Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has been the mainstay of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Left atrial sphericity (LASP) was proposed as a new predictor of AF recurrence following ablation. While, evidence supporting this theory is conflicting. Objective: To clarify whether LASP is associated with increased risk of AF recurrence post PVI through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: All studies evaluating the association between LASP and AF recurrence post-PVI were included by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane library, EMBASE and CNKI until August 1st, 2021. Two investigators performed screening, data extraction and quality assessment of the studies independently. Results: Ten articles with a total of 1608 patients were finally included. Results were presented as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and a random model was used. Higher LASP increases the risk of AF recurrence post PVI (HR =1.08, 95% CI1.02-1.14). Sub-group analysis showed that different modalities of measuring LASP (MRI and CT) had no significant impact on the odds. Funnel plot (Begg’s test, P=0.043) showed publication bias. Conclusion: LASP is associated with increased risk of AF recurrence post PVI

Objectives: Pulmonary artery pressure measurement is key to verifying the success of a rat model of pulmonary hypertension(PH). Herein, a novel method for measuring pulmonary artery pressure through high-frequency ultrasound-guided transthoracic puncture was demonstrated in rats. The efficacy and time of this novel method were also discussed. Methods: A single subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline was used to establish a rat model of PH. The tip of that puncture cannula was maintained at a certain angle after the needle core was removed through heat shaping method. In the short-axis section of the parasternal aorta, in-plane real-time guided trocar puncture of the right ventricular outflow tract was performed. The external pressure sensor was used to record the real-time waveform, right ventricular systolic pressure, pulmonary artery systolic pressure, and diastolic pressure. Results: The success rates of using this novel method in the model group and the control group were 88.5% and 86.7%, respectively, and the puncture pressure measurement times were 164 ± 31s and 235 ± 50s, respectively. The model group’s right ventricular systolic blood pressure, pulmonary systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were higher than those of the control group. Conclusions: The modified method for trocar is helpful for accurately positioning pulmonary artery manometry. The method described in this paper has a high success rate and short operation time. It has a broad application prospect in verifying rat PH model and pulmonary artery pressure monitoring.

Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVF) is a rare clinical disorder characterized anatomically by an abnormal right-to-left shunt (RLS) at the pulmonary vascular level. RLS was detected by right-heart contrast echocardiography (RHCE), and a large number of contrast microbubbles were detected entering the left atrium and ventricle from the left and right pulmonary veins, Intuitively prompt bilateral pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. Computed tomography angiography confirmed the diagnosis. We report a case of a patient with PAVF complicated with pulmonary hypertension, RHCE with high-frequency transthoracic ultrasound showed the typical signs of pulmonary arteriovenous fistula. We used this method for the first time to diagnose pulmonary arteriovenous fistula.