Utilization and in-hospital complications of cardiac resynchronization therapy: trends in the United States from 2003 to 2013.

Aims: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in selected patients with heart failure. We sought to investigate the utilization and in-hospital complications of cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and pacemaker (CRT-P) implantations in the United States from 2003 to 2013.

Methods And Results: Patients receiving CRT-D or CRT-P were identified in the National Inpatient Sample database (NIS), using the International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision-Clinical Modification procedure codes.

Increased perforation risk with an MRI-conditional pacing lead: a single-center study.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been considered contraindicated in patients with cardiac pacemakers (PPMs). Recently, Medtronic (MDT) MRI SureScan PPM (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) and leads were introduced into clinical practice in the United States of America.

Characteristics of responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy: the impact of echocardiographic left ventricular volume.

Background: One-third of patients who receive cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are classified as nonresponders. Characteristics of responders to CRT have been studied in multiple clinical trials.

Hypothesis: Independent predictors of CRT response may be identified by studying a series of patients in routine clinical practice.

Respiratory compensation improves the accuracy of electroanatomic mapping of the left atrium and pulmonary veins during atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: The creation of accurate electroanatomic maps (EAM) of the left atrium and pulmonary veins is important for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation to guide ablative lesions and improve the safety and efficacy of the procedure. Respiratory motion of the heart and the pulmonary veins affects the accuracy of these maps.

Purpose: This study aims to assess changes in the left atrial and pulmonary venous anatomy due to respiration and to evaluate their implication for EAM acquisition.