Biventricular paced QRS predictors of left ventricular lead locations in relation to mortality in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) lead location during cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has influenced mortality and heart failure events; however the biventricular paced QRS morphology has not been established as a predictor of LV lead location or mortality.

Methods: We evaluated the biventricular paced QRS morphology in 306 patients undergoing CRT in relation to specific anatomic locations. A logistic regression model and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were used to determine predictors of LV lead location and survival.

Asymptomatic sinus bradycardia following bariatric surgery.

Approximately 121,000 bariatric surgical procedures are performed annually, and salutary effects include a reduction in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, risk factor modification, and improvement in sympathovagal tone. There are anecdotal accounts of unexplained sinus bradycardia (SB) after significant weight loss but no systematic studies have been conducted. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of incident SB, its timing, and association with weight loss, clinical characteristics, and predictors.