Preserved Left Atrial Function Following Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Stroke Prevention.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are at high risk of thromboembolism, with most thrombi forming in the left atrial (LA) appendage. LA appendage closure is an alternative therapy to oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in AF patients with contraindication to oral anticoagulation. LA function is critical for cardiovascular function, and recent studies suggested a direct relationship between LA function and AF recurrence.

Impact of diabetes as a risk factor in patients undergoing subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation: A single-centre study.

Introduction: Patients with diabetes mellitus are known to carry an increased risk for surgical site infections and perioperative complications. The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator is an established treatment option in patients at risk for sudden cardiac death especially with an increased risk for infection over time.

Methods And Results: Forty-eight patients (mean age = 55.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage closure for stroke prevention in patients with chronic renal disease.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the general population. Atrial fibrillation is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events, particularly stroke. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a higher prevalence of AF and is an independent risk factor of increased mortality and stroke in AF patients.

[Approaches to atrial fibrillation with tachycardia transition].

Atrial fibrillation, the most common cardiac arrhythmia in the daily clinical routine, is a challenge in in-hospital and prehospital emergency medicine and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality if left untreated. Especially tachyarrhythmia, caused by atrial fibrillation, leads to various unspecified symptoms and in some cases to severely impaired circulation. Thus, an individualized therapeutic regimen is required.

Use of pulsed electron avalanche knife (PEAK) PlasmaBlade™ in patients undergoing implantation of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

Introduction: Surgical implantation of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICD) requires preparation of a deeper and larger pocket. Infection and bleeding complications are reported, particularly in patients requiring antiplatelet therapy (APT) or being on oral anticoagulation (OAC), with rates up to 25%. The pulsed electron avalanche knife (PEAK) PlasmaBlade™ has been reported to reduce bleeding complications.

Conscious sedation during subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation using the intermuscular technique.

Background: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) system is an established therapy for the prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and an alternative to a transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) system in selected patients. S-ICDs are usually implanted under general anesthesia. The purpose of the present study was to describe the technical feasibility and safety of local anesthesia with conscious sedation as an alternative to general anesthesia during S-ICD implantation using the intermuscular technique.

Percutaneous closure of the left atrial appendage in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Background: Left atrial appendage closure is a preventive treatment of atrial fibrillation-related thrombo-embolism. Patients with diabetes mellitus have increased risk for a negative outcome in percutaneous cardiac interventions. We assessed whether percutaneous left atrial appendage closure is safe and effective in patients with diabetes mellitus.