Successful Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure in the Presence of a Nonobstructive Appendage Membrane.

• LAA membranes are rare and usually diagnosed incidentally on TEE. • A thorough TEE assessment is needed to distinguish LAA membranes from other entities. • The clinical significance of LAA membranes and association with stroke are unclear.

Access to smart devices and utilization of online health resources among older cardiac rehabilitation participants.

Background: Newer models of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) delivery are promising but depend upon patient participation and ability to use technological media including Internet and smart devices.

Aim: To explore the availability of smart devices, current utilization and proficiency of use among older CR program attendees.

Methods: Study participants were enrolled from four CR programs in Omaha, Nebraska United States and completed a questionnaire of 28 items.

Trends in the use of echocardiography in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: an analysis using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample data.

Background: Infective endocarditis occurs in approximately 10%-30% of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SaB). Guidelines recommend echocardiography in patients with SaB and risk factors for infective endocarditis in the absence of any obvious source of infection. Herein, we explored the trends in the use of echocardiography in patients with SaB and its relationship to outcomes using a large national database.

Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on atrial fibrillation ablation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

Background: The role of catheter ablation (CA) is increasingly recognized as a reasonable therapeutic option in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF).

Hypothesis: We aimed to compare CA to medical therapy in AF patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Methods: We searched the literature for randomized clinical trials comparing CA to medical therapy in this population.

Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials on Patent Foramen Ovale Closure Versus Medical Therapy for Secondary Prevention of Cryptogenic Stroke.

The optimal management of patients with cryptogenic stroke (CS) and patent foramen ovale (PFO) remains controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis to assess the effect of PFO closure for secondary prevention of stroke on patients with CS. We searched the literature for randomized control trials assessing the recurrence of stroke after PFO closure compared with medical therapy (antiplatelet and/or anticoagulation).