Left atrial appendage closure: the journey today and tomorrow.

Purpose Of Review: This review aims to discuss the rationale behind the development of percutaneous LAAC devices as a treatment option for atrial fibrillation patients ineligible for long-term anticoagulation. The evolution of LAAC, from early experiences and challenges to risk mitigation and improved devices and techniques, will be examined. Furthermore, the review will explore our current understanding of the potential and limitations of LAAC in stroke prevention.

Ablation of manifest septal accessory pathways: a single-center experience.

Background: Ablation of septal accessory pathways (SAPs) is associated with an increased risk of heart block. Data on outcomes of SAP ablation in adults are limited.

Objectives: To describe outcomes of SAP ablation in our center.

Development of a Risk Score to Predict New Pacemaker Implantation After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to define risk factors and develop a predictive risk score for new pacemaker implantation (PMI) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Background: TAVR has become an accepted treatment alternative for patients with severe aortic stenosis at elevated surgical risk. New PMI is a common occurrence after TAVR and is associated with poorer outcomes.

The Safety and Feasibility of Same-Day Discharge After Implantation of MICRA Transcatheter Leadless Pacemaker System.

Background: Data suggests that same day discharge after implantation of trans-venous pacemakers is safe and feasible. We sought to determine whether same day discharge was feasible and safe following implantation of Medtronic MICRA leadless pacemakers.

Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients undergoing MICRA placement at our institution between April 2014 to August 2018 (n=167).

Comparing outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patients with stenotic bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has become an alternative treatment to surgery in patients with severe aortic stenosis. However, patients with bicuspid aortic stenosis (BAV) are usually excluded from major TAVR studies. The aim of this study is to reexamine current evidence of TAVR in patients with severe aortic stenosis and BAV compared with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV).

Psychiatric conditions as predictors of rehospitalization among African American patients hospitalized with heart failure.

Introduction: African Americans (AAs) have the highest risk of developing heart failure (HF) among all ethnicities in the United States and are associated with higher rates of readmissions and mortality. This study aims to determine the prevalence and relationship of common psychiatric conditions to outcomes of patients hospitalized with HF.

Hypothesis: Psychiatric conditions lead to worse outcomes in HF patients.

Infected ascites: Distinguishing secondary peritonitis from spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in a cirrhotic patient with classic symptoms.

Introduction: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis can be differentiated from secondary bacterial peritonitis by the absence of a surgically treatable intra-abdominal source of infection. However, oftentimes this is unapparent and other clinical clues need to be sought after to make the right diagnosis.

Case: A 64-year-old woman was admitted because of three days of worsening diffuse abdominal pain and distention.

Cardiac Calcifications on Echocardiography Are Associated with Mortality and Stroke.

Background: Calcium deposits in the aortic valve and mitral annulus have been associated with cardiovascular events and mortality. However, there is no accepted standard method for scoring such cardiac calcifications, and most existing methods are simplistic. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that a semiquantitative score, one that accounts for all visible calcium on echocardiography, could predict all-cause mortality and stroke in a graded fashion.

Marital status and living condition as predictors of mortality and readmissions among African Americans with heart failure.

Unlabelled: Socioeconomic factors, including social support, may partially explain why African Americans (AA) have the highest prevalence of heart failure and with worse outcomes compared to other races. AA are more likely to be hospitalized and readmitted for heart failure and have higher mortality. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the social factors of marital status and living condition affect readmission rates and all-cause mortality following hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in AA patients.

Fosaprepitant dimeglumine for the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: patient selection and perspectives.

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a debilitating side effect of antineoplastic agents. Several treatment regimens are used to address this problem. Fosaprepitant is a neurokinin-1 receptor blocker used in the prevention and treatment of CINV, especially for moderately and severely emetogenic chemotherapy.

Atrial myocardial infarction: A tale of the forgotten chamber.

It has been almost a century since atrial infarction was first described, yet data describing its significance remain limited. To date, there are still no universally accepted criteria for the diagnosis of atrial infarction. Atherosclerosis is the leading cause of atrial infarction but it has also been described in cor pulmonale and pulmonary hypertension.

Prognostic significance of abnormal P wave morphology and PR-segment displacement after ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Atrial infarction is uncommonly diagnosed and data on its significance are limited. Its incidence in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) reportedly ranges from 0.7-42%.