Cardioneuroablation for the treatment of reflex syncope and functional bradyarrhythmias: A Scientific Statement of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) of the ESC, the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS) and the Latin American Heart Rhythm Society (LAHRS).

Cardioneuroablation has emerged as a potential alternative to cardiac pacing in selected cases with vasovagal reflex syncope, extrinsic vagally induced sinus bradycardia-arrest or atrioventricular block. The technique was first introduced decades ago, and its use has risen over the past decade. However, as with any intervention, proper patient selection and technique are a prerequisite for a safe and effective use of cardioneuroablation therapy.

Gender-Specific Performance of One- Compared to Two-Catheter Concepts in Transradial Coronary Angiography - Insights From the Randomized UDDC-Radial-Trial.

Objectives: The present sub-analysis from the randomized UDDC-Radial-Trial sought to compare one-catheter concepts (OCC) with two-catheter concepts (TCC) in different patient subgroups, particularly in those depending on gender and age.

Background: There is an ongoing debate regarding potential performance differences of OCC compared to TCC for transradial coronary angiography in specific patient subgroups.

Methods: The randomized UDDC-Radial-Trial enrolled a total of 300 patients planed for coronary angiography in a 2:1 ratio to either OCC by Tiger II (n = 100) and BLK (n = 100) or TCC by Judkins (n = 100) catheters.

P-wave detection performance of the BioMonitor III, Confirm Rx and Reveal Linq implantable loop recorders.

Introduction: Rhythm interpretation of EGMs recorded by implantable loop recorders (ILRs) is facilitated in cases when p-waves are visible. The three most commonly used ILRs (BioMonitor III, Confirm RX and Reveal Linq) vary in size, electrode placement and filter algorithms. Therefore, p-wave visibility and amplitude on EGM may vary according to the implanted device.

A randomised comparison of monoplane versus biplane fluoroscopy in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: the RAMBO trial.

Aims: Interventional cardiologists are exposed to substantial occupational ionising radiation. This study sought to investigate differences in radiation exposure in biplane versus monoplane coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI).

Methods And Results: RAMBO (RAdiation exposure in Monoplane versus Biplane cOronary angiography and interventions) was a prospective, randomised, two-arm, single-centre, open-label trial, enrolling a total of 430 patients undergoing coronary angiography.

Performance of One- Compared With Two-Catheter Concepts in Transradial Coronary Angiography (from the Randomized Use of Different Diagnostic Catheters-Radial-Trial).

The Use of Different Diagnostic Catheters-Radial-Trial sought to compare the safety and efficacy of one-catheter concepts (OCC) using Tiger II or BLK catheters with two-catheter concepts (TCC) using standard Judkins catheters for transradial coronary angiography. A total of 300 patients planed for coronary angiography were enrolled into this single-center, single-blinded trial. Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either OCC by Tiger II (n = 100) and BLK (n = 100) or TCC by Judkins (n = 100) catheters.

Clinical effects of long-term cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) in subjects with heart failure caused by left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Introduction: Heart failure is a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Despite advances in therapy, nearly half of patients receiving guideline-directed medical therapy remain limited by symptoms. Cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) can improve symptoms in this population, but efficacy and safety in prospective studies has been limited to 12 months of follow-up.

Adverse events while awaiting myocardial revascularization: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: The aim of the current study was to estimate adverse event rates while awaiting myocardial revascularization and review criteria for prioritizing patients.

Methods: A PubMed search was performed on 19 January 2015, to identify English-language, original, observational studies reporting adverse events while awaiting coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Rates of death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and emergency revascularization were calculated as occurrence rates per 1000 patient-weeks and pooled using random-effects models.

Late deterioration of left ventricular function after right ventricular pacemaker implantation.

Objectives: Right ventricular (RV) pacing induces a left bundle branch block pattern on ECG and may promote heart failure. Patients with dual chamber pacemakers (DCPs) who present with progressive reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) secondary to RV pacing are candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). This study analyzes whether upgrading DCP to CRT with the additional implantation of a left ventricular (LV) lead improves LV function in patients with reduced LVEF following DCP implantation.

[Telemedicine-assisted treatment of a 76-year-old man with heart failure].

The case of a patient with dilated cardiomyopathy and severely impaired left ventricular function is reported. With existing complete left bundle branch block and the patient being on optimal medical therapy, a cardiac resynchronization device with an integrated defibrillator was implanted and the patient was included in our telemonitoring program. During monitoring, an increase in ventricular premature beats with a decrease in biventricular pacing percentage was noticed.

Heartbeat Cycle Length Detection by a Ballistocardiographic Sensor in Atrial Fibrillation and Sinus Rhythm.

Background: Heart rate monitoring is especially interesting in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and is routinely performed by ECG. A ballistocardiography (BCG) foil is an unobtrusive sensor for mechanical vibrations. We tested the correlation of heartbeat cycle length detection by a novel algorithm for a BCG foil to an ECG in AF and sinus rhythm (SR).

[Successful ablation of an atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia ablation 2 years after orthotopic heart transplantation].

We report the case of a 48-year-old woman with an orthotopic heart transplantation. Two years after transplantation, the patient reported intermittent palpitations and dyspnea. The results of the 12-lead electrogram provided suspicion of AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), which was confirmed in the electrophysiological examination.

Atrial standstill in sinus node disease due to extensive atrial fibrosis: impact on dual chamber pacemaker implantation.

Aims: Atrial standstill is characterized by the absence of atrial activity. We report about a series of cases, in which conventional atrial pacemaker lead implantation in patients with symptomatic sinus node disease failed due to lack of excitable right atrial tissue, thus, prompting the diagnosis of atrial standstill. We hypothesized that mapping of the atria with subsequent identification of myocardium still amenable to atrial pacing would allow dual chamber pacemaker implantation.

Increase of ventricular interval during atrial fibrillation by atrioventricular node vagal stimulation: chronic clinical atrioventricular-nodal stimulation download study.

Background: Patients with a high ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation (AF) are at increased risk of receiving inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks. The objective was to demonstrate the feasibility of high frequency atrioventricular-nodal stimulation (AVNS) to reduce the ventricular rate during AF to prevent inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks.

Methods And Results: Patients with a new atrial lead placement as part of a cardiac resynchronization therapy and defibrillator implant and a history of paroxysmal or persistent AF were eligible.

Feasibility of bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy measurement before and after thoracentesis.

Background: Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy is applied to measure changes in tissue composition. The aim of this study was to evaluate its feasibility in measuring the fluid shift after thoracentesis in patients with pleural effusion.

Methods: 45 participants (21 with pleural effusion and 24 healthy subjects) were included.

[A patient without intracardiac ECG. Persistent azygos vein].

Interruption of inferior vena cava with azygos continuation is a rare venous anomaly. We report the case of a 17 old male with Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome and a persistent vena azygos. Despite the complex anatomical situation, it was possible to safely ablate a lateral accessory pathway with radiofrequency energy using a femoral retrograde approach.

Subthreshold High-Frequency Electrical Field Stimulation Induces VEGF Expression in Cardiomyocytes.

Subthreshold electrical stimulation (SES) has been shown to induce an improvement of angiogenesis in ischemic and nonischemic skeletal muscles, mediated by increased VEGF expression. VEGF plays a key role in physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Cardiomyocytes possess the ability to synthesize and secrete VEGF.

Revascularisation versus medical treatment in patients with stable coronary artery disease: network meta-analysis.

Objective: To investigate whether revascularisation improves prognosis compared with medical treatment among patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Design: Bayesian network meta-analyses to combine direct within trial comparisons between treatments with indirect evidence from other trials while maintaining randomisation.

Eligibility Criteria For Selecting Studies: A strategy of initial medical treatment compared with revascularisation by coronary artery bypass grafting or Food and Drug Administration approved techniques for percutaneous revascularization: balloon angioplasty, bare metal stent, early generation paclitaxel eluting stent, sirolimus eluting stent, and zotarolimus eluting (Endeavor) stent, and new generation everolimus eluting stent, and zotarolimus eluting (Resolute) stent among patients with stable coronary artery disease.