Capture threshold of bipolar and unipolar pacing of left ventricle via coronary sinus branch: longitudinal study.

Introduction: The aim of this paper is to first monitor the changes in the capture threshold of endovascularly placed leads for left ventricle pacing, second to compare the pacing configurations, and third to verify the effect of Steroid elution for endovascular leads.

Sample And Method: The study included 202 consecutive single centre patients implanted with the Quartet™ lead (St. Jude Medical).

4-Year Outcomes After Left Atrial Appendage Closure Versus Nonwarfarin Oral Anticoagulation for Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: The PRAGUE-17 (Left Atrial Appendage Closure vs Novel Anticoagulation Agents in Atrial Fibrillation) trial demonstrated that left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) was noninferior to nonwarfarin direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for preventing major neurological, cardiovascular, or bleeding events in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who were at high risk.

Objectives: This study sought to assess the prespecified long-term (4-year) outcomes in PRAGUE-17.

Methods: PRAGUE-17 was a randomized noninferiority trial comparing percutaneous LAAC (Watchman or Amulet) with DOACs (95% apixaban) in patients with nonvalvular AF and with a history of cardioembolism, clinically-relevant bleeding, or both CHADS-VASc ≥3 and HASBLED ≥2.

Left Atrial Appendage Closure Versus Direct Oral Anticoagulants in High-Risk Patients With Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) is noninferior to vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) for preventing atrial fibrillation (AF)-related stroke. However, direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have an improved safety profile over VKAs, and their effect on cardiovascular and neurological outcomes relative to LAAC is unknown.

Objectives: This study sought to compare DOACs with LAAC in high-risk patients with AF.

Ablation strategies for different types of atrial fibrillation in Europe: results of the ESC-EORP EHRA Atrial Fibrillation Ablation Long-Term registry.

Aims: The ESC EORP EHRA Atrial Fibrillation (AF) Ablation Long-Term registry was designed to assess management and outcomes of AF catheter ablation procedures in Europe. To investigate the current ablation approaches and their outcomes for patients with paroxymal AF (PAF) and non-PAF in Europe.

Methods And Results: Data from index ablations were collected in 27 European countries at 104 centres in a prospective fashion.

Midterm outcomes of mini-invasive surgical and hybrid ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: We evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of thoracoscopic and a staged surgical and transcatheter ablation technique to treat stand-alone atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: . Between 2009 and 2016, a cohort of 65 patients underwent bilateral totally thoracoscopic ablation of symptomatic paroxysmal AF (n=30; 46%), persistent AF (n=18; 28%) or long-standing persistent AF (n=17; 26%) followed by catheter ablation in case of AF recurrence.

Interventional left atrial appendage closure vs novel anticoagulation agents in patients with atrial fibrillation indicated for long-term anticoagulation (PRAGUE-17 study).

Unlabelled: Atrial fibrillation (AF), with a prevalence of 1% to 2%, is the most common cardiac arrhythmia. Without antithrombotic treatment, the annual risk of a cardioembolic event is 5% to 6%. The source of a cardioembolic event is a thrombus, which is usually formed in the left atrial appendage (LAA).

Increase of serum interleukin 6 and interferon γ is associated with the number of impulses in patients with supraventricular arrhythmias treated with radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Background: Activation of the immune system plays a pathogenic role in the process of myocardial remodeling in patients with supraventricular arrhythmias. The intensity of this process is associated with the effectiveness of electrical cardioversion and radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA). The aim of this study was to test the ability of the biochip microarray to detect immune parameters in patients with supraventricular arrhythmias undergoing RFA treatment.

Thoracoscopic radiofrequency ablation for lone atrial fibrillation: box-lesion technique.

Background: We report the feasibility and outcomes of box-lesion ablation technique to treat stand-alone atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods: There were 41 patients with a mean age of 57.6 ± 8.

Echocardiographic changes after cardiac resynchronisation therapy.

Background And Aim: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate echocardiographic changes in clinical responders and nonresponders after 3 and 15 months of cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT).

Methods: Fifty eight patients in whom a biventricular system was implanted between 2005 and 2008 were followed up at 3 and at 15 months. Clinical and echocardiography parameters including intra- and interventricular dyssynchrony were assessed at baseline and after 3 and 15 months of CRT.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy in clinical responders: right ventricular echocardiographic changes at mid-term follow-up.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the mid-term effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy on systolic function and remodelling of the right ventricle in clinical responders and non-responders.

Methods: A biventricular system was implanted between July 2005 and May 2008 in 58 patients with heart failure NYHA class II-IV. At baseline, three and 15 months after implantation, the following parameters were determined: NYHA class, quality of life, six-minute walk test, echocardiography including assessment of right ventricular systolic function by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and by pulsed tissue Doppler imaging (myocardial peak systolic velocity was measured at the tricuspid annulus).

Thoracoscopic left ventricular lead implantation.

Objective: Cardiac resynchronization therapy is a therapeutic option in patients with chronic heart failure. Epicardial lead implantation for biventricular pacing is usually the method of second choice after failed coronary sinus cannulation. The present study describes an initial experience with minimally invasive surgical lead implantation using thoracoscopy.

Longterm remission of left posterior fascicular ventricular tachycardia due to mechanical trauma.

We present a case of a 28 year old woman with paroxysmal left posterior fascicular ventricular tachycardia (LPFVT). Ventricular tachycardia was not inducible after completing of left ventricle 3D reconstruction. Even though catheter ablation was not performed, no LPFVT recurrence has been documented during 60 months follow-up.

Bland-White-Garland syndrome in adults: sudden cardiac death as a first symptom and long-term follow-up after successful resuscitation and surgery.

Two cases (a 23-year-old man and a 33 year-old-woman) with Bland-White-Garland (BWG) syndrome (an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery) are presented. Their first symptom was survived sudden cardiac death. Both patients underwent surgical repair.

Non-re-entrant atrioventricular nodal tachycardia.

Supraventricular tachycardia caused by AV nodal dual conduction is usually re-entry tachycardia. We report a case of a 40-year-old man with incessant supraventricular tachycardia caused by simultaneous conduction via slow and fast AV nodal pathway. The patient was successfully treated with catheter ablation of slow AV nodal pathway, the treatment of choice of this form of tachycardia (when proper diagnosis is made).

Use of the biochip microarray system in detection of myocardial injury caused by radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Background: In a prospective study, we measured plasma markers of myocardial damage induced by radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) with the protein biochip microarray system.

Methods: A total of 32 consecutive patients undergoing RFA for atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT), right atrial flutter (AFL) and atrial fibrillation (AF) were included in the study. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI), creatine kinase isoenzyme MB (CK-MB), heart-type fatty acid binding protein (hFABP) and glycogen phosphorylase BB (GPBB) were measured using biochip array technology at baseline and 24 h after the procedure.

Precordial thump efficacy in termination of induced ventricular arrhythmias.

Introduction: Reports about the efficacy of precordial thump (PT) in the termination of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) vary widely. Very little recent data about the mechanical termination of VA induced during programmed ventricular stimulation are available.

Methods: We prospectively studied 485 consecutive patients (May 2001 to December 2007) who underwent electrophysiology study with programmed ventricular stimulation as part of their assessment for primary or secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death.

Analysis of thrombotic complications after catheter ablation.

Introduction: Thromboembolic complications are described in about 1% of the patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA). The aim of this study was to analyze thrombotic complications after RFA and to determine prothrombotic states in patients with thrombotic complications.

Methods: We analyzed data from 400 patients (212 females) who underwent 453 RFA procedures for supraventricular tachycardias.

Cavotricuspid isthmus catheter ablation across an inferior vena cava filter.

Patients who suffer from recurrent thromboembolic events often receive an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. There are few data available regarding treatment of this patient population with catheterization interventions, especially catheter ablation. We report a case of cavotricuspid isthmus catheter ablation across an IVC filter.