The role of genetic testing in the prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis of sudden cardiac arrest in children.

Background: Determining the pathogenesis of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in children is crucial for its management and prognosis. Our aim is to analyze the role of broad genetic testing in the prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis of SCA in Children.

Methods: ECG, 12-lead holter, exercise testing, cardiac imaging, familial study, and genetic testing were used to study 29 families, in whom a child experienced SCA.

Elevated thrombin generation levels in the left atrial appendage in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained tachi-arrhythmia. Thrombus formation in the left atrial appendage (LAA) increases the risk of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with AF.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare thrombin generation in the LAA to the LA among patients with AF.

Non-ischemic sudden cardiac arrest: Role of 12 lead Holter, family screening and genetic testing.

Objective And Background: To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic yield of a comprehensive protocol involving clinical and broad genetic testing in consecutive sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) population. Determining the pathogenesis of non-ischemic SCA is crucial for management and SCA prevention in other family members METHODS: Families with unexplained non-ischemic SCA event underwent rigorous clinical and genetic protocol after referral to our inherited arrhythmia clinic, during 2011-2017.

Results: One hundred and four index cases, 29 ± 16 years, and 421 family members were studied.

Arrhythmic burden among asymptomatic patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

Background: The clinical benefit of primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in asymptomatic patients (New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class I) with ischemic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular dysfunction is continually disputed.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias, mortality rates, and appropriate device therapies by NYHA class in a prospective national ICD registry.

Methods: The study comprised 1670 consecutive patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy who were implanted with a primary prevention ICD and enrolled in the prospective national Israeli ICD Registry from 2010.

Acute Kidney Injury After Primary Angioplasty: Is Contrast-Induced Nephropathy the Culprit?

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) is frequently interpreted as contrast-induced AKI but may result from other insults. We aimed to determine the causal association of contrast material exposure and the incidence of AKI following pPCI using a control group of propensity score-matched patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who were not exposed to contrast material.

Methods And Results: We studied 2025 patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction who underwent pPCI and 1025 patients receiving fibrinolysis or no reperfusion who were not exposed to contrast material during the first 72 hours of hospital stay (control group).

Impact of computed tomography image and contact force technology on catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Aim: To investigate the impact of using computed tomography (CT) and contact force (CF) technology on recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Methods: This non-randomized study included 2 groups of patients. All patients had symptomatic recurrent paroxysmal or persistent AF and were treated with at least 1 anti arrhythmic medication or intolerant to medication.

Left Cardiac Sympathetic Denervation in Patients with CASQ2-Associated Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia.

Background: Left cardiac sympathetic denervation (LCSD) was reported to be effective in patients with intractable ryanodine receptor mutation-associated catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT).

Objectives: To report our experience with LCSD in calsequestrin (CASQ2) mutation-associated CPVT.

Methods: LCSD was performed in three patients with CASQ2 mutation-associated CPVT with symptoms and exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmia despite high dose beta-blocker

Results: None of them experienced symptoms or exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmia after LCSD.

Outflow tract ventricular arrhythmia originating from the aortic cusps: our approach for challenging ablation.

Background: Ablation of outflow flow ventricular arrhythmia (VA) originating from aortic cusps can be challenging. The aim of this study was to describe our approach for this ablation.

Methods: All patients with outflow VA suspected to originate from aortic cusps according to ECG or after failed ablation from right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) underwent cardiac CT and radiofrequency ablation.

Heart failure in patients with diabetes undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased risk after acute coronary syndromes. Primary percutaneous coronary intervention is the most effective method of reperfusion for acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction and can limit the ischaemic damage to the left ventricle. However, there are few data on the impact of diabetes mellitus on the risk of heart failure following primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Ablation of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation triggered by ventricular premature beat originating from myocardium of right ventricle: Case report.

We report a case of a 55-year-old woman with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF) who suffered from recurrent implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks triggered by short coupled ventricular premature beat (VPB). This VPB was mapped and ablated from the myocardium of right ventricle close to the lateral tricuspid annulus. < Triggering ventricular premature beat (VPB) in idiopathic ventricular fibrillation was reported to originate from the myocardium of right ventricular outflow tract or from Purkinje system.

Clinical characteristics and outcomes of elderly patients treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy in a real-world setting: data from the Israeli ICD Registry.

Background: Elderly patients are underrepresented in clinical trials of device therapy.

Objective: To provide real-world data regarding outcomes associated with device-based therapy in a large cohort of elderly patients enrolled in the Israeli ICD Registry.

Methods: Between July 2010 and June 2012, a total of 2807 consecutive patients undergoing implanted cardioverter-defibrillator/cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (ICD/CRT-D) implantation were prospectively enrolled in the Israeli ICD Registry.

Modeling of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy with human induced pluripotent stem cells.

Background: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a primary heart muscle disorder resulting from desmosomal protein mutations. ARVC is characterized pathologically by fibrofatty infiltration and clinically by arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We aimed to establish a patient-/disease-specific human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) model of ARVC.

Flecainide therapy suppresses exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias in patients with CASQ2-associated catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Background: Calsequestrin-associated catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT2) can cause sudden death in young individuals in response to stress. Beta-blockers are the mainstay medical treatment for patients with CPVT2. However, they do not prevent syncope and sudden death in all patients.

Importance of ventricular tachycardia storms not terminated by implantable cardioverter defibrillators shocks in patients with CASQ2 associated catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

In this study, the clinical and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)-related follow-up of patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) with homogenous missense mutations in CASQ2 was summarized. Patients were followed in a pediatric cardiology clinic and an ICD clinic. All patients were treated with high-dose β blockers.

Patient safety and outcomes from live case demonstrations of interventional cardiology procedures.

Objectives: The goal of this study was to examine the safety and results of interventional procedures performed during the broadcast of live case demonstrations.

Background: Professional meetings using live case demonstrations to present cutting-edge technology are considered a valuable educational resource. There is an ongoing discussion on whether patients who are treated during live case demonstrations are exposed to a higher risk.

Iatrogenic intra-atrial macro-reenterant tachycardia following transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect treated by radiofrequency ablation.

Percutaneous closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) has been established as a safe and effective alternative to surgical management. We describe a case of a 41-year-old patient in whom an Amplatzer septal occluder device was used to close a moderately large ASD and who subsequently developed incessant intra-atrial macro-reenterant tachycardia. The tachycardia was terminated by radiofrequency ablation guided by electroanatomical mapping.

Clinical and electrophysiologic outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous endocardial ablation of scar-related ventricular tachycardia: a single-center experience.

Background: For patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias, implantable cardioverter defibrillators are a mainstay of therapy to prevent sudden death. However, ICD shocks are painful, can result in clinical depression, and do not offer complete protection against death from arrhythmia. Radiofrequency catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia in the setting of ischemic cardiomyopathy has emerged recently as a useful adjunctive therapy to ICD.

Modelling the long QT syndrome with induced pluripotent stem cells.

The ability to generate patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) offers a new paradigm for modelling human disease and for individualizing drug testing. Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a familial arrhythmogenic syndrome characterized by abnormal ion channel function and sudden cardiac death. Here we report the development of a patient/disease-specific human iPSC line from a patient with type-2 LQTS (which is due to the A614V missense mutation in the KCNH2 gene).

Long-term outcome of atrial synchronous mode pacing in patients with atrioventricular block using a single lead.

Background: Current guidelines suggest the use of atrial synchronous mode (VDD) pacemakers in patients with atrioventricular (AV) block and normal sinus node function. However VDD mode is being used much less than expected. The objectives of our study were to evaluate the efficacy of VDD pacing in long-term follow-up and to find risk factors for VDD loss.

Identification of the gene causing long QT syndrome in an Israeli family.

Background: Long QT syndrome is an inherited cardiac disease, associated with malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.

Objectives: To map and identify the gene responsible for LQTS in an Israeli family.

Methods: A large family was screened for LQTS after one of them was successfully resuscitated from ventricular fibrillation.

Relation of C-reactive protein and new-onset atrial fibrillation in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Recent studies have implicated systemic inflammation in the genesis and maintenance of atrial fibrillation (AF). A robust inflammatory response is an integral component of the response to tissue injury during acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, there is no information concerning the association between inflammation and AF in patients with AMI.

Catheter ablation of cardiac arrhythmias guided by electroanatomic imaging (CARTO): a single-center experience.

Background: Catheter ablation is assuming a larger role in the management of patients with cardiac arrhythmias. Conventional fluoroscopic catheter mapping has limited spatial resolution and involves prolonged fluoroscopy. The non-fluoroscopic electroanatomic mapping technique (CARTO) has been developed to overcome these drawbacks.

Hyperglycemia during acute myocardial infarction in patients who are treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention: impact on long-term prognosis.

Background: Transient hyperglycemia is common during acute myocardial infarction in non-diabetic patients and is associated with a worse outcome. There is limited data on the outcome of patients who undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention and have transient hyperglycemia.

Methods: Fasting plasma glucose was measured in 431 consecutive acute myocardial infarction patients who underwent primary percutaneous coronary interventions.