Expert consensus document on automated diagnosis of the electrocardiogram: The task force on automated diagnosis of the electrocardiogram in Japan part 3: Inappropriate internal processing in the automatic diagnosis of electrocardiograms and its problems.

Computer diagnosis of electrocardiograms is widely used to provide useful information in clinical practice and medical checkups. However, it is common for users to be confused by the inappropriate diagnosis. We illustrate some examples of inappropriate automatic diagnoses and discuss the actual situation of inappropriate automatic processing and its problems.

Late life-threatening arrhythmia in patients with Brugada syndrome: Results from long-term follow-up in a large Japanese cohort.

Introduction: Most patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) are first diagnosed in their 40s, with sudden cardiac death (SCD) often occurring in their 50s. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) may occur in some patients with BrS despite having been asymptomatic for a long period. This study aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors for late life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with BrS.

Relationship between coronary blood flow and improvement of cardiac function after catheter ablation for persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: The relationship between coronary blood flow during atrial fibrillation (AF) and improvement of cardiac function after catheter ablation (CA) for persistent AF (PeAF) is not prominent; this study was conducted to evaluate this relationship.

Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study. Eighty-five patients with PeAF (resting heart rate < 100 bpm) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 40%) who had undergone coronary angiography within 1 week before CA were included.

Expert consensus document on automated diagnosis of the electrocardiogram: The task force on automated diagnosis of the electrocardiogram in Japan: Part 2: Current status of inappropriate automated diagnosis is widely used electrocardiographs in Japan.

It is important to objectively grasp the current status of automated electrocardiogram (ECG) diagnosis. This report aimed to analyze and evaluate ECG records that our members have encountered as an inappropriate diagnosis in real-world clinical practices.

Expert consensus document on automated diagnosis of the electrocardiogram: The task force on automated diagnosis of the electrocardiogram in Japan. Part 1: Nomenclature for diagnosis and abnormal findings.

As these terms should accurately represent the abnormal findings and conditions as much as possible, we propose to unify these terms into terminologies that are not confusing and easy to understand for everyone.

Long-term prognosis in patients with non-type 1 Brugada electrocardiogram: Results from a large Japanese cohort of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.

Background: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is diagnosed in patients with ST-segment elevation with spontaneous, drug-induced, or fever-induced type 1 morphology. Prognosis in type 2 or 3 Brugada electrocardiogram (Br-ECG) patients remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate long-term prognosis in non-type 1 Br-ECG patients in a large Japanese cohort of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (The Japan Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation Study [J-IVFS]).

Risk stratification in asymptomatic patients with Brugada syndrome: Utility of multiple risk factor combination rather than programmed electrical stimulation.

Background: The prognostic value of programmed electrical stimulation (PES) in Brugada syndrome (BrS) remains controversial. Asymptomatic BrS patients generally have a better prognosis than those with symptoms. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of nonaggressive PES with up to two extra stimuli and predict clinical factors for risk stratification in asymptomatic BrS patients.

The coronary artery calcium score correlates with left atrial low-voltage area: Sex differences.

Introduction: In patients with coronary artery disease, a high coronary artery calcium score (CACS) correlates with atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the association between left atrial (LA) remodeling progression and coronary arteriosclerosis is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between LA remodeling progression and the CACS.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 148 patients with AF (paroxysmal AF, n = 94) who underwent catheter ablation.

Quality of life improvements by durable pulmonary vein isolation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Successful pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) can improve the quality of life (QOL) of patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the role of durable PVI for such QOL improvement is not known. The aim of this study was to clarify the effectiveness of durable PVI in improving the QOL of patients with AF.

Comparison of touch-up ablation rate and pulmonary vein isolation durability between hot balloon and cryoballoon.

Introduction: This study aimed to compare touch-up ablation (TUA) rates and pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) durability of hot balloon ablation (HBA) and cryoballoon ablation (CBA) in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients.

Methods: In total, 137 PAF patients were enrolled in the study. Among them, 59 underwent two HBA procedures at 6-month intervals and 78 patients underwent two CBA sessions, both regardless of atrial fibrillation recurrence.

Recurrent ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation ablation and prior stroke: A study based on etiological classification.

Background: Different subtypes of ischemic stroke may have different risk factors, clinical features, and prognoses. This study investigated the incidence and mode of stroke recurrence in patients with a history of stroke who underwent atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Methods: Of 825 patients who underwent AF ablation from 2006 to 2016, 77 patients (9.

Catheter ablation for monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in Brugada syndrome patients: detailed characteristics and long-term follow-up.

Purpose: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a risk of sudden cardiac death due to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation with unusual monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT). Detailed characteristics of MVT and long-term outcome of catheter ablation are still unknown. This study is aimed to identify the detailed characteristics and long-term follow-up of catheter ablation in BrS patients.

Characteristics of Marshall bundle-related atrial tachycardias using an ultrahigh-resolution mapping system.

Purpose: Marshall bundle (MB)-related atrial tachycardias (ATs) have already been described; however, their characteristics using an ultrahigh-resolution mapping system are not yet well known. The purpose of this study was to clarify the characteristics of MB-related ATs with ultrahigh-resolution mapping.

Methods: In 28 patients who underwent an electrophysiological study for ATs using an ultrahigh-resolution mapping system, precise circuits of 37 ATs were detected.

The Horizon and History of Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society.

The Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS) has grown very rapidly and efficiently after its founding in 2008. The success of our organization and rapid growth was due to the enthusiastic support by pioneer electrophysiologists and efforts by many physicians to cure heart rhythm disorders. With the experience of preceding arrhythmia symposia of inter-cities or international basis in the region, the organization could quickly grow to become APHRS.

Characteristics of ventricular intracardiac electrograms of ventricular tachycardias originating from the epicardia in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Introduction: While characteristic waveforms of 12-lead electrocardiograms have been reported to predict the epicardial origin of ventricular tachycardia (VT), it has not been fully examined whether ventricular intracardiac electrograms (VEGMs) recorded from the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) via telemetry can determine the origin of VT or not. The aim of this study was to investigate the VEGM characteristics of VT originating from the epicardia.

Method And Results: Intracardiac VEGMs of the induced VTs, with detected sites of origin during the VT study, were recorded in 15 (23 VTs) of the 46 patients.

The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and recurrence of atrial fibrillation after pulmonary vein isolation using a contact force-sensing catheter.

Purpose: Our aim was to elucidate the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after repeated pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Methods: We conducted a non-randomized observational study, with the data prospectively collected. One hundred patients (paroxysmal AF, n = 89) underwent PVI using a contact force-sensing catheter.

Ventricular Fibrillation Induced by Coronary Vasospasm in a Patient with Early Repolarization and Hyperthyroidism.

Vasospastic angina (VSA) has been recognized as a cause of ventricular fibrillation (VF) degenerating into sudden cardiac death. We experienced a case of VSA with hyperthyroidism in which VF was provoked with an augmented J-wave amplitude in the inferior leads. The patient underwent insertion of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for the secondary prevention of VF in addition to taking Ca-channel antagonists.

Development of Nonpulmonary Vein Foci Increases Risk of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Pulmonary Vein Isolation.

Objectives: The aim of this paper was to clarify the impact of nonpulmonary vein foci (NPVF) on atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein (PV) isolation.

Background: NPVF are considered contributing factors for the recurrence of AF after PV isolation, but their exact role remains unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 216 patients (paroxysmal AF, n = 172; persistent AF, n = 44) who underwent a second electrophysiological study 6 months after the original PV isolation.

Ventricular tachycardia storm originating from interventricular septum successfully treated with surgical cryoablation with electroanatomic and electrophysiological mapping before dual valve replacement.

A 58-year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy was admitted with heart failure. He had a history of two catheter ablation procedures for ventricular tachycardia (VT) originating from the intraventricular septum (IVS). Before dual valve replacement (DVR), he suffered a VT storm.