2021 European Society of Cardiology guidelines on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronisation therapy : Statement of endorsement by the NVVC.

The European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has updated its guidelines on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronisation. As the majority are class II recommendations (61%) and based on expert opinion (59%), a critical appraisal for the Dutch situation was warranted. A working group has been established, consisting of specialists in cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, geriatrics, allied professionals in cardiac pacing, and patient organisations with support from the Knowledge Institute of the Dutch Association of Medical Specialists.

Evaluating Comprehensibility of 157 Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in the Nationwide Dutch Outcome-Based Healthcare Program: More Attention for Comprehensibility of PROMs is Needed.

Introduction: Patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs) are increasingly prevalent in healthcare and used for shared decision-making and healthcare quality evaluation. However, the extent to which patients with varying health literacy levels can complete PROMs is often overlooked. This may lead to biased aggregated data and patients being excluded from studies or other PROM collection initiatives.

On-screen image-guided lead placement in cardiac resynchronization therapy: Feasibility and outcome in a multicenter setting.

Background: Image guidance to assist left ventricular (LV) lead placement may improve outcome after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), but previous approaches and results varied greatly, and multicenter feasibility is lacking altogether.

Objective: We sought to investigate the multicenter feasibility of image guidance for periprocedural assistance of LV lead placement for CRT.

Methods: In 30 patients from 3 hospitals, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed within 3 months prior to CRT to identify myocardial scar and late mechanical activation (LMA).

Atrial fibrillation begets ventricular fibrillation when the AV node fails.

Deterioration of atrial fibrillation into ventricular fibrillation has frequently been described in patients with pre-excitation of the ventricles. We report two cases of atrial fibrillation without pre-excitation leading to rapid ventricular tachycardias and recurrent implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in young idiopathic ventricular fibrillation patients.

Hospital utilisation and the costs associated with complications of ICD implantation in a contemporary primary prevention cohort.

Introduction: Implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is standard care for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. However, ICD-related complications are increasing as the population of ICD recipients grows.

Methods: ICD-related complications in a national DO-IT Registry cohort of 1442 primary prevention ICD patients were assessed in terms of additional use of hospital care resources and costs.