Ultrasound-guided versus fluoroscopy-guided axillary vein puncture for cardiac implantable electronic device implantation: a meta-analysis enrolling 1257 patients.

Introduction: Ultrasound-guided (Echo-AVP) and Fluoroscopy-guided Axillary Vein Puncture (Fluoro-AVP) are both acknowledged as safe and effective techniques for transvenous implantation of leads for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Nonetheless, it is still debated which of the two techniques has a better safety and efficacy profile. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Echo-AVP versus Fluoro-AVP for CIEDs implantation.

Magnetic Resonance-Guided Stereotactic Radioablation for Septal Ventricular Tachycardias.

Background: Stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation (STAR) was introduced to treat ventricular tachycardia (VT) refractory to catheter ablation. No data are now available in the septal VT substrate setting, representing a challenge when using conventional techniques.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the arrhythmic burden in patients with septal VT treated with magnetic resonance-guided STAR (MRgSTAR).

Cardiomyocyte Regeneration in Human Myocarditis.

Background: Newly generated cardiomyocytes (NGCs) concur with the recovery of human myocarditis occurring spontaneously in around 50% of cases. However, NGCs decline with age, and their modality of myocardial homing and integration are still unclear.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed NGCs in 213 consecutive patients with endomyocardial biopsy denoting acute myocarditis, with normal coronaries and valves.

Contrast-enhanced excimer laser stepwise approach during PCI for resistant coronary lesions.

Background: The treatment of resistant coronary lesions (RCL) is a great challenge for interventional cardiologists. The excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) is a plaque modification tool based on a main mechanism of photomechanical effect leading to mechanical disruption of the plaque. Contrast dye injection during laser delivery has demonstrated to enhance its power.

Functional substrate analysis in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the correlation between atrial electrogram duration map (AEDUM), spatiotemporal electrogram dispersion (STED) and low voltage areas (LVA) in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (PsAF).

Background: The degree of left atrial (LA) tissue remodelling and augmented anisotropic conduction is one of the major issues related to PsAF ablation outcome.

Methods: This study enrolled consecutive patients with PsAF undergoing pulmonary vein isolation.

Long-Term Clinical-Pathologic Results of Enzyme Replacement Therapy in Prehypertrophic Fabry Disease Cardiomyopathy.

Background: The limited ability of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in removing globotriaosylceramide from cardiomyocytes is recognized for advanced Fabry disease cardiomyopathy (FDCM). Prehypertrophic FDCM is believed to be cured or stabilized by ERT. However, no pathologic confirmation is available.

Implantable loop recorders in patients with Brugada syndrome: the BruLoop study.

Background And Aims: Available data on continuous rhythm monitoring by implantable loop recorders (ILRs) in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) are scarce. The aim of this multi-centre study was to evaluate the diagnostic yield and clinical implication of a continuous rhythm monitoring strategy by ILRs in a large cohort of BrS patients and to assess the precise arrhythmic cause of syncopal episodes.

Methods: A total of 370 patients with BrS and ILRs (mean age 43.

Pulsed electric field, cryoballoon, and radiofrequency for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation ablation: a propensity score-matched comparison.

Aims: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has emerged as a novel, non-thermal energy source to selectively ablate cardiac tissue. We describe a multicentre experience on pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) via the pentaspline Farapulse™ PFA system vs. thermal-based technologies in a propensity score-matched population of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) patients.

Ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation based on atrial electrogram duration map: methodology and clinical outcomes from the AEDUM pilot study.

Background: Catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (PsAF) represents a challenge for the electrophysiologist and there are still divergences regarding the best ablative approach to adopt. Create a new map of the duration of atrial bipolar electrograms (Atrial Electrogram DUration Map, AEDUM) to recognize a functional substrate during sinus rhythm and guide a patient-tailored ablative strategy for PsAF.

Methods: Forty PsAF subjects were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either for PVI alone (Group B) or PVI+AEDUM areas ablation (Group B).

Arrhythmic risk profile in mitral valve prolapse: A systematic review and metanalysis of 1715 patients.

Introduction: Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common clinical condition in the general population. A subgroup of patients with MVP may experience ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death ("arrhythmic mitral valve prolapse" [AMVP]) but how to stratify arrhythmic risk is still unclear. Our meta-analysis aims to identify predictive factors for arrhythmic risk in patients with MVP.

Modified sympathicotomy in patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia and structural heart disease: a single-center experience.

Background: Modified cardiac sympathetic denervation (CSD) with stellate ganglion (SG) sparing is a novel technique for cardiac neuromodulation in patients with refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT).

Objectives: Our aim is to describe the mid- to long-term clinical outcome of the modified CSD with SG sparing in a series of patients with structural heart disease (SHD) and refractory VT.

Methods: All consecutive patients with SHD and refractory VT undergoing modified CSD were enrolled.

Catheter ablation in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and absence of structural heart disease: A meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Introduction: Rhythm control strategy in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) can be performed with antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) or catheter ablation (CA). Nevertheless, a clear overview of the percentage of freedom from AF over time and complications is lacking. Therefore, we conducted a -analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CA versus AAD.

Success and complication rates of conduction system pacing: a meta-analytical observational comparison of left bundle branch area pacing and His bundle pacing.

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) and His bundle pacing (HBP) are the main strategies to achieve conduction system pacing (CSP), but only observational studies with few patients have compared the two pacing strategies, sometimes with unclear results given the different definitions of the feasibility and safety outcomes. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis aiming to compare the success and complications of LBBAP versus HBP.

Methods: We systematically searched the electronic databases for studies published from inception to March 22, 2023, and focusing on LBBAP versus HBP.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Including 354 Patients from 13 Studies of Intravascular Lithotripsy for the Treatment of Underexpanded Coronary Stents.

Calcified coronary plaque (CCP) represents a challenging scenario for interventional cardiologists. Stent underexpansion (SU), often associated with CCP, can predispose to stent thrombosis and in-stent restenosis. To date, SU with heavily CCP can be addressed using very high-/high-pressure noncompliant balloons, off-label rotational atherectomy/orbital atherectomy, excimer laser atherectomy, and intravascular lithotripsy (IVL).

"Function follows form": Role of cardiac magnetic resonance for ventricular arrhythmia risk stratification in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis.

Introduction: Cardiac involvement is common and may become clinically relevant in approximately 5%-10% of patients with systemic sarcoidosis. Although reduced left ventricular ejection fraction is a recognized predictor of mortality, recent studies have suggested an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia (VAs) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) and evidence of late gadolinium enhancement-cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR), irrespective of the underlying left ventricular systolic function. We performed a meta-analysis to assess the correlation between VAs/SCD and presence of LGE-CMR in CS patients.

Ventricular Electrograms Duration Map to Detect Ventricular Arrhythmia Substrate: the VEDUM Project Study.

Background: The analysis of the wave-front activation patterns is crucial for the comprehension and treatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT). The ventricular electrograms duration map (VEDUM) is a potential method to identify areas (VEDUM area) with slow and inhomogeneous activation. There is no available data on the characteristics and the arrhythmogenic role of VEDUM areas identified during sinus/paced rhythm.