Minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation: excellent outcome and life expectancy after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Objective: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) remains the gold standard for complex revascularisation in multivessel disease. The concept of the minimally invasive extracorporeal circulation circuit (MiECC) was introduced to minimise pathophysiological side effects of conventional extracorporeal circulation. This study presents early and long-term outcomes after CABG with use of MiECC in a single-centre consecutive patient cohort.

The impact of functional vs degenerative mitral regurgitation on clinical outcomes among patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Background: Among patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), concomitant mitral regurgitation (MR) has been associated with adverse prognosis. We aimed to assess long-term clinical outcomes according to MR etiology.

Methods: In a single-center registry of consecutive patients undergoing TAVI, we investigated the impact of functional (FMR) vs degenerative (DMR) MR on cardiovascular (CV) mortality throughout 2years of follow-up.

Mid-term mechanical circulatory support: comparison of single-centre data with the EUROMACS registry.

Objectives: Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is an established therapy for end-stage heart failure. The EUROMACS registry was created to promote research in patients with MCS and became a committee of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (EACTS) in 2014. Since 1 January 2011, increasing numbers of European centres implanting durable MCS have reported their patient data to EUROMACS.

The Electrocardiogram After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Determines the Risk for Post-Procedural High-Degree AV Block and the Need for Telemetry Monitoring.

Objectives: The study sought to identify predictors for delayed high-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and determine the need and required duration of telemetry monitoring.

Background: Little is known about predictors and timing of high-degree AVB.

Methods: A total of 1,064 patients (52% women) without a permanent pacemaker undergoing TAVR at 3 centers in Switzerland were investigated.

May sunshine protect women against paroxysms of atrial fibrillation?

Seasonal variation in the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has been documented, yet precise mechanisms and factors underlying the phenomenon remain unclear. We have previously observed the decrease in the number of AF paroxysms between May and August, when sunshine levels were highest. The objective of the present study was, in turn, to determine whether sunshine affects the incidence of AF episodes.

Episodes of atrial fibrillation and meteorological conditions.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia encountered in clinical practice. The natural history of AF tends to begin with short paroxysms which gradually evolve into longer episodes, frequently treatment-resistant, and finally take a permanent form. It is a polyaetiological condition and single paroxysms may be caused by a variety of factors.