Posterior left atrial wall isolation for treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation during first-time catheter ablation: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Although catheter ablation (CA) by mean of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is nowadays the mainstay treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), its success-rate in persistent AF remains suboptimal. Results from studies evaluating whether adding posterior wall isolation (PWI) to PVI can increase the success-rate of CA in persistent AF have yielded conflicting data. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess whether PWI plus PVI might be beneficial in patients with persistent AF.

Amplitude spectral area of ventricular fibrillation can discriminate survival of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: Evidence of the association between AMplitude Spectral Area (AMSA) of ventricular fibrillation and outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is limited to short-term follow-up. In this study, we assess whether AMSA can stratify the risk of death or poor neurological outcome at 30 days and 1 year after OHCA in patients with an initial shockable rhythm or with an initial non-shockable rhythm converted to a shockable one.

Methods: This is a multicentre retrospective study of prospectively collected data in two European Utstein-based OHCA registries.

Amplitude spectral area of ventricular fibrillation and defibrillation success at low energy in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

The optimal energy for defibrillation has not yet been identified and very often the maximum energy is delivered. We sought to assess whether amplitude spectral area (AMSA) of ventricular fibrillation (VF) could predict low energy level defibrillation success in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients. This is a multicentre international study based on retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.

Use of Mechanical Chest Compression for Resuscitation in Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest-Device Matters: A Propensity-Score-Based Match Analysis.

Background: Devices for mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are recommended when high quality CPR cannot be provided. Different devices are available, but the literature is poor in direct comparison studies. Our aim was to assess whether the type of mechanical chest compressor could affect the probability of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and 30-day survival in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) patients as compared to manual standard CPR.

A comprehensive meta-analysis comparing radiofrequency ablation versus pharmacological therapy for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are both associated with worse prognosis and often coexist in the same patients. Whether catheter ablation (CA) is superior to pharmacological therapy in reducing major clinical endpoints in patients with AF and HF is still unsettled.

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive meta-analysis comparing CA with medical therapy (MT) in this population.

Updates on Post-Resuscitation Care. After the Return of Spontaneous Circulation beyond the 2021 Guidelines.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. The goal of resuscitation is often meant as the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). However, ROSC is only one of the steps towards survival.

Complete Revascularization and One-Year Survival with Good Neurological Outcome in Patients Resuscitated from an Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Background. The survival benefit of complete versus infarct-related artery (IRA)-only revascularization during the index hospitalization in patients resuscitated from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with multivessel disease is unknown. Methods.