Phased multipolar radiofrequency pulmonary vein isolation is as effective and safe as conventional irrigated point-to-point ablation. A prospective randomised 1-year implantable cardiac monitoring device follow-up trial.

Purpose: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is conventionally performed using 3D electroanatomical mapping to guide point-to-point ablation. The Pulmonary Vein Ablation Catheter (PVAC)® is a phased multipolar ablation (PMRA) catheter designed for rapid PVI using radiological anatomical information. Comparison of these methods of PVI using continuous beat-to-beat monitoring was undertaken.

The natural history of atrial fibrillation in patients with permanent pacemakers: is atrial fibrillation a progressive disease?

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is thought to be a progressive arrhythmia, starting with short paroxysmal episodes, until eventually, it becomes permanent. Evidence for this is limited to studies with short follow-up or with minimal cardiac rhythm monitoring. We utilised the continuous rhythm monitoring capabilities of implanted pacemakers to define better the natural history of AF.

Remote monitoring of cardiovascular disease: great promise, but do not forget the patient!

After more than 20 years, the conflict of interest (COI) movement has failed to substantiate its central claim that interactions between physicians, researchers and the medical products industry cause physicians to make clinical decisions that are adverse to the best interests of their patients. The COI movement's instigators have produced no solid evidence of harm commensurate with their extravagant allegations. At the same time, they have diverted resources away from more worthwhile pursuits, such as basic and applied medical research, clinical care and medical education towards onerous compliance exercises and obtrusive laws.

Prospective peer review of regional percutaneous interventional procedures: a tool for quality control and revalidation.

Aims: Current quality measures of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures are based on the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE). This crude marker ignores the many clinical nuances that make for sound decision making in PCI. We have established a prospective peer review audit tool to determine the quality of PCI within our cardiac network, which consists of five PCI hospitals serving a population of 1.

The efficacy of intraoperative atrial radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation during concomitant cardiac surgery-the Surgical Atrial Fibrillation Suppression (SAFS) Study.

Introduction: Studies assessing radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) performed at the time of concomitant cardiac surgery have reported high success rates. The efficacy of this treatment has primarily been determined by a single electrocardiogram (ECG) or 24-h Holter monitor at follow-up. We sought to assess the true efficacy of this procedure using prolonged cardiac rhythm monitoring.