. 53 years vs. 59 years, P = 0.026) with no other significant differences in baseline characteristics. Age, LVEF, NYHA-class, and VT-recurrence but not gender were independently associated with increased mortality in CAD and NICM. Mortality rates in patients with no SHD and ARVC are low in men (0%, 2.6%) and women (1.8%, 0%). Although heart disease tends to present later in women, our data do not suggest that women are referred later than men. Women with CAD or NICM and VT present for ablation at younger age with disease severity comparable to men. VT ablation in women can be accomplished with success- and complication rates comparable to male patients in both those with and without SHD.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.IJCARD.2017.01.131
Abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) dependent atrial flutter (AFL) are two separate entities that coexist in a significant percentage of patients. We sought to investigate whether AF inducibility during CTI AFL ablation predicted the occurrence of AF at follow up after AFL ablation. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. A total of 154 patients (male: 72%, age: 61±13) with AFL and without history of AF were included. All patients underwent successful CTI dependent AFL ablation demonstrated by bidirectional block. During ablation, AF was seen or induced in 28 (18%) patients. After a mean follow up of 34±24months a total of 50 patients (32%) were noted with clinically manifest AF. From the patients who had inducible AF during AFL ablation, 50% developed post-procedural AF. From those in whom AF could not be induced, only 29% were documented with AF after ablation. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that only age and AF inducibility during AFL ablation were predictors of AF. Univariate analysis (age p=0.038 and inducible AF p=0.032 with odds ratio of 1.030 [95% CI (1.002-1.059)] and 2.500 [95% CI (1.084-5.765)], respectively) and multivariate analyses (age p=0.011 and inducible AF p=0.016 with adjusted odds ratio of 1.043 [95% CI (1.010-1.077)] and 3.293 [95% CI (1.250-8.676)], respectively). AF inducibility in patients undergoing CTI AFL without history of AF is a strong predictor of AF occurrence in the future. Appropriate cardiology follow-up must be encouraged in this high-risk population as stroke prevention strategies can be appropriately introduced in a timely matter especially in patients with elevated CHA
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-11-2016
DOI: 10.1111/JCE.13117
Abstract: Catheter ablation can be lifesaving in ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm, but the underlying substrate in patients with storm is not well characterized. We sought to compare the clinical factors, substrate, and outcomes differences in patients with sustained monomorphic VT who present for catheter ablation with VT storm versus those with a nonstorm presentation. Consecutive ischemic (ICM n = 554) or nonischemic cardiomyopathy patients (NICM n = 369) with a storm versus nonstorm presentation were studied (ICM storm 186 NICM storm 101). In ICM, storm compared with nonstorm patients had significantly lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF), greater number of antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) failures, slower VTs, greater number of scarred LV segments, higher incidence of anterior, septal, and apical endocardial LV scar (all P < 0.05). However, outcomes in follow-up were similar (12-month ventricular arrhythmia [VA]-free survival: 51% vs. 52%, P = 0.6 survival free of death/transplant 75% vs. 87%, P = 0.7). In addition to the above differences, NICM storm patients were also older however, the extent and distribution of scar was similar except for a higher incidence of lateral endocardial scar in storm patients (P = 0.05). VA-free survival (36% vs. 47%, P = 0.004) and survival free of death/transplant, however, were worse in NICM storm than nonstorm patients (72% vs. 88%, P = 0.001). NICM storm patients had worse VA-free survival than ICM storm patients. There are differences in clinical factors and scar patterns in patients undergoing VT ablation who present with VT storm versus those with a nonstorm presentation. Clinical outcomes are worse in NICM storm patients.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.HRTHM.2016.07.001
Abstract: Long-term outcomes after ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation are sparsely described. The purpose of this study was to describe long-term prognosis after VT ablation in patients with no structural heart disease (no SHD), ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM), and nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). Consecutive patients (N = 695: no SHD, 98 ICM, 358 NICM, 239) ablated for sustained VT were followed for a median of 6 years. Acute procedural parameters (complete success [noninducibility of any VT]) and outcomes after multiple procedures were reported. Compared with patients with no SHD or NICM, patients with ICM were the oldest, were more likely to be men, lowest left ventricular ejection fraction, highest drug failures, VT storms, and number of inducible VTs. Complete procedure success was highest in patients with no SHD than in patients with ICM and those with NICM (79%, 56%, 60%, respectively P < .001). At 6 years, ventricular arrhythmia (VA)-free survival was highest in patients with no SHD (77%) than in patients with ICM (54%) and those with NICM (38%) (P < .001), and overall survival was lowest in patients with ICM (48%), followed by patients with NICM (74%) and patients with no SHD (100%) (P < .001). Age, left ventricular ejection fraction, presence of SHD, acute procedural success (noninducibility of any VT), major complications, need for nonradiofrequency ablation modalities, and VA recurrence were independently associated with all-cause mortality. Long-term follow-up after VT ablation shows excellent prognosis in the absence of SHD, highest VA recurrence, and transplantation in patients with NICM and highest mortality in patients with ICM. The extremely low mortality for those without SHD suggests that VT in this population is rarely an initial presentation of a myopathic process.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-01-2017
DOI: 10.1007/S10840-016-0211-9
Abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter (AFL) are two separate entities that coexist in a significant percentage of patients. We sought to investigate whether AF inducibility during CTI AFL ablation predicted the occurrence of AF at follow-up after successful AFL ablation. A systemic review of Medline, Cochrane, and Embase was done for all the clinical studies in which assessment of AF inducibility in patients undergoing ablation for CTI AFL was performed. Given the low heterogeneity (i.e., I A total of 10 studies (4 prospective and 6 retrospective) with a total of 1299 patients (male, 73% mean age 59 ± 11 years) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. During a mean follow-up period of 23 ± 7.6 months, 407 patients (31%) developed AF during AFL ablation. The overall incidence for new-onset AF during follow-up was 29% (47% in the group with inducible AF vs. 21% in the non-inducible group). The odds ratio (OR) for developing AF after AFL ablation in patients with AF inducibility for all studies combined was 3.72, 95% CI 2.83-4.89 [prospective studies (OR 5.52, 95% CI 3.23-9.41) vs. retrospective studies (OR 3.23, 95% CI 2.35-4.45)]. Although ablation for CTI AFL is highly effective, AF continues to be a long-term risk for in iduals undergoing this procedure. AF induced by pacing protocols in patients undergoing CTI AFL predicts for future AF. Inducible AF is a clinically relevant finding that may help guide decisions for long-term anticoagulation after successful typical AFL ablation especially in patients with elevated CHADS-VASc scores (≥2) and in considering prophylactic PVI during CTI AFL ablation.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.JACEP.2016.05.013
Abstract: The aim of this study was to categorize arrhythmia mechanisms and to summarize ablation strategies in patients with persistent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) at the time of redo procedures. Persistent PVI is more frequently seen in patients undergoing redo procedures for recurrent atrial arrhythmias after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Consecutive patients who underwent their first AF ablation procedures at Brigham and Women's Hospital were screened and included if they had persistent isolation of all pulmonary veins at the time of redo procedures. Of 300 consecutive patients undergoing first AF ablation procedures, redo procedures were performed in 63 (21%), and 26 patients (9%) had persistent PVI. Of those, 11 had recurred with AF and 15 with organized atrial tachycardia (AT). During the index procedure, linear ablation was performed in 46% of patients with recurrent AF and 93% with recurrent organized AT (p = 0.020). At the time of last follow-up, 2 of 10 patients (20%) in the AF group and 10 of 15 patients (67%) in AT group were in sinus rhythm, without class I or III antiarrhythmic drugs (p = 0.022). Patients with recurrence of atrial arrhythmia despite persistent PVI frequently present with organized AT. Linear ablation during the index procedure is associated with recurrence of organized AT. Recurrence rates after redo procedures were higher if patients had recurrent AF after the index procedure, and these patients often presented with AF again. Patients with recurrent AF despite persistent PVI may represent a population with lower success rates of catheter ablation.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.HRTHM.2019.04.038
Abstract: Access to the epicardial space is fundamental to several cardiac procedures. While traditional indications include catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias and accessory pathways, novel indications include left atrial appendage occlusion, esophageal protection, mapping and ablation during atrial fibrillation procedures, implantation of epicardial pacing leads, and phrenic nerve displacement to facilitate safe ablation of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Accessing the epicardial space safely is a major challenge requiring intimate knowledge of cardiac anatomy, extensive training, and expertise. Over the past years, multiple technological advances have led to significant improvements in epicardial access success and safety. Important ex les of such advances include CO
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-10-2016
DOI: 10.1111/JCE.13088
Abstract: Substrate-based ablation for scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT) has gained prominence: however, there is limited data comparing it to ablation guided predominantly by activation and entrainment mapping of inducible and hemodynamically tolerated VTs. We compared the acute procedural efficacy and outcomes of predominantly substrate-based ablation versus ablation guided predominantly by activation and entrainment mapping. Database searches through April 2016 identified 6 eligible studies (enrolling 403 patients, with 1 randomized study) comparing the 2 strategies. The relative risk of VT recurrence at follow-up was assessed as the primary outcome using a random-effects meta-analysis. Secondary endpoints of acute success (based on noninducibility of VT), procedural complications, and mortality were assessed using weighted mean difference with the random effects model. At a median follow-up of 18 months, the relative risk (RR) of VT recurrence was not significantly different with substrate-based versus activation/entrainment guided VT ablation (0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44-1.18), P = 0.2). Acute success (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.95-1.1, P = 0.6), procedural complications (RR 0.8, 95% CI 0.35-1.82, P = 0.5) cardiovascular mortality and total mortality did not differ significantly (RR 0.83, 95% CI 0.38-1.79, P = 0.6 and RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.36-1.59, P = 0.5, respectively). This meta-analysis demonstrates similar acute procedural efficacy, and complications, VT recurrence and mortality rates when comparing a predominantly substrate-based ablation strategy to a strategy guided predominantly by activation and entrainment mapping of inducible and hemodynamically tolerated VTs.
Location: United States of America
No related grants have been discovered for Jorge E. Romero.