Novel electrocardiographic classification for stroke prediction in atrial fibrillation patients undergoing cardioversion.

Background: Abnormal conduction, structure, and function of the atrial myocardium predispose to atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke. The usefulness of electrocardiographic indices in predicting stroke or systemic embolism (SSE) in patients undergoing cardioversion (CV) for AF remains unknown, especially in those at low estimated risk.

Objective: We systematically evaluated the performance of various P-wave abnormalities (PWAs) in predicting SSE 30 days after CV (derivation cohort) and in the long term (validation cohort).

Fibrillatory wave amplitude and thromboembolic risk in non-anticoagulated patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The benefit of oral anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation (AF) is well established for patients at elevated stroke risk, but less clear for those at intermediate risk. We investigated whether analysis of electrocardiogram (ECG) derived fibrillatory waves (F-waves) could help identify patients at risk for stroke and systemic embolism (SSE).

Methods: The Finnish Cardioversion (FinCV) study included patients not on permanent anticoagulation therapy who underwent cardioversion for an acute AF episode.

Prolonged Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome After Cardiac Surgery.

Objectives: Cardiac surgery induces systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), leading to higher morbidity and mortality. There are no individualized predictors for worse outcomes or biomarkers for the multifactorial, excessive inflammatory response. The interest of this study was to evaluate whether a systematic use of the SIRS criteria could be used to predict postoperative outcomes beyond infection and sepsis, and if the development of an exaggerated inflammation response could be observed preoperatively.

Risk of fluid accumulation after cardiac surgery.

Objective: Patients undergoing heart surgery are at high risk of postoperative fluid accumulation due to long procedures and cardiopulmonary bypass. In the present study, we sought to investigate the prevalence of postoperative fluid accumulation and its relation to adverse events in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: CAREBANK is prospective, single-center cohort study focusing on the adverse events after cardiac surgery.

Advanced interatrial block predicts ineffective cardioversion of atrial fibrillation: a FinCV2 cohort study.

Aims: Rhythm control using electrical cardioversion (CV) is a common treatment strategy for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). To guide clinical decision making, we sought to assess if electrocardiographic interatrial blocks could predict CV failure or AF recurrence as the phenomenon is strongly associated with atrial arrhythmias.

Methods: This study included 715 patients who underwent a CV for persistent AF lasting >48 h.