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Electroanatomic-mapping-guided cardioneuroablation versus combined approach for vasovagal syncope: a cross-sectional observational study

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was designed to assess the efficacy of electroanatomic-mapping (EAM)-guided cardioneuroablation (CNA) vs combined approach for vasovagal syncope (VVS).

Methods

Twenty patients with VVS refractory to conventional treatments who underwent CNA in our institution were enrolled in the study. Twelve of these patients underwent recently introduced EAM-guided CNA using signal-based approach while 8 patients underwent combined CNA using a combination of high-frequency stimulation and spectral analysis. Both atria and coronary sinus were divided into seven segments to categorize distribution of ganglionated plexi in ablation sites. Clinical responses were evaluated and compared in terms of prodromal symptoms and syncope recurrence rates. Electrophysiological parameters and heart rate variability (HRV) analysis were used to evaluate procedural response.

Results

Procedural endpoints were achieved in all cases without any serious adverse events. Compared with the combined approach group, EAM-guided CNA was related to a shorter procedure and fluoroscopy times (p < 0.001). The mean number of ablation points in each anatomical segment was comparable between groups. The prodromal symptoms demonstrated a significant and comparable decrease after CNA. Median event-free survival was comparable between groups (χ2 = 0.03, p = 0.87). There was no new syncopal episode in any case at the end of 6-month follow-up. In the combined approach group, new syncope episodes occurred in two cases after 12-month follow-up. HRV parameters indicating parasympathetic activity were comparably decreased after ablation in both groups.

Conclusion

This pilot study shows that EAM-guided CNA strategy is feasible and safe in VVS patients resistant to conventional therapies.

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Funding

There is no funding for the present work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiology, Kocaeli Derince Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, 41500, Kocaeli, Turkey

    Tolga Aksu, Tumer Erdem Guler & Serdar Bozyel

  2. Department of Cardiology, Koc University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Ferit Onur Mutluer

  3. Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Balıkesir University, Balıkesir, Turkey

    Sukriye Ebru Golcuk

  4. Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Usak University, Usak, Turkey

    Kivanc Yalin

Authors
  1. Tolga Aksu
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  2. Tumer Erdem Guler
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  3. Ferit Onur Mutluer
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  4. Serdar Bozyel
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  5. Sukriye Ebru Golcuk
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  6. Kivanc Yalin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tolga Aksu.

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Conflict of interest

Tolga Aksu has received a live case performance honorarium from Wokshop Registration Office of 21st Prague Workshop on Catheter Ablation. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study, although for retrospective type of study formal consent is not required.

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Aksu, T., Guler, T.E., Mutluer, F.O. et al. Electroanatomic-mapping-guided cardioneuroablation versus combined approach for vasovagal syncope: a cross-sectional observational study. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 54, 177–188 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-018-0421-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-018-0421-4

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