Chinese expert consensus on the construction of the fluoroless cardiac electrophysiology laboratory and related techniques.

Transcatheter radiofrequency ablation has been widely introduced for the treatment of tachyarrhythmias. The demand for catheter ablation continues to grow rapidly as the level of recommendation for catheter ablation. Traditional catheter ablation is performed under the guidance of X-rays.

Current practice in transvenous lead extraction in Latin America: Latin American Heart Rhythm Association survey.

Background: Transvenous lead extraction (TLE) is standard of care for the management of patients with cardiac implantable electronic device infection or lead-related complications. Currently, objective data on TLE in Latin America is lacking.

Objective: To describe the current practice standards in Latin American centers performing TLE.

Role of immunosuppressive therapy in the management refractory postprocedural pericarditis.

Objective: To assess the safety and efficacy of a novel immunosuppressive regimen-combination Methotrexate/Prednisone (cMtx/P)-in the management of severe refractory rPPP.

Methods: In this multicenter, nonrandomized, retrospective, observational study, 408 consecutive patients diagnosed with persistent rPPP between 2017 and 19 were included. Patients with refractory symptoms despite 3 months of conventional therapy were initiated on a 4-week regimen of oral steroids.

Comparison of Complications of Catheter Ablation for Ventricular Arrhythmias in Adults With Versus Without Structural Heart Disease.

Catheter ablation (CA) is an effective treatment for ventricular arrhythmias (VA), with a potential for complications. The presence of structural heart disease (SHD) is associated with a higher complication rate although there is no data comparing CA of VA between patients with SHD and those without. We aimed to compare trends, morbidity, and mortality associated with real world practice of CA for VA (ventricular tachycardia and premature ventricular contraction) based on the presence of SHD.

Oesophageal Injury During AF Ablation: Techniques for Prevention.

Atrial fibrillation remains the most common arrhythmia worldwide, with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) being an essential component in the treatment of this arrhythmia. In view of the close proximity of the oesophagus with the posterior wall of the left atrium, oesophageal injury prevention has become a major concern during PVI procedures. Oesophageal changes varying from erythema to fistulas have been reported, with atrio-oesophageal fistulas being the most feared as they are associated with major morbidity and mortality.

A Meta-Analysis Of Quadripolar Versus Bipolar Left Ventricular Leads On Post-Procedural Outcomes.

We aimed to perform a meta-analysis from eligible studies to analyze the true impact of QL when compared with BL with regard to post-procedural outcomes including lead deactivation, revision or replacement. Many observational and retrospective studies showed that quadripolar left ventricular leads (QL) are associated with better outcomes and fewer complications when compared with bipolar leads (BL). We performed a comprehensive literature search through June 30, 2015 using: quadripolar, bipolar, left ventricular lead and CRT in Pubmed, Ebsco and google scholar databases.

Predictors, Morbidity, and Costs Associated with Pneumothorax during Electronic Cardiac Device Implantation.

Background: Pneumothorax (PTX) is a major cause of morbidity associated with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). We sought to evaluate predictors of PTX at our centers during CIED implantations, including the venous access technique utilized, as well as to determine morbidity and costs associated with PTX.

Methods: We reviewed records of all patients undergoing cardiac device implant or revision with new venous access at our institutions between 2008 and 2014.

The Prognostic Value of Early Repolarization with ST-Segment Elevation by Age and Gender in the Hispanic Population.

Background: Early repolarization (ER), once thought to be a benign finding on electrocardiograph (ECG), has recently been associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. As there are limited data in the Hispanic population, we investigated possible associations between automated ECG ER readings and overall mortality, using the classic definition involving J-point elevation with ST segment elevation.

Methods: An ECG and electronic medical record (EMR) database from a regional medical center was interrogated.

Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Arrhythmias: Benign Or Early Stage Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia?

Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) arising from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) are a common and heterogeneous entity. Idiopathic right ventricular arrhythmias (IdioVAs) are generally benign, with excellent ablation outcomes and long-term arrhythmia-free survival, and must be distinguished from other conditions associated with VAs arising from the right ventricle: the differential diagnosis with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is therefore crucial because VAs are one of the most important causes of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young individuals even with early stage of the disease. Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is a current option for the treatment of VAs but important differences must be considered in terms of indication, purposes and procedural strategies in the treatment of the two conditions.

New Imaging Technologies To Characterize Arrhythmic Substrate.

The cornerstone of the new imaging technologies to treat complex arrhythmias is the electroanatomic (EAM) mapping. It is based on tissue characterization and in particular on determination of low potential region and dense scar definition. Recently, the identification of fractionated isolated late potentials increased the specificity of the information derived from EAM.