A reliable fossa ovalis impedance mapping for safer transseptal puncture: A new vision beyond voltage.

Introduction: Transseptal puncture (TSP) is widely used in clinical practice but is negatively affected by a nonneglectable rate of complications and X-ray exposure. To address these problems, we investigated whether or not impedance mapping could correctly identify fossa ovalis (FO) and safely guide TSP.

Methods And Results: Electroanatomic mapping was performed with CARTO 3 system version 7 and a ThermoCool® SmartTouch® mapping catheter was employed.

Prognostic role of left atrial enlargement in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators for primary prevention.

Purpose: Left atrial volume index (LAVI) is a predictor of heart failure and adverse events, irrespective of left ventricular systolic function. The role of LAVI in the prediction of appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapies is currently unclear and was the focus of this study.

Methods: Consecutive heart failure patients with ischaemic (ICM) or idiopathic (DCM) aetiology receiving ICD for primary prevention were included.

Electrocardiographic and clinical predictors for permanent pacemaker requirement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a 10-year single center experience.

Background: The aim of this study is to identify clinical, electrocardiographic (ECG) and procedural predictors for permanent pacemaker (PPM) requirement after transaortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Methods: All consecutive patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis (SSAS) undergoing TAVI at our single center were included in the study and prospectively followed. All patients had standard 12-leads ECGs recordings before and after TAVI and continuous ECG monitoring during hospital stay.

Antithrombotic strategies in patients needing oral anticoagulation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A network meta-analysis.

Background: The optimal antithrombotic regimen in patients with a concomitant indication for oral anticoagulation (OAT) presenting with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear.

Objectives: To perform a network meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating different antithrombotic regimens among patients with ACS or undergoing PCI requiring OAT.

Methods: Network meta-analysis was performed in a frequentist framework.

Long-term percentage of ventricular pacing in patients requiring pacemaker implantation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A multicenter 10-year experience.

Background: Recent studies suggest that atrioventricular (AV) conduction may recover after pacemaker (PM) implantation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), but little is known about long-term follow-up of such patients.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term percentage of right ventricular pacing in patients who underwent TAVR and required PM implantation stratified based on the indication for permanent pacing.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients who underwent TAVR from February 2008 to August 2019 at 3 centers was performed.

Female sex impact on culprit plaque at optical coherence tomography analysis in the setting of acute coronary syndrome in OCT-FORMIDABLE registry.

To evaluate sex difference in culprit plaque features at optical coherence tomography (OCT) and major adverse cardiovascular events at follow-up. We analyse data from the OCT-FORMIDABLE (OCT-Features Of moRphology, coMposItion anD instABility of culprit and pLaquE in acute coronary syndrome [ACS] patients) registry. A total of 285 patients (20%, 58 females) were included.

Prevalence and prognosis of lead masses in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices without infection.

Background: Finding of intracardiac lead masses in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices remains controversial, as such masses have been observed in cases of exclusively local infections whereas they have not been recognized in patients with positive cultures of intravascular lead fragments. In this study, we aim to describe the prevalence of intracardiac lead masses in true asymptomatic patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices, to identify their predictive factors and to define their prognostic impact at long-term follow-up.

Methods: Seventy-eight consecutive patients admitted over a 6-month period for elective generator replacement without clinical evidence of infection were evaluated by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and prospectively followed at in-clinic follow-up visits.

Beta-blocker therapy reduces mortality in patients with coronary artery disease treated with percutaneous revascularization: a meta-analysis of adjusted results.

Aims: The long-term impact of beta blockers on prognosis in patients treated with contemporary therapies for coronary artery disease remains to be defined.

Methods And Results: All observational studies evaluating the impact of beta blockers in patients treated with coronary revascularization and contemporary therapies and adjusted with multivariate analysis were included. All-cause death was the primary endpoint, while Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACE) (composite endpoint of all-cause death or myocardial infarction, MI) and MI were secondary endpoints.

Intracoronary versus intravenous adenosine to assess fractional flow reserve: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aims: Intravenous infusion of adenosine is the reference method to measure fractional flow reserve (FFR). Intracoronary boluses are often used because of time and convenience, but their effectiveness has yet to be assessed.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies directly comparing intravenous and intracoronary adenosine administration for FFR measurement.