Integration of mobile sensors in a telemedicine hospital system: remote-monitoring in COVID-19 patients.

Aim: The goal is to design and, in a next step, establish a scalable, multi-center telemonitoring platform based on existing systems for monitoring COVID-19 patients in home quarantine. In particular, the focus will be on raw data acquisition, integration of sensor data into the hospital system, structured data storage, and interoperability.

Subject And Methods: Data necessary for monitoring, otherwise provided in various portals, will be continuously queried and integrated into the hospital system via a new interface in this proof-of-concept work.

Correction to: Electromagnetic interference in implantable cardioverter defibrillators: present but rare.

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake.

Balloon angioplasty versus stenting for pulmonary vein stenosis after pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation: A meta-analysis.

Background: The incidence of pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) as complication after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for atrial fibrillation (AF) has decreased in the last decade. However, as PVI for AF is becoming more prevalent, the incidence remains considerable in absolute terms. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to investigate the optimal approach for management of PVS after PVI for AF.

Irrigated-tip catheters for radiofrequency ablation of right-sided accessory pathways in adolescents.

Background: Catheter ablation of right-sided accessory pathways (APs) has lower success and higher recurrence rates compared to left-sided substrates. Irrigated-tip catheter (ITC) ablation might offer an advantage in this setting but data about its use in patients below 18 years are scarce. The aim of this study was to compare an ITC approach to conventional catheter ablation.

Cryoballoon vs. radiofrequency ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: an updated meta-analysis of randomized and observational studies.

Aims: Radiofrequency (RF) ablation represents a standard of care for pulmonary vein isolation in patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). In this setting, cryoballoon (CB) ablation has emerged as alternative therapy. However, the efficacy and safety of CB vs.

Electromagnetic interference in implantable cardioverter defibrillators: present but rare.

Purpose: Electromagnetic interference (EMI) with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) can cause oversensing and subsequently inappropriate ICD therapies. We retrospectively investigated the current incidence and clinical relevance of oversensing related EMI in a large cohort of ICD patients.

Methods: From January 2005 to April 2013, all ICD interrogations performed at our institution were analyzed for the occurrence of oversensing related EMI.

Electromagnetic Contact-Force Sensing Electrophysiological Catheters: How Accurate is the Technology?

Background: Contact-force (CF) sensing catheters are increasingly used in clinical electrophysiological practice due to their efficacy and safety profile. As data about the accuracy of this technology are scarce, we sought to quantify accuracy based on in vitro experiments.

Methods And Results: A custom-made force sensor was constructed that allowed exact force reference measurements registered via a flexible membrane.

Evaluation of a new very low dose imaging protocol: feasibility and impact on X-ray dose levels in electrophysiology procedures.

Aims: This study presents and evaluates the impact of a new lowest-dose fluoroscopy protocol (Siemens AG), especially designed for electrophysiology (EP) procedures, on X-ray dose levels.

Methods And Results: From October 2014 to March 2015, 140 patients underwent an EP study on an Artis zee angiography system. The standard low-dose protocol was operated at 23 nGy (fluoroscopy) and at 120 nGy (cine-loop), the new lowest-dose protocol was operated at 8 nGy (fluoroscopy) and at 36 nGy (cine-loop).

Atrial Tachycardias Following Persistent Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Predictors of Recurrence After the Repeat Ablation.

Background: Repeat procedures after persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation are frequently performed for secondary atrial tachycardias (AT). Predictors of AT recurrence after the first repeat ablation have not yet been studied.

Methods: We investigated predictors of AT recurrence in 117 patients who underwent ablation for secondary AT arising after a previous ablation for persistent AF using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Sensor-Based Electromagnetic Navigation (Mediguide®): How Accurate Is It? A Phantom Model Study.

Background: Data about localization reproducibility as well as spatial and visual accuracy of the new MediGuide® sensor-based electroanatomic navigation technology are scarce. We therefore sought to quantify these parameters based on phantom experiments.

Methods And Results: A realistic heart phantom was generated in a 3D-Printer.

Ablation of perimitral flutter: acute and long-term success of the modified anterior line.

Aims: The modified anterior line (MAL) is an alternative to the mitral isthmus (MI) line for the treatment of perimitral atrial flutter (PMFL). We sought to investigate acute and long-term efficacy of this line if routinely used for PMFL.

Methods And Results: The cohort included 77 consecutive patients who underwent catheter ablation of PMFL.

Comparison of safety of left atrial catheter ablation procedures for atrial arrhythmias under continuous anticoagulation with apixaban versus phenprocoumon.

Apixaban is increasingly used for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. Data about the safety of left atrial radiofrequency ablation procedures under continuous apixaban therapy are lacking. We performed a matched-cohort study of patients undergoing left atrium ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation or left atrial flutter.

Dissociated pulmonary vein activity after pulmonary vein isolation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a predictor for recurrence?

Background: The role of dissociated pulmonary vein (DPV) activity after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is still poorly defined. We evaluated electrophysiological features and clinical impact on long-term outcome of DPV activity.

Methods: A total of 243 patients (mean age 63 ± 11 years; 63% males) undergoing PVI for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) were included.

Safety of continuous periprocedural rivaroxaban for patients undergoing left atrial catheter ablation procedures.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the safety of continuous periprocedural rivaroxaban administration during left atrial radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in comparison with uninterrupted oral vitamin K antagonist administration. Data about the use of rivaroxaban in the setting of left atrial RFA procedures are lacking.

Methods And Results: The study cohort included 544 patients (mean age, 63±10 years) who underwent left atrial RFA procedures between February 2012 and May 2013.

Forces applied during transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead removal.

Methods: 17 physicians, experienced in transvenous lead removal, performed a lead extraction manoeuvre of an ICD lead on a torso phantom. They were advised to stop traction only when further traction would be considered as harmful to the patient or when--based on their experience--a change in the extraction strategy was indicated. Traction forces were recorded with a digital precision gauge.

Usefulness of high-dose intravenous human immunoglobulins treatment for refractory recurrent pericarditis.

The management of refractory recurrent pericarditis is challenging. Previous clinical reports have noted a beneficial effect of high-dose intravenous human immunoglobulins (IvIgs) in isolated and systemic inflammatory disease-related forms. In this article, we analyzed retrospectively our clinical experience with IvIg therapy in a series of clinical cases of pericarditis refractory to conventional treatment.

Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and persistent viral infection: lack of association in a controlled study using a quantitative assay.

Background: It remains unclear whether idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) might ensue as the consequence of viral myocarditis, due to viral persistence in cardiomyocytes. To address this issue, we quantified the levels of enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1), Herpes Simplex Virus-2 (HSV-2), adenovirus and parvovirus B19 genomes in endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) from patients with DCM, active myocarditis and controls.

Methods: Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods using TaqMan probes were developed for the quantitative detection of viral genomes in EMBs from 35 patients with DCM and 17 with active myocarditis.

Comparative evaluation of B-type natriuretic peptide and mid-regional pro-A-type natriuretic peptide changes from admission to discharge in prognosis of acute decompensated heart failure patients.

Background: Mid-regional pro-A-type natriuretic peptide (MRproANP) seems to be non-inferior compared to B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for heart failure diagnosis and prognosis; however, no previous studies have investigated the MRproANP in-hospital changes in prognostic role. This study aimed to compare the prognostic accuracy of BNP and MRproANP in-hospital changes in acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) patients.

Methods: 37 patients with either admission/pre-discharge BNP and MRproANP data, were investigated.

Clinical presentation and long-term follow-up of perimyocarditis.

Background: The natural history of perimyocarditis (PMY) is not yet completely known. We aimed to analyse the clinical laboratory data of PMY at diagnosis and during follow-up, in order to assess the natural history and prognostic stratification of the disease (including different aetiology).

Methods: We enrolled 62 consecutive patients (men 79%, aged 38 ± 18 years) with PMY (84% idiopathic, 8% autoimmune, 8% infective) from August 2002 to July 2010.

[If heart failure or cardiac arrest complicate pregnancy and delivery].

Physiological adaptation to pregnancy exposes mother's cardiovascular system to relevant hemodynamic overload. These changes and other specific conditions of pregnancy, such as amniotic embolism, can point out unrecognized preexisting heart disease or, in the presence of some cofactors, be burdensome even for healthy hearts. Thus, tragic cases of heart failure or cardiac arrest may occur, whose management requires several considerations with respect of trying to save two lives at the same time, the need for drugs potentially harmful to the fetus, and assessment of emergent cesarean section.