Importance of the Interventricular Septum as Part of the Ventricular Tachycardia Substrate in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: This study sought to characterize septal substrate in patients with nonischemic left ventricular cardiomyopathy (NILVCM) undergoing ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation.

Background: The interventricular septum is an important site of VT substrate in NILVCM.

Methods: The authors studied 95 patients with NILVCM and VT.

Wearable Cardioverter-defibrillators for the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: A Meta-analysis.

Wearable cardioverter-defibrillators (WCDs) protect patients from sudden cardiac death (SCD) by detecting and treating life-threatening ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF). Recently, two large studies evaluating WCDs were published. However, the results of older and newer studies have yet to be systematically summarized.

Outcomes after asystole events occurring during wearable defibrillator-cardioverter use.

Aim: To examine whether wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) alarms for asystole improve patient outcomes and survival.

Methods: All asystole episodes recorded by the WCD in 2013 were retrospectively analyzed from a database of device and medical record documentation and customer call reports. Events were classified as asystole episodes if initial presenting arrhythmia was asystole (< 10 beats/minor ≥ 5 s pause).

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and electroanatomic voltage discordance in non-ischemic left ventricle ventricular tachycardia and premature ventricular depolarizations.

Purpose: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with late gadolinium enhancement is commonly performed in patients with non-ischemic LV ventricular tachycardia/ventricular premature depolarizations (non-ischemic LV-VT/VPDs) to define VT substrate prior to catheter ablation. We investigated the prevalence of abnormal voltage and VT localized to areas of the myocardium not reported to have late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on routine pre-procedural MRI and sought to determine if quantitative MRI analysis could reduce this discordance.

Methods: Patients with non-ischemic LV-VT/VPD who underwent LV endocardial mapping with VT/VPD ablation and either septal or free wall MRI-voltage discordance were studied.

Single-center outcomes of combined heart and liver transplantation in the failing Fontan.

Long-term outcomes of the Fontan operation include Fontan failure and liver disease. Combined heart-liver transplantation (CHLT) is an option for select patients although limited data exist on this strategy. A retrospective review of Fontan patients 18 years or older referred for cardiac transplant evaluation between 2000 and 2013 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania was performed.

Outcomes in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease Receiving the Subcutaneous Implantable-Cardioverter Defibrillator: Results From a Pooled Analysis From the IDE Study and the EFFORTLESS S-ICD Registry.

Objectives: This study was conceived to determine the safety and efficacy of the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Background: The S-ICD is a treatment option for patients with CHD in which a transvenous device is contraindicated due to anatomic considerations. However, efficacy in this group has not been determined.