Evaluating the Efficacy of a Pre-Established Lipid-Lowering Algorithm in Managing Hypercholesterolemia in Patients at Very High Cardiovascular Risk.

Background: Recent data from European studies (EUROASPIRE V, DA VINCI, SANTORINI) indicate that achieving the LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) target in patients at very high cardiovascular risk is uncommon. Additionally, using a combination therapy involving statins and ezetimibe remains infrequent.

Methods: A single-center assessment of a pre-defined lipid lowering treatment algorithm's effectiveness at achieving the LDL-C target in patients at very high cardiovascular risk one month and one year after hospitalization.

Impact of Pre-Transplant Left Ventricular Diastolic Pressure on Primary Graft Dysfunction after Lung Transplantation: A Narrative Review.

Lung transplantation (LT) constitutes the last therapeutic option for selected patients with end-stage respiratory disease. Primary graft dysfunction (PGD) is a form of severe lung injury, occurring in the first 72 h following LT and constitutes the most common cause of early death after LT. The presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) has been reported to favor PGD development, with a negative impact on patients' outcomes while complicating medical management.

Emerging Trends in Left Ventricular Thrombus: A Comprehensive Review of Non-Ischemic and Ischemic Cardiopathies, Including Eosinophilic Myocarditis, Chagas Cardiomyopathy, Amyloidosis, and Innovative Anticoagulant Approaches.

This comprehensive review explores the intricate aspects of left ventricular thrombus (LVT), a potential complication in both ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. It provides a thorough understanding of left ventricular thrombus, revealing its uncommon incidence in the general population (7 cases per 10,000 patients), predominantly linked to ischemic heart diseases (ICMs) at an 80% prevalence rate. Diagnostic tools, notably transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), demonstrate varying sensitivity but remain indispensable in specific clinical contexts related to LVT as non-invasive diagnostic modalities.

Method, safety, and outcomes of persistent AF ablation without a circular mapping catheter: 3 years experience of a Belgian Tertiary Centre.

Background: We aimed to share our methods and experience of persistent AF ablation without a circular mapping catheter (CMC), thereby avoiding femoral venous and transseptal punctures, decreasing the cost of the procedure, and possibly reducing the duration of the procedure and fluoroscopy time.

Methods: We report our experience with 261 persistent AF ablations performed without a CMC over the past 3 years.

Results: The procedures were performed with no apparent loss of efficacy or safety.

Unmasking Pandemic Echoes: An In-Depth Review of Long COVID's Unabated Cardiovascular Consequences beyond 2020.

At the beginning of 2020, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged as a new pandemic, leading to a worldwide health crisis and overwhelming healthcare systems due to high numbers of hospital admissions, insufficient resources, and a lack of standardized therapeutic protocols. Multiple genetic variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been detected since its first public declaration in 2020, some of them being considered variants of concern (VOCs) corresponding to several pandemic waves. Nevertheless, a growing number of COVID-19 patients are continuously discharged from hospitals, remaining symptomatic even months after their first episode of COVID-19 infection.

A circular mapping catheter is not mandatory for isolating pulmonary veins during paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ablation with radiofrequency.

Purpose: In this study, we evaluated the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of radiofrequency ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) with the use of an ablation catheter only (non-CMC group) by retrospectively comparing its procedural success and recurrence rates at 1 year to ablation performed with the help of a circular mapping catheter (CMC group).

Methods: We compared the success and recurrence rates between 226 patients and 251 patients who underwent index ablation with and without the use of CMC, respectively.

Results: Freedom from recurrence was defined as a 1-year absence of AF/atrial tachycardia (AT) episodes > 30 s, beyond the 3-month blanking period.

3D navigation system allows remarkable reduction in fluoroscopy use during cavo-tricuspid isthmus ablation.

Purpose: Typical atrial flutter (AFL) is one of the most common supraventricular arrhythmias. Its treatment mainly relies on cavo-tricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation, which can be performed either using conventional fluoroscopy, still mainly used, or 3D navigation system to track the position of the catheter. The aim of this study is to show that the use of a 3D navigation system allows a dramatic reduction of fluoroscopy use during CTI ablation, without any loss of efficacy, time, or safety.

Atrial fibrillation and cardiac rehabilitation: an overview.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, and its frequency will only continue to increase in the future. Despite available drug and electrophysical treatments, death and functional restrictions due to AF are still common. More comprehensive standards of care are therefore needed.