Can ICD Electrograms Help Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation?: Results From the Multicenter Randomized AIDEG-VTA Trial.

Background: The results of ablation of sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (SMVT) are suboptimal. For many patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), ICD electrograms (ICD-EGs) provide the only available information on SMVT. ICD-EGs have the ability to distinguish morphologically distinct SMVT and can be used for pace mapping.

Magnetic resonance imaging in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices: A prospective study.

Background: The number of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is indicated is constantly increasing. The potential risk of electromagnetic interference has limited its use and it is still contraindicated by the Food and Drug Administration in some cases. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of MRI in these patients.

Atrial fibrillation predictors in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source.

Background And Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) detection in patients with embolic stroke of underdetermined source (ESUS) entails a change of medical treatment and a significant decrease in the incidence of new strokes. It is necessary to determine which patients would benefit more from prolonged electrocardiographic monitoring. Our aim was to find electrocardiographic and echocardiographic AF predictors in patients with ESUS.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy Due to BLC2-Associated Athanogene 3 (BAG3) Mutations.

Background: The BAG3 (BLC2-associated athanogene 3) gene codes for an antiapoptotic protein located on the sarcomere Z-disc. Mutations in BAG3 are associated with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but only a small number of cases have been reported to date, and the natural history of BAG3 cardiomyopathy is poorly understood.

Objectives: This study sought to describe the phenotype and prognosis of BAG3 mutations in a large multicenter DCM cohort.

Usefulness of echo-guided cardiac resynchronization pacing in patients undergoing "ablate and pace" therapy for permanent atrial fibrillation and effects of heart rate regularization and left ventricular resynchronization.

An acute comparative study of right ventricular (RV) pacing and echocardiographically guided cardiac resynchronization pacing (CRP) was performed in patients who underwent "ablate and pace" therapy for permanent atrial fibrillation. It was hypothesized that optimized CRP guided by tissue Doppler echocardiography would exert an additive beneficial hemodynamic effect to that of rate regularization achieved through atrioventricular junction ablation. An acute intrapatient comparison of echocardiographic parameters was performed between baseline preablation values and RV pacing and CRP (performed <24 hours after ablation) in 50 patients.

[Progress in cardiac pacing].

This review summarizes recent scientific developments in ambulatory monitoring and its legal implications in appropriately selected patients. It also considers how new cardiac pacing devices can be used in the clinical monitoring of atrial fibrillation, sleep apnea and, in transplant patients, heart failure and transplant rejection. In addition, the system of accreditation for cardiac pacing services in Spain is outlined, with a focus on process development and quality indicators.