Maximum-fixed energy shocks for cardioverting atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Direct-current cardioversion is one of the most commonly performed procedures in cardiology. Low-escalating energy shocks are common practice but the optimal energy selection is unknown. We compared maximum-fixed and low-escalating energy shocks for cardioverting atrial fibrillation.

Cardioversion Efficacy Using Pulsed Biphasic or Biphasic Truncated Exponential Waveforms: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Several different defibrillators are currently used for cardioversion and defibrillation of cardiac arrhythmias. The efficacy of a novel pulsed biphasic (PB) waveform has not been compared to other biphasic waveforms. Accordingly, this study aims to compare the efficacy and safety of PB shocks with biphasic truncated exponential (BTE) shocks in patients undergoing cardioversion of atrial fibrillation or -flutter.

Resting myocardial dysfunction in cirrhosis quantified by tissue Doppler imaging.

Background: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is described as latent cardiac failure. However, it remains to be investigated whether the myocardial dysfunction is present even at rest.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to quantify left ventricular function at rest by means of tissue Doppler imaging in patients with cirrhosis and relate the findings to liver status and cirrhosis aetiology.

Left ventricular longitudinal strain for perioperative cardiac monitoring in aortic aneurysm surgery using transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiography: a feasibility and repeatability study.

Objective: This study investigated perioperative echocardiographic image quality, the feasibility, and intra- and interobserver repeatability of left ventricular longitudinal two-dimensional strain echocardiography (2DSE) in aortic aneurysm surgery.

Design: A prospective, descriptive method evaluation.

Setting: A single-center study.

Assessment of left ventricular ejection fraction may invalidate the reliability of EuroSCORE.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of different echocardiographic methods for assessment of left ventricular dysfunction on the predictive value of EuroSCORE and thus its reliability in daily practice and benchmarking.

Methods: Twenty-five recordings obtained by transthoracic echocardiography, optimal for study using four different echocardiographic methods, were examined and placed into relevant EuroSCORE classes. The four methods were eyeballing, Wall Motion Index, Simpson 2D volumetric method and Motion mode.