Risultati per: LBP (Low Back Pain): Cosa dicono le linee guida del mal di schiena

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A15051-A15051, November 8, 2022. Case presentation:A 58-year-old gentleman presented to A&E with low back pain for a few days and lower limb weakness for 24 hours. His background history was not medically significant. On examination, GCS 14/15, lower limbs power 2/5, and palpable urinary bladder. DRE revealed poor anal tone. MRI spine showed epidural abscess at L3-L4 & L5-S1 level and urgent decompressive spinal surgery was performed. IV antibiotics were started and the patient was admitted to the general HDU for vasopressor support. Since the operation, he developed cold, pale, swollen right leg, with no palpable peripheral arteries. A CT aortogram showed occlusion of the right popliteal artery. Right popliteal artery exploration with anterior and posterior tibial embolectomy and fasciotomies were done. As the patient was slow to wake up post-surgery, he was transferred to ICU. MRI brain showed no pathology. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed no vegetation. As clinical suspicion of infective endocarditis was high, transoesophageal echocardiogram and real-time 3D analysis was done which showed a large highly mobile echogenic mass attached to the left atrial surface of the anterior mitral leaflet (A1 and A2) causing moderate MR. Urgent surgical mitral valve repair and removal of a 2 cm vegetation were performed. Both the blood culture and the culture of the vegetation tissue confirmed the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). After 8 weeks of hospital stay, the patient was discharged home.Discussion:The objective of this case presentation is to reemphasize that infective endocarditis is not a single organ disease and can present to different specialities. Transthoracic echocardiography has reduced sensitivity in the critical care setting. So, there should be a relatively low threshold for transoesophageal echocardiography. Although the mortality rate of infective endocarditis is relatively high in ICU patients, multidisciplinary team management may result in favourable outcomes.

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A14754-A14754, November 8, 2022. Introduction:Atypical atrial flutters (AFL) are a heterogeneous group of reentrant arrhythmias and can be challenging to map. Peak frequency (PF) mapping is a novel method of identifying local conductivity and may help identify critical portions of myocardial substrate supporting reentry.Hypothesis:The critical isthmuses of left atrial (LA) AFLs demonstrate a combination of low-voltage and high PF.Methods:LA omnipolar voltage and PF maps were generated using the EnSite Precision Mapping System and HD-Grid catheter in 13 patients undergoing AFL ablation. For the purpose of this study, mapping was performed during AFL and normal voltage was defined as ≥ 0.5 mV, low-voltage (LV) 0.1 – 0.5 mV, and scar < 0.1 mV. PF distributions were analyzed in each tissue type. Conduction velocity (CV) was characterized across PF with correlational analysis. The 1-cm radius from sites of arrhythmia termination with ablation were analyzed to characterize mean PF and voltage in nearby myocardial tissue.Results:Mean age was 65.8 ± 9.3 years and 54% were female. A total of 37,331 points were analyzed. Sites of slow conduction included the mitral isthmus (46%), LA roof (23%), pulmonary vein antra (15%), posterior wall (8%), and anterior wall (8%). In normal voltage tissue, mean PF was 337.7 ± 115.4 Hz. LV and scar tissue had left-skewed PF distributions and lower mean PF (p< 0.0001). While CV had no trend across PF in tissue with normal voltage (R2, 0.0002 to 0.1), there was moderate conduction slowing at higher PF in LV tissue (R2, 0.07 to 0.30). In PF-LV overlay maps, all termination sites resided in regions of LV and high PF (Figure). Of the 1-cm areas neighboring termination, 77% had significantly higher PF than the global LA (p< 0.05), of which 80% had significantly lower mean voltage (p< 0.01) or mean voltage < 0.5 mV.Conclusions:Sites of arrhythmia termination can be identified in LV tissue at higher PF. Low-voltage, high-PF areas may be critical targets during catheter ablation of atypical AFL.

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A11314-A11314, November 8, 2022. Introduction:Patients’ lack of access to affordable cardiovascular disease (CVD) medicines poses a crucial barrier to achieving desired cardiovascular outcomes. Many pharmacies have launched low-cost generic programs (LCGP) to expand medication accessibility. It is uncertain whether LCGPs include CVD drugs recommended by World Health Organization Essential Medicines List (WHO EML) and promote evidence-based prescribing. Our study aimed to estimate the availability of essential and guideline-recommended CVD medicines on LCGP in the United States (US).Methods:We selected 6 CVD conditions: atrial fibrillation (AF), heart failure (HF), hyperlipidemia (HLD), hypertension (HTN), stable angina (SA), and secondary prevention (SPX). LCGPs in the US with publicly available formularies were identified in February 2022. We used the 22ndWHO EML edition and Class 1A recommendations (1ARec) from current CVD guidelines as reference standards. Availability was estimated using the proportion of coverage for each LCGP overall, and by condition.Results:Nineteen LCGPs were included. There were 122 WHO EML and 155 1ARec CVD drugs. No LCGPs offered at least 50% of WHO EML and 1ARec. Both WHO EML and 1ARec analyses showed that 9 of 19 LCGPs covered at least 30% of listed medications. Out of the 19 LCGPs, the proportion of essential and evidence-based CVD medicine availability was highest at Kroger (46.3% and 47.9%) and lowest at Costco (5.0% and 6.1%), respectively. Higher availability was observed for HLD medications: only TOPS and the Mark Cuban Plan had at least 80% of WHO EML available, and only the Mark Cuban Plan had at least 80% of 1ARec medications covered. HTN drugs were least available for both.Conclusion:The accessibility of CVD medicines is low in LCGP formularies with variation in availability by pharmacy and condition. To optimize the accessibility of CVD medicines and health outcomes, pharmacies with LCGPs should offer more essential and evidence-based CVD medicines.

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A11768-A11768, November 8, 2022. Introduction:Despite early mitigation efforts, the opioid pandemic in the United States has persisted and affected many Americans. A public health emergency was declared regarding opioid prescriptions. Alternative approaches to postoperative pain control after transvenous cardiac device implants (TCDI) in adults have not been described.Methods:We report a single center retrospective analysis of 153 consecutive patients that underwent TCDI from January to August 2021 with ultrasound guided pectoral nerve block (PNB) using liposomal bupivacaine prior to implant for postoperative pain control. Pain scores (0-10) were recorded systematically during recovery, at discharge, and at wound check follow up. Opioid use in the postoperative period was recorded as well.Results:A total of 153 patients were evaluated, 50% female with a mean age of 71.2 years. All patients received PNB successfully with no device site infection or hematoma. The mean Visualized Analog Scale (VAS) pain scores at 1, 3, and 5 hours after the procedure, at discharge, and at follow up were 1.93, 1.22, 1.10, 1.05, and 0.125 respectively. No patients required opioids for pain control throughout the average postoperative period of 14 days.Conclusion:Pectoral nerve block with liposomal bupivacaine can be administered safely before TCDI and provides adequate pain control without need for opioid use postoperatively. Further research is needed to assess broad scale implications of this approach to larger patient populations.Figure 1: Ultrasound Guided PNB, pectoralis major (PM), pectoralis minor (Pm)Graph of the average postoperative pain score and opioid use during follow up visit over time

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A15106-A15106, November 8, 2022. Introduction:Inadequate ventricular sensing at implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) implantation in patients with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is troubling and might cause inappropriate ICD interventions and complications. We aimed to evaluate the value of ventricular mechanics features in predicting low sensing value by emerging cardiovascular magnetic resonance-feature tracking (CMR-FT) in ACM patients.Hypothesis:CMR-FT characteristics prior to ICD implantation might assist in predicting low R wave amplitude.Methods:We retrospectively enrolled ACM patients receiving CMR examinations prior to ICD implantation at our center from January 2011 to July 2021. The strain parameters of LV and RV were analyzed by CMR-FT. The R wave amplitude (RWA) was obtained within 24 hours of completion of the ICD implantation and its association with CMR strain parameters was analyzed.Results:We enrolled 83 ACM patients with a median RWA of 8.0 mV (Interquartile range IQR:5.4-12.1 mV) and impedance within the normal range. 18 (21.7%) patients were found with low RWA (

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A10411-A10411, November 8, 2022. Introduction:The HEART score is an effective method of risk stratifying emergency department (ED) patients with chest pain. The low rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with a moderate risk HEART score referred from an urgent care (UC) center for an expedited outpatient cardiology evaluation was first described by this group in 2020. This is a follow up study with a total of 446 patient over a 36 month period.Hypothesis:Patients with a moderate risk HEART score who present to the ED are usually hospitalized for further evaluation. The safety of outpatient evaluation of these patients is not well studied. We assessed the hypothesis that there is a low rate of MACE when patients with a moderate risk HEART score were referred from an UC for an expedited outpatient cardiology follow up.Methods:A cross sectional study was performed from 2/14/2019 through 3/30/2022 in 5 UC centers of 446 patients who presented with chest pain or anginal equivalent and a HEART score of 4 to 6 in Las Vegas, Nevada. A streamlined disposition protocol was adopted by all UC providers for an expedited outpatient cardiology instead of ED referral. The population was followed for 6 weeks with a primary endpoint of MACE (death, myocardial infarction (MI), revascularization) determined by electronic medical records review and direct phone contact with patients. Outcomes were confirmed in 93% of patients.Results:The average age was 65 years with 52% female and 48% male. 395 patients (89%) were seen by a cardiology provider, 346 patients (88%) were seen within 3 days. 265 stress tests (67%), 42 coronary CT angiograms (11%) and 19 invasive coronary angiograms (5%) were ordered. 8 patients (2%) were found to have MACE: 2 had routine surgical revascularization, 4 had non-fatal MI followed by revascularization, 2 patients died: 1 was urgently referred for mitral valve replacement and died after surgery from renal failure and COVID, the other patient died from COVID pneumonia. There were no ischemic cardiac deaths.Conclusion:In conclusion, patients with a moderate risk HEART score referred from UC for an expedited outpatient cardiology evaluation had a low rate of MACE and no ischemic cardiac deaths due to delay of care.

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A10423-A10423, November 8, 2022. Introduction:Nationwide broadband internet access is a major federal priority. The bipartisan infrastructure law invested $65 billion into equitable broadband expansion, driven by concern that broadband access is a social determinant of health. However, the difference in health outcomes between counties with low vs. higher broadband access has not been studied, and could provide insights on the implications of expansion efforts.Objectives:We evaluated demographic factors, health resources, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden in counties with low broadband access compared to those with higher access.Methods:We assessed all 3,142 US counties in 2019 and identified those with low broadband access, defined as 25 Mbps download / >3 Mbps upload, using the US Broadband Usage Percentages Dataset. We linked these data to the American Community Survey, American Health Resource File, PLACES, and CDC WONDER for demographic, health resource, CVD risk factor and outcomes, and mortality data respectively.Results:There were 461 counties with low broadband access and 2,650 counties with higher access. Compared to those with higher broadband access, counties with low broadband access had lower high school graduation rates (47% vs 54%, p

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A10038-A10038, November 8, 2022. Introduction:Low endothelial shear stress (ESS) is a pro-atherogenic stimulus associated with coronary plaque development, while high plaque structural stress (PSS) and its heterogeneity is associated with plaque destabilization. Previous studies showed that combining ESS and PSS additively predicts plaque progression, but no studies have determined their ability to predict major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). We examined whether combining ESS and PSS improves MACE prediction in patients with acute coronary syndrome.Methods:We examined baseline ESS, ESS gradient, PSS, and PSS heterogeneity index (HI) in 22 non-culprit lesions (NCL) leading to future MACE, and 64 randomly selected control NCLs without MACE from the PROSPECT (Providing Regional Observations to Study Predictors of Events in the Coronary Tree) study. ESS was calculated by computational fluid dynamics and PSS by finite element analysis on co-registered lesions.Results:86 lesions (55 thin-cap and 31 thick-cap fibroatheromas) were analyzed from 67 patients. Lesions that caused future MACE showed baseline higher PSS HI (0.32 vs. 0.24, p

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A13104-A13104, November 8, 2022. Introduction:Reduced serum levels of glycosylated apolipoprotein J (ApoJ-Glyc) have been proposed as a marker for the early detection of myocardial ischemia with a potential prognostic value.Objective:The EDICA clinical trial assessed the performance of ApoJ-Glyc as a biomarker for the early detection of myocardial ischemia in patients attending the A&E department with chest pain suggestive of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and investigated -as a secondary pilot objective- its prognostic value.Methods:EDICA -a multi-centre, international, diagnostic study (NCT04119882) assessed 404 patients. Based on clinical variables and diagnostic tests, 291 patients were considered to have had a “non-ischemic” event and 113 an “ischemic” event. Blood samples were obtained for the assessment of high-sensitivity troponin and ApoJ-Glyc at admission and at 1h and 3h thereafter. GRACE Risk Score was calculated in all ischemic patients. Patients were followed up for 6 months after presentation and the occurrence of MACE (cardiac death, recovered cardiac arrest, re-infarction, cardiac failure, new admission for ACS after discharge, or unplanned revascularization for cardiac ischemia after discharge) was recorded. ApoJ-Glyc serum levels were analyzed with a novel ELISA targeting a specific glycosylated variant of ApoJ (ApoJ-GlycA2).Results:Among the patients in the ischemic group, 8.8% had MACE at 6-months and these showed a 26% mean reduction in ApoJ-GlycA2 levels 3h post-admission compared with levels at presentation. This reduction was not observed in patients without MACE. Patients in the highest GRACE Risk Score tertile ( >118 points) showed a progressive decrease in ApoJ-GlycA2 levels after presentation compared with patients in the lower risk tertiles (mean decrease: 41% at 1h, P=0.01 and 35% at 3h, P=0.02 when compared with admission levels).Conclusions:A progressive decrease in ApoJ-Glyc levels after A&E admission appears to not only identify patients with ischemic events but also those at higher risk of suffering serious recurrent cardiovascular events at 6-months’ follow-up. Further studies in larger cohorts of patients are warranted to validate the potential role of ApoJ-Glyc in risk stratification in the context of cardiac ischemic events.

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A15713-A15713, November 8, 2022. Introduction:Chest pain is a common presentation to the Emergency Department (ED). Current international guidelines emphasise the importance of triage pathways involving patient-centric algorithms. In 2019, a front-door ED pathway (Figure 1) was created to direct low-risk chest pain towards ambulatory care. We aimed to characterise clinical outcomes with this pathway in a real-world UK ED cohort presenting with cardiac chest pain.Methods:The chest pain pathway stratified patients as low-, intermediate- and high-risk at presentation. Patients presenting to the ED at our institution in London, UK, were consecutively included in two groups: a pre-pathway group prior to implementation of the chest pain pathway and a post-pathway group following implementation. Baseline demographics were compared using Pearson’s χ2test for categorical variables and unpaired t-tests for continuous variables. Primary endpoints were 30-day readmissions, and all-cause mortality. Multiple logistic regression models were constructed to assess the impact of the pathway on the primary outcomes, adjusting for age, sex, risk category and HEART score.Results:Baseline demographics were similar between pre-pathway and post-pathway groups, except for presence of a smoking history (p= 0.04). Smoking was therefore adjusted for in multivariable analyses. Approximately 10% (13/136) of post-pathway patients avoided hospital admission and were triaged towards ambulatory care. There was no significant difference in 30-day readmissions: 18/139 post-pathway vs 12/167 pre-pathway (OR 1.79, 95% CI 0.79 – 4.22,p= 0.17); or all-cause mortality: 2/167 pre-pathway vs 5/139 post-pathway (OR 2.96, 95% CI 0.49 – 25.68,p= 0.26).Conclusions:This novel chest pain pathway demonstrated a 10% reduction in hospital admissions without concurrent increases in 30-day readmissions or all-cause mortality. This is likely to reduce burdens on hospital resources and patient flow whilst maintaining safety.

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A12136-A12136, November 8, 2022. Background and Objectives:Previous studies have shown that a multiple blood biomarker strategy prior to aortic valve replacement (AVR) may be useful for risk stratification in patients undergoing surgical AVR (SAVR). The usefulness of this approach in patients with low-flow low-gradient aortic stenosis (LF-LG AS) has not been examined. The objective of this study was to determine the prognostic value of combined measures of multiple blood biomarkers in patients with LF-LG AS treated conservatively or by AVR.Methods:168 patients were prospectively enrolled in the TOPAS (Truly or Pseudo-severe Aortic Stenosis) study at our institute. Clinical and echocardiographic data were collected for each patient. Eight biomarkers of myocardial stress, inflammation, renal function (brain natriuretic peptide, creatine kinase-mb, interleukin-6, alanine transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, procalcitonin, ferritin) were measured from blood samples collected at baseline. The cohort was divided into 3 groups according to the number of elevated biomarkers. Uni- and multivariable survival analyses were performed to evaluate the association between the number of elevated biomarkers and all-cause mortality.Results:Mean age was 73 years (68% male). After a median follow-up of 3.41 years, 69 (35%) patients died. Patients with 0-3, 4-6, and >6 elevated biomarkers had 8 years survival estimates of 75%, 52%, and 19%, respectively (log-rank p6 elevated biomarkers had an increased risk of all-cause mortality as compared to the group of patients with 0-3 elevated biomarkers (referent group), HR=3.82, p

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A12386-A12386, November 8, 2022. Introduction:Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) is an underdiagnosed cause of chest pain. The 2021 AHA/ACC guidelines do not advocate for testing in patients with chest pain and low pretest probability (PTP

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A10535-A10535, November 8, 2022. Introduction:The association of combined low-risk lifestyle behaviors (LRLBs) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality has not been systematically quantified.Objective:We undertook a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis to assess the association of combined LRLBs with CVD and all-cause mortality.Methods:MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane were searched up to December 29, 2021. Prospective cohort studies reporting the association between a minimum of 3 combined LRLBs (including healthy diet) with CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke incidence and mortality were included. Independent reviewers extracted data and assessed study quality. Highest vs. lowest LRLB score was pooled using random effects. Heterogeneity was assessed (Cochran Q) and quantified (I2). Global dose response meta-analysis (DRM) for maximum adherence was estimated using one-stage linear mixed model. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using GRADE.Results:116 cohort comparisons (n=9,775,191) involving 382,922 cases were included. Comparing highest with lowest adherence LRLBs were associated with lower risk of CHD incidence (RR, 0.29 [95% CI, 0.21, 0.42]), stroke incidence (0.56 [0.50, 0.62]), CVD incidence (0.47 [0.37, 0.58]), CHD mortality (0.32 [0.25, 0.41]), stroke mortality (0.37 [0.30, 0.46]), CVD mortality (0.41 [0.34, 0.49]) and all-cause mortality (0.46 [0.41 to 0.52]). DRM analysis showed a linear association between LRLBs and all outcomes reaching a global DRM between 59-76% protection. LRLBs were defined with variable ranges as a healthy body weight (body mass index median), regular physical activity (1/week to >30 minutes/day), smoking cessation (never smoked or smoking cessation), light alcohol intake (≤30g/day) and adequate sleep (5.5-9 hours). The certainty of the evidence was graded as moderate to high owing to downgrades for inconsistency and/or upgrades for a large magnitude of effect and significant dose-response gradient.Conclusions:Pooled analyses show that the combination of LRLBs was associated with a substantial lower risk of CVD outcomes and all-cause mortality. The available evidence provides a very good indication of the benefit of combined LRLBs.

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A11151-A11151, November 8, 2022. Introduction:High energy requirements and poor feeding due to left-to-right shunting can lead to growth failure in patients with ventricular septal defect (VSD) but the effect of malnutrition on surgical outcomes is not well known, especially in low-resource settings. More data would inform decisions on whether nutritional repletion should occur pre-operatively or be deferred until after surgery.Methods:We analyzed cases of isolated VSD +/- ASD or PDA closure in children < 5 years old from 19 centers in 10 low- and middle-income countries with complete audited data collected as part of the International Quality Improvement Collaborative for Congenital Heart Disease from 2016 - 2020. Premature infants and those with known genetic/non-cardiac structural anomalies were excluded. We examined inter-center variation in weight-for-height z score (WHZ) and adjusted for age and major medical illness to calculate odds ratios (OR) of death and major infection (surgical site infection or bacterial sepsis) during hospitalization for changes in WHZ, and for patients with moderate acute malnutrition (-3 < WHZ ≤ -2; MAM) or severe acute malnutrition (WHZ ≤ -3; SAM) versus those without malnutrition (WHZ > -2).Results:Among 6441 VSD closures (5023 membranous, 160 muscular, 73 AV canal, 1046 infundibular, 139 DORV), median age was 8 months (1 day – 4.4 years). Median WHZ at time of surgery was -1.1 (-8.0 – 7.4); 949 patients (15%) had MAM and 1026 (16%) had SAM. Median WHZ (-3.52 – 0.35) and rates of MAM (19 – 80%) and SAM (6 – 63%) varied among centers. Overall, 0.5% died in hospital and 1.2% had major post-operative infection. Odds of major infection (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.89-1.29) and mortality (OR 1.18, 0.93-1.49) increased for each one unit decrease in WHZ. For the MAM group, odds of major infection (OR 1.50, 0.67-3.37) and mortality (OR 1.32, 0.50-3.49) were increased compared to those without malnutrition. For SAM, odds were higher, and were significant for major infection (OR 2.15, 1.01-4.56) and nearly so for mortality (OR 1.93, 0.98-3.77).Conclusions:Malnutrition is common in children undergoing VSD closure in low-resource settings and increases risk of major infection and death, especially in cases of SAM. Pre-operative nutritional repletion may be considered to reduce risk.

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A11270-A11270, November 8, 2022. Introduction:Sodium-glucose co-transporter2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) showed benefit in major cardiovascular diseases characterized by low-grade inflammation. However, the role and function of SGLT2 in the heart remain unclear.Hypothesis:This study evaluated whether SGLT1/2 are expressed in the heart of patients with cardiac diseases, and determined the role of low-grade inflammation and the functional consequences.Methods:Human left ventricle (LV) biopsies were collected from 17 patients with aortic and mitral valves stenosis or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at Strasbourg Hospital. Cultured endothelial cells (EC) were from pig coronary arteries. Expression levels were assessed by RT-qPCR, Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence staining, and the level of oxidative stress and nitric oxide (NO) using fluorescent probes.Results:SGLT1/2 protein levels were observed in the LV of cardiac patients and correlated p-p65 NFκB levels. SGLT2, VCAM-1 and TNF-α staining was observed in the endothelium of coronary microvessels and, to some extent, cardiomyocytes. TNF-α upregulated SGLT1 and 2, VCAM-1, AT1R and ACE expression and decreased that of eNOS and the bradykinin-stimulated NO formation in EC. The stimulatory effect of TNF-α was inhibited by an NF-kB inhibitor and SGLT2 siRNA but not by SGLT1 siRNA. Oxidative stress in LV sections and TNF-α-treated EC was inhibited by VAS-2870 (NADPH oxidase inhibitor), losartan (AT1R antagonist) and empagliflozin (SGLT2i), and in LV by infliximab (TNF-α receptor inhibitor).Conclusions:The findings indicate that SGLT2 is expressed in the LV of cardiac patients in the coronary endothelium and cardiomyocytes, and associated with their low-grade inflammatory status. Moreover, TNF-α upregulated the AT1R/NAPDH oxidase/SGLT2 crosstalk to sustain oxidative stress promoting endothelial dysfunction. Thus, SGLT2 appears as an interesting target to protect the coronary microcirculation.

Circulation, Volume 146, Issue Suppl_1, Page A14149-A14149, November 8, 2022. Introduction:High power radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a novel technique, is recently being employed for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aimed to report our center’s procedural data and preliminary results of a high power RFA technique for AF without fluoroscopic guidance.Methods:Symptomatic AF patients were consecutively enrolled in this prospective observational study and underwent PVI. Ablation index (AI) was marginally used for at least 400 on the posterior wall and 500 on the anterior wall or 15 seconds total at 50 Watt ablation power, whichever came first. Contact-force catheter and esophageal temperature was used during the procedure. Post-ablation esophageal endoscopy was utilized. PVI was performed using CARTO and the ST SF D/F curve ablation catheter in a temperature-controlled mode.Results:PVI was achieved in all (n = 36, mean age: 68±11.3 years, female: 29%, CHADsVASc: 2.8±1.5, LA volume index:60.4±17.2 mL/m2). 29(80%) patients had paroxysmal AF. For left wide antral circumferential ablation (WACA); total duration was 7.4±11.3 min, total ablation sites were 49.9±11.2, average contact force was 9.97±2.2 g and average AI was 363.9±20.5. For right WACA total duration was 6.4±2 min, total ablation sites were 45.6±15.3, average contact force was 13.0±3.5 g and average AI was 403.6±32.9. WACA technique was employed for paroxysmal AF, additional ablation lines were targeted for persistent AF. For the entire flouro-less, 50W study population, average AI was 382.2±26.6, total ablation duration was 18.1±4.7 min, total ablation sessions were 118.4±33.4 and average temperature was 38.7±1.4 degree Celsius. During in-hospital follow-up no major complications such as death, stroke, tamponade, or atrio-esophageal fistula occurred.Conclusions:50 watts fluoro-less AF RFA is a safe and efficient procedure.