Cerebral Embolic Protection in Patients Undergoing Left Atrial Appendage Closure.

(1) Background: Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging has reported new cerebral ischemic lesions after left atrial appendage (LAA) closure in about one- third of patients. Stroke occurs predominantly periprocedurally. This study evaluated the characteristics of embolized debris captured by the SENTINEL cerebral embolic protection system in patients undergoing LAA closure; (2) Methods: Sixty filters of 30 consecutive patients undergoing LAA closure with the WATCHMAN FLX device were collected and captured debris was analyzed by histopathology and histomorphometry.

Restoration of sinus rhythm by pulmonary vein isolation improves heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in atrial fibrillation patients.

Aims: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients suffering from heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with increased symptoms and higher morbidity and mortality. Effective treatment strategies for this patient population have not yet been established.

Methods And Results: We analysed clinical outcomes and echocardiographic parameters of patients with AF and HFpEF who underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Clinical outcome of 2nd generation cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation in patients over 75 years of age.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation is an established therapy for symptomatic atrial fibrillation. Despite the fact that incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation increases with age, patients over 75 years of age have been excluded in all major atrial fibrillation ablation trials. Pulmonary vein isolation with the cryoballoon has been shown to be equally effective compared to irrigated radiofrequency catheter ablation, but patients over 75 years have also been excluded.

[Alteplase in acute coronary syndromes].

Objective: The registry intends to establish the safety and security of one-hour 100 mg alteplase infusion and 50 mg in 30 minutes to facilitate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in a cardiology hospital with primary angioplasty program (24 hours 365 days a year) with current doses of unfractionated heparin and enoxaparin.

Methods And Results: REALSICA II is a prospective registry that included 103 patients with final diagnosis of ST elevation myocardial infarction in which Alpert's quality criteria were used. Seventy two patients were under one-hour 100 mg alteplase infusion and thirty one under 30 minutes 50 mg alteplase infusion to facilitate PCI.