A New Combined Parameter to Predict Premature Ventricular Complexes Induced Cardiomyopathy: Impact and Recognition of Epicardial Origin.

Introduction: Reversible premature ventricular complexes-induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-CMP) is a well-described, multi-factorial entity. Single predictors, such as PVC burden or QRS duration, may not apply equally to all patients in contemporary unselected populations including patients with structural heart disease (SHD) or with particular origin such as epicardial (EPI) PVC. We sought to evaluate clinical criteria associated with PVC-CMP notably focusing on the EPI origin impact and ECG recognition and the value of a new composite predictor of PVC-CMP, the PVC-CMP-Index.

Prevalence and clinical impact of QRS duration in patients with low-flow/low-gradient aortic stenosis due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Aims: To evaluate the prognostic impact of QRS width in patients with low-flow/low-gradient aortic stenosis (LF/LGAS).

Methods And Results: Among 88 consecutive patients referred to our institution for LF/LGAS from September 1994 to March 2007, baseline demographic, clinical, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic data were collected. This population was divided into two groups according to baseline QRS duration (cut-off QRS ≥130 ms).

Persistent atrial fibrillation presenting in sinus rhythm: pulmonary vein isolation versus pulmonary vein isolation plus electrogram-guided ablation.

Background: The classification of atrial fibrillation as paroxysmal or persistent (PsAF) is clinically useful, but does not accurately reflect the underlying pathophysiology and is therefore a suboptimal guide to selection of ablation strategy.

Aim: To determine if additional substrate ablation is beneficial for a subset of patients with PsAF, in whom long periods of sinus rhythm (SR) can be maintained.

Methods: We included patients presenting with PsAF in whom continuous periods of SR>3months were documented.

Acute pericardial effusion following atrial fibrillation ablation: characteristics and relationship with arrhythmia recurrences.

Background: Pericardial effusion (PE) can occur during or after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation, and may induce atrial arrhythmia.

Aim: To characterize the impact of PE on arrhythmia recurrences following AF ablation.

Methods: Patients referred for a first radiofrequency AF ablation were studied prospectively.

Pulmonary artery sarcoma: a rare cause of dyspnoea.

A 72-year-old woman with no significant medical history presented to the emergency room for severe dyspnoea. The initial clinical diagnosis was acute pulmonary embolism. Heparin infusion was initiated while awaiting a computed tomographic scan but the patient's condition deteriorated dramatically and stat echocardiogram showed tamponade.