Bleeding Independently associated with Mortality after noncardiac Surgery (BIMS): an international prospective cohort study establishing diagnostic criteria and prognostic importance.

Background: We aimed to establish diagnostic criteria for bleeding independently associated with mortality after noncardiac surgery (BIMS) defined as bleeding during or within 30 days after noncardiac surgery that is independently associated with mortality within 30 days of surgery, and to estimate the proportion of 30-day postoperative mortality potentially attributable to BIMS.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study of participants ≥45 yr old having inpatient noncardiac surgery at 12 academic hospitals in eight countries between 2007 and 2011. Cox proportional hazards models evaluated the adjusted relationship between candidate diagnostic criteria for BIMS and all-cause mortality within 30 days of surgery.

Prospective Study of Tricuspid Regurgitation Associated With Permanent Leads After Cardiac Rhythm Device Implantation.

Background: Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) has been associated with cardiac rhythm device (CRD) implantation with intracardiac lead insertion. However, data on the incidence of postdevice TR are limited and largely from retrospective studies. We hypothesized that permanent lead implantation would be associated with an increase in TR.

Bleeding impacting mortality after noncardiac surgery: a protocol to establish diagnostic criteria, estimate prognostic importance, and develop and validate a prediction guide in an international prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Various definitions of bleeding have been used in perioperative studies without systematic assessment of the diagnostic criteria for their independent association with outcomes important to patients. Our proposed definition of bleeding impacting mortality after noncardiac surgery (BIMS) is bleeding that is independently associated with death during or within 30 days after noncardiac surgery. We describe our analysis plan to sequentially 1) establish the diagnostic criteria for BIMS, 2) estimate the independent contribution of BIMS to 30-day mortality and 3) develop and internally validate a clinical prediction guide to estimate patient-specific risk of BIMS.

Prospective study of tricuspid valve regurgitation associated with permanent leads in patients undergoing cardiac rhythm device implantation: Background, rationale, and design.

Given the increasing numbers of cardiac device implantations worldwide, it is important to determine whether permanent endocardial leads across the tricuspid valve can promote tricuspid regurgitation (TR). Virtually all current data is retrospective, and indicates a signal of TR being increased after permanent lead implantation. However, the precise incidence of moderate or greater TR post-procedure, the exact mechanisms (mechanical, traumatic, functional), and the hemodynamic burden and clinical effects of this putative increase in TR, remain uncertain.

Tricuspid valve regurgitation following temporary or permanent endocardial lead insertion, and the impact of cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: While some studies indicate that permanent pacemaker implantation is associated with development of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), other studies indicate no association.Little is known about the impact of temporary lead insertion during ablation procedures, or whether therapy (CRT) prevents TR post-device implantation.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that permanent, but nottemporary endocardial leads, are associated with development of TR, and that CRT would prevent (physiologic) TR.

Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery: a large, international, prospective cohort study establishing diagnostic criteria, characteristics, predictors, and 30-day outcomes.

Background: Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS) was defined as prognostically relevant myocardial injury due to ischemia that occurs during or within 30 days after noncardiac surgery. The study's four objectives were to determine the diagnostic criteria, characteristics, predictors, and 30-day outcomes of MINS.

Methods: In this international, prospective cohort study of 15,065 patients aged 45 yr or older who underwent in-patient noncardiac surgery, troponin T was measured during the first 3 postoperative days.

Electromagnetic interference of communication devices on ECG machines.

Background: Use of communication devices in the hospital environment remains controversial. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can affect different medical devices. Potential sources for EMI on ECG machines were systematically tested.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and tachyarrhythmias detected by a pacemaker.

A 56-year-old man came to the Pacemaker Clinic for his regular pacemaker control. He had experienced a syncopal episode in the previous week. He had a previous diagnosis of non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Postoperative low-molecular-weight heparin bridging is associated with an increase in wound hematoma following surgery for pacemakers and implantable defibrillators.

Background: The perioperative management of patients receiving oral anticoagulation therapy (OAC) who undergo pacemaker (PM) and defibrillator (ICD) surgery remains controversial. Low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) is often used; however, wound hematoma is a common complication.

Methods: At a single academic Canadian center, between July 2003 and June 2005, details of perioperative OAC bridging and the rate of wound hematoma requiring reoperation or interruption of OAC were reviewed for all patients receiving LMWH bridging for PM or ICD surgery.

[Real time intracardiac electrograms for the diagnosis of pacemaker malfunction].

Chronic ventricular lead dislodgement is an infrequent complication of pacemaker implantation. Occasionally, the dislodged lead may sense and capture a chamber in which the lead was not originally positioned. Intracardiac real time electrograms and channel markers are useful tools for the diagnosis of pacemaker malfunction.

An unusual mechanism causing inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks: transient reduction in R-wave amplitude.

Inappropriate shocks delivered by the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are an increasingly recognized complication. The most frequent cause is related to supraventricular rhythms associated with fast conduction to the ventricles that are incorrectly detected as ventricular tachycardia leading to inappropriate antitachycardia pacing and/or shocks. Oversensing is a frequent cause of inappropriate shocks usually due to increased amplitude of the T-wave secondary to ischaemia or electrolyte disorders that lead to T-wave double counting.