Dissociated rhythms between donor and recipient hearts after heart transplantation using the modified bicaval technique.

Unlabelled: The modified bicaval anastomosis technique is an orthotopic heart transplantation technique that preserves the posterior wall of the right atrium as a bridging tissue, creating a dual structure of the recipient and donor hearts between the superior and inferior venae cavae. In this report, we present a case with unique electrophysiological findings following heart transplantation using this technique. The patient, who had persistent atrial fibrillation before the procedure, achieved a maintained sinus rhythm afterward.

Optimizing Patient Selection for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy With or Without Defibrillator in a Multicenter Study of Japanese Patients - Assessment of the MADIT-ICD Benefit Score.

Background: Although the MADIT-ICD benefit score (MBS) helps select suitable implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) candidates, optimal indicators for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remain uncertain. Evaluating the applicability of the MBS in Japanese CRT patients is imperative.

Methods And Results: This multicenter study assessed the cumulative incidence of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) and non-arrhythmic mortality (AM) in CRT patients grouped according to potential benefit (lowest, highest, and intermediate).

Magnetocardiography in the Evaluation of Sudden Cardiac Death Risk: A Systematic Review.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is responsible for 15%-20% of deaths globally/year, predominantly due to ventricular arrhythmias (VA) caused by vulnerable cardiac substrate. Identifying those at risk has proved difficult with several limitations of current methods. We evaluated the evidence for magnetocardiography (MCG) in predicting SCD events.

Global Results of Implantable Loop Recorder for Detection of Atrial Fibrillation After Stroke: Reveal LINQ Registry.

Background: We aimed to quantify the incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with cryptogenic stroke globally, as well as separately in patients in and outside of Japan, using an implantable loop recorder from a prospective, observational, Reveal LINQ Registry.

Methods And Results: Patients developing cryptogenic stroke and monitored by implantable loop recorder for searching AF were studied. The primary end point was incidence of AF within 36 months after insertion.

SMART Pass automatic deactivation of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

Background: The SMART Pass algorithm for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator prevents inappropriate shocks due to oversensing. The mechanisms and significance of SMART Pass deactivation remain unclear.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess whether SMART Pass deactivation is associated with inappropriate shocks and to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Explainable localization of premature ventricular contraction using deep learning-based semantic segmentation of 12-lead electrocardiogram.

Background: Predicting the origin of premature ventricular contraction (PVC) from the preoperative electrocardiogram (ECG) is important for catheter ablation therapies. We propose an explainable method that localizes PVC origin based on the semantic segmentation result of a 12-lead ECG using a deep neural network, considering suitable diagnosis support for clinical application.

Methods: The deep learning-based semantic segmentation model was trained using 265 12-lead ECG recordings from 84 patients with frequent PVCs.

Clinical Usefulness of the Active Fixation Quadripolar Left Ventricular Lead Compared With the Passive Fixation Quadripolar Lead in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Background: This study compared the stability of the Medtronic Attain Stability Quad (ASQ), a novel quadripolar active fixation left ventricular (LV) lead with a side helix, to that of conventional quadripolar leads with passive fixation (non-ASQ) and evaluated their LV lead performance.

Methods And Results: In all, 183 consecutive patients (69 ASQ, 114 non-ASQ) who underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) between January 2018 and June 2021 were enrolled. Complications, including elevated pacing capture threshold (PCT) levels, phrenic nerve stimulation (PNS), and LV lead dislodgement, were analyzed during the postimplantation period until the first outpatient visit after discharge.

Effect of empagliflozin on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: the EMPA-ICD trial.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure and cardiovascular death with type 2 diabetes; however, their effect on arrhythmias is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of empagliflozin on ventricular arrhythmias in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: A total of 150 patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (ICD/CRT-D) were randomized to once-daily empagliflozin or placebo for 24 weeks.