This heavily trafficked poster session featured posters focused on left atrial pressure waveform analysis, intracardiac echocardiography, pressure-guided cryoballon isolation of the pulmonary veins, radiofrequency ablation, atrial fibrillation due to mitral valve disease, a non-contact mapping system, and the mechanism of chronic atrial fibrillation. MDNG had the pleasure of meeting with some of the presenters, and summaries of their posters are provided below.

This brief presentation (roughly 25 minutes)—part of the “Groundbreaking Studies in the Practice of Cardiovascular Medicine: Circulation Editors’ Choices” session—featured Stefan H. Hohnloser, MD, who presented the results of a study that were published in the February 12, 2009 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

This all-day abstract poster session featured researchers presenting results of studies focused on such topics as atrial fibrillation following pulmonary transplantation, use of Digoxin in atrial fibrillation, supplementation of Omega 3 PUFA plus antioxidante vitamins to prevent postoperative atrial fibrillation, and the impact of hypothyroidism on atrial fibrillation treatment strategy outcomes. The results are highlighted here.

This poster presentation, part of the “Ion Channels and Cardiac Rhythm” abstract poster session, reviewed the results of study that Daniel Bartos and colleagues conducted in order to determine the mutation behind the development of familial atrial fibrillation (FAF2 and long QT syndromes (LQT1).

Drs. Akar, Knight, and Mithilesh presented several case studies to help explain key procedures and techniques in the management of arrhythmias after ablation of atrial fibrillation.

This abstract oral session featured several researchers who reviewed (quite quickly) the results of their studies, focused on such topics as spatiotemporal behavior of high dominant frequency, isoproterenol agents, mistakes in the use of amiodarone and anticoagulation management, and 3D transesophageal ultrasound. Highlights of these studies are provided below.

Two studies presented during this abstract poster session focused on atrial fibrillation; the key points from both are covered here.

This abstract oral session featured top cardiology researchers who were given a mere 15 minutes to review the highlights of their most recent work. The reasons for their studies and what they found are covered below.

This session focused on the current state of practice for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation; the pathophysiology of AF, including genetics, atrial structure, and neurologic input; and clinical and epidemiological insights into imaging AF substrate.

This abstract session featured presenters for studies that focused on the importance of atrial surface area and refractory period in sustaining atrial fibrillation (AF), mechanisms of CFAE formation in the posterior left atrium during induced AF, the left atrial ganlionated plexus, and complex fractionated atrial electrogramm versus liner ablation for persistent AF.

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This abstract oral session, featuring presenters who were given 15 minutes to review their research, provided attendees with information on the E/e’ ratio as a prognostic predictor in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), the association between atrial and ventricular ECG findings and cardiac circulating biomarkers, stiffness of the left atrium, left atrial function as a predictor of first AF in older adults, and the mechanism of improvement of cardiac function in patients with AF. The studies are reviewed here.

This abstract poster session featured the topics of left atrial scar remodeling, closure of gap lesions, incidence of complete circumferential scar of the pulmonary vein antra, contact force mapping and ultrasound, antral isolation of pulmonary veins, radiofrequency ablation versus visutally guided laser balloon ablation, regional differences in left atrial wall thickness, and more. Highlights of these research posters are offered below.