Next-generation Mobile Cardiac Telemetry: Clinical Value of Combining Electrocardiographic and Physiologic Parameters.

The ZOLL Arrhythmia Monitoring System, a mobile cardiac telemetry (MCT) device from ZOLL Corporation (Chelmsford, MA, USA), records single-channel electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, heart rate, activity, respiratory rate, and posture. Comprehensive reporting from these multiple biometrics may provide a global evaluation of arrhythmic or other cardiovascular risks in individual patients and insights into the patient's overall wellness and health status. The objective of the study was to evaluate the physician-perceived utility of adding biometric data to the traditional ECG-only-based assessment and subject-reported symptoms.

CRT Efficacy in "Mid-Range" QRS Duration Among Asians Contrasted to Non-Asians, and Influence of Height.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to test the hypotheses that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) efficacy differed among Asians compared with non-Asian populations, differed between QRS duration (QRSd) ranges 120-149 and ≥150 ms, and was influenced by height in the multinational ADVANCE CRT trial.

Background: CRT guidelines, derived from trials among U.S.

The cost of non-response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: characterizing heart failure events following cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aims: The aim of this study is to quantify healthcare resource utilization among non-responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT-NR) by heart failure (HF) events and influence of comorbidities.

Methods And Results: The ADVANCE CRT registry (2013-2015) prospectively identified responders/CRT-NRs 6 months post-implant using the clinical composite score. Heart failure event rates and associated cost, both overall and separated for inpatient hospitalizations, office visits, emergency room visits, and observational stays, were quantified.

Use of Biologic Extracellular Matrix in Two Ways to Reduce Cardiac Electronic Device Infection.

Cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections are a serious complication of both initial device implants and generator change procedures, and they are associated with a wide range of presentations. Reported rates of CIED infections vary widely from 0.1% to 19.

A manifesto of collaborative longitudinal cardiovascular care in heart failure.

In this document, we outline the challenges faced by patients and clinicians in heart failure, specifically centered around the needed coordination of care among the various subspecialties within cardiovascular medicine. We call for a more organized and collaborative effort among clinicians in primary care, general cardiology, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac imaging, and heart failure-all caring for mutual patients. Care is contextualized within the framework of two phases: a cardiomyopathy phase and an advanced heart failure phase, each of which lends to different considerations in therapy.

Evaluation, Management, and Outcomes of Patients Poorly Responsive to Cardiac Resynchronization Device Therapy.

Background: "Nonresponse" to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is recognized, but definition(s) applied in practice, treatment(s), and their consequences are little known.

Objectives: The authors sought to assess nonresponse in the prospective, international, ADVANCE CRT registry (Advance Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Registry).

Methods: Each subject's response was assessed at 6 months post-implantation using site-specific definitions and compared with the independently derived clinical composite score (CCS).

Adhesive epicardial corticosteroids prevent postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Background: Postoperative atrial fibrillation remains a common cause of morbidity. Although epicardial drug delivery can increase efficacy and reduce side effects, it is impractical for postoperative atrial fibrillation because pericardial bleeding/effusion and drainage cause rapid drug elimination. Fibrin glue sprayed on the epicardium is vigorously adherent, allowing an admixed drug to remain in contact with the heart.

Percutaneous closure of a left atrial appendage pseudoaneurysm.

Atrial dissections and pseudoaneurysms are rare complications of cardiac surgery. The authors describe the case of a patient after mitral valve replacement who presented with a left atrial appendage pseudoaneurysm. This case represents the first known closure of an atrial pseudoaneurysm with a percutaneous septal occluder device.

Stretch-activated receptors mediate cardiac memory.

Background: Cardiac memory refers to long-lasting T-wave changes that follow an episode of altered ventricular activation sequence. Memory-induced alterations in repolarizing ion channel activity have been characterized. However, the mechanism by which changes in activation sequence produce these effects is unknown.

Ascending aortic hemodynamics and one-year clinical events following percutaneous coronary intervention.

Increased pulse pressure has been shown to predict mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in large cohorts of ambulatory patients. There have been reports suggesting worsened outcome following percutaneous coronary balloon angioplasty in patients with increased pulse pressure. We reviewed 434 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary stenting to assess for clinical outcomes as a function of pulse pressure (PP) and pulse pressure fraction (PPf).