Utility of Frailty Assessment for Elderly Patients Undergoing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of frailty in the elderly on response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

Background: CRT has been shown to improve symptoms and outcome of patients with congestive heart failure (HF) and impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The impact of frailty on the results of CRT is unknown.

Prevalence and predictive factors of left atrial tachycardia occurring after second-generation cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Assess the prevalence and predictors of left atrial tachycardia (LAT) after cryoballoon ablation of pulmonary veins.

Methods And Results: Patients who underwent catheter ablation of pulmonary veins with a second-generation cryoballoon for symptomatic paroxysmal (151 of 270, 56%) or persistent (119 of 270, 44%) atrial fibrillation were entered in a single-center prospective registry. Patients who experienced postcryoballoon LAT (pcryo-LAT) were selected on the basis of 12-lead ECG characteristics.

Feasibility and safety of temporary subcutaneous venous figure-of-eight suture to achieve haemostasis after ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Aims: This prospective study was carried out to assess the feasibility and safety of venous figure-of-eight suture to achieve haemostasis after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Methods And Results: Consecutive patients who underwent catheter ablation of AF were prospectively enrolled from February 2012 to September 2013. At the end of the procedure, a temporary subcutaneous 'Figure-of-eight' suture technique was used to achieve haemostasis.