Occurrence of premature battery depletion in a large multicentre registry of subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator patients.

Aims: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICDs) have become established in preventing sudden cardiac death, with some advantages over transvenous defibrillator systems, including a lower incidence of lead failures. Despite technological advancements, S-ICD carriers may suffer from significant complications, such as premature battery depletion (PBD), that led to an advisory for nearly 40 000 patients. This multicentre study evaluated the incidence of PBD in a large set of S-ICD patients.

Incidence, implications, and management of sense-B-noise failure in subcutaneous cardioverter-defibrillator patients: insights from a large multicentre registry.

Aims: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICDs) offer potentially distinct advantages over transvenous defibrillator systems. Recent randomized trials showed significantly lower lead failure rates than transvenous ICD. Still, S-ICDs remain associated with the risk of inappropriate shocks (IAS).

Balloon technologies for pulmonary vein isolation-12-month outcome and comparison of the novel radiofrequency balloon with the cryoballoon in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: The cryoballoon (CB) has become a standard tool for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), but the technology is limited in certain ways. A novel RF-balloon (Heliostar™, Biosense Webster, CA, USA) promises the advantages of a balloon technology in combination with 3D mapping.

Methods: To assess procedural data and outcome, all patients undergoing RF-balloon PVI were included and compared with data from consecutive patients undergoing CB PVI for paroxysmal AF.

The Cetacean Sanctuary: A Sea of Unknowns.

Housing cetaceans in netted sea pens is not new and is common for many accredited managed-care facilities. Hence, the distinction between sanctuary and sea pen is more about the philosophies of those who run these sanctuary facilities, the effects of these philosophies on the animals' welfare, and how proponents of these sanctuaries fund the care of these animals. Here, I consider what plans exist for cetacean sanctuaries and discuss the caveats and challenges associated with this form of activist-managed captivity.