Non-vitamin K oral antagonist (NOAC) compared to vitamin K antagonist (VKA) in left ventricular thrombus.

Background: Thromboembolic events are serious left ventricular thrombus (LVT) complications. Despite the limitations of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) drugs, it continues to be the recommended oral anticoagulation for LVT. Recently, nonvitamin K oral antagonist (NOAC) has gained popularity as an off-labeled treatment for systemic embolism prevention in LVT.

The Average Age of Atrioventricular Block Onset in Middle Eastern Patients with Cardiac Rhythm Devices Adjusted for the Overall Young Population: Insights from a Multicenter International Registry.

Background: Previous registries have shown a younger average age at presentation with cardiovascular diseases in the Middle East (ME), but no study has examined atrioventricular block (AVB). Moreover, these comparisons are confounded by younger populations in the ME. We sought to describe the average age at presentation with AVB in ME and quantify the effect of being from ME, adjusted for the overall younger population.

The Reliability of the Apple Watch's Electrocardiogram.

Background An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a standard tool used to detect various cardiovascular abnormalities. Detection sensitivity for atrial fibrillation (AF) was recently shown to be greatly increased by using short, intermittent ECG recordings.Modern mobile ECG recording devices that can monitor patients' heart activities around the clock have made this a reality.

Burden of bradycardia and barriers to accessing bradycardia therapy in underserved countries.

Bradycardia, a condition characterized by an abnormally slow heart rate, poses significant challenges in terms of diagnosis and treatment. While it is a concern world-wide, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) face substantial barriers in accessing appropriate bradycardia therapy. This article aims to explore the global aetiology and incidence of bradycardia, compare the prevalence and management of the condition in high-income countries versus LMICs, identify the key reasons behind the disparities in access to bradycardia therapy in LMICs, and emphasize the urgent need to address these disparities to ensure equitable healthcare on a global scale.

Brucella cardiac implantable electronic device infection: A single-center case series.

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), including implantable cardiac defibrillators, pacemakers, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, are lifesaving. However, device infections can lead to morbidity and mortality. of this study was to describe the outcome of CIED infections treated at our center, and to identify risk factors for infection in patients with CIEDs.

Long-term reverse remodeling and clinical improvement by MultiPoint Pacing in a randomized, international, Middle Eastern heart failure study.

Purpose: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with multipoint left ventricular (LV) pacing (MultiPoint™ Pacing, MPP) has been shown to improve CRT response, although MPP response using automated pacing vector programming has not been demonstrated in the Middle East. The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of MPP to conventional biventricular pacing (BiV) using echocardiographic and clinical changes at 6-month post-implant.

Methods: This prospective, randomized study was conducted at 13 Middle Eastern centers.

Use of NOACS in high-risk patients with atrial fibrillation in Saudi Arabia: Perspectives on improving patient care.

Background: Despite the widespread and increasing use of NOACs in Saudi Arabia, there is a lack of contemporary guidance specific to the region. In particular, guidance on NOAC use in high-risk patients who are more likely to experience bleeding with oral anticoagulant therapy is needed. There is an unmet need for a review of contemporary evidence coupled with expert insights on safe and effective NOAC use in high-risk patients with AF in Saudi Arabia.

Rescue axillary artery covered stent during transvenous cardiac device implantation.

Injury to axillary and subclavian arteries during cardiac rhythm device implantation might lead to significant mortality and morbidity especially in those with a low body mass index (BMI). We report the case of 65-year-old underweight male patient with BMI of 15.1 (height 166 cm, weight 41.

Effects of Ramadan fasting on the symptoms of chronic heart failure.

[No Abstract Available].

Real-world geographic variations in the use of cardiac implantable electronic devices-The PANORAMA 2 observational cohort study.

Background: Currently, several geographies around the world remain underrepresented in medical device trials. The PANORAMA 2 study was designed to assess contemporary region-specific differences in clinical practice patterns of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).

Methods: In this prospective, multicenter, observational, multinational study, baseline and implant data of 4,706 patients receiving Medtronic CIEDs (Medtronic plc, Minneapolis, MN, USA; either de novo device implants, replacements, or upgrades) were analyzed, consisting of: 54% implantable pulse generators (IPGs), 20.

Image Quality of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients With an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator System Designed for the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Environment.

Background: Recently, magnetic resonance (MR)-conditional implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) systems have become available. However, associated cardiac MR image (MRI) quality is unknown. The goal was to evaluate the image quality performance of various cardiac MR sequences in a multicenter trial of patients implanted with an MR-conditional ICD system.

The Gulf Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator Registry: Rationale, Methodology, and Implementation.

Background: The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is effective in the prevention of sudden cardiac death in high-risk patients. Little is known about ICD use in the Arabian Gulf. We designed a study to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients receiving ICDs in the Arab Gulf region.

A delayed spontaneous expulsion of a three teeth bridge after 6 months period of aspiration in the right lung following cardiac surgery.

Aspiration of loose teeth is a well-known complication of endo-tracheal intubation hence the importance of oral check by anesthetist prior to ventilation. Artificaial teeth crown (single) or bridges (multiple) can be fixed or removable by the patient. The presence of a foreign body in the lung tissue or airways is a clinical situation that needs aggressive management as it can lead to refractory infections and possible death.

An Initiative Technique to Facilitate Axillary Vein Puncture During CRT Implantation.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to describe a new technique to minimize requirement of contrast and the time to puncture the axillary vein during implantation of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices.

Background: One of the challenges to the wide applications of CRT has been the technical difficulty encountered while obtaining venous access utilizing axillary venous puncture. This is mainly due to vague anatomical land marks.

Full-Body MRI in Patients With an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: Primary Results of a Randomized Study.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with conventional implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) is contraindicated.

Objectives: This multicenter, randomized trial evaluated safety and efficacy of a novel ICD system specially designed for full-body MRI without restrictions on heart rate or pacing dependency. The primary safety objective was >90% freedom from MRI-related events composite endpoint within 30 days post-MRI.

MRI scanning in patients with new and existing CapSureFix Novus 5076 pacemaker leads: randomized trial results.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be safely performed in patients with magnetic resonance (MR)-conditional pacemaker systems but remains relatively contraindicated with non-MR-conditional pacemaker systems.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of MRI without positioning restrictions in patients with an MR-conditional pacemaker and currently a non-MR-conditional Medtronic CapSureFix Novus 5076 lead(s).

Methods: The study randomized 266 patients in a 2:1 ratio to the MRI group (177 patients) or to the control group (89 patients).

The practical approach to discerning between atrial lead displacement and reversal in dual chamber pacemakers.

We describe a 12-lead electrocardiogram image of a pacemaker malfunction due to atrial lead displacement. Facilitating the understanding of pacemaker timing cycles could explain the underlying mechanisms in this instance. This review utilizes the feature of the ventricular safety pacing interval to discern between atrial lead displacement and reversal.

Simultaneous antegrade dual AV node conduction initiates AV nodal re-entrant tachycardia (a rare initiation mechanism).

Typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is the most common paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia among adults. The concept of dual pathway physiology remains widely accepted, although this physiology likely results from the functional properties of anisotropic tissue within the triangle of Koch, rather than anatomically distinct tracts of conduction. AVNRT is typically induced with anterograde block over the fast pathway and conduction over the slow pathway, with subsequent retrograde conduction over the fast pathway.

Safe and effective use of conscious sedation for defibrillation threshold testing during ICD implantation.

Background: Over a period of years general anesthesia has been a standard anesthetic technique for defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing at the time of implant. DFT testing without general anesthesia cover has gained limited acceptance. Use of local anesthesia combined with deep sedation for DFT testing might facilitate and simplify these procedures by reducing the procedural time, staff time, avoiding inefficient service in organizing anesthetic cover; thereby improving patient compliance.