Non-vitamin K oral antagonist (NOAC) compared to vitamin K antagonist (VKA) in left ventricular thrombus.

Background: Thromboembolic events are serious left ventricular thrombus (LVT) complications. Despite the limitations of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) drugs, it continues to be the recommended oral anticoagulation for LVT. Recently, nonvitamin K oral antagonist (NOAC) has gained popularity as an off-labeled treatment for systemic embolism prevention in LVT.

The Average Age of Atrioventricular Block Onset in Middle Eastern Patients with Cardiac Rhythm Devices Adjusted for the Overall Young Population: Insights from a Multicenter International Registry.

Background: Previous registries have shown a younger average age at presentation with cardiovascular diseases in the Middle East (ME), but no study has examined atrioventricular block (AVB). Moreover, these comparisons are confounded by younger populations in the ME. We sought to describe the average age at presentation with AVB in ME and quantify the effect of being from ME, adjusted for the overall younger population.

The Reliability of the Apple Watch's Electrocardiogram.

Background An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a standard tool used to detect various cardiovascular abnormalities. Detection sensitivity for atrial fibrillation (AF) was recently shown to be greatly increased by using short, intermittent ECG recordings.Modern mobile ECG recording devices that can monitor patients' heart activities around the clock have made this a reality.

Burden of bradycardia and barriers to accessing bradycardia therapy in underserved countries.

Bradycardia, a condition characterized by an abnormally slow heart rate, poses significant challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment. While it is a concern world-wide, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face substantial barriers in accessing appropriate bradycardia therapy. This article aims to explore the global aetiology and incidence of bradycardia, compare the prevalence and management of the condition in high-income countries versus LMICs, identify the key reasons behind the disparities in access to bradycardia therapy in LMICs, and emphasize the urgent need to address these disparities to ensure equitable healthcare on a global scale.

Brucella cardiac implantable electronic device infection: A single-center case series.

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), including implantable cardiac defibrillators, pacemakers, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, are lifesaving. However, device infections can lead to morbidity and mortality. of this study was to describe the outcome of CIED infections treated at our center, and to identify risk factors for infection in patients with CIEDs.

Long-term reverse remodeling and clinical improvement by MultiPoint Pacing in a randomized, international, Middle Eastern heart failure study.

Purpose: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with multipoint left ventricular (LV) pacing (MultiPoint™ Pacing, MPP) has been shown to improve CRT response, although MPP response using automated pacing vector programming has not been demonstrated in the Middle East. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of MPP to conventional biventricular pacing (BiV) using echocardiographic and clinical changes at 6-month post-implant.

Methods: This prospective, randomized study was conducted at 13 Middle Eastern centers.

Rescue axillary artery covered stent during transvenous cardiac device implantation.

Injury to axillary and subclavian arteries during cardiac rhythm device implantation might lead to significant mortality and morbidity especially in those with a low body mass index (BMI). We report the case of 65-year-old underweight male patient with BMI of 15.1 (height 166 cm, weight 41.

Assessment of the quality of anticoagulation management with warfarin in a tertiary care center.

Objectives: To evaluate the quality of an anticoagulation clinic in a tertiary hospital and identified factors affecting the time in the therapeutic range (TTR) and its relation to different complications. Methods: This single-center retrospective study conducted between March 2015 and June 2016 included 1914 patients receiving warfarin therapy. They were divided into 4 warfarin indication groups: non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) (n=403), valvular AF (n=227), prosthetic valves (n=700), and venous or pulmonary embolism (n=584).

Effects of Ramadan fasting on the symptoms of chronic heart failure.

[No Abstract Available].

Image Quality of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator System Designed for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Environment.

Background: Recently, magnetic resonance (MR)-conditional implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) systems have become available. However, associated cardiac MR image (MRI) quality is unknown. The goal was to evaluate the image quality performance of various cardiac MR sequences in a multicenter trial of patients implanted with an MR-conditional ICD system.

The Gulf Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator Registry: Rationale, Methodology, and Implementation.

Background: The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is effective in the prevention of sudden cardiac death in high-risk patients. Little is known about ICD use in the Arabian Gulf. We designed a study to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving ICDs in the Arab Gulf region.

A delayed spontaneous expulsion of a three teeth bridge after 6 months period of aspiration in the right lung following cardiac surgery.

Aspiration of loose teeth is a well-known complication of endo-tracheal intubation hence the importance of oral check by anesthetist prior to ventilation. Artificaial teeth crown (single) or bridges (multiple) can be fixed or removable by the patient. The presence of a foreign body in the lung tissue or airways is a clinical situation that needs aggressive management as it can lead to refractory infections and possible death.

An Initiative Technique to Facilitate Axillary Vein Puncture During CRT Implantation.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe a new technique to minimize requirement of contrast and the time to puncture the axillary vein during implantation of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices.

Background: One of the challenges to the wide applications of CRT has been the technical difficulty encountered while obtaining venous access utilizing axillary venous puncture. This is mainly due to vague anatomical land marks.

Full-Body MRI in Patients With an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: Primary Results of a Randomized Study.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with conventional implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) is contraindicated.

Objectives: This multicenter, randomized trial evaluated safety and efficacy of a novel ICD system specially designed for full-body MRI without restrictions on heart rate or pacing dependency. The primary safety objective was >90% freedom from MRI-related events composite endpoint within 30 days post-MRI.

MRI scanning in patients with new and existing CapSureFix Novus 5076 pacemaker leads: randomized trial results.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be safely performed in patients with magnetic resonance (MR)-conditional pacemaker systems but remains relatively contraindicated with non-MR-conditional pacemaker systems.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of MRI without positioning restrictions in patients with an MR-conditional pacemaker and currently a non-MR-conditional Medtronic CapSureFix Novus 5076 lead(s).

Methods: The study randomized 266 patients in a 2:1 ratio to the MRI group (177 patients) or to the control group (89 patients).

Saudi Atrial Fibrillation Survey: national, observational, cross-sectional survey evaluating atrial fibrillation management and the cardiovascular risk profile of patients with atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. The Saudi Atrial Fibrillation Survey registry was designed to provide epidemiological and clinical data on patients with AF. The registry included 400 consecutive patients who met the eligibility criteria.

Safe and effective use of conscious sedation for defibrillation threshold testing during ICD implantation.

Background: Over a period of years general anesthesia has been a standard anesthetic technique for defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing at the time of implant. DFT testing without general anesthesia cover has gained limited acceptance. Use of local anesthesia combined with deep sedation for DFT testing might facilitate and simplify these procedures by reducing the procedural time, staff time, avoiding inefficient service in organizing anesthetic cover; thereby improving patient compliance.

An initiative to minimize amount of contrast media utilizing a novel rotational coronary sinus occlusive venography technique with ordinary cath-lab X-ray machine during CRT implantation.

Background: Rotational angiography is one of the latest angiographic modalities to map the coronary venous tree anatomy. It provides a significant reduction in both contrast agent usage and radiation dose (up to 30%), without compromising the clinical utility of images. Hence, the present study was conducted to describe a new technique to minimize the amount of contrast media used during cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation.

Transient sinus node dysfunction with acute hepatitis of unknown etiology.

We reported a case of a 72-year-old male, known diabetic on insulin, referred because of complete atrioventricular block. He was found to have acute hepatitis during which he developed transient atrial arrhythmia, and sinus node dysfunction. His cardiac symptoms disappeared completely after hepatitis improvement.

Maneuvering balloon occlusion technique to deflect LV lead into a target branch during CRT implantation.

Implantation of specifically designed left ventricular (LV) lead is a relatively complex procedure that depends on the anatomy of the coronary veins, available instrumentation, and experience of the operator. In patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) tortuosity of the selected branch of coronary sinus (CS) leads to difficult or failed LV placement. A case study of a 45-year-old woman with DCM requiring lead placement is presented here.