Publications
Below you can find a list of our published research.
Below you can find a list of our published research.
42 results
Cited 39 times since 2015 (4.3 per year) source: EuropePMC
Heart rhythm, Volume 12, Issue 10, 22 4 2015, Pages 2106-2114 Myocardial scar predicts monomorphic ventricular tachycardia but not polymorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Piers SR, Everaerts K, van der Geest RJ, Hazebroek MR, Siebelink HM, Pison LA, Schalij MJ, Bekkers SC, Heymans S, Zeppenfeld K
Background: The relation between myocardial scar and different types of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM) is unknown. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of myocardial scar, assessed by late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (LGE-CMR), on the occurrence and type of ventricular arrhythmia in patients with NIDCM. Methods: Consecutive patients with NIDCM who underwent LGE-CMR and implantable cardio... Abstract
Cited 13 times since 2015 (1.4 per year) source: EuropePMC
Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, Volume 8, Issue 4, 12 2 2015, Pages 853-862 Reassessing noninducibility as ablation endpoint of post-infarction ventricular tachycardia: the impact of left ventricular function. de Riva M, Piers SR, Kapel GF, Watanabe M, Venlet J, Trines SA, Schalij MJ, Zeppenfeld K
Background: Noninducibility is frequently used as procedural end point of ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation after myocardial infarction. We investigated the influence of left ventricular (LV) function on the predictive value of noninducibility for VT recurrence and cardiac mortality. Methods and results: Ninety-one patients (82 men, 67±10 years) with post-myocardial infarction VT underwent ablation between 2009 and 2012. Fifty-nine (65%) had an LV ejection fraction (EF) >30% (mean 41±7) a... Abstract
Cited 18 times since 2015 (1.9 per year) source: EuropePMC
Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography : official publication of the American Society of Echocardiography, Volume 28, Issue 4, 27 4 2015, Pages 470-477 The relationship between time from myocardial infarction, left ventricular dyssynchrony, and the risk for ventricular arrhythmia: speckle-tracking echocardiographic analysis. Leong DP, Hoogslag GE, Piers SR, Höke U, Thijssen J, Marsan NA, Schalij MJ, Zeppenfeld K, Bax JJ, Delgado V
Background: Differences in arrhythmogenic substrate may explain the variable efficacy of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) in primary sudden cardiac death prevention over time after myocardial infarction (MI). Speckle-tracking echocardiography allows the assessment left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony, which may reflect the electromechanical heterogeneity of myocardial tissue. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship among LV dyssynchrony, age of MI, and their ass... Abstract
Cited 38 times since 2014 (4 per year) source: EuropePMC
Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, Volume 8, Issue 1, 24 4 2014, Pages 102-109 Re-entry using anatomically determined isthmuses: a curable ventricular tachycardia in repaired congenital heart disease. Kapel GF, Reichlin T, Wijnmaalen AP, Piers SR, Holman ER, Tedrow UB, Schalij MJ, Stevenson WG, Zeppenfeld K
Background: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is an important cause of late morbidity and mortality in repaired congenital heart disease. The substrate often includes anatomic isthmuses that can be transected by radiofrequency catheter ablation similar to isthmus block for atrial flutter. This study evaluates the long-term efficacy of isthmus block for treatment of re-entry VT in adults with repaired congenital heart disease. Methods and results: Thirty-four patients (49±13 years; 74% male) with repa... Abstract
Cited 10 times since 2014 (1.1 per year) source: EuropePMC
Journal of magnetic resonance imaging : JMRI, Volume 42, Issue 2, 19 3 2014, Pages 390-399 Automated left ventricle segmentation in late gadolinium-enhanced MRI for objective myocardial scar assessment. Tao Q, Piers SR, Lamb HJ, van der Geest RJ
Purpose: To develop and validate an objective and reproducible left ventricle (LV) segmentation method for late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can facilitate accurate myocardial scar assessment. Materials and methods: A cohort of 25 ischemic patients and 25 nonischemic patients were included. A four-step algorithm was proposed: first, the Cine-MRI and LGE-MRI volume were globally registered; second, the registered Cine-MRI contours were fitted to each LGE-MRI s... Abstract
Cited 9 times since 2014 (0.9 per year) source: EuropePMC
The international journal of cardiovascular imaging, Volume 31, Issue 2, 24 4 2014, Pages 369-377 Preprocedural magnetic resonance imaging for image-guided catheter ablation of scar-related ventricular tachycardia. Tao Q, Piers SR, Lamb HJ, Zeppenfeld K, van der Geest RJ
To present and validate a highly automated MRI analysis workflow for image-guided catheter ablation of scar-related ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation procedures. A cohort of 15 post-infarction patients underwent MRI prior to VT ablation. The MRI study included a black-blood turbo spin echo sequence for visualizing the aortic root and ostium of the left main (LM) coronary artery, and a 3D late gadolinium enhanced sequence for visualizing the LV anatomy and myocardial scar substrate. Semi-auto... Abstract
Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, Volume 7, Issue 5, 1 1 2014, Pages 992 Response to Letter by Chhabra and Spodick regarding article, "Influence of steroid therapy on the incidence of pericarditis and atrial fibrillation following percutaneous epicardial mapping and ablation for ventricular tachycardia" by Dyrda et al. Dyrda K, Piers SR, van Huls van Taxis CF, Schalij MJ, Zeppenfeld K
Cited 23 times since 2014 (2.4 per year) source: EuropePMC
Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, Volume 7, Issue 5, 23 4 2014, Pages 889-897 Left-sided ablation of ventricular tachycardia in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot: a case series. Kapel GF, Reichlin T, Wijnmaalen AP, Tedrow UB, Piers SR, Schalij MJ, Hazekamp MG, Jongbloed MR, Stevenson WG, Zeppenfeld K
Background: Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot focuses on isthmuses in the right ventricle but may be hampered by hypertrophied myocardium or prosthetic material. These patients may benefit from ablation at the left side of the ventricular septum. Methods and results: Records from 28 consecutive repaired Tetralogy of Fallot patients from 2 centers who underwent VT ablation were reviewed. Ablation targeted anatomic isthmuses con... Abstract
Cited 45 times since 2014 (4.6 per year) source: EuropePMC
JACC. Cardiovascular imaging, Volume 7, Issue 8, 16 3 2014, Pages 774-784 CMR-based identification of critical isthmus sites of ischemic and nonischemic ventricular tachycardia. Piers SR, Tao Q, de Riva Silva M, Siebelink HM, Schalij MJ, van der Geest RJ, Zeppenfeld K
Objectives: This study evaluates whether contrast-enhanced (CE) cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) can be used to identify critical isthmus sites for ventricular tachycardia (VT) in ischemic and nonischemic heart disease. Background: Fibrosis interspersed with viable myocytes may cause re-entrant VT. CE-CMR has the ability to accurately delineate fibrosis. Methods: Patients who underwent VT ablation with CE-CMR integration were included. After the procedure, critical isthmus sites (defined as site... Abstract
Cited 12 times since 2014 (1.2 per year) source: EuropePMC
Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, Volume 7, Issue 4, 26 4 2014, Pages 671-676 Influence of steroid therapy on the incidence of pericarditis and atrial fibrillation after percutaneous epicardial mapping and ablation for ventricular tachycardia. Dyrda K, Piers SR, van Huls van Taxis CF, Schalij MJ, Zeppenfeld K
Background: This study evaluates the influence of 3 therapeutic approaches on the incidence of pericarditis and atrial fibrillation (AF) after percutaneous epicardial mapping and ablation for ventricular tachycardia. Methods and results: Eighty-five consecutive procedures (2006-2011) were retrospectively reviewed. After the first 17 procedures (20.0%), no steroids were administered. For the subsequent 30 procedures (35.3%), systemic steroids were administered intravenously or orally, whereas the... Abstract
Cited 9 times since 2014 (0.9 per year) source: EuropePMC
Heart rhythm, Volume 11, Issue 6, 4 1 2014, Pages 1031-1039 Endocardial or epicardial ventricular tachycardia in nonischemic cardiomyopathy? The role of 12-lead ECG criteria in clinical practice. Piers SR, Silva Mde R, Kapel GF, Trines SA, Schalij MJ, Zeppenfeld K
Background: Specific 12-lead ECG criteria have been reported to predict an epicardial site of origin (SoO) of induced ventricular tachycardias (VTs) in left ventricular nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Objective: The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the value of ECG criteria to predict an epicardial SoO of clinically documented VTs, (2) analyze the effect of VT cycle length (CL) and antiarrhythmic drugs on the accuracy of ECG criteria, and (3) assess interobserver variability. Methods: In 3... Abstract
Cited 11 times since 2013 (1.1 per year) source: EuropePMC
Arrhythmia & electrophysiology review, Volume 2, Issue 2, 29 5 2013, Pages 128-134 Imaging-guided Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation. Piers SR, Zeppenfeld K
Over the past decades important advances have been made in the field of ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation, and as a result, VT ablation is now more widely being performed. The identification of ablation target sites still relies on electroanatomical substrate mapping, which is time-consuming, hampered by the intramural location of some scars and limited by epicardial fat. The potential of various imaging modalities to overcome these limitations have stimulated clinical electrophysiologists t... Abstract
Cited 72 times since 2013 (6.7 per year) source: EuropePMC
Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, Volume 6, Issue 5, 13 2 2013, Pages 875-883 Contrast-enhanced MRI-derived scar patterns and associated ventricular tachycardias in nonischemic cardiomyopathy: implications for the ablation strategy. Piers SR, Tao Q, van Huls van Taxis CF, Schalij MJ, van der Geest RJ, Zeppenfeld K
Background: There are limited data on typical arrhythmogenic substrates and associated ventricular tachycardias (VT) in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. The substrate location may have implications for the ablation strategy. Methods and results: Nineteen consecutive patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (age 58±14 years, 79% men, left ventricular ejection fraction 41±11%) who underwent contrast-enhanced MRI and VT ablation were included. On the basis of 3-dimensional contrast-enhance... Abstract
Cited 51 times since 2013 (4.6 per year) source: EuropePMC
Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, Volume 6, Issue 3, 25 4 2013, Pages 513-521 Outcome of ventricular tachycardia ablation in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy: the impact of noninducibility. Piers SR, Leong DP, van Huls van Taxis CF, Tayyebi M, Trines SA, Pijnappels DA, Delgado V, Schalij MJ, Zeppenfeld K
Background: Ablation failure and recurrence rates after ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation in nonischemic cardiomyopathy are high and the optimal procedural end point is not well defined. This study assessed the outcome after ablation, the impact of noninducibility, and other potential predictors of VT recurrence. Methods and results: Forty-five patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (60±16 years; left ventricular ejection fraction, 44±14%) accepted for VT ablation were included. Epicardial... Abstract
Cited 32 times since 2013 (2.8 per year) source: EuropePMC
JACC. Cardiovascular imaging, Volume 6, Issue 1, 1 1 2013, Pages 42-52 Real-time integration of MDCT-derived coronary anatomy and epicardial fat: impact on epicardial electroanatomic mapping and ablation for ventricular arrhythmias. van Huls van Taxis CF, Wijnmaalen AP, Piers SR, van der Geest RJ, Schalij MJ, Zeppenfeld K
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of real-time integration of multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) derived coronary anatomy and epicardial fat distribution and its impact on electroanatomical mapping and ablation. Background: Epicardial catheter ablation for ventricular arrhythmias (VA) is an important therapeutic option in patients after endocardial ablation failure. However, epicardial mapping and ablation are limited by the presence of coronary arteries... Abstract
Cited 35 times since 2012 (3 per year) source: EuropePMC
European heart journal, Volume 34, Issue 8, 15 3 2012, Pages 586-596 Epicardial substrate mapping for ventricular tachycardia ablation in patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy: a new algorithm to differentiate between scar and viable myocardium developed by simultaneous integration of computed tomography and contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. Piers SR, van Huls van Taxis CF, Tao Q, van der Geest RJ, Askar SF, Siebelink HM, Schalij MJ, Zeppenfeld K
Aims: During epicardial electroanatomical mapping (EAM), it is difficult to differentiate between fibrosis and fat, as both exhibit attenuated bipolar voltage (BV). The purpose of this study was to assess whether unipolar voltage (UV), BV, and electrogram characteristics (EC) can distinguish fibrosis from viable myocardium and fat during epicardial EAM for ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation in non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). Methods and results: Ten NICM patients (7 males, 56 ± 13 years)... Abstract
Cited 50 times since 2012 (4.3 per year) source: EuropePMC
Heart rhythm, Volume 10, Issue 2, 13 2 2012, Pages 158-164 Electrophysiological characteristics of ventricular tachyarrhythmias in cardiac sarcoidosis versus arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. Dechering DG, Kochhäuser S, Wasmer K, Zellerhoff S, Pott C, Köbe J, Spieker T, Piers SR, Bittner A, Mönnig G, Breithardt G, Wichter T, Zeppenfeld K, Eckardt L
Background: Recent evidence suggests that cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) can manifest very similarly. Objective: To investigate whether there are significant demographic and electrophysiological differences between patients with CS and ARVC. Methods: We prospectively compared patients with proven CS or ARVC who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardias by using 3-dimensional electroanatomical mapping. Furthermore,... Abstract
Cited 15 times since 2012 (1.2 per year) source: EuropePMC
Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, Volume 5, Issue 2, 1 1 2012, Pages e38-40 Bipolar ablation of ventricular tachycardia in a patient after atrial switch operation for dextro-transposition of the great arteries. Piers SR, Dyrda K, Tao Q, Zeppenfeld K
Cited 25 times since 2011 (1.9 per year) source: EuropePMC
Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology, Volume 4, Issue 2, 1 1 2011, Pages 195-201 Early reperfusion therapy affects inducibility, cycle length, and occurrence of ventricular tachycardia late after myocardial infarction. Piers SR, Wijnmaalen AP, Borleffs CJ, van Huls van Taxis CF, Thijssen J, van Rees JB, Cannegieter SC, Bax JJ, Schalij MJ, Zeppenfeld K
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of early reperfusion during acute myocardial infarction (MI) on ventricular tachycardia (Vt) inducibility, inducible Vt cycle length (CL), and occurrence of spontaneous Vt late after MI. Methods and results: Five hundred six patients (440 men; age, 63±11 years) with prior MI who underwent electrophysiology study before implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for primary or secondary prevention were assessed. Patients were clas... Abstract
Cited 21 times since 2010 (1.5 per year) source: EuropePMC
The American journal of cardiology, Volume 106, Issue 11, 14 2 2010, Pages 1566-1573 Predictors of death and occurrence of appropriate implantable defibrillator therapies in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy. Ng AC, Bertini M, Borleffs CJ, Delgado V, Boersma E, Piers SR, Thijssen J, Nucifora G, Shanks M, Ewe SH, Biffi M, van de Veire NR, Leung DY, Schalij MJ, Bax JJ
Most patients with chronic ischemia and an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) for primary prevention do not experience therapies for ventricular arrhythmias on follow-up. The present study aimed to identify independent clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic predictors of death and occurrence of ICD therapy in patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy and ICD for primary prevention. A total of 424 patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy, ejection fraction ≤ 35%, and... Abstract