Cryoballoon ablation without use of contrast for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Background: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) is usually preceded by demonstrating pulmonary vein (PV) occlusion using contrast. The aim of the study was to determine efficacy and safety of a simplified protocol for CBA performed without demonstrating PV occlusion and compare achieved results with conventional CBA.

Methods: Paroxysmal AF patients undergoing a first-time CBA were prospectively included.

Bipolar Endo-Epicardial Radiofrequency Ablation of Therapy-Resistant Ventricular Arrhythmias: A Brief Case Series.

Despite extensive conventional endoepicardial ablation, significant intramural arrhythmogenic substrate may remain out of reach of unipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The authors present clinical findings and procedural workflow for bipolar radiofrequency ablation (B-RFA) with 1 catheter placed against the endocardium and the other in the pericardial sac to ablate refractory ventricular arrhythmias. No serious adverse events occurred during B-RFA procedures, and the short-term and midterm clinical results were satisfactory.

Simultaneous Entrainment Response Assessment at Multiple Sites.

Background: The entrainment response, defined as the difference between the postpacing interval and the tachycardia cycle length (TCL) recorded from a mapping catheter, allows to track down the components of the tachycardia loop.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate if the postpacing interval measured simultaneously from multiple sites that are remote from the pacing site (PPIR) could be clinically useful in mapping re-entrant circuits.

Methods: Ninety-two episodes of entrainment response in 29 patients with different macro-re-entrant tachycardias were evaluated using a standardized entrainment protocol.

Atrial electrogram amplitude variability during atrial fibrillation ablation.

Introduction: Variability of the bipolar atrial electrogram amplitude may affect voltage maps created during ablation procedures, and thus also the extent of ablations. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the beat-to-beat electrogram amplitude variability in the left atrium in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation.

Methods: In 11 patients undergoing ablation for atrial fibrillation, 362 mapping points were collected in two series.

Successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention determines the very long-term prognosis in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction even in survivors of the acute phase. The ANIN Myocardial Infarction Registry.

Introduction: Successful primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) saves lives in the acute phase of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and improves the mid-term prognosis. Whether that benefit remains significant in very long-term follow-up and is associated with total ischaemic time (TIT), especially in survivors of the acute phase of STEMI, is unknown.

Aim: We sought to investigate the impact of initial and final thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow on long-term survival in a homogeneous, unselected group of patients with STEMI undergoing pPCI at a high-volume centre.

Bedside prediction of 9-year mortality after ST‑segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: Despite similar underlying pathogenesis, clinical features, and management of ST‑segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the long‑term prognosis of patients is highly variable. The ability to stratify an individual's long‑term mortality risk could facilitate development of focused interventions aimed at reducing poor long‑term outcomes.

Aims: This study aimed to develop and validate a simple risk score based on routinely collected data for all‑cause and cardiovascular 9-year mortality in a homogeneous group of patients with STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

Quantification of mitral regurgitation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy using aortic and pulmonary flow data: impacts of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and different left ventricular segmentation methods.

Background: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) enables the assessment of not only left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and scarring but also the severity of mitral regurgitation. CMR assessment of mitral regurgitation is primarily based on the difference between LV stroke volume (LVSV) and aortic forward flow (Ao) measured using the phase-contrast (PC) technique. However, LV outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction causing turbulent, non-laminar flow in the ascending aorta may impact the accuracy of aortic flow quantification, leading to false conclusions regarding mitral regurgitation severity.

Biventricular mechanics in prediction of severe myocardial fibrosis in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy: CMR study.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the ability of various parameters of myocardial mechanics to predict large amounts of biventricular fibrosis assessed via T1 mapping in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Material: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance feature tracking analysis and T1 mapping were performed in 26 patients with DCM [mean age: 34.4±9.

Platelet aggregation and risk of stent thrombosis or bleeding in interventionally treated diabetic patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Background: Platelet aggregation monitoring in diabetic patients treated with coronary interventions (PCI) for an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a promising way of optimizing treatment and outcomes in this high risk group. The aim of the study was to verify whether clopidogrel response measured by Multiplate analyzer (ADPtest) in diabetic ACS patients treated with PCI predicts the risk of stent thrombosis or cardiovascular mortality and bleeding.

Methods: Into this prospective, observational study 206 elective PCI patients were enrolled.

The value of cardiac magnetic resonance and distribution of late gadolinium enhancement for risk stratification of sudden cardiac death in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: The presence of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is associated with worse clinical outcome and the extent of LGE predicts the increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Limited data exist regarding the distribution of LGE. We attempted to verify whether the presence of LGE outside the interventricular insertion points carries additional risk for patients with HCM.

Total ischaemic time and 9-year outcomes in STEMI patients treated with pPCI.

Background: Prolonged total ischaemic time (TIT) has been shown to independently predict poor myocardial perfusion in STEMI patients and affect in-hospital mortality. We aim to evaluate the influence of TIT on long-term follow-up (F/U) and identify the factors associated with TIT in patients with STEMI treated with pPCI at a high volume centre.

Methods: In a prospective "all-comer" registry, clinical, angiographic and procedural characteristics, TIT and 9-year mortality were determined in consecutive STEMI patients treated with pPCI.