The imperative for metrics in training.

A twenty-first century model for the training and assessment of cardiac interventionists’ skills, outlined by Prof. John Morgan FRCP FESC.

Myocardial scar extent evaluated by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in ICD patients: relationship to spontaneous VT during long-term follow-up.

Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy have an increased risk for ventricular arrhythmia, since myocardial infarction can be the substrate for re-entrant arrhythmias. Contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) has proven to reliably quantify myocardial infarction. Aim of our study was to evaluate correlations between functional and contrast-enhanced CMR findings and spontaneous ventricular tachy-arrhythmias in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy who underwent implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy.

Assessment of the coronary venous system in heart failure patients by blood pool agent enhanced whole-heart MRI.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of MRI for non-invasive assessment of the coronary sinus (CS) and the number and course of its major tributaries in heart failure patients.

Methods: Fourteen non-ischaemic heart failure patients scheduled for cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) underwent additional whole-heart coronary venography. MRI was performed 1 day before device implantation.

Whole-heart coronary vein imaging: a comparison between non-contrast-agent- and contrast-agent-enhanced visualization of the coronary venous system.

The feasibility of three-dimensional (3D) whole-heart imaging of the coronary venous (CV) system was investigated. The hypothesis that coronary magnetic resonance venography (CMRV) can be improved by using an intravascular contrast agent (CA) was tested. A simplified model of the contrast in T(2)-prepared steady-state free precession (SSFP) imaging was applied to calculate optimal T(2)-preparation durations for the various deoxygenation levels expected in venous blood.

Intraoperative comparison of a subthreshold test pulse with the standard high-energy shock approach for the measurement of defibrillation lead impedance.

Unlabelled: There are two methods to measure shocking lead impedance: delivery of high-energy shocks that require patient sedation, and the painless measurement of impedance from subthreshold test pulses. The aim of this study was to compare the two methods.

Methods: The study included 131 patients implanted with a standard DR (n = 71) or VR (n = 60) ICD connected to either single-coil (n = 39) or dual-coil (n = 92) defibrillation leads.