Evaluation of Changes in Ventricular Repolarization Parameters in Morbidly Obese Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery.

Background: Weight loss after bariatric surgery has been associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality and overall mortality in obese patients. In this study, we aimed to analyze the changes between pre-operation and post-operation ventricular arrhythmia predictors in patients who underwent bariatric surgery.

Materials And Methods: The study included 58 patients who underwent bariatric surgery.

Value of Renal Vascular Doppler Sonography in Cardiorenal Syndrome Type 1.

Objectives: Worsening of renal function in a patient with acute decompensated heart failure is called cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) type 1. Recent studies have shown an association of persistent systemic venous congestion with renal dysfunction. This trial was set up to investigate the changes of renal Doppler parameters with diuretic therapy in patients with CRS type 1.

A novel predictor of radial spasm: arterial stiffness.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between radial artery spasm (RAS) and arterial stiffness (AS) measured by the oscillometric method.

Materials And Methods: A total of 123 consecutive patients scheduled for elective coronary angiography in a single default radial center were enrolled for the study. AS [namely, augmentation pressure; augmentation index (AIx); and pulse wave velocity] was assessed using a validated oscillometric device (Mobil-O-Graph NG 24 h PWA).

Effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy on mitral valve geometry: a novel aspect as "reversed mitral remodeling".

Amelioration of the valvular geometry is a possible mechanism for mitral regurgitation (MR) improvement in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We aimed to establish the precise definition, incidence, and predictors of reversed mitral remodeling (RMR), as well as the association with MR improvement and short-term CRT outcome. Ninety-five CRT recipients were retrospectively evaluated for the end-point of "MR response" defined as the absolute reduction in regurgitant volume (RegV) at 6 months.

Assessment of repolarization abnormalities in baseline electrocardiograms of patients with myocarditis.

Background/aim: Myocarditis in the acute phase usually presents with sinus tachycardia but many other arrhythmias might be seen as well. In this study we aimed to investigate repolarization abnormalities in baseline ECG of patients with myocarditis for the first time.Materials and methods: Thirty patients diagnosed with myocarditis and 25 healthy age-matched controls were included.

Pocket haematoma after cardiac electronic device implantation in patients receiving antiplatelet and anticoagulant treatment: a single-centre experience.

Objective In modern cardiology practice, implantation of cardiac electronic devices in patients taking anticoagulant or antiplatelet therapy is a common clinical scenario. Bleeding complications are of particular concern in this patient population and pocket haematoma is one of the most frequent complications. We sought to determine the relationship between periprocedural antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy and pocket haematoma formation in patients undergoing cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation.

Changes in Electrocardiographic P Wave Parameters after Cryoballoon Ablation and Their Association with Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence.

Background: Changes in P wave parameters after circumferential pulmonary vein isolation (CPVI) have been previously identified. In this study, we aimed to determine the changes in P wave parameters surface electrocardiogram (ECG) after cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) and evaluate their relationship with AF recurrence.

Methods: Sixty-one patients (mean age 53 ± 11 years, 50.

Evans syndrome with non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction complicated by hemopericardium.

Evans syndrome (ES) is a rare hematological disease characterized by autoimmune hemolytic anemia, immune thrombocytopenia, and/or neutropenia, all of which may be seen simultaneously or subsequently. Thrombotic events in ES are uncommon. Furthermore, non-ST segment-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) during ES is a very rare condition.

Association of Neutrophil/Lymphocyte Ratio with Plaque Morphology in Patients with Asymptomatic Intermediate Carotid Artery Stenosis.

Background And Objectives: Non-calcified carotid plaques are more unstable than calcified plaques, and they are associated with a higher risk of rupture, thromboembolism, and consequently, stroke. The purpose of the present study is to compare calcified and non-calcified plaques that cause intermediate carotid artery stenosis with respect to neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR).

Subjects And Methods: A total number of 139 asymptomatic patients with 50-70% stenosis of the carotid artery were included in this study.

Sinus surgery complicated by ventricular fibrillation in a young patient: Inverted (reverse) Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC), also known as left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome or stress cardiomyopathy, is characterized by transient left ventricular systolic dysfunction and the absence of obstructive lesion in the epicardial coronary arteries. The most common presentation is acute substernal chest pain, although occasionally dyspnea and syncope, and rarely shock with ST-segment elevation and elevated cardiac biomarkers have been observed. Inverted (reverse) TTC is a rare pattern characterized hypokinesis of the basal and midventricular segments.

Predicting Ventricular Arrhythmias in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: The Impact of Persistent Electrical Dyssynchrony.

Background: Although response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been conventionally assessed with left ventricular volume reduction, ventricular arrhythmias (ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation [VT/VF]) are of critical importance associated with unfavorable outcomes even in the "superresponders" to therapy. We evaluated the predictors of VT/VF and the association of residual dyssynchrony during follow-up.

Methods: Ninety-five patients receiving CRT were followed-up for 9 ± 3 months.

Myocardial injury biomarkers after radiofrequency catheter and cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation and their impact on recurrence.

Background: Myocardial injury induced by catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) leads to elevated biomarker levels.

Aim: This prospective study examined levels of myocardial injury biomarkers (creatinine kinase [CK], myocardial bound for CK [CK-MB], and troponin I [TnI]) and their impact on AF recurrence following two different ablation strategies, namely: cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). We also aimed to evaluate the relationship between AF recurrence after CA and other clinical, echocardiographic and procedural parameters.

Native Electrocardiographic QRS Duration after Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: The Impact on Clinical Outcomes and Prognosis.

Background: We investigated whether reversed electrical remodeling (RER), defined as narrowing of the native electrocardiographic QRS duration after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), might predict prognosis and improvement in echocardiographic outcomes.

Methods And Results: A total of 110 CRT recipients were retrospectively analyzed for the end points of death and hospitalization during 18 ± 3 months. Native QRS durations were recorded at baseline and 6 months after CRT (when pacing was switched off to obtain an electrocardiogram) to determine RER.

Hemopericardium and Cardiac Tamponade in a Patient Treated with Dabigatran Etexilate.

Dabigatran etexilate is one of the new oral anticoagulants approved to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). A variety of bleeding complications with dabigatran have been reported, but reports of hemopericardium are rare. We described a case of a 66 year-old female patient with non-valvular AF receiving dabigatran etexilate 150 mg twice daily for one year who suffered from hemopericardium.

Impact of Intracoronary Adenosine on Myonecrosis in Patients with Unstable Angina Pectoris Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: In this study, we aimed to investigate the impact of prophylactic intracoronary adenosine administered during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) due to unstable angina pectoris on myonecrosis by measuring post-procedural levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase-myocardial band (CK-MB).

Methods: A total of 122 patients with unstable angina undergoing PCI were included in this single-center, double-blind, randomized study. The patients were randomly allocated to adenosine and placebo groups.

Predictors of Symptom Development in Intermediate Carotid Artery Stenosis: Mean Platelet Volume and Platelet Distribution Width.

Platelets play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherothrombosis. Platelet activation is associated with increased mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW). In this study, we investigated the relation of MPV and PDW with the risk of stroke in patients with intermediate (50%-70%) carotid artery stenosis.

Impact of aortic stiffness on the frequency of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation recurrences.

Background: The relationship between arterial stiffness (AS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) incidence is well-known. In this study we aimed to investigate the relationship between AS parameters and AF occurence as well as AF recurrence post catheter ablation (CA) in patients with paroxysmal AF (PAF).

Methods: We enrolled 103 patients with PAF diagnosis and 103 control subjects with similar demographic characteristics.

Non-surgical treatment of a right ventricle puncture during diagnostic pericardiocentesis.

Pericardiocentesis is a life-saving procedure performed in cardiac tamponade cases occurring in infective, inflammatory or malignancy conditions, or following percutaneous coronary intervention, cardiac device implantation or catheter ablation. In spite of advanced imaging methods, a substantial risk of complication persists. Emergent surgical intervention may be required, in particular during advancement of the catheter into the heart chambers or in cases of wall rupture.

Effect of Pulmonary Vein Anatomy and Pulmonary Vein Diameters on Outcome of Cryoballoon Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: In this study, we aimed to determine pulmonary vein (PV) variation patterns in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) and their impacts on procedural success and recurrence and also to identify predictors for recurrence.

Methods: We enrolled 54 patients with AF and having symptoms despite medical therapy. Prior to the procedure, PV variation and left atrium (LA) size were evaluated in all patients by computed tomography scan.

Comparison of fluoro and cine coronary angiography: balancing acceptable outcomes with a reduction in radiation dose.

Unlabelled: Use of last fluoro hold (LFH) mode in fluoroscopy, which enables the last live image to be saved and displayed, could reduce radiation during percutaneous coronary intervention when compared with cine mode. No previous study compared coronary angiography radiation doses and image quality between LFH and conventional cine mode techniques.

Methods: We compared cumulative dose-area product (DAP), cumulative air kerma, fluoroscopy time, contrast use, interobserver variability of visual assessment between LFH angiography, and conventional cine angiography techniques.

Evaluation of adult versus pediatric transesophageal echocardiography probe efficiency for guiding septal puncture during atrial fibrillation ablation.

Purpose: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has a pivotal role in invasive cardiology practice in terms of guiding a variety of procedures. It is challenging to perform TEE examination with sedated patients due to difficulties in cooperation and positioning the patient properly, therefore the risk of complications is escalated. We aimed to assess the impact of pediatric TEE probe utilization on procedural success and complication rates; in comparison with conventional adult TEE probe.