Temperature to time Catch-Up: a novel procedural endpoint to predict durable pulmonary vein isolation after cryoballoon ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: Cryoballoon ablation is a widely used single-shot technique for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). Procedural endpoints ensuring maximal PVI durability are important.

Objective: To assess the performance of cryoablation procedural markers to predict long-term PVI.

Predictors of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Embolic Stroke of Unknown Etiology and Implantable Loop Recorders-Further Insights of the TRACK AF Study on the Role of ECG and Echocardiography.

-Electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiographic left atrial (LA) parameters may be helpful to assess the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) in embolic stroke of unknown etiology (ESUS) and could therefore guide intensity of ECG monitoring. -1153 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) were analyzed. An internal loop recorder (ILR) was implanted in 104 consecutive patients with ESUS.

Very Long-Term Follow-Up in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Wider Paced QRS Equals Worse Prognosis.

Background: Different electrocardiogram (ECG) findings are known to be independent predictors of clinical response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). It remains unknown how these findings influence very long-term prognosis.

Methods And Results: A total of 102 consecutive patients (75 males, mean age 65 ± 10 years) referred to our center for CRT implantation had previously been included in this prospective observational study.

Quantifying Left Atrial Size in the Context of Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Which Echocardiographic Method Correlates to Outcome of Pulmonary Venous Isolation?

Introduction: Multiple studies have shown that left atrial (LA) enlargement is a strong predictor of poor outcome after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). LA size is commonly approximated as the diameter in the parasternal long axis. It remains unknown whether more precise echocardiographic measurements of LA size allow for better correlation with outcome after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Predicting inappropriate S-ICD® episodes by simple 12-lead surface ECG parameters.

Aims: The present study aims at analyzing the role of a preimplantation 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) on the prediction of inappropriate S-ICD® episodes.

Methods: N=116 screened patients (pts) with an S-ICD® and a follow-up of at least 6 months were included. A preimplantation 12-lead ECG (50 mm/s, 10 mm/mV) was analyzed with regard to QRS and T-wave amplitude, T wave concordance or discordance and QRS/T wave ratio in all 12 leads.