Late gadolinium enhancement imaging for the prediction of ventricular tachycardia ablation outcome.

Background: Preprocedural cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is crucial for identifying ventricular scar areas, borderline zones, and potential reentry channels. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) core and borderline mass on the acute and long-term outcomes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation in patients with structural heart disease (SHD).

Methods And Results: A total of 204 consecutive patients underwent CMR before scheduled VT ablation.

Echocardiographic Predictors of Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator.

Aim: To evaluate the predictive value of preoperative echocardiographic parameters for occurrence of VAs in patients with preexisting ICD undergoing LVAD implantation.

Methods And Results: All consecutive patients (n = 264) with previous ICD who underwent LVAD surgery between May 2011 and December 2019 at our institution were included. The patients were predominantly male (89%) with NICM (59%) and a mean age of 59 ± 10 years.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists in cardiovascular diseases: a bibliometric analysis from inception to 2023.

Background: In recent years, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists have garnered increasing attention for their potential cardiovascular benefits beyond glycemic control in patients with diabetes. Understanding the research landscape surrounding GLP-1 agonists and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is crucial for informing clinical practice and guiding future research endeavors. This bibliometric analysis aimed to comprehensively assess the scholarly output and trends in this field, shedding light on the evolving landscape of GLP-1 agonists' role in cardiovascular health.

Catheter ablation as first-line treatment for ventricular tachycardia in patients with structural heart disease and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation as the first-line treatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Patients with SHD are particularly susceptible to VT, a condition that increases the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) can terminate VT and prevent SCD but do not prevent VT recurrence.

Incidence and predictors of thermal oesophageal and vagus nerve injuries in Ablation Index-guided high-power-short-duration ablation of atrial fibrillation: a prospective study.

Aims: High-power-short-duration (HPSD) ablation is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation but poses risks of thermal injuries to the oesophagus and vagus nerve. This study aims to investigate incidence and predictors of thermal injuries, employing machine learning.

Methods And Results: A prospective observational study was conducted at Leipzig Heart Centre, Germany, excluding patients with multiple prior ablations.

Cryocure-VT: the safety and effectiveness of ultra-low-temperature cryoablation of monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in patients with ischaemic and non-ischaemic cardiomyopathies.

Aims: The ultra-low-temperature cryoablation (ULTC) ablation system using -196°C N2 cryogen has been reported to create lesions with freeze duration-dependent depth titratable to over 10 mm with minimum attenuation by scar. Cryocure-VT (NCT04893317) was a first-in-human clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of a novel, purpose-built ULTC catheter in endocardial ablation of scar-dependent ventricular tachycardias (VTs).

Methods And Results: This prospective, multi-centre study enrolled patients referred for de novo or second ablations of recurrent monomorphic VT of both ischaemic and non-ischaemic aetiologies.

Single catheter approach for treatment of premature ventricular contractions.

Background: Catheter ablation has become one of the main treatment strategies in patients with premature ventricular complexes (PVC). The successful mapping and ablation can be performed with an ablation catheter without additional diagnostic catheters.

Hypothesis: We hypothesize that using a single catheter for PVC ablation may decrease complications, procedure time, and fluoroscopy exposure while maintaining comparable success rates.

Impact of repeat ablation of ventricular tachycardia in patients with structural heart disease.

Aims: Recurrences of ventricular tachycardia (VT) after initial catheter ablation is a significant clinical problem. In this study, we report the efficacy and risks of repeat VT ablation in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) in a tertiary single centre over a 7-year period.

Methods And Results: Two hundred ten consecutive patients referred for repeat VT ablation after previous ablation in our institution were included in the analysis (53% ischaemic cardiomyopathy, 91% males, median age 65 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 35%).

Effectiveness of conduction system pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Introduction: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with biventricular pacing (BiV-CRT) is ineffective in approximately one-third of patients. CRT with Conduction system pacing (CSP-CRT) may achieve greater synchronization. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of CRT with His pacing (His-CRT) or left bundle branch pacing (LBB-CRT) in lieu of biventricular CRT.

Cardiac tamponade complicating ventricular arrhythmia ablation: Real life data on incidence, management, and outcome.

Background And Objective: Cardiac tamponade during ablation procedures is a life-threatening complication. While the incidence and management of tamponade in atrial fibrillation ablation have been extensively described, the data on tamponade during ventricular ablations are very limited. The purpose of this study is to shed light on the incidence, typical perforation sites, and optimal management as observed through real-life data in a tertiary referral center for ventricular ablation.

P-wave duration and atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a global health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Catheter ablation (CA) can reduce AF burden and symptoms, but AF recurrence (AFr) remains an issue. Simple AFr predictors like P-wave duration (PWD) could help improve AF therapy.

Effect of metformin on the long non-coding RNA expression levels in type 2 diabetes: an in vitro and clinical trial study.

Background: It has been suggested that the anti-hyperglycemic effect of metformin could be associated with its impact on long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression levels. Accordingly, in the current study, we evaluated the effect of metformin on the expression of H19, MEG3, MALAT1, and GAS5 in in vitro and in vivo situations.

Methods: The effect of hyperglycemia and metformin treatment on the lncRNAs expression level was evaluated in HepG2 cells.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Dilated Cardiomyopathy and Ventricular Tachycardia.

Background: Recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is difficult to treat, and long-term outcome data are limited.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify predictors of mortality or heart transplantation (HTx) and VT recurrence.

Methods: Consecutive patients with DCM accepted for radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of VT at 9 centers were prospectively enrolled and followed.

Relevance of Chronic Total Occlusion for Outcome of Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is an effective tool to prevent VT recurrences. Chronic total occlusion (CTO) represents a clinically relevant entity in ICM patients and is an independent predictor of ventricular arrhythmia and mortality. The effects of CTO on the outcome of VT ablation are not well-studied.

Outcomes following cardiac sympathetic denervation in patients with structural heart disease and refractory ventricular arrhythmia.

Aim: Cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) has been introduced as a bailout therapy in patients with structural heart disease and refractory ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), but available data are scarce. Purpose of this study was to estimate immediate results, complications, and mid-term outcomes of CSD following recurrent VA after catheter ablation.

Methods And Results: Adult patients who underwent CSD in the Heart Center Leipzig from March 2017 to February 2021 were retrospectively analysed.

A randomized trial of non-fasting vs. fasting for cardiac implantable electronic device procedures (Fast-CIED Study).

Aims: Data on safety and efficacy of a non-fasting strategy in minimal invasive cardiac procedures are lacking. We assessed a non-fasting strategy compared with a fasting strategy regarding patient's well-being and safety in elective cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedures.

Methods And Results: In this randomized, single-blinded clinical trial, 201 patients (non-fasting = 100, fasting = 101) with a mean age of 72.

A novel ECG finding in patients with epicardial infarct-associated ventricular tachycardia: a case series.

Objectives: This study analyzes the incidence, characteristics, and ECG morphology of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in post-infarction patients undergoing epicardial VT ablation.

Background: Ablation of recurrent VTs in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy is typically performed endocardially. In rare cases, epicardial access is required to achieve non-inducibility.

Feasibility and Reliability of Smartwatch to Obtain Precordial Lead Electrocardiogram Recordings.

The Apple Watch is capable of recording single-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs). To incorporate such devices in routine medical care, the reliability of such devices to obtain precordial leads needs to be validated. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and reliability of a smartwatch (SW) to obtain precordial leads compared to standard ECGs.

LV Pseudoaneurysm With Concomitant Mitral Valve Defect After LV Summit Ablation: A Rare Late Complication.

A 25-year-old male patient with highly symptomatic, monomorphic, premature ventricular contractions presented for repeat ablation after failed endocardial ablation. Three weeks after excessive endocardial and epicardial ablation on the left ventricular summit, the patient was admitted again with tamponade following a pseudoaneurysm on the ablation site. ().

Gender differences in patients with structural heart disease undergoing VT ablation.

Introduction: This study sought to examine gender differences in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) referred for ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Background: Female patients are often underrepresented in large studies. Significant differences in the clinical presentation, treatment, and prognosis of female patients have been described in previous studies.

Epicardial ablation of ventricular tachycardia in patients with structural heart disease: a single-centre experience over 12 years.

Aims: Epicardial ablation has risen to an essential part of the treatment of ventricular tachycardias (VTs). In this study, we report the efficacy, risks, and current trends of epicardial ablation in structural heart disease as reported in a tertiary single centre over a 12-year period.

Methods And Results: Two hundred and thirty-six patients referred for VT ablation underwent a successful epicardial access and were included in the analysis (89% non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy, 90% males, mean age 60 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 38.

Role of assist device implantation and heart transplantation in the long-term outcome of patients with structural heart disease after catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia.

Introduction: Ablation of ventricular tachycardias (VTs) in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) has been associated with advanced heart failure and poor survival.

Methods And Results: This matched case-control study sought to assess the difference in survival after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation and/or heart transplantation (HTX) in SHD patients undergoing VT ablation. From the initial cohort of 309 SHD patients undergoing VT ablation (187 ischemic cardiomyopathy, mean age 64 ± 12 years, ejection fraction of 34 ± 13%), 15 patients received an LVAD and nine patients HTX after VT ablation during a follow-up period of 44 ± 33 months.

Characteristics of left atrial remodeling in patients with atrial fibrillation and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in comparison to patients without hypertrophy.

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.