Publications by authors named "Andreas Mussigbrodt"

Key Clinical Message: Venous spasm is an important reason for complicated or failed implantations of cardiac implantable electronic devices. Prevention or risk reduction of venous spasm during cardiac implantable electronic device implantation may be achieved by ultrasound or fluoroscopic imaging prior to puncture, cephalic vein cut-down, sufficient pre- and perioperative hydration, nitroglycerin injection and effective sedation, and analgesia.

Abstract: This case report with literature review focuses on venous spasm as a potential cause for complicated implantations of cardiac implantable electronic devices.

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Aims: Catheter ablations of complex cardiac arrhythmias are currently guided by electro-anatomic mapping (EAM) systems. The aim of this study was to compare two different approaches: remotely supported nurse-led EAM with standard onsite engineer support.

Methods And Results: In this retrospective observational study, 166 patients with complex and non-complex procedures were included.

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Aims: The treatment of heart rhythm disorders has been significantly impacted by direct consequences of the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as by restrictions aimed towards constraining viral spread.

Methods And Results: Usually, catheter ablations of cardiac arrhythmias are guided by electro-anatomic mapping (EAM) systems. Technical staff with medical training, or medical staff with technical training, are needed to assist the operator.

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Atrial arrhythmias are present in up to 20% of patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Catheter ablation (CA) is an effective treatment for atrial arrhythmias in the general population. Data regarding CA for atrial arrhythmias in ARVC are scarce.

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Atrial fibrillation (AF) leads to remodeling characterized by changes in both size and shape of the left atrium (LA). Here we aimed to study the effect of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) on the pattern of LA remodeling in AF-patients. HCM-patients (n = 23) undergoing AF ablation (2009-2012) were matched and compared with 125 Non-HCM patients from our prospective registry.

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Introduction: Cardiac perforation is a rare complication of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation. Transvenous revision of perforated leads is associated with the risk of cardiac tamponade and death. Little is known about periprocedural complications and outcome of these patients.

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Flecainide is a frequently used antiarrhythmic drug, recommended by current guidelines as a first-line treatment option for restoring and maintaining sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation and no significant structural heart disease. In overdose, it can induce severe cardiogenic shock. Cardiogenic shock after a therapeutic dose of flecainide in patients without contraindication has not yet been reported in literature.

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Background: The significance of the inducibility of atrial fibrillation (AF) after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with AF remains disputable and polarizing. Therefore, we investigated the prognostic value of the inducibility of AF on long-term outcome after PVI in patients without low-voltage left atrial (LA) substrate.

Methods: Two hundred forty-five patients (mean age 59+/-9years, 72% male) without LA low-voltage areas (defined as electrogram amplitudes <0.

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Competitive sports and intensive exercise are associated with adverse outcomes in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C). This study aimed to assess the role of exercise on long-term results of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) therapy of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with ARVD/C. Exercise participation was evaluated by telephone or in-person interviews in patients from our ARVD/C registry with previous VT ablation (38 patients, 26 males, age 52.

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Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been recognised as the most prevalent sustained arrhythmia. Recently, a growing body of evidence has suggested that AF might be involved in the progression of cognitive impairment (CIM), potentially extending into types of dementia. Accordingly, the purpose of the present study was to summarise the findings of investigations examining association between AF and cognitive function as well as highlighting the possible causes of discrepancy between the findings and reviewing the probable mechanisms of CIM in patients affected with AF.

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Background: Although several investigations have shown a relationship between increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and atrial fibrillation (AF), the association between EAT and ventricular tachycardia (VT) has not been evaluated.

Objective: We investigated the association between EAT and postablation VT recurrence.

Methods: Sixty-one consecutive patients (mean age = 62.

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Aims: Transvenous lead extraction for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) is of growing importance. Nevertheless, the optimal anaesthetic approach, general anaesthesia vs. deep sedation (DS), remains unresolved.

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This case emphasizes the value of cardiac MRI and genetic testing in the early phase of ARVD/C. It also emphasizes the increased risk of SCD for patients with ARVD/C participating in competitive sports, even with immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

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Background: In the ICD Sports Safety Registry, death, arrhythmia- or shock-related physical injury did not occur in athletes who continue competitive sports after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation. However, data from non-competitive ICD recipients is lacking. This report describes arrhythmic events and lead performance in intensive recreational athletes with ICDs enrolled in the European recreational arm of the Registry, and compares their outcome with those of the competitive athletes in the Registry.

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Background: Stage of platelet activation is an important modulator of stroke risk associated with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, factors determining such activation status of thrombocytes in patients with AF are still not well studied.

Methods And Results: We enrolled 83 patients (mean age 61 ± 10 years, 61% male, mean CHADS-VASc 2.

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Background: Athletes with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) may require unique optimal device-based tachycardia programming.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the association of tachycardia programming characteristics of ICDs with occurrence of shocks, transient loss-of-consciousness, and death among athletes.

Methods: A subanalysis of a prospective, observational, international registry of 440 athletes with ICDs followed for a median of 44 months was performed.

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Both, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and regular training are associated with right ventricular (RV) remodelling. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is given an important role in the diagnosis of ARVC in current task force criteria (TFC), however, they contain no cut-off values for athletes. We aimed to confirm the added value of feature tracking and to provide new cut-off values to differentiate between ARVC and athlete's heart.

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The precise target location for radiofrequency energy delivery was initially determined through electrophysiological signals and with the help of fluoroscopy. The introduction of the 3D mapping system CARTO® (Biosense Webster Inc., Diamond Bar, CA, USA) in recent years for radiofrequency ablation of arrhythmias has provided new therapeutic options.

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Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an effective treatment option for systolic heart failure, but the benefit of an additional implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in elderly patients is not well established. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of an additional ICD on survival in elderly CRT recipients.

Methods: Patients aged ≥75 years with an indication for CRT and primary preventive ICD therapy, which underwent implantation of either a CRT-pacemaker (CRT-P) or CRT-defibrillator (CRT-D) were included in the study.

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Aims: Electrical cardioversion (ECV) is frequently required for early atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation. However, in some cases, ECV is unsuccessful, and factors associated with long-term rhythm outcomes after failed ECV are unknown. This study aimed to identify possible predictors of ECV failure early after AF ablation and to analyse management and long-term rhythm outcome of these patients.

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