Worsening tricuspid regurgitation after ICD implantation is rather due to transvenous lead than natural progression.

Background: Transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (TV-ICDs) are associated with greater tricuspid regurgitation (TR) severity, which leads to increased mortality. The pathophysiology is assumed to be lead-related, hence, treatment includes lead extraction. However, TR may also naturally occur in the high-risk ICD population, or may be caused by right ventricular pacing.

Timing and mid-term outcomes of using leadless pacemakers as replacement for infected cardiac implantable electronic devices.

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections have a high morbidity and mortality and are an indication of device extraction. As a replacement, leadless pacemakers (LPs) may be preferable due to a low infection risk, but mid-term data on reinfections is lacking. Moreover, early LP reimplantation in pacemaker-dependent patients would circumvent the need for temporary pacemakers.

Tissues attached to retrieved leadless pacemakers: Histopathological evaluation of tissue composition in relation to implantation time and complications.

Background: Leadless pacemakers (LPs) have proven safe and effective, but device revisions remain necessary. Either replacing the LP or implanting a new adjacent LP is feasible. Replacement seems more appealing, but encapsulation and tissue adhesions may hamper the safety and efficacy of LP retrieval.

Sex differences in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot support a tailored approach for males and females: a cardiac magnetic resonance study.

Purpose Substantial differences between sexes exist with respect to cardiovascular diseases, including congenital heart disease. Nevertheless, clinical decisions in the long-term follow-up of patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) are currently based on unisex thresholds for cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) measurements. This study aimed to assess whether sex differences exist in cardiac adaptation to hemodynamic loading conditions in patients with rTOF.

Leadless cardiac pacing systems: current status and future prospects.

: Permanent transvenous pacemaker therapy is an essential management option in patients with symptomatic bradyarrhythmias, but harbors a concomitant risk of serious complications. As most complications are lead- or pocket-related, intracardiac leadless pacemaker therapy has the potential to positively impact patient outcome. Since the first leadless pacemaker implant in 2012, many studies have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and applicability of this novel pacing approach.

CMR feature tracking left ventricular strain-rate predicts ventricular tachyarrhythmia, but not deterioration of ventricular function in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Myocardial strain has been shown to predict outcome in various cardiovascular diseases, including congenital heart diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking derived strain parameters in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) patients for developing ventricular tachycardia (VT) and deterioration of ventricular function.

Methods: Patients with rTOF who underwent CMR investigation were included.

A comprehensive scoping review on transvenous temporary pacing therapy.

Transvenous temporary cardiac pacing therapy (TV-TP) is widely used to treat life-threatening arrhythmias. Yet aggregated evidence on TV-TP is limited. We conducted a systematic scoping review to evaluate indications, access routes and complications of TV-TP, as well as permanent pacemaker therapy (PPM) following TV-TP.

Feasibility of An Entirely Extracardiac, Minimally Invasive,Temporary Pacing System.

Background: A completely extracardiac pacing system provides the potential for clinical advantages over existing device alternatives that require intravascular, endocardial, or epicardial contact. Preliminary studies evaluating the feasibility of cardiac pacing with a lead in the anterior mediastinum, outside the pericardium and circulatory system have been completed. These studies examined (1) the anatomic access route, (2) the usability of a delivery tool to facilitate lead placement, and (3) the pacing performance of the extracardiac lead.

Impact of Leadless Pacemaker Therapy on Cardiac and Atrioventricular Valve Function Through 12 Months of Follow-Up.

Background: Endocardial pacemaker leads and right ventricular (RV) pacing are well-known causes of tricuspid valve, mitral valve, and cardiac dysfunction. Lead-related adverse consequences can potentially be mitigated by leadless pacemaker (LP) therapy by eliminating the presence of a transvalvular lead. This study assessed the impact of LP placement on cardiac and valvular structure and function.

Health-related quality of life impact of a transcatheter pacing system.

Background: Transcatheter pacing systems (TPS) provide a novel, minimally invasive approach in which a miniaturized, leadless pacemaker (PM) is transfemorally implanted in the right ventricle. We evaluated the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) impact, patient satisfaction, and activity restrictions following TPS in a large prospective multicenter clinical trial.

Methods And Results: Patients who underwent a Micra TPS implantation between December 2013 and May 2015 were included.

Leadless pacemaker implantation after explantation of infected conventional pacemaker systems: A viable solution?

Background: Conventional cardiac device infections are increasing in incidence, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Leadless pacemaker (LP) therapy may provide new opportunities for the management of pacemaker (PM) infections as it does not require implantation of transvenous leads and a pectoral pocket.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the effect of early and late LP implantation in patients diagnosed with device infection.

The learning curve associated with the implantation of the Nanostim leadless pacemaker.

Purpose: Use of novel medical technologies, such as leadless pacemaker (LP) therapy, may be subjected to a learning curve effect. The objective of the current study was to assess the impact of operators' experience on the occurrence of serious adverse device effects (SADE) and procedural efficiency.

Methods: Patients implanted with a Nanostim LP (Abbott, USA) within two prospective studies (i.

Risk of cardiac tachyarrhythmia in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot: a multicenter cardiac MRI based study.

Cardiac tachyarrhythmias are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). We evaluated risk factors for sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) and atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) in these patients. Patients (n = 319) who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at two tertiary centers between 2007 and 2016 were assessed.

End-of-life Management of Leadless Cardiac Pacemaker Therapy.

The clinically available leadless pacemakers for patients with a single-chamber pacing indication have shown to be safe and effective. However, the optimal end-of-life strategy of this novel technique is undefined. Suggested strategies comprise of (a) placing an additional leadless device adjacent to the leadless pacemaker, or (b) retrieving the non-functioning leadless pacemaker and subsequently implanting a new device.

Diagnostic value of Doppler echocardiography for identifying hemodynamic significant pulmonary valve regurgitation in tetralogy of Fallot: comparison with cardiac MRI.

Quantification of pulmonary regurgitation (PR) is essential in the management of patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). We sought to evaluate the accuracy of first-line Doppler echocardiography in comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify hemodynamic significant PR. Paired cardiac MRI and echocardiographic studies (n = 97) in patients with repaired TOF were retrospectively analyzed.

Linking animal models to human congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a major life-threatening malformation, occurring in approximately 1 in 3,000 live births. Over the years, different animal models have been used to gain insight into the etiology of this complex congenital anomaly and to develop treatment strategies. However, to date the pathogenic mechanism is still not understood, and treatment remains difficult because of the associated pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension.