Implementation of a Patient Decision Aid for Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Improves Patient Procedural Knowledge but Does Not Impact Perceived Involvement With the Shared Decision-Making Process.

Purpose: Shared decision-making (SDM) is a method for a patient and physician to cooperatively consider a diagnostic or therapeutic option, ultimately empowering the patient to make an informed decision. Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is a procedure that would benefit from SDM given the risk of serious adverse events, the high rate of arrhythmia recurrence, and alternative treatment options. Implementing a patient decision aid (PDA) may help facilitate AF ablation SDM by succinctly conveying important information to patients.

Feasibility of ultrasound-guided vascular access during cardiac implantable device placement.

Purpose: Ultrasound (US)-guided access for venous catheter placement has previously been shown to improve success rates and decrease access-related complications. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of US-guided versus traditional vascular access approaches during implantation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).

Methods: We evaluated outcomes for 816 consecutive patients undergoing new CIED implantation between May 2013 and April 2016 at a single institution with respect to use of US guidance for vascular access (137 with US guidance versus 679 with traditional access techniques).

Channelopathies from mutations in the cardiac sodium channel protein complex.

The cardiac sodium current underlies excitability in heart, and inherited abnormalities of the proteins regulating and conducting this current cause inherited arrhythmia syndromes. This review focuses on inherited mutations in non-pore forming proteins of sodium channel complexes that cause cardiac arrhythmia, and the deduced mechanisms by which they affect function and dysfunction of the cardiac sodium current. Defining the structure and function of these complexes and how they are regulated will contribute to understanding the possible roles for this complex in normal and abnormal physiology and homeostasis.