Vassil Traykov | Tokuda Hospital Sofia (original) (raw)

Papers by Vassil Traykov

EP Europace, 2019

Despite major therapeutic advances over the last decades, complex supraventricular and ventricula... more Despite major therapeutic advances over the last decades, complex supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), particularly in the emergency setting or during revascularization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), remain an important clinical problem. Although the incidence of VAs has declined in the hospital phase of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), mainly due to prompt revascularization and optimal medical therapy, still up to 6% patients with ACS develop ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation within the first hours of ACS symptoms. Despite sustained VAs being perceived predictors of worse in-hospital outcomes, specific associations between the type of VAs, arrhythmia timing, applied treatment strategies and long-term prognosis in AMI are vague. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular tachyarrhythmia that may be asymptomatic and/or may be associated with rapid haemodynamic deterioration requiring immediate treatment. It is estimated th...

Current Cardiology Reviews, 2014

Current Cardiology Reviews, 2014

Determining the chamber of origin of focal atrial tachycardias (FATs) arising at or close to the ... more Determining the chamber of origin of focal atrial tachycardias (FATs) arising at or close to the septum might require biatrial mapping. This review focuses on the available tools and methods used to distinguish right atrial from left atrial origin before left atrial access is obtained. These include analysis of P wave morphology, assessing the timing of right atrial septal activation, the sequence of right atrial and/or biatrial activation and analysis of earliest electrogram morphology. The electroanatomical properties of the interatrial septum and coronary sinus that provide the basis for the above mentioned tools have also been briefly described.

Cardiology journal, 2008

Magnetic navigation and mapping systems have been used for electroanatomic voltage mapping and su... more Magnetic navigation and mapping systems have been used for electroanatomic voltage mapping and substrate-based catheter ablation in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) .

Pace Pac Clin Electrophys, 2010

A 64-year-old woman with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, permanent atrial fibrillation, left b... more A 64-year-old woman with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, permanent atrial fibrillation, left bundle branch block (LBBB), and an implanted biventricular pacemaker underwent atrioventricular (AV) node ablation for high ventricular rate and a low percentage of biventricular pacing. A month later, persistent total AV block with an escape rhythm of 45 beats/min was noted during pacemaker interrogation. Several short and one episode C

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology, 2015

Whether dissociated firing (DiFi) in isolated pulmonary veins (PVs) implies arrhythmogenicity of ... more Whether dissociated firing (DiFi) in isolated pulmonary veins (PVs) implies arrhythmogenicity of the particular PV and, therefore, a better outcome of PV isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is debated. Thirty-one patients undergoing their first PVI for PAF were studied. Isoproterenol was infused for induction, and the triggering PV was identified. During sustained PAF, sequential recordings were made with a decapolar circular mapping catheter from each PV. The dominant frequency (DF) was determined using fast Fourier transformation. Spontaneous DiFi was monitored for 30 min after PVI. PAF was triggered by the PVs in all patients. Fourteen (45 %) patients had DiFi after PVI in at least one PV. It was recorded most commonly from the left upper (84 %) and lower (67 %), less commonly from the right upper (31 %) PV. Out of the 23 PVs with DiFi, 13 (57 %) showed sporadic ectopic beats while 10 (44 %) had sustained ectopic rhythm or isolated tachycardia. There was no difference in size between PVs with or without DiFi (5.9 ± 1.2 vs. 5.6 ± 1.0 cm ostial perimeter, p = 0.40). Triggering PVs more commonly showed any DiFi, compared to nontriggering PVs (68 vs. 27 %, p = 0.003) and more commonly had sustained DiFi (53 vs. 0 %, p < 0.001). During PAF PVs with any DiFi showed faster maximal DF compared to PVs without DiFi (7.1 ± 1.3 vs. 5.9 ± 1.1 Hz, p = 0.001). Higher maximal DF was recorded in PVs with sustained versus sporadic DiFi versus PVs without DiFi (7.5 ± 0.9 vs. 6.8 ± 1.6 vs. 5.9 ± 1.1 Hz, respectively, p = 0.002). Patients with DiFi after PVI had a longer mean time to recurrent PAF compared to those without DiFi (52 vs. 32 months, p = 0.048). Dissociated firing in isolated PVs is associated with their role in the initiation and maintenance of PAF.

Different approaches are used for the radiofrequency catheter аbаtiоn (RFCA) of left accessory pa... more Different approaches are used for the radiofrequency catheter аbаtiоn (RFCA) of left accessory pathways (APs) - retrograde transaortic (RTA), transsepta! (TSA) and via the coronary sinus. In this study some procedural parameters from the RFCA of left APs using TSA (group I, 44 sessions in 42 patients with 42 APs) and RTA (group II, 40 sessions in 40 patients with 41 APs) are compared. With TSA there were smaller number of RF аррliсаtiопs (group I - 75.8±20. 8; group II - 23.2±21.5), shorter RF time (group I - 336.2±380.8 sec.; group II - 493.9±459.99 sec.) and higher primary success (group I - 92.7%; group II - 82.5%) and overall success (group I - 95.2%; group II - 85.4%), but the differences did not reach statistica! significance. For TSA significantly less fluoroscopic time is used (group I - 30.9±20.5 min.; group II - 45.2±22.7 min.; p<0.01). TSA and RTA are equally effective, but the fluoroscopic time for TSA is reduced, which translates in more safety for the patients and t...

We report of а 12-уеаг old girl with реrmanent form of ectopic atrial tachycardia. Our patient ех... more We report of а 12-уеаг old girl with реrmanent form of ectopic atrial tachycardia. Our patient ехрегiепсеd complicated transseptal puncture but she was successfully treated during а sесопd radiofrequency catheter аblаtiоп. We support the сопсерt that radiofrequency catheter аЫаtiоп should bе the tгеаtmепt of choice in patients with permanent tachycardia because this arrhythmia is refractory to drugs, cardioversion апd programmed stimulation. Cessation of the arrhythmia resulted iп regression of ап iпitiаl form of cardiomyopathy.

The idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVТ) of septal origin is re!atively uncommon ventri... more The idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVТ) of septal origin is re!atively uncommon ventricular arrhythmia with characteristic ECG morphology and very low risk of sudden death, but adversely affecting the quality of Iife. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) was done in 14 patients (11 men) with this tуре of arrhythmia, aged 19-51 years. The procedure was successful in all patients (100%); there was recurrence in 1 patient (7.7%), in whom successful second procedure was dопе, i.e. the overall success is 100%. Several methods for intracardiac mapping of ILVТ of septal origin are briefly discussed. RFCA is first choice procedure in the management of ILVT of septal origin. It is highly effective, with only small number of recurrences оr complications.

Тhe systems fог electroanatomic mapping (EАМ) have bееn in use fог almost 10 years now. Тhey have... more Тhe systems fог electroanatomic mapping (EАМ) have bееn in use fог almost 10 years now. Тhey have deserved their own рlасе in current electrophysiology practice, being of invаluаblе help to the electrophysiologists in diagnosing and аblаting соmрlех arrhythmias оп electrophysiologic ог anatomic basis. Currently, catheter аblаtiоn of аtrial fibrillation is hardly роssiblе without EАМ systems. We present the first in Bulgaria cases of different arrhythmias, аblаtеd with the use of ап EАМ system, that demonstrate its capabllities.

We report оur ехреrieпсе in radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation оf 42 patients less than 18 yea... more We report оur ехреrieпсе in radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation оf 42 patients less than 18 years оf age. The follow-uр period is from 3 tо 120 months. We were аblе successfully tо eliminate the accessory pathway in 22 оf 23 patients (96%). Аblаtiоn proved successful in аll cases оf А-V node re-entry tachycardia. The ablation was successful in 1 patient with left VT and respectively аtrial flutter, and unsuccessful in 1 VT from the right ventricular outflow tract. The success rate was 83% for аtrial есtopic tachycardias. Overall, therefore, ablation was immediately successful in 37 patients (88%), with а recurrence оf the arrhythmia in 6 cases (16%). We performed а second ablation in these children, 5 оf them then proving successful. Serious соmрliсаtions occurred in 4% (2/49) procedures. There was 1 pericardial effusion and 1 pneumothorax. The long-term success rate proved tо bе 93% (39/42 patients). We conclude that radiofrequency catheter ablation сап bе considered safe and eff...

Radiofrequency аblаtiоn of the cavotricuspid isthmus (RFA of CТI) is а widely accepted method for... more Radiofrequency аblаtiоn of the cavotricuspid isthmus (RFA of CТI) is а widely accepted method for the treatment of typical atrial flutter (TAFl). The current study is aimed аt pointing out the results of RFA of СТI concerning the immediate procedural success and the long-term results as well as elucidating the роssiblе factors underlying the осcurrепсе of Postprocedural atrial fibrillation (АF). Methods and results: 26 patients (20 males and 6 females, mean±SD age 46.5±15.3 years) underwent RFA of CТI. Structural heart disease was present in 17 (64%) and paroxysmal АF prior tо the procedure - in 13 (50%) of the patients. Immediate success of the procedure was present in 88.5% of the cases. No periprocedural complications were noted. For the follow-up period of mean ± SD 21.8±25.4 months TAFl recurred in 4 (15.4%) patients and АF occurred in 14 patients. No significant difference was present in АР occurrence prior to and after the procedure (13 vs 14 pts, р=ns). Ejeclion fraction, le...

This review reveals the сurrent application of catheter аblаtiоn in the treatment of cardiac arrh... more This review reveals the сurrent application of catheter аblаtiоn in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. We discuss the byophisics, pathophysiology and pathology of lesion fоrmation during radiofrequency catheter аЫаtiоn. There аге outlined аpproaches, results and complications during аblаtiоn of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia, atrial and ventricular tachycardia.

Radiofrequency catheter аblаtiоn is а first-line treatment of atrioventricular nodal reentrant ta... more Radiofrequency catheter аblаtiоn is а first-line treatment of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia but predictors of suссеssful аblаtiоn are obscure. We reроrt our ехреriепсе in 318 patients studied in two groups. The first group (101 patients) was used tо determine bу discriminant analysis which vагiаblеs best predict whether а radiofrequency аррliсаtiоп is likely tо bе suссеssful. The second group (217 patients) was used tо try оut the utility of the predictive fасtoгs. The best predictive comblnation of factors was fоund tо bе the rapid onset of junctional ectopy (less than 15 sec) and presence of more than 25 nodal contractions. The predictive value of that comblnation was proved in the second group. However, using the method of classification trees the split values were fоund tо bе respectively 4,5 sec and 45 nodal contractions in the second group. We conclude that analysis of more cases is needed tо discover the "реrfect " соmbination of predictors.

Objectives: We report our experience in radiofrequency catheter ablation of 14 patients with high... more Objectives: We report our experience in radiofrequency catheter ablation of 14 patients with highly symptomatic, drug resistant atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients and Methods: Mean patient age was 50.4 �/- 8.8 years (range 39 – 67). The clinical characteristics of the enrolled patients included mild arterial hypertension in 3 patients, and moderate hypertension in 4 of 14 patients. 7 of 14 the patients (50%) had persistent AF with duration from 2 to 11 months (mean 6.7 �/- 3.6 months). Paroxysmal AF was found in 7 patients (50 %) with recurrent AF episodes from 2 to 11 daily (mean 6 �/- 2.9 episodes). Mean number of antiarrhythmic drug failures was 3 (range 1–5). The follow-up period after ablation of atrial fibrillation was from 3 to 11 months (mean 6.3 �/- 3.2 months). The main outcome measures included incidence of any kind of atrial arrhythmias and symptom severity. Quality of life (QoL) score was formed by the outcome measures and 5-point scale that ranged from ‘very bad’ (scor...

Cardiology journal, 2008

Magnetic navigation and mapping systems have been used for electroanatomic voltage mapping and su... more Magnetic navigation and mapping systems have been used for electroanatomic voltage mapping and substrate-based catheter ablation in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) .

Current Cardiology Reviews, 2012

The concept of dominant frequency (DF) has been used as a way to express local atrial activation ... more The concept of dominant frequency (DF) has been used as a way to express local atrial activation rate during atrial fibrillation (AF). The rotor theory explaining the pathophysiology of AF is widely based upon spatial distribution of DF in the atria. Using frequency domain analysis to represent the rate of atrial activation by DF can avoid some of the limitations of time domain analysis of signals during AF. Understanding the concept of DF is of utmost importance to the proper use and interpretation of frequency domain analysis in AF. The current review focuses on the basic principles and methodology of frequency domain analysis using the Fourier transform during different types of AF. It also provides an update of the published experimental and clinical data on frequency domain analysis in light of the rotor theory for AF maintenance.

Revista Española de Cardiología, 2008

EP Europace, 2019

Despite major therapeutic advances over the last decades, complex supraventricular and ventricula... more Despite major therapeutic advances over the last decades, complex supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), particularly in the emergency setting or during revascularization for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), remain an important clinical problem. Although the incidence of VAs has declined in the hospital phase of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), mainly due to prompt revascularization and optimal medical therapy, still up to 6% patients with ACS develop ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation within the first hours of ACS symptoms. Despite sustained VAs being perceived predictors of worse in-hospital outcomes, specific associations between the type of VAs, arrhythmia timing, applied treatment strategies and long-term prognosis in AMI are vague. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular tachyarrhythmia that may be asymptomatic and/or may be associated with rapid haemodynamic deterioration requiring immediate treatment. It is estimated th...

Current Cardiology Reviews, 2014

Current Cardiology Reviews, 2014

Determining the chamber of origin of focal atrial tachycardias (FATs) arising at or close to the ... more Determining the chamber of origin of focal atrial tachycardias (FATs) arising at or close to the septum might require biatrial mapping. This review focuses on the available tools and methods used to distinguish right atrial from left atrial origin before left atrial access is obtained. These include analysis of P wave morphology, assessing the timing of right atrial septal activation, the sequence of right atrial and/or biatrial activation and analysis of earliest electrogram morphology. The electroanatomical properties of the interatrial septum and coronary sinus that provide the basis for the above mentioned tools have also been briefly described.

Cardiology journal, 2008

Magnetic navigation and mapping systems have been used for electroanatomic voltage mapping and su... more Magnetic navigation and mapping systems have been used for electroanatomic voltage mapping and substrate-based catheter ablation in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) .

Pace Pac Clin Electrophys, 2010

A 64-year-old woman with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, permanent atrial fibrillation, left b... more A 64-year-old woman with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy, permanent atrial fibrillation, left bundle branch block (LBBB), and an implanted biventricular pacemaker underwent atrioventricular (AV) node ablation for high ventricular rate and a low percentage of biventricular pacing. A month later, persistent total AV block with an escape rhythm of 45 beats/min was noted during pacemaker interrogation. Several short and one episode C

Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology, 2015

Whether dissociated firing (DiFi) in isolated pulmonary veins (PVs) implies arrhythmogenicity of ... more Whether dissociated firing (DiFi) in isolated pulmonary veins (PVs) implies arrhythmogenicity of the particular PV and, therefore, a better outcome of PV isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is debated. Thirty-one patients undergoing their first PVI for PAF were studied. Isoproterenol was infused for induction, and the triggering PV was identified. During sustained PAF, sequential recordings were made with a decapolar circular mapping catheter from each PV. The dominant frequency (DF) was determined using fast Fourier transformation. Spontaneous DiFi was monitored for 30 min after PVI. PAF was triggered by the PVs in all patients. Fourteen (45 %) patients had DiFi after PVI in at least one PV. It was recorded most commonly from the left upper (84 %) and lower (67 %), less commonly from the right upper (31 %) PV. Out of the 23 PVs with DiFi, 13 (57 %) showed sporadic ectopic beats while 10 (44 %) had sustained ectopic rhythm or isolated tachycardia. There was no difference in size between PVs with or without DiFi (5.9 ± 1.2 vs. 5.6 ± 1.0 cm ostial perimeter, p = 0.40). Triggering PVs more commonly showed any DiFi, compared to nontriggering PVs (68 vs. 27 %, p = 0.003) and more commonly had sustained DiFi (53 vs. 0 %, p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001). During PAF PVs with any DiFi showed faster maximal DF compared to PVs without DiFi (7.1 ± 1.3 vs. 5.9 ± 1.1 Hz, p = 0.001). Higher maximal DF was recorded in PVs with sustained versus sporadic DiFi versus PVs without DiFi (7.5 ± 0.9 vs. 6.8 ± 1.6 vs. 5.9 ± 1.1 Hz, respectively, p = 0.002). Patients with DiFi after PVI had a longer mean time to recurrent PAF compared to those without DiFi (52 vs. 32 months, p = 0.048). Dissociated firing in isolated PVs is associated with their role in the initiation and maintenance of PAF.

Different approaches are used for the radiofrequency catheter аbаtiоn (RFCA) of left accessory pa... more Different approaches are used for the radiofrequency catheter аbаtiоn (RFCA) of left accessory pathways (APs) - retrograde transaortic (RTA), transsepta! (TSA) and via the coronary sinus. In this study some procedural parameters from the RFCA of left APs using TSA (group I, 44 sessions in 42 patients with 42 APs) and RTA (group II, 40 sessions in 40 patients with 41 APs) are compared. With TSA there were smaller number of RF аррliсаtiопs (group I - 75.8±20. 8; group II - 23.2±21.5), shorter RF time (group I - 336.2±380.8 sec.; group II - 493.9±459.99 sec.) and higher primary success (group I - 92.7%; group II - 82.5%) and overall success (group I - 95.2%; group II - 85.4%), but the differences did not reach statistica! significance. For TSA significantly less fluoroscopic time is used (group I - 30.9±20.5 min.; group II - 45.2±22.7 min.; p<0.01). TSA and RTA are equally effective, but the fluoroscopic time for TSA is reduced, which translates in more safety for the patients and t...

We report of а 12-уеаг old girl with реrmanent form of ectopic atrial tachycardia. Our patient ех... more We report of а 12-уеаг old girl with реrmanent form of ectopic atrial tachycardia. Our patient ехрегiепсеd complicated transseptal puncture but she was successfully treated during а sесопd radiofrequency catheter аblаtiоп. We support the сопсерt that radiofrequency catheter аЫаtiоп should bе the tгеаtmепt of choice in patients with permanent tachycardia because this arrhythmia is refractory to drugs, cardioversion апd programmed stimulation. Cessation of the arrhythmia resulted iп regression of ап iпitiаl form of cardiomyopathy.

The idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVТ) of septal origin is re!atively uncommon ventri... more The idiopathic left ventricular tachycardia (ILVТ) of septal origin is re!atively uncommon ventricular arrhythmia with characteristic ECG morphology and very low risk of sudden death, but adversely affecting the quality of Iife. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) was done in 14 patients (11 men) with this tуре of arrhythmia, aged 19-51 years. The procedure was successful in all patients (100%); there was recurrence in 1 patient (7.7%), in whom successful second procedure was dопе, i.e. the overall success is 100%. Several methods for intracardiac mapping of ILVТ of septal origin are briefly discussed. RFCA is first choice procedure in the management of ILVT of septal origin. It is highly effective, with only small number of recurrences оr complications.

Тhe systems fог electroanatomic mapping (EАМ) have bееn in use fог almost 10 years now. Тhey have... more Тhe systems fог electroanatomic mapping (EАМ) have bееn in use fог almost 10 years now. Тhey have deserved their own рlасе in current electrophysiology practice, being of invаluаblе help to the electrophysiologists in diagnosing and аblаting соmрlех arrhythmias оп electrophysiologic ог anatomic basis. Currently, catheter аblаtiоn of аtrial fibrillation is hardly роssiblе without EАМ systems. We present the first in Bulgaria cases of different arrhythmias, аblаtеd with the use of ап EАМ system, that demonstrate its capabllities.

We report оur ехреrieпсе in radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation оf 42 patients less than 18 yea... more We report оur ехреrieпсе in radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation оf 42 patients less than 18 years оf age. The follow-uр period is from 3 tо 120 months. We were аblе successfully tо eliminate the accessory pathway in 22 оf 23 patients (96%). Аblаtiоn proved successful in аll cases оf А-V node re-entry tachycardia. The ablation was successful in 1 patient with left VT and respectively аtrial flutter, and unsuccessful in 1 VT from the right ventricular outflow tract. The success rate was 83% for аtrial есtopic tachycardias. Overall, therefore, ablation was immediately successful in 37 patients (88%), with а recurrence оf the arrhythmia in 6 cases (16%). We performed а second ablation in these children, 5 оf them then proving successful. Serious соmрliсаtions occurred in 4% (2/49) procedures. There was 1 pericardial effusion and 1 pneumothorax. The long-term success rate proved tо bе 93% (39/42 patients). We conclude that radiofrequency catheter ablation сап bе considered safe and eff...

Radiofrequency аblаtiоn of the cavotricuspid isthmus (RFA of CТI) is а widely accepted method for... more Radiofrequency аblаtiоn of the cavotricuspid isthmus (RFA of CТI) is а widely accepted method for the treatment of typical atrial flutter (TAFl). The current study is aimed аt pointing out the results of RFA of СТI concerning the immediate procedural success and the long-term results as well as elucidating the роssiblе factors underlying the осcurrепсе of Postprocedural atrial fibrillation (АF). Methods and results: 26 patients (20 males and 6 females, mean±SD age 46.5±15.3 years) underwent RFA of CТI. Structural heart disease was present in 17 (64%) and paroxysmal АF prior tо the procedure - in 13 (50%) of the patients. Immediate success of the procedure was present in 88.5% of the cases. No periprocedural complications were noted. For the follow-up period of mean ± SD 21.8±25.4 months TAFl recurred in 4 (15.4%) patients and АF occurred in 14 patients. No significant difference was present in АР occurrence prior to and after the procedure (13 vs 14 pts, р=ns). Ejeclion fraction, le...

This review reveals the сurrent application of catheter аblаtiоn in the treatment of cardiac arrh... more This review reveals the сurrent application of catheter аblаtiоn in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. We discuss the byophisics, pathophysiology and pathology of lesion fоrmation during radiofrequency catheter аЫаtiоn. There аге outlined аpproaches, results and complications during аblаtiоn of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia, atrial and ventricular tachycardia.

Radiofrequency catheter аblаtiоn is а first-line treatment of atrioventricular nodal reentrant ta... more Radiofrequency catheter аblаtiоn is а first-line treatment of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia but predictors of suссеssful аblаtiоn are obscure. We reроrt our ехреriепсе in 318 patients studied in two groups. The first group (101 patients) was used tо determine bу discriminant analysis which vагiаblеs best predict whether а radiofrequency аррliсаtiоп is likely tо bе suссеssful. The second group (217 patients) was used tо try оut the utility of the predictive fасtoгs. The best predictive comblnation of factors was fоund tо bе the rapid onset of junctional ectopy (less than 15 sec) and presence of more than 25 nodal contractions. The predictive value of that comblnation was proved in the second group. However, using the method of classification trees the split values were fоund tо bе respectively 4,5 sec and 45 nodal contractions in the second group. We conclude that analysis of more cases is needed tо discover the "реrfect " соmbination of predictors.

Objectives: We report our experience in radiofrequency catheter ablation of 14 patients with high... more Objectives: We report our experience in radiofrequency catheter ablation of 14 patients with highly symptomatic, drug resistant atrial fibrillation (AF). Patients and Methods: Mean patient age was 50.4 �/- 8.8 years (range 39 – 67). The clinical characteristics of the enrolled patients included mild arterial hypertension in 3 patients, and moderate hypertension in 4 of 14 patients. 7 of 14 the patients (50%) had persistent AF with duration from 2 to 11 months (mean 6.7 �/- 3.6 months). Paroxysmal AF was found in 7 patients (50 %) with recurrent AF episodes from 2 to 11 daily (mean 6 �/- 2.9 episodes). Mean number of antiarrhythmic drug failures was 3 (range 1–5). The follow-up period after ablation of atrial fibrillation was from 3 to 11 months (mean 6.3 �/- 3.2 months). The main outcome measures included incidence of any kind of atrial arrhythmias and symptom severity. Quality of life (QoL) score was formed by the outcome measures and 5-point scale that ranged from ‘very bad’ (scor...

Cardiology journal, 2008

Magnetic navigation and mapping systems have been used for electroanatomic voltage mapping and su... more Magnetic navigation and mapping systems have been used for electroanatomic voltage mapping and substrate-based catheter ablation in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) .

Current Cardiology Reviews, 2012

The concept of dominant frequency (DF) has been used as a way to express local atrial activation ... more The concept of dominant frequency (DF) has been used as a way to express local atrial activation rate during atrial fibrillation (AF). The rotor theory explaining the pathophysiology of AF is widely based upon spatial distribution of DF in the atria. Using frequency domain analysis to represent the rate of atrial activation by DF can avoid some of the limitations of time domain analysis of signals during AF. Understanding the concept of DF is of utmost importance to the proper use and interpretation of frequency domain analysis in AF. The current review focuses on the basic principles and methodology of frequency domain analysis using the Fourier transform during different types of AF. It also provides an update of the published experimental and clinical data on frequency domain analysis in light of the rotor theory for AF maintenance.

Revista Española de Cardiología, 2008