Background: Untreated atrial fibrillation (AF) often results in increased morbidity and mortality. Opportunistic AF screening in persons aged ≥ 65 years is recommended to identify patients with AF in order to prevent AF-related complications.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of screening persons for AF with the Kardia mobile electrocardiogram device (MED) and to determine the percentage of newly detected AF cases by selective population screening in the Netherlands.
Background: Truncating variants in desmoplakin (tv) are an important cause of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy; however the genetic architecture and genotype-specific risk factors are incompletely understood. We evaluated phenotype, risk factors for ventricular arrhythmias, and underlying genetics of tv cardiomyopathy.
Methods: Individuals with tv and any cardiac phenotype, and their gene-positive family members were included from multiple international centers.
Background: The Nanostim leadless pacemaker (LP) was launched in 2012. However, the use of Nanostim LP was suspended because of safety concerns.
Objective: The aim of this study was to report our experience with the management of malfunctioning Nanostim LPs, including premature battery depletion.
Aims: Goal of Transvenous Lead Extraction (TLE) is complete removal of all targeted leads, without complications. Despite counter traction manoeuvres, efficacy rates are often hampered by broken right ventricle lead (RV-lead) tips. Mechanically powered lead extraction (Evolution sheath) is effective, however safety of dissection up to the lead tip is unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Blood pressure (BP) reduction after renal sympathetic denervation (RDN) is highly variable. Renal nerve stimulation (RNS) can localize sympathetic nerves. The RNS trial aimed to investigate the medium-term BP-lowering effects of the use of RNS during RDN, and explore if RNS can check the completeness of the denervation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) continues to be preferentially used in relatively young patients, with less advanced heart disease.
Objective: We, therefore, studied the short and long-term efficacy and safety of the S-ICD in subgroups of patients, which are underreported at present.
Methods: A total of 218 patients between November 2010 and February 2019 undergoing S-ICD with a follow up of at least 6 months implantation were included in a prospective registry.
Aim: Integration of endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) in the diagnostic workup of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) is under-recognized in current clinical practice, since capturing focal granulomas is challenging. Our aim was to describe our experience with electro-anatomic mapping (EAM)-guided EMB and provide a comprehensive review of the literature.
Methods And Results: Five patients (age 49.
Background: Previous studies reported that hypo- and hyperthermia are associated with several atrial and ventricular electrocardiographical parameters, including corrected QT (QTc) interval. Enhanced characterization of variations in QTc interval and normothermic body temperature aids in better understanding the underlying mechanism behind drug induced QTc interval effects. The analysis' objective was to investigate associations between body temperature and electrocardiographical parameters in normothermic healthy volunteers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCirc Arrhythm Electrophysiol
November 2020
Background: The randomized DAPA trial (Defibrillator After Primary Angioplasty) aimed to evaluate the survival benefit of prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation in early selected high-risk patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention for ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.
Methods: A randomized, multicenter, controlled trial compared ICD versus conventional medical therapy in high-risk patients with primary percutaneous coronary intervention, based on one of the following factors: left ventricular ejection fraction <30% within 4 days after ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction, primary ventricular fibrillation, Killip class ≥2 or TIMI (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction) flow <3 after percutaneous coronary intervention. ICD was implanted 30 to 60 days after MI.
Cardiology
August 2021
Background: Symptomatic idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias (VA), including premature beats (VPB) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) are commonly encountered arrhythmias. Although these VA are usually benign, their treatment can be a challenge to primary and secondary health care providers. Mainstay treatment is comprised of antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) and, in case of drug intolerance or failure, patients are referred for catheter ablation to tertiary health care centers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFElevated blood pressure induces electrocardiographic changes and is associated with an increase in cardiovascular disease later in life compared to normal blood pressure levels. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between normal to high normal blood pressure values (90-139/50-89 mmHg) and electrocardiographic parameters related to cardiac changes in hypertension in healthy young adults. Data from 1449 volunteers aged 18-30 years collected at our centre were analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) after percutaneous ablation is associated with a high morbidity and mortality. We assessed the feasibility of open chest extracorporeal circulation (ECC)-supported 3D multielectrode mapping and targeted VT substrate ablation in patients with previously failed percutaneous endocardial and epicardial VT ablations.
Methods: In patients with previously failed percutaneous endocardial and epicardial VT ablations and a high risk of hemodynamic collapse during the procedure, open chest ECC-supported mapping and ablation were performed in a hybrid EP lab setting.
Aims: In the SCALAF trial, catheter-based pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was as effective in long-term prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) as minimally invasive thoracoscopic PVI and left atrial appendage ligation (MIPI). Catheter ablation (CA) resulted in significantly less major complications as compare to MIPI. We report quality of life (QOL) outcome in these patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Severe LV dysfunction and advanced age are associated with VT recurrence after catheter ablation in patients with post-infarction drug-refractory VT. We present retrospective analysis of long-term outcome after single and repeat VT ablation procedures in patients with ischemic heart disease.
Design: Patients with recurrent VT post infarction who underwent catheter ablation between 2006 and 2017 in Isala Heart Centre were retrospectively analyzed.
Background: Current guidelines recommend both percutaneous catheter ablation (CA) and surgical ablation in the treatment of atrial fibrillation, with different levels of evidence. No direct comparison has been made between minimally invasive thoracoscopic pulmonary vein isolation with left atrial appendage ligation (surgical MIPI) versus percutaneous CA comprising of pulmonary vein isolation as primary treatment of atrial fibrillation. We, therefore, conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the safety and efficacy of these 2 treatment modalities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJACC Clin Electrophysiol
September 2018
Background: Renal nerve stimulation (RNS) is used to localize sympathetic nerve tissue for selective renal nerve sympathetic denervation (RDN). Examination of heart rate variability (HRV) provides a way to assess the state of the autonomic nervous system. The current study aimed to examine the acute changes in HRV caused by RNS before and after RDN.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Renal nerve denervation (RDN) is developed as a potential treatment for hypertension. Recently, we reported the use of renal nerve stimulation (RNS) to localize sympathetic nerve tissue for subsequent selective RDN. The effects of RNS on arterial pressure dynamics remain unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Recently we reported the use of renal nerve stimulation (RNS) during renal denervation (RDN) procedures. RNS induced changes in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate are not fully delineated yet. We hypothesized that electrical stimulation of the sympathetic nerve tissue in the renal artery would lead to an increase in BP and vagal stimulation would cause a decrease in BP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe name of the author Jaap Jan J. Smit was rendered wrongly in the original publication. The original article has been corrected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hypertension is an important, modifiable risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Even after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), 20-40% experience recurrent AF. Animal studies have shown that renal denervation (RDN) reduces AF inducibility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: The aim of this study was to compare second-generation cryoballoon and contact-force radiofrequency point-by-point pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with regard to pulmonary vein reconnection and arrhythmia-free survival.
Methods And Results: Altogether, 269 consecutive patients with drug-refractory AF undergoing PVI were included and randomly allocated to second-generation cryoballoon or contact-force point-by-point radiofrequency ablation. Median follow-up duration was 389 days (interquartile range 219-599).