Assessment of the correlation between Doppler derived dP/dt and aortic velocity-time integral during cardiac resynchronization therapy optimization.

Purpose: Suboptimal response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) may be improved by optimization of device parameters using echocardiography. For this purpose, the aortic velocity-time integral (aVTI) has been used as a target metric to define optimal velocity timings for each ventricle. dP/dt is a parameter used for the assessment of myocardial contractility.

A long-standing conundrum: an unusual case of 2:1 atrioventricular block with conflicting findings.

A 2:1 atrioventricular (AV) block can occur anywhere within the conduction system, and noninvasive measurements may not always predict the exact site of the block. Although localization of the block is critical for deciding any treatment, patients should also be carefully questioned about symptoms both at rest and during exertion. A case of 2:1 AV block that was symptomatic only during exertion, appeared infranodal by noninvasive diagnostic methods, but was found to be intranodal on electrophysiological study is reported.

Tricuspid regurgitation and infective endocarditis as a cause of lead dislodgement in left bundle branch area pacing.

Background: According to the current literature, there is no difference between left bundle brunch area pacing (LBBAP) and right ventricular apical pacing in terms of lead dislodgement and capture threshold elevation. However, there are no large-scale studies reporting the data about long-term lead stability in patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation.

Methods And Results: We present a case of lead dislodgement with possible infective endocarditis six months after implantation in a patient with severe tricuspid regurgitation who underwent LBBAP.

Evaluation of the Impact of Body Position on Primary Central Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the body position on primary central sleep apnea syndrome.

Methods: Fifty-five subjects diagnosed with central sleep apnea (CSA) through polysomnographic examinations were prospectively enrolled in the study. All patients underwent cardiologic and neurologic examinations.

The effect of idiopathic premature ventricular complexes on left ventricular ejection fraction.

Aim: Current literature lacks a definitive threshold of idiopathic premature ventricular complex (PVC) burden for predicting cardiomyopathy (CMP). The main objective of the present study was to evaluate relationship between the PVC burden and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).

Method: This multicenter, cross-sectional study included 341 consecutive patients with more than 1,000 idiopathic PVC in 24 hr of Holter monitoring admitted to the cardiology clinics between January 2019 and May 2019 in the nineteen different centers.

Association of cardiac adaptations with NT-proBNP levels after percutaneous closure of atrial septal defect.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the early effects of transcatheter closure of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) on atrial and ventricular diameters and functions evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography, and to assess the relation of morphological changes to N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels.

Methods: Twenty-two patients with secundum-type ASD referred for percutaneous closure were included in the study as well as 22 healthy individuals who served as a control group. TTE and concurrent blood sampling were performed prior to and 24 hours and 30 days after the closure procedure.

Monitoring the response to treatment of acute heart failure patients by ultrasonographic inferior vena cava collapsibility index.

Objective: Our aim was to determine if N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) or sonographic measurements of inferior vena caval (IVC) diameters and collapsibility index (IVC-CI) have a role in the monitoring of acute heart failure (AHF) therapy.

Methods: Inferior vena caval diameters of 50 healthy people (control group) were measured to determine the normal values of the IVC parameters. We then prospectively enrolled patients who were admitted to the emergency department (ED) with a primary diagnosis of AHF.

Central venous obstruction and clinical predictors in patients with permanent pacemaker.

Objective: This study investigated the proportion of silent venous obstruction in patients who underwent pacemaker or lead reimplantation for various reasons. We also investigated independent predictors or risk factor of venous obstruction in this patient population.

Methods: Seventy-three patients who underwent pacemaker pulse generator and/or lead reimplantation in our institution between 2007 and 2010 were enrolled for this retrospective case-control study.

An observational study of the effect of coronary artery disease severity on acute pacing threshold and lead impedance in patients with permanent pacemaker.

Objective: This study investigated the effect of coronary artery disease (CAD) severity, distribution and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on acute ventricular pacing threshold and lead impedance at the time of pacemaker implantation.

Methods: One hundred and thirty-two patients who received a ventricular pacemaker or internal cardioverter-defibrilator (ICD) lead in our institution between 2007-2010 were included in this observational study. Patients were divided into ICD and anti-bradycardic pacemaker (PM) groups.