Association of QTc Interval and V4-S Wave With Appropriate ICD Therapy in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Ventricular arrhythmias in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) may lead to sudden cardiac death (SCD). We aimed to investigate the relationship between electrocardiogram (ECG) indicators and the risk of appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in HCM.

Methods: The HCM patients receiving ICD implantation were enrolled consecutively.

Comorbid Hypertension Reduces the Risk of Ventricular Arrhythmia in Chronic Heart Failure Patients with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators.

Aims: Low blood pressure (BP) has been shown to be associated with increased mortality in patients with chronic heart failure. This study was designed to evaluate the relationships between diagnosed hypertension and the risk of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) and all-cause death in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), including those with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) and indication for ICD secondary prevention. We hypothesized that a stable hypertension status, along with an increasing BP level, is associated with a reduction in the risk of VA in this population, thereby limiting ICD efficacy.

Mitral Regurgitation and Body Mass Index Increase the Predictability of Perioperative Bleeding in Anticoagulated Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Catheter ablation (CA) effectively restores sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation (AF) but causes a short-term fluctuation in the coagulation state. Potential risk factors and better management during this perioperative period remain understudied.

Methods: We consecutively included 940 patients with nonvalvular AF who received CA at Fuwai Hospital, Beijing, China.

Validation of an Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy Risk-Prediction Model in a Chinese Cohort.

Background: The novel arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC)-associated ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) risk-prediction model endorsed by Cadrin-Tourigny et al. was recently developed to estimate visual VA risk and was identified to be more effective for predicting ventricular events than the International Task Force Consensus (ITFC) criteria, and the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS) criteria. Data regarding its application in Asians are lacking.

Nomogram predicting death and heart transplantation before appropriate ICD shock in dilated cardiomyopathy.

Aims: This study aimed to develop and validate a competing risk nomogram for predicting all-cause mortality and heart transplantation (HT) before first appropriate shock in non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients receiving implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD).

Methods And Results: A total of 218 consecutive DCM patients implanted with ICD between 2010 and 2019 at our institution were retrospectively enrolled. Cox proportional hazards model was primarily built to identify variables associated with death and HT.

Contrast-enhanced image-guided lead deployment for left bundle branch pacing.

Background: Left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) is a novel conduction system pacing modality, but pacing lead deployment remains challenging.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of visualization-enhanced lead deployment for LBBP implantation and to assess LBBP characteristics on the basis of lead tip location.

Methods: Successful LBBP with a well-defined lead tip location by visualization of the tricuspid value annulus in 20 patients was retrospectively analyzed to develop an image-guided technique to identify the LBBP target site.

Left ventricular involvement assessed by LGE-CMR in predicting the risk of adverse outcomes of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy with ICDs.

Background: Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy (ACM) is characterized by a high incidence of ventricular tachyarrhythmia and sudden death. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation is the cornerstone of management.

Objective: This study aims to reveal the prognostic value of the contrast-enhanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) amount in predicting varying lethal outcomes among ACM patients with ICDs.

Global and regional cardiac dysfunction quantified by F-FDG PET scans can predict ventricular arrhythmia in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Background: A low appropriate therapy rate indicates that a minority of patients will benefit from their implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Quantitative measurements from F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG PET) may predict ventricular arrhythmia (VA) occurrence after ICD placement.

Methods: We performed a prospective observational study and recruited patients who required ICD placement.

Comparison of electrical characteristics and pacing parameters of pacing different parts of the His-Purkinje system in bradycardia patients.

Purpose: We aimed to evaluate the electrical characteristics and pacing parameters at different locations of His-Purkinje system pacing.

Methods: Patients who successfully underwent His-Purkinje system pacing with bradycardia indications from April 2018 to August 2019 were retrospectively analyzed according to the lead location confirmed by visualization of the tricuspid value annulus, postoperative echocardiography, and pacing electrocardiogram. The electrical characteristics and pacing parameters were compared among these patients.

Electrical characteristics of pacing different portions of the His bundle in bradycardia patients.

Aims: His-bundle pacing (HBP) can be achieved in either atrial-side HBP (aHBP) or ventricular-side HBP (vHBP). The study compared the pacing parameters and electrophysiological characteristics between aHBP and vHBP in bradycardia patients.

Methods And Results: Fifty patients undergoing HBP implantation assisted by visualization of the tricuspid valvular annulus (TVA) were enrolled.

Prognostic effects of longitudinal changes in left ventricular ejection fraction with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Aims: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is considered an indicator of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Longitudinal studies on the predictive value of LVEF are scarce. We aimed to comprehensively evaluate the prognostic role of LVEF in the outcomes of Chinese patients with CRT.

Sacubitril/Valsartan in the Management of Heart Failure Patients with Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices.

For heart failure patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), especially those who remain symptomatic after implantation, the best management strategy is still unclear. Although there are several concerns regarding the clinical utilization of sacubitril/valsartan, it has improved the prognosis of patients with heart failure compared with the use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors in recent years. Recent real-world observational studies and post hoc analyses demonstrated that sacubitril/valsartan might have effects in patients with CIEDs.

Comparison between his-bundle pacing and left bundle branch pacing in patients with atrioventricular block.

Background: Pacing the cardiac conduction system has been explored in patients with conduction system disease, but comprehensive comparisons between different pacing modalities are not well investigated.

Objective: To compare pacing characteristics and ventricular synchrony between His-bundle pacing (HBP) and left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) in patients with atrioventricular block (AVB).

Methods: Fifty pacemaker-indicated patients with AVB were enrolled.

Permanent His Bundle Pacing Implantation Facilitated by Visualization of the Tricuspid Valve Annulus.

Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) is the most physiological pacing modality. However, HBP has longer procedure times with frequent high capture thresholds, which likely contributes to the low adoption of this approach. The aim of this study is to compare HBP implantation with a novel imaging technique versus the standard implantation technique.

A prognostic nomogram for event-free survival in patients with atrial fibrillation before cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF), one of the most common comorbidities of heart failure (HF), is associated with worse long-term prognosis in HF patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, there is still no convenient tool to identify CRT candidates with AF who are at high risk of mortality and hospitalization due to HF.

Methods: We included 152 consecutive patients with AF for CRT in our hospital from January 2009 to July 2019.

Echocardiographic Predictors of All-Cause Mortality in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy following Pacemaker Implantation.

Objectives: To examine the association between the echocardiographic parameters measured as left atrial diameter (LAD) and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and long-term risk of all-cause mortality in adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) following pacemaker implantation.

Methods: A total of 94 adult patients with HCM who underwent pacemaker implantation from November 2002 to June 2013 in our Arrhythmia Center for symptomatic bradycardia and did not receive an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) during follow-up were retrospectively extracted.

Results: After careful examination of the medical records, we retrospectively evaluated the clinical characteristics of 74 patients with LAD records (58.

Left bundle branch pacing from distal His-bundle region by tricuspid valve annulus angiography.

A 78-year-old man presenting with amaurosis was admitted to the outpatient clinic 1 week ago. His baseline electrocardiogram showed Mobitz type II atrioventricular block and right bundle branch block. The patient's heart rate from Holter was only 32 bpm and therefore the indication for pacemaker implantation.

Visualization of tricuspid valve annulus for implantation of His bundle pacing in patients with symptomatic bradycardia.

Background: His bundle pacing (HBP) is a physiological pacing modality, but HBP implantation remains a challenge.

Objective: This study explored the feasibility of using visualization of the tricuspid valve annulus (TVA) to locate the site for HBP.

Methods: During the lead placement in eight patients with symptomatic bradycardia, the TVA and tricuspid septal leaflet was revealed by contrast injection in the right ventricle under the fluoroscopic right anterior oblique view, and the target site for HBP was identified near the intersection of the tricuspid septal leaflet and the interventricular septum.

Efficacy of Wenxin Keli Plus Amiodarone versus Amiodarone Monotherapy in Treating Recent-Onset Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Use of amiodarone (AMIO) in atrial fibrillation (AF) has significant side effects over prolonged periods. Wenxin Keli (WXKL), a Chinese herb extract, has been shown to be effective in atrial-selective inhibiting peak and hence beneficial in treating atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation. The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate potential effects of AMIO plus WXKL on conversion rate and time in patients with recent-onset AF.

Leucocyte telomere length and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: A prospective cohort study and systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background: Telomere length is a surrogate marker of biological aging. Whether telomere length predicts the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) independently of biological aging is controversial. We conducted a cohort study to examine the relationship between telomere length and paroxysmal AF (PAF), followed by a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published literature, incorporating our own data.

Prolonged corrected QT interval in predicting atrial fibrillation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Corrected QT interval (QTc) on the electrocardiogram is a marker of ventricular repolarization. Recent studies have examined its value in predicting the occurrence of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: We conducted a meta-analysis to determine whether alterations in QTc interval are associated with an increased risk of incident AF.

Meta-analysis of Fragmented QRS as an Electrocardiographic Predictor for Arrhythmic Events in Patients with Brugada Syndrome.

Fragmented QRS (fQRS) is an electrocardiographic marker related to ventricular fibrillation (VF) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) in various clinical settings. Current data regarding the prognostic significance of fQRS in Brugada syndrome (BrS) are contradictory. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the presence of fQRS as a risk stratification tool in BrS.

Brugada phenocopy in a patient with acute pulmonary embolism presenting with recurrent syncope.

Brugada phenocopy (BrP) refers to a group of clinical conditions that have etiologies distinct from Brugada syndrome (BrS). Although both demonstrate features of ST-segment elevation in the right precordial leads on the electrocardiogram (ECG), one must be distinguished from the other as their treatment options are different. We report a male patient who presented with recurrent syncope with a Brugada and a S1Q3T3 pattern on the ECG.