Role of Strauss ECG criteria as predictor of response in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a standard treatment in patients with heart failure; however, approximately 20-40% of recipients of (CRT) do not respond to it based on the current patients' selection criteria. The purpose of this study was to identify the baseline parameters that predict the CRT response and how the ECG morphology can affect the outcome. The study aimed to evaluate the Strauss ECG criteria as a predictor of response in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Predictors of right ventricular pacing-induced left ventricular dysfunction in pacemaker recipients with preserved ejection fraction.

Background: Pacing is an effective treatment in the management of patients with bradyarrhythmias. Chronic right ventricular pacing may cause electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony leading to a deterioration of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This deterioration of LVEF has been described as pacing-induced cardiomyopathy (PICM).

Relationship between vitamin D deficiency and success of cardioversion in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). Vitamin D deficiency has been found to increase vulnerability to AF. The authors aimed to determine the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and cardioversion success in AF patients.

The QRS-right ventricular apex interval as a cut-off value to differentiate the origin of outflow tract premature ventricular complexes.

Background: Many electrocardiography (ECG) criteria have been proposed for the localization of outflow tract premature ventricular contractions (PVCs); however, in some cases, it is difficult to accurately localize the origin of PVCs using the surface ECG. The authors aimed to study the QRS-right ventricular apex (RVA) interval measured during electrophysiological study and its role in the differentiation between different sites of origin of outflow tract PVCs.

Methods: The study included 90 patients (81 females, mean age 37.

Preventive infection control in cardiac device implantation.

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic devices have been increasingly used in recent years; as a result, there has been a rise in device-related complications. Pacemaker-associated infection is challenging to manage, including system removal, antimicrobial therapy and reimplantation at another site. The aim of this study was to evaluate adherence to the steps in an infection control protocol in cardiac device implantation.