The Impact of Frailty on Patients With AF and HFrEF Undergoing Catheter Ablation: A Nationwide Population Study.

Background: Frailty is a common geriatric syndrome often coexisting with cardiovascular diseases such as atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). While catheter ablation (CA) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing major adverse cardiovascular events and improving mortality and quality of life, the influence of frailty among this population remains unknown.

Objectives: The authors aimed to identify the prevalence of frailty among patients with HFrEF and AF undergoing CA and its influence on cardiovascular mortality and discharge disposition.

Safety and Efficacy of Nondihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blockers for Acute Rate Control in Atrial Fibrillation with Rapid Ventricular Response and Comorbid Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction.

The use of nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (NDCCBs) to achieve rate control in atrial fibrillation with the rapid ventricular rate (AF RVR) is not recommended in patients with comorbid heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) due to the concern for further blunting of contractility. However, these recommendations are extrapolated from data examining chronic NDCCB use in HFrEF patients, and comorbid AF was not analyzed. These recommendations also do not cite the hemodynamic effects or clinical outcomes of NDCCBs for acute rate control in HFrEF patients with AF RVR.

Determinants of Early and Late In-Hospital Mortality After Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Subanalysis of the OBTAIN Registry.

Background: Predictors of in-hospital mortality after myocardial infarction (MI) have been reported dichotomously: survival vs death. Predictors of time from admission to death have not been reported.

Methods: A total of 7335 patients were enrolled in a prospective multicentre registry of acute MI.

Use of Commercially Produced Medical Education Videos in a Cardiovascular Curriculum: Multiple Cohort Study.

Background: Short instructional videos can make learning more efficient through the application of multimedia principles, and video animations can illustrate the complex concepts and dynamic processes that are common in health sciences education. Commercially produced videos are commonly used by medical students but are rarely integrated into curricula.

Objective: Our goal was to examine student engagement with medical education videos incorporated into a preclinical Cardiovascular Systems course.

Comparison of Outcomes of Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients ≥80 Years of Age.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) procedures have increased exponentially since FDA approval in 2011. Older patients who underwent aortic valve replacement, either TAVI or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), have elevated risk. Using the National Readmission Database, we included patients ≥80 years who underwent either TAVI or SAVR from 2011 to 2015.

Utilization of the Impella for hemodynamic support during percutaneous intervention and cardiogenic shock: an insight.

Impella is a catheter-based micro-axial flow pump placed across the aortic valve, and it is currently the only percutaneous left ventricular assist device approved for high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention and cardiogenic shock. Areas Covered: Even though several studies have repeatedly demonstrated the excellent hemodynamic profile of Impella in high-risk settings, it remains underutilized. Here we aim to provide an up-to-date summary of the available literature on Impellas use in High risk settings as well as the practical aspects of its usage.

Fractured Wire in the Left Internal Mammary Artery: A Novel Retrieval Technique.

Although fractured coronary wires are a rare occurrence, failure to retrieve them successfully puts patients at undue risk. We offer a technique that can be used when traditional retrieval with a Microsnare system is unsuccessful.