Echocardiographic assessment of left atrial appendage morphology and function-an expert proposal by the German Working Group of Cardiovascular Ultrasound.

The left atrial appendage is a blind ending cardiac structure prone to blood stasis due to its morphology. This structure is a preferred region of thrombogenesis in relation to reduced myocardial contractility of the atrial wall. Blood stasis occurs primarily in low flow conditions.

Echocardiographic assessment of atrial, ventricular, and valvular function in patients with atrial fibrillation-an expert proposal by the german working group of cardiovascular ultrasound.

Echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation is challenging due to the varying heart rate. Thus, the topic of this expert proposal focuses on an obvious gap in the current recommendations about diagnosis and treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF)-the peculiarities and difficulties of echocardiographic imaging. The assessment of systolic and diastolic function-especially in combination with valvular heart diseases-by echocardiography can basically be done by averaging the results of echocardiographic measurements of the respective parameters or by the index beat approach, which uses a representative cardiac cycle for measurement.

Stress-Mediated Abnormalities in Regional Myocardial Wall Motion in Young Women with a History of Psychological Trauma.

Background: Psychosocial stress has been associated with the development and progression of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD). Previously, we reported subtle differences in global longitudinal strain in somatically healthy women with a psychiatric diagnosis of borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study aimed to investigate the impact of BPD on segmental myocardial wall motion using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) analysis.

Mortality rates of severe COVID-19-related respiratory failure with and without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the Middle Ruhr Region of Germany.

The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is discussed to improve patients' outcome in severe COVID-19 with respiratory failure, but data on ECMO remains controversial. The aim of the study was to determine the characteristics of patients under invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) with or without veno-venous ECMO support and to evaluate outcome parameters. Ventilated patients with COVID-19 with and without additional ECMO support were analyzed in a retrospective multicenter study regarding clinical characteristics, respiratory and laboratory parameters in day-to-day follow-up.

Altered Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation in Young Women With Borderline Personality Disorder: An Echocardiographic Study.

Objective: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is characterized by intense mood swings, impulsivity, self-injurious behavior, poor anger control, fear of abandonment, and unstable interpersonal relationships. BPD is also associated with a heightened risk of cardiovascular disease, whereby the underlying mechanisms are insufficiently understood. Accordingly, the present study set out to examine whether individuals with BPD would show abnormal myocardial deformation and to explore the role of potential risk factors, including maladaptive stress responsivity, childhood trauma, and current stress exposure.

Outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in older patients.

Background: The prevalence of aortic valve stenosis is increasing due to the continuously growing geriatric population. Data on procedural success and mortality of very old patients are sparse, raising the question of when this population may be deemed as "too old even for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR)." We, therefore, sought to evaluate the influence of age on outcome after TAVR and the impact of direct implantation.

Multipoint left ventricular pacing with large anatomical separation improves reverse remodeling and response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in responders and non-responders to conventional biventricular pacing.

Background: Multipoint pacing [Multipoint™ Pacing (MPP), Abbott] via a single left ventricular lead (Quartet™ LV lead, Abbott) improves acute left ventricular (LV) function and response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Aim of this study was to examine additional benefits in terms of LV reverse remodeling and CRT response by activating MPP in responders and non-responders to conventional biventricular pacing (CONV).

Methods: 43 consecutive patients receiving CRT (Quadra Assura MP™, Abbott) received LV dP/dt optimized CONV programming for 6 months.

One-year outcome of percutaneous mitral valve repair in patients with severe symptomatic mitral valve regurgitation.

Aim: To investigate one-year outcomes after percutaneous mitral valve repair with MitraClip in patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR). METHODS Our study investigated consecutive patients with symptomatic severe MR who underwent MitraClip implantation at the University Hospital Bergmannsheil from 2012 to 2014. The primary study end-point was all-cause mortality.

Initial Experience With Novel Oral Anticoagulants During the First 45 Days After Left Atrial Appendage Closure With the Watchman Device.

Background: The use of oral anticoagulation or dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is recommended within the first 45 days after left atrial appendage (LAA) closure using the Watchman device because of incomplete device endothelialization. This study reports for the first time the feasibility of novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) in these patients.

Hypothesis: NOAC therapy is safe and effective after LAA closure.

Impact of lung diseases on morbidity and mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: insights from spirometry and body plethysmography.

Background: The study aims to determine the impact of different lung diseases on morbidity and mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation was performed transfemoral or transaxillary with CoreValve prosthesis or Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis in patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis and high surgical risk. Examinations comprised spirometry, body plethysmography echocardiography, and x-ray before TAVI.

B-type natriuretic peptide is a strong independent predictor of long-term outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background And Aim Of The Study: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the impact of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) on long-term outcome in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: TAVI was performed either transfemorally or transaxillary using either the CoreValve prosthesis or Edwards SAPIEN prosthesis in 226 patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis and at high surgical risk. The examinations included measurements of plasma BNP and echocardiography before and at 30 days after TAVI.

Three-year outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the CoreValve prosthesis.

There is little known about the long-term results of the CoreValve prosthesis. The aim of this study was to assess the 3-year clinical and hemodynamic outcomes of the CoreValve prosthesis. One hundred fifty consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis successfully underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with the CoreValve prosthesis.

Total atrial conduction time assessed by tissue doppler imaging (PA-TDI Interval) to predict early recurrence of persistent atrial fibrillation after successful electrical cardioversion.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether total atrial conduction time (TACT) assessed via tissue Doppler imaging (PA-TDI interval) can identify patients with early recurrent atrial fibrillation (ERAF) after successful direct-current electrical cardioversion (CV) of persistent atrial fibrillation (persPAF).

Methods And Results: A total of 54 patients without antiarrhythmic drug medication (mean ± SD: 66 ± 10.4 years; 33% women) with persPAF and successful CV were enrolled between May 2012 and May 2013.

Increased preoperative serum apoptosis marker fas ligand correlates with histopathology and new-onset of atrial fibrillation in patients after cardiac surgery.

Background: We evaluated if preoperative serum apoptosis markers correlate with atrial histological remodeling and postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) after cardiac surgery.

Methods And Results: A total of 33 patients with sinus rhythm (SR) and without history of atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing cardiac surgery were prospectively enrolled. Serum concentrations of Fas (apoptosis-stimulating fragment ligand) and TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) were measured preoperatively.

Left atrial diameter, aortic mean gradient, and hemoglobin for risk stratification in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an alternative treatment of severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) in patients with high operative risk. In spite of favorable entire results, long-term mortality of patients is high.

Hypothesis: The present study aims to identify independent preprocedural risk factors to improve risk stratification in these highly selected patients.

Correlation between total atrial conduction time estimated via tissue Doppler imaging (PA-TDI Interval), structural atrial remodeling and new-onset of atrial fibrillation after cardiac surgery.

Background: Recent studies identified total atrial conduction time (TACT) as an independent and powerful predictor of new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of this study was to assess the association between the degree of atrial fibrosis, TACT, and frequency of postoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) among patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods And Results: Sixty patients in sinus rhythm (mean ± SD age 66 ± 10 years; 22% women) and without a history of AF undergoing cardiac surgery were prospectively enrolled.

Long-term outcome of patients with moderate and severe prosthetic aortic valve regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Recently, moderate and severe postprocedure aortic regurgitations (ARs) have been identified as independent risk factors for short- and midterm mortality after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). However, very few data exist on the long-term outcome of postprocedure AR. From 2008 to 2011, 198 consecutive patients with severe aortic stenosis successfully underwent TAVI with the CoreValve prosthesis (Medtronic CV, Minneapolis, Minnesota).

Heart failure in severe aortic valve stenosis: prognostic impact of left ventricular ejection fraction and mean gradient on outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Aims: This prospective study aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and aortic mean gradient patterns on outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods And Results: From 2008 to 2011, 202 consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis (aortic valve area <1.0 cm(2)) were submitted to TAVI.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis-predictors of mortality and poor treatment response.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as an alternative technique in patients with severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis. However, a number of patients have no benefit after implantation. This prospective study attempted to identify predictors of poor treatment response.