Is 7-day event triggered ECG recording equivalent to 7-day Holter ECG recording for atrial fibrillation screening?

Objective: Prolonged ECG monitoring is standard for atrial fibrillation (AF) screening. This study investigated whether 7-day event triggered (tECG) ECG recording is equivalent to 7-day continuous Holter (cECG) ECG recording for AF screening.

Design: Both a cECG (Lifecard CF) and a tECG (R.

Prevalence of asymptomatic and electrically undetectable intracardiac inside-out abrasion in silicon-coated Riata® and Riata® ST implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads.

Background: Recently, several cases of symptomatic and/or electrically detectable intracardiac inside-out abrasions in silicon-coated Riata® and Riata® ST leads have been described. However, the prevalence in asymptomatic patients with unremarkable implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) interrogation is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic and electrically undetectable intracardiac inside-out abrasion in silicon-coated Riata® and Riata® ST leads.

Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation as first-line therapy--a single-centre experience.

Aims: The aims of the study were (i) to assess the characteristics of patients selected for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation as first-line therapy, (ii) to identify current clinical criteria for such a strategy, and (iii) to analyse the outcome compared with patients who had failure of antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy prior to ablation.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients undergoing ablation of AF were included in a prospective registry. Serial long-term electrocardiogram monitoring and clinical follow-up were performed after 3, 6, and 12 months.

Brugada syndrome ECG provoked by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor fluvoxamine.

A patient with an SCN5A p.W822X nonsense mutation, localized in the transmembrane region DII-S4 of the Na(v)1.5 sodium channel and leading to a non-expression of the mutant allele, was prescribed the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluvoxamine (Floxyfral), 100 mg per day.

Gender differences in patients referred for atrial fibrillation management to a tertiary center.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is less frequently performed in women than in men. Although the prevalence of AF is slightly higher in men, this does not fully account for the lower number of AF ablations performed in women. This study sought to examine the effect of gender on referral for AF and subsequent AF management.

Dual-loop circuits in postoperative atrial macro re-entrant tachycardias.

Background: Patients may develop dual-loop re-entrant atrial arrhythmias late after open-heart surgery, and mapping and catheter ablation remain challenging despite computer-assisted mapping techniques.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to demonstrate the prevalence and characteristics of dual-loop re-entrant arrhythmias, and to define the optimal mapping and ablation strategy.

Methods: 40 consecutive patients (mean (SD) age 52 (12) years) with intra-atrial re-entrant tachycardia (IART) after open-heart surgery (with an incision of the right atrial free wall) were studied.

A novel SCN5A mutation, F1344S, identified in a patient with Brugada syndrome and fever-induced ventricular fibrillation.

Objective: Brugada syndrome (BS) is an inherited electrical cardiac disorder characterized by right bundle branch block pattern and ST segment elevation in leads V1 to V3 on surface electrocardiogram that can potentially lead to malignant ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death. About 20% of patients have mutations in the only so far identified gene, SCN5A, which encodes the alpha-subunit of the human cardiac voltage-dependent sodium channel (hNa(v)1.5).

A novel nonsense mutation in the SCN5A gene leads to Brugada syndrome and a silent gene mutation carrier state.

Background: Brugada syndrome (BS) is an electrical cardiac disorder with a right bundle branch block and ST segment elevation in leads V1 to V3 on surface electrocardiograms (ECGs), and is a syndrome that may lead to sudden cardiac death.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to screen for mutations in the SCN5A gene in a family with BS, and to characterize the consequences of the mutation on channel function.

Results: A heterozygous nonsense SCN5A mutation (W822X) was identified in the index patient.

Electrocardiographic pattern as a guide for management and radiofrequency ablation of idiopathic ventricular tachycardia.

Background: Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT) often originates from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), but foci deep to the endocardium, in the epicardium, or in the left ventricle are not uncommon. Although these extra-RVOT foci can be targeted with ablation, risks involved are higher and success rates lower. Simple electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria allowing (1) discrimination of RVOT foci from extra-RVOT foci and (2) assessment of the chance of success of a right heart ablation procedure are desirable.

Incidence of arrhythmic events in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death.

Background: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) are increasingly used for prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Although mortality risk reduction is about the same in primary and secondary prevention trials (~30%), we hypothesised that the incidence and the nature of ventricular arrhythmias is different in high risk ICD recipients without prior arrhythmias compared to patients who presented with life threatening arrhythmias.

Methods: A hundred consecutive ICD recipients were allocated to 2 groups: 1) secondary prevention: an ICD was implanted for secondary prevention of episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF).