Interventional prevention of paradoxical embolism as the gold standard: End of discussion?

Paradoxical embolism is one of the predominant causes of cryptogenic stroke and interventional secondary prevention, i.e., closure of the patent foramen ovale (PFO), is a much discussed issue.

Radial artery pseudoaneurysm as a rare very late complication of transradial cardiac catheterization.

Aims: Here, we report a case of very late (70+ days) development of pseudoaneurysm on the site of sheath insertion in a 60- year old woman.

Methods: The patient underwent cardiac catheterization using transradial approach.

Results: Despite the transradial approach, which is generally considered as a suitable prevention of this problem, and despite absence of any periprocedural complications, the patient developed a pseudoaneurysm after more than 70 days from the procedure.

Case report: Symptoms of advanced heart failure--a case for radiofrequency catheter ablation?

A sixty-year-old man with previous history of coronary artery disease was admitted due to progressive worsening of dyspnoea at exertion (NYHA III functional class) and no angina. Coronary angiography confirmed occlusion of the right coronary artery which was naturally bypassed by homocollaterals with TIMI 3 flow to the peripheral branches. The lesion was not technically suitable for percutaneous angioplasty.

Endothelial damage and activation of the hemostatic system during radiofrequency catheter isolation of pulmonary veins.

Aims: To determine the systemic thrombogenic effect of radiofrequency catheter isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVI) in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Methods And Results: We studied endothelial damage marker (von Willebrand factor [vWf]), fibrinolysis markers (tissue plasminogen activator [t-PA], plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 [PAI-1]) and coagulation activation markers (D-dimer [DD]) in 30 patients (pts) undergoing PVI. Heparin was administered continuously after double transseptal puncture in all pts.

Triple-site pacing in patients with biventricular device-incidence of the phenomenon and cardiac resynchronization benefit.

Background: In patients with biventricular pacing (BIV), triple-site pacing (TSP), i.e. standard biventricular cathodal pacing of the right and the left ventricle plus additional anodal capture of the right ventricle, is sometimes present.