Hyperacute synchronous cardiocerebral infarction in a patient with new-onset atrial fibrillation: a case of myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries.

Hyperacute synchronous cardiocerebral infarction (CCI) is an extremely rare condition with an incidence of 0.009%. In the acute stage of ischemic stroke, there is a high prevalence of ECG abnormalities.

Cardiorenal multimorbidity in hospitalized cardiology patients: The Hellenic Cardiorenal Morbidity Snapshot (HECMOS) study.

Purpose: Cardiovascular disease is commonly accompanied by renal dysfunction. Multimorbidity in hospitalized patients impacts unfavorably on prognosis and hospital stay. We aimed to illustrate the contemporary burden of cardiorenal morbidity across inpatient cardiology care in Greece.

Chronic Thoracic Aortic Dissection: How to Treat, When to Intervene.

Thoracic aortic dissection (AD) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Acute aortic syndrome is the first presentation of the disease in most cases. While acute AD management follows concrete guidelines because of its urgent and life-threatening nature, chronic AD is usually overlooked, although it concerns a wide spectrum of patients surviving an acute event.

Association of non-invasive electrocardiographic risk factors with left ventricular systolic function in post-myocardial infarction patients with mildly reduced or preserved ejection fraction: Insights from the PRESERVE-EF study.

Background: Electrocardiographic non-invasive risk factors (NIRFs) have an important role in the arrhythmic risk stratification of post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) patients with preserved or mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, their specific relation to left ventricular systolic function remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between NIRFs and LVEF in the patients included in the PRESERVE-EF trial.

The role of late gadolinium enhancement in predicting arrhythmic events in cardiac sarcoidosis patients - a mini-review.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem inflammatory disorder with an unknown origin. Symptomatic cardiac involvement is rare and occurs in about 5% of patients with sarcoidosis. Fatal ventricular arrhythmias are the most severe clinical presentation of the disease.

Noninvasive risk factors for the prediction of inducibility on programmed ventricular stimulation in post-myocardial infarction patients with an ejection fraction ≥40% at risk for sudden cardiac arrest: Insights from the PRESERVE-EF study.

Background: In the PRESERVE-EF study, a two-step sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk stratification approach to detect post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients with left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥40% at risk for major arrhythmic events (MAEs) was used. Seven noninvasive risk factors (NIRFs) were extracted from a 24-h ambulatory electrocardiography (AECG) and a 45-min resting recording. Patients with at least one NIRF present were referred for invasive programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) and inducible patients received an Implantable Cardioverter - Defibrillator (ICD).

Atrial substrate characterization in patients with atrial fibrillation and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Evidence for an extensive fibrotic disease.

Introduction: Data regarding the left atrial (LA) electroanatomical substrate in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are missing. In this electroanatomical mapping (EAM) study, we evaluated the extent of LA fibrosis and its impact on catheter ablation outcomes in patients with HCM and AF.

Materials And Methods: High-density LA EAM was performed during AF in 28 consecutive patients with obstructive HCM and AF (42.

Right ventricular outflow tract electroanatomical abnormalities in asymptomatic and high-risk symptomatic patients with Brugada syndrome: Evidence for a new risk stratification tool?

Introduction: Microstructural abnormalities at the epicardium of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) may provide the arrhythmia substrate in Brugada syndrome (BrS). Endocardial unipolar electroanatomical mapping allows the identification of epicardial abnormalities. We evaluated the clinical implications of an abnormal endocardial substrate as perceived by high-density electroanatomical mapping (HDEAM) in patients with BrS.

Safety of catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation without pre- or peri-procedural imaging for the detection of left atrial thrombus in the era of uninterrupted anticoagulation.

Background: The need for pre- or peri-procedural imaging to rule out the presence of left atrial thrombus in patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear in the era of uninterrupted direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) regimen. We sought to examine the safety of catheter ablation in appropriately selected patients with paroxysmal AF without performing screening for left atrial thrombus.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive patients planned for radiofrequency AF catheter ablation between January 2016 and June 2020 were enrolled, and prospectively studied.

Clinical characteristics and management of patients with diabetes mellitus and stable coronary artery disease in daily clinical practice. The SCAD-DM Registry.

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) represent a high-risk population, where comorbidities are common and the progression of coronary heart disease is relatively rapid and extensive. The present survey, conducted nationwide in a Eurozone country, Greece, with a properly organized national health system, aimed to record specific data from a significant number of patients with diabetes and documented stable CAD (SCAD).

Methods And Results: We conducted our survey across the country, in private and public primary, secondary, and tertiary care centers.

QRS Morphology Shift Following Catheter Ablation of Idiopathic Outflow Tract Ventricular Tachycardia.

A 42-year-old patient without structural heart disease was referred for catheter ablation of salvos of outflow tract ventricular tachycardia (VT). Activation mapping of the clinical VT (VT1) revealed the earliest ventricular activation site at the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). Catheter ablation at this site led to a slight QRS shift of the VT morphology (VT2).

Trends in ablation procedures in Greece over the 2008-2018 period: Results from the Hellenic Cardiology Society Ablation Registry.

Objective: In 2008, the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedures registry of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology was created. This online database allowed electrophysiologists around the country to input data for all performed ablation procedures. The aim of this study is to provide a thorough report and interpretation of the data submitted to the registry between 2008 and 2018.

High-density mapping of de novo focal atrial tachycardias using a new software: Protected low-voltage areas by zones of conduction delay.

Background: The pathophysiological mechanism of focal atrial tachycardias (AT) remains obscure.

Methods: Fifteen patients (6 males, age 45 ± 18) with focal AT underwent high-density activation mapping using a new software called extended early-meets-late (EEML).

Results: Irrespective of the arrhythmia mechanism, low bipolar voltage fractionated signals (0.

An uncommon cause of inappropriate ICD shock.

In cases of electromagnetic interference (EMI), if the source of the inappropriate EMI cannot be identified, then the sensitivity of the device could be decreased, or the cycle length of the VF detection trigger zone changed.

The aortic cusps are the predominant successful ablation site of idiopathic outflow-tract ventricular arrhythmias.

Background: Data regarding the successful ablation site of idiopathic outflow tract (OT) ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in the modern era of mapping and ablation are limited.

Methods And Results: Over a 4-year period, a total of 309 patients underwent detailed activation mapping of OT VAs including the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and the aortic cusps (AC), and the coronary venous system. 244 cases were successfully ablated at the index procedure (78.

Fasciculoventricular bypass tracts: Electrocardiographic and electrophysiologic features.

Fasciculoventricular accessory pathways are rare variants of preexcitation. The differential diagnosis of fasciculoventricular accessory pathways from other preexcitation variants can be challenging. Based on two cases, we discuss the specific electrocardiographic and electrophysiologic features of fasciculoventricular bypass tracts.

A rare case of isolated mitral valve endocarditis by Gemella sanguinis: Case report and review of the literature.

Introduction: Gemella sanguinis is an extremely rare cause of infectious endocarditis, with only 12 cases previously reported in the literature. Here we report the third known case of isolated mitral valve endocarditis secondary to G. sanguinis.

Reel syndrome-An uncommon etiology of ICD dysfunction.

Reel syndrome occurs due to the rotation of the implantable device on its transverse axis with subsequent coiling of the leads around the pulse generator. Device interrogation and chest X-ray should be performed in any case of device malfunction.