Early Onset Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.

Recent trends indicate a concerning increase in early-onset atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) among younger individuals (age < 55 in men and <65 in women). These findings highlight the pathobiology of ASCVD as a disease process that begins early in life and underscores the need for more tailored screening methods and preventive strategies. Increasing attention has been placed on the growing burden of traditional cardiometabolic risk factors in young individuals while also recognizing unique factors that mediate risk of premature atherosclerosis in this demographic such as substance use, socioeconomic disparities, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and chronic inflammatory states that contribute to the increasing incidence of early ASCVD.

Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided versus Angiography-Guided Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Stent Thrombosis Elevation Myocardial Infarction: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) provides intra-procedural guidance in optimizing percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) and has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in stent implantation. However, current data on the benefit of IVUS during PCI in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients is mixed. We performed meta-analysis pooling available data assessing IVUS-guided versus angiography-guided PCI in STEMI patients.

Long-Term Ambulatory Intravenous Milrinone Therapy in Advanced Heart Failure.

Background: The role of intravenous (IV) inotropes in the treatment of ambulatory patients with advanced heart failure (HF) remains controversial.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with advanced HF. Patients on home IV milrinone, who remained on it for at least 3 months, were included.

Flecainide Toxicity Resulting in Pacemaker Latency and Intermittent Failure to Capture.

BACKGROUND Flecainide is a class Ic antiarrhythmic agent used in the treatment of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. It is associated with a potent adverse effect profile; however, the effects of flecainide toxicity in the setting of a pacemaker have not been well described. We describe a unique case of flecainide toxicity secondary to acute kidney injury in the setting of a dual-chamber pacemaker, resulting in ventricular capture latency and intermittent failure to capture.

Fluctuations in premature ventricular contraction burden can affect medical assessment and management.

Background: Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) can cause disabling symptoms and decrease left ventricular ejection fraction. PVC burden, typically quantified by a 24-hour monitor, is one of the factors that determines the clinical management of PVCs.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the extent of variability in 24-hour PVC burden during 14-day ambulatory cardiac monitoring in patients with significant PVC burden.

Comparison of Complications of Catheter Ablation for Ventricular Arrhythmias in Adults With Versus Without Structural Heart Disease.

Catheter ablation (CA) is an effective treatment for ventricular arrhythmias (VA), with a potential for complications. The presence of structural heart disease (SHD) is associated with a higher complication rate although there is no data comparing CA of VA between patients with SHD and those without. We aimed to compare trends, morbidity, and mortality associated with real world practice of CA for VA (ventricular tachycardia and premature ventricular contraction) based on the presence of SHD.

Sex differences in complications of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation: results on 85,977 patients.

Purpose: Catheter ablation (CA) is an effective treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF). The differences in complication rates and outcomes between women and men remain poorly studied. We aimed to study the sex differences in morbidity and mortality associated with CA in AF.