Outcomes of catheter ablation in cardiac sarcoidosis patients with ventricular tachycardia: a propensity score-matched retrospective analysis.

Background: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) can lead to sudden cardiac death. The role of ventricular tachycardia ablation (VTA) in CS has been investigated in a few small, single-center, and larger observational studies, but the evidence still needs to be provided. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes of VTA in patients with CS admitted with a diagnosis of VT.

Comparative Efficacy of Endoscopic Versus Open Surgical Techniques in the Management of Gastric Outlet Obstruction: A Systematic Review.

Gastric outlet obstruction (GOO) is a clinical condition that can arise from both benign and malignant causes, requiring effective management strategies to ensure optimal patient outcomes. Traditionally, open surgical techniques like gastrojejunostomy (GJ) have been the standard treatment, but recent advances in minimally invasive procedures, such as endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-GE), offer alternative approaches with potentially reduced morbidity. This systematic review compared the efficacy, safety, and clinical outcomes of endoscopic versus open surgical techniques in managing GOO.

Outcomes of Gallbladder Drainage Techniques in Acute Cholecystitis: Percutaneous Versus Endoscopic Methods.

Acute cholecystitis, often caused by gallstones obstructing the cystic duct, is a potentially life-threatening condition that requires timely intervention. High-risk patients, particularly those with significant comorbidities, may not be suitable candidates for laparoscopic cholecystectomy, necessitating alternative drainage techniques such as percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) and endoscopic gallbladder drainage (EGD). This systematic review aims to compare the efficacy, safety, and outcomes of PC and EGD in managing acute cholecystitis in high-risk surgical patients.

Acute Catatonia Following a Cerebellar Stroke: A Case Report.

Catatonia can present with a wide spectrum of psychomotor symptoms and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hospitalized patients with speech and motor difficulties. Catatonia is defined as the presence of three or more of the following: catalepsy, waxy flexibility, stupor, agitation, mutism, negativism, posturing, mannerisms, stereotypies, grimacing, echolalia, and echopraxia. In this case, a 72-year-old black woman was admitted with difficulty with speech and ambulation and found to have a cerebellar stroke on a brain MRI.

Conduction system pacing compared with biventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure and mildly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction: Results from International Collaborative LBBAP Study (I-CLAS) Group.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a guideline-recommended therapy in patients with heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF, 36%-50%) and left bundle branch block or indication for ventricular pacing. Conduction system pacing (CSP) using left bundle branch area pacing or His bundle pacing has been shown to be a safe and physiologic alternative to biventricular pacing (BVP).

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical outcomes between BVP and CSP for patients with HFmrEF undergoing CRT.

Minimally Invasive Surgery for Hirschsprung Disease: Current Practices and Future Directions.

Hirschsprung disease (HD) is a congenital disorder characterized by the absence of ganglion cells in the distal colon and rectum, leading to functional obstruction and severe constipation. Over the past decades, the surgical management of HD has significantly evolved, with minimally invasive surgery (MIS) techniques revolutionizing treatment approaches. This review explores recent innovations in MIS for HD, focusing on laparoscopic, transanal endorectal pull-through (TERPT), and robotic-assisted techniques.

A Comprehensive Analysis of Single-Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: Trends, Challenges, and Future Directions.

Single-incision laparoscopic cholecystectomy (SILC) is a minimally invasive surgical technique introduced as an advancement to laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). This narrative review delves into the emergence of SILC, emphasizing its distinct advantages such as improved cosmesis, reduced postoperative pain, and potentially faster recovery compared to traditional LC. The study meticulously examines current trends and challenges in SILC, including variations in techniques and their impact on patient outcomes.

Arrhythmic Risk in Biventricular Pacing Compared With Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing: Results From the I-CLAS Study.

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) may be associated with greater improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction and reduction in death or heart failure hospitalization compared with biventricular pacing (BVP) in patients requiring cardiac resynchronization therapy. We sought to compare the occurrence of sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) and new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients undergoing BVP and LBBAP.

Methods: The I-CLAS study (International Collaborative LBBAP Study) included patients with left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% who underwent BVP or LBBAP for cardiac resynchronization therapy between January 2018 and June 2022 at 15 centers.

A virtual research showcase and judging platform created from a patchwork of workplace applications.

Background: Despite the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic placed on libraries' existing workflows and operations, many librarians developed and debuted new services that addressed novel needs that emerged during the pandemic. This report describes how two electronic resource librarians at regional hospitals within a healthcare corporation used exhibition platforms to showcase resident research in an online format as a complement to in-person resident research programming.

Case Presentation: Over the course of the pandemic, two exhibition platform variants were implemented, one year apart.

Role of oesophageal cooling in the prevention of oesophageal injury in atrial fibrillation catheter ablation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of oesophageal cooling in the prevention of oesophageal injury in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation.

Methods And Results: Comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases through April 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the role of oesophageal cooling compared with control in the prevention of oesophageal injury during AF catheter ablation. The study primary outcome was the incidence of any oesophageal injury.

Hospital outcomes of patients receiving catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, left atrial appendage closure, or both.

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) and left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) require transseptal access; combining both in a single procedure may have advantages. However, the safety of this approach has not been extensively studied. The objective of this study was to compare in hospital outcomes among patients receiving CA, LAAC, and combination of both treatments on the same day.

In-hospital outcomes of transesophageal versus intracardiac echocardiography guided left atrial appendage closure.

Background: Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is the preferred imaging modality to guide transcatheter left atrial appendage closure (LAAC). Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) has evolved as a less invasive alternative to TEE. Several observational studies have shown similar success rates and perioperative complications between TEE and ICE for LAAC.

Incidence of Early Atrial Fibrillation After Transcatheter versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Background: Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) is common after aortic valve replacement (AVR) and is associated with worse outcomes. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR) and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) for incidence of POAF at 30 days.

Methods: We searched databases from 1/1/1990 to 1/1/2020 for randomized studies comparing TAVR and SAVR.

A Rare Iatrogenic Trio: Pneumopericardium, Pneumoperitoneum, and Pericarditis.

We present a rare case of iatrogenic pneumopericardium, pneumoperitoneum, and pericarditis after emergency pericardiocentesis for pericardial tamponade. The patient had profound bowel distention at the time of the procedure that led to iatrogenic pericardioperitoneal fistula formation along with transverse colon perforation, which manifested later after pericardial drain removal. This condition required repeat pericardiocentesis, laparoscopic colon repair, a long course of antibiotics, and an eventual pericardial window.

Feasibility of Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair for Non-A2P2 Mitral Regurgitation.

MitraClip is approved for treatment of both degenerative and functional mitral regurgitation (MR). The landmark trials for this device included only patients with A2P2 location of MR. Initial commercial experience showed A2P2 location was associated with higher technical success as compared with non-A2P2 location.

Transcatheter Closure of Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava Draining to Pulmonary Vein: A Rare Entity.

We describe a patient with recurrent embolic strokes who was found to have a persistent left superior vena cava draining into a pulmonary vein. Transcatheter placement of a vascular plug resulted in successful occlusion of the superior vena cava. Repeat bubble study on follow-up imaging was negative for a right-to-left shunt.

Haemodynamic Interplay Between Concomitant Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction and Aortic Stenosis.

The authors describe a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with concomitant left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and aortic stenosis. Detailed haemodynamic assessment of the serial lesions was performed. Alcohol septal ablation resulted in a significant reduction of gradients across the left ventricular outflow tract.

Complications and Failure Modes of Polymer-Jacketed Guidewires; Insights From the MAUDE Database.

Background: The modes of failure of coronary polymer-jacketed guidewires have received limited study.

Methods: We queried the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database between January 2011 and December 2020 for reports on coronary polymer-jacketed guidewires and retrieved 254 reports.

Results: The most common failure mode was failure of the guidewire to cross (36.

The transseptal puncture experience: Safety insights from FDA MAUDE database.

Background: There is a paucity of literature on safety and efficacy of various transseptal puncture (TSP) needles.

Objectives: To assess the reported mechanisms of failure, complications, and outcomes among the most frequently used transseptal needles in the United States.

Methods: We queried the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database between January 2011 and January 2021 for reports on the most commonly used transseptal needles: NRG (Baylis Medical, Montreal, Canada), and BRK (St.

Combination of PKCδ Inhibition with Conventional TKI Treatment to Target CML Models.

Numerous combinations of signaling pathway blockades in association with tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment have been proposed for eradicating leukemic stem cells (LSCs) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but none are currently clinically available. Because targeting protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ) was demonstrated to eliminate cancer stem cells (CSCs) in solid tumors, we evaluated the efficacy of PKCδ inhibition in combination with TKIs for CML cells. We observed that inhibition of PKCδ by a pharmacological inhibitor, by gene silencing, or by using K562 CML cells expressing dominant-negative (DN) or constitutively active (CA) PKCδ isoforms clearly points to PKCδ as a regulator of the expression of the stemness regulator BMI1.

Complications and failure modes of coronary embolic protection devices: Insights from the MAUDE database.

Background: There is limited data on complications associated with the use of coronary embolic protection devices (EPDs).

Methods: We queried the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database between November 2010 and November 2020 for reports on coronary EPDs: Spider FX (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) and Filterwire EZ (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA).

Results: We retrieved 119 reports on coronary EPD failure (Spider FX n = 33 and Filterwire EZ n = 86), most of which (78.