Safety and feasibility of combined atrial fibrillation ablation and left atrial appendage occlusion after left atrial appendage electrical isolation.

Objective: To demonstrate the feasibility of combining left atrial appendage electrical isolation (LAAEI) with left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) to increase efficacy of persistent/longstanding atrial fibrillation (PLAF) catheter ablation (CA) while mitigating risk of left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus.

Background: CA for atrial fibrillation (AF) plus LAAO is safe and feasible. LAAEI may improve freedom from recurrence in PLAF but may increase LAA thrombus.

Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Complicated by Appendage Perforation Rescued by Device Deployment.

The Watchman device is a transcatheter left atrial appendage (LAA) occluding device used in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and a high CHADS2-VA2SC score who are poor long-term anticoagulation candidates. Pericardial effusion related to device deployment and perforation can be a life-threatening complication. While not common in hands of experienced operators, management may require surgical intervention.

Predictors of Elevated Defibrillation Threshold with the Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter-defibrillator.

There are limited data regarding defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) for the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD), and factors associated with elevated DFTs remain incompletely understood. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with elevated DFTs in patients undergoing S-ICD implantation. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of all patients undergoing S-ICD implantation at our institution between 2013 and 2016 who underwent step-down DFT testing was performed.

Current Technology to Maximize Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Benefit for Patients With Symptomatic Heart Failure.

The incidence of heart failure (HF) continues to increase, affecting millions of people in the United States each year. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been used and studied for patients with symptomatic HF for more than 20 years. The purpose of this article is to review technologies and developments to help maximize CRT for patients with symptomatic HF.