Ostial atresia of the coronary sinus in patients with supraventricular arrhythmias.

Of 3577 patients with supraventricular arrhythmias, 3 demonstrated an atresia of the coronary sinus (CS) ostium. Two patients had the accessory pathways. One had atrial fibrillation.

Transvenous extraction of advisory implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads with a relatively long implant duration.

Background: Optimal management of advisory implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads has not been established. Several studies were reported concerning the lead extraction of advisory ICD leads, but the implant duration of those studies was short. We estimated the efficacy of lead extractions of advisory ICD leads with a relatively longer duration in Japanese patients.

Mortality and predictors of appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in Japanese patients with Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II criteria.

Background: Data regarding long-term mortality and factors influencing appropriate therapies in Japanese patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), who satisfy the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II (MADIT II) criteria for primary prevention, remain scarce.

Methods: A total of 118 consecutive patients who underwent ICD implantation without any prior ventricular arrhythmic event, from January 2000 to December 2012, were enrolled based on the MADIT II criteria: left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤30% with ischemic heart disease and at least 4 weeks after a myocardial infarction. We investigated the mortality and factors influencing appropriate ICD therapies in this population.

Lead extractions in patients with cardiac implantable electronic device infections: Single center experience.

Background: Lead extraction using laser sheaths is performed mainly for cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infections. However, there are few reports concerning the management of CIED infections in Japan.

Methods And Results: Lead extraction procedures were performed in 183 patients targeting 450 leads (atrial leads: 170, ventricular: 181, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs): 79, and coronary sinus: 20).

Long-term outcomes of catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in patients with structural heart disease.

Background: Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is feasible. However, the long-term outcomes for different underlying diseases have not been well defined.

Methods: Eighty-eight consecutive patients who underwent catheter ablation of VT using a three-dimensional mapping system were analyzed.

Ventricular tachycardia originating from a heart-shaped idiopathic left ventricular aneurysm diagnosed on a three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping system integrated with CT imaging.

Idiopathic left ventricular aneurysms and diverticula (LVA/Ds) are rare cardiac malformations that can be detected using certain imaging techniques. Although most patients with these malformations are clinically asymptomatic, some patients exhibit cardiac arrhythmias and other clinical manifestations. In electrophysiological studies, it is often difficult to establish the relationship between clinical manifestations of cardiac arrhythmias and those of LVA/Ds due to anatomical complexities.