Echocardiographic Evaluation of His Bundle Pacing in Patients with Prolonged PR Intervals.

Background: Patients with PR intervals >240ms have atrio-ventricular (AV) dyssynchrony, which can increase risk of atrial fibrillation and all-cause mortality. When requiring pacing, long AV delays (AVDs) have been programmed to avoid ventricular dyssychrony. His bundle pacing (HBP) may provide improved AV synchrony in patients with prolonged PR.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators with end stage renal disease: Nationwide inpatient sample database results.

Background: When compared to patients with normal renal function, patients with chronic kidney disease develop higher in-hospital complications post implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy. However, real world data on in-hospital complications post ICD therapy in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) is limited. In this study, we aim to explore the procedure-related complications of ICD therapy in patients with ESRD.

Watchman outcomes comparing post-implantation anticoagulation with warfarin versus direct oral anticoagulants.

Purpose: As left atrial appendage occlusion devices (LAAO) implantation rates grow, continued evaluation on best patient practices is important. We report pooled Watchman outcomes at a multicenter Texas healthcare system with an emphasis on clinical outcomes and post-implantation anticoagulation with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) versus warfarin.

Methods: Data for 163 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing Watchman implantation was collected via retrospective chart review between June 2016 and June 2018.

Inpatient Mortality and 30-Day Readmission Rates Associated with Troponin Testing in Patients without Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Objective: Troponin values above the threshold established to diagnose acute myocardial infarction (AMI; >99th percentile) are commonly detected in patients with diagnoses other than AMI. The objective of this study was to compare inpatient mortality and 30-day readmission rate in patients with troponin I (TnI) above and below the 99th percentile in those with type 1 AMI and type 2 myocardial injury.

Methods: Between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016, there were 56,895 inpatient hospitalizations; of these 14,326 (25.