Predictors of acute inefficacy and the radiofrequency energy time required for cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter ablation.

Purpose: Although cavotricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter (CTI-AFL) ablation is a highly efficacious treatment, a bidirectional CTI block cannot be achieved in some patients. In this study, we sought to determine the predictors of acute inefficacy of CTI-AFL ablation and the predictors of the radiofrequency (RF) energy time required to achieve a complete bidirectional CTI block.

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent stand-alone CTI-AFL ablation in our institution, except patients with congenital heart disease, were included in this retrospective study.

Syncope.

Syncope, which can be defined as a transient loss of consciousness caused by transient global cerebral hypoperfusion and characterised by rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous complete recovery, is a common condition. This definition is useful for differentiating syncope from other clinical conditions that also involve real or apparent transient loss of consciousness, but in which the mechanism is not global cerebral hypoperfusion, such as epilepsy, falls, or psychiatric pseudosyncope. We reviewed the etiological classification of syncope and found that reflex syncope is the most common etiology in the general population, with a good prognosis, whereas cardiac syncope increases with age and has a worse prognosis.

Diagnosis and management of pericardial effusion.

Pericardial effusion is a common finding in everyday clinical practice. The first challenge to the clinician is to try to establish an etiologic diagnosis. Sometimes, the pericardial effusion can be easily related to a known underlying disease, such as acute myocardial infarction, cardiac surgery, end-stage renal disease or widespread metastatic neoplasm.