High-Power Short-Duration Radiofrequency Application for Faster and Safer Pulmonary Vein Isolation: The POWER-FAST III Trial.

Background: The optimal radiofrequency application (RFa) parameters for safe and durable pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) are debated. High-power short-duration (HPSD) has been used as an alternative to conventional power delivery (CPD).

Objectives: This study sought to compare HPSD 70 W/9-10 s (HPSD-70) with CPD 25-40 W in patients undergoing PVI.

Atrial Imaging and Cardiac Rhythm in Cryptogenic Embolic Stroke: The ARIES Study.

Background: Unknown cardioembolic sources are frequent causes of cryptogenic stroke. We analyzed the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) or high burden of ectopic atrial activity (HBEA) in patients with cryptogenic stroke, assessing atrial function and 1-year outcomes.

Methods And Results: The ARIES (Atrial Imaging and Cardiac Rhythm in Cryptogenic Embolic Stroke) study is an observational study including patients with cryptogenic stroke.

Impact of the withdrawal of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors on mortality in COVID-19 patients.

Background: Chronic use of Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (ACEi) and aldosterone-receptor blockers (ARB) is not associated with worse outcomes in patients with COVID-19. However, evidence on the impact of their discontinuation during hospital admission is scarce. Our aim was to determine whether withdrawal of ACEi, ARB and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) is associated with all-cause mortality in a real-life large cohort of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Influence of statin treatment in a cohort of patients admitted for COVID-19.

Aims And Objectives: Statins have been proposed as potentially useful agents for modulating the host response in COVID-19. However, solid evidence-based recommendations are still lacking. Our aim was to study the association between statin use and clinical outcomes in a large cohort of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the specific consequences of chronic treatment withdrawal during hospital admission.

Characterization of myocardial injury in a cohort of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Myocardial injury has been identified as a common complication in patients with COVID-19. However, recent research has serious limitations, such as non-guideline definition of myocardial injury, heterogenicity of troponin sampling or very short-term follow-up. Using data from a large European cohort, we aimed to overcome these pitfalls and adequately characterize myocardial damage in COVID-19.

Influence of statin treatment in a cohort of patients admitted for COVID-19.

Aims And Objectives: Statins have been proposed as potentially useful agents for modulating the host response in COVID-19. However, solid evidence-based recommendations are still lacking. Our aim was to study the association between statin use and clinical outcomes in a large cohort of hospitalized patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the specific consequences of chronic treatment withdrawal during hospital admission.

Characterization of myocardial injury in a cohort of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Myocardial injury has been identified as a common complication in patients with COVID-19. However, recent research has serious limitations, such as non-guideline definition of myocardial injury, heterogenicity of troponin sampling or very short-term follow-up. Using data from a large European cohort, we aimed to overcome these pitfalls and adequately characterize myocardial damage in COVID-19.

Prediction of thromboembolic events and mortality by the CHADS2 and the CHA2DS2-VASc in COVID-19.

Aims: Age, sex, and cardiovascular disease have been linked to thromboembolic complications and poorer outcomes in COVID-19. We hypothesize that CHADS2 and CHA2DS2-VASc scores may predict thromboembolic events and mortality in COVID-19.

Methods And Results: COVID-19 hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection from 1 March to 20 April 2020 who completed at least 1-month follow-up or died were studied.

Characterization of NT-proBNP in a large cohort of COVID-19 patients.

Aims: Extensive research regarding the association of troponin and prognosis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been performed. However, data regarding natriuretic peptides are scarce. N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) reflects haemodynamic stress and has proven useful for risk stratification in heart failure (HF) and other conditions such as pulmonary embolism and pneumonia.

Heart failure in COVID-19 patients: prevalence, incidence and prognostic implications.

Aims: Data on the impact of COVID-19 in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients and its potential to trigger acute heart failure (AHF) are lacking. The aim of this work was to study characteristics, cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection and a prior diagnosis of heart failure (HF). Further aims included the identification of predictors and prognostic implications for AHF decompensation during hospital admission and the determination of a potential correlation between the withdrawal of HF guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and worse outcomes during hospitalization.

Feasibility and safety of pulmonary vein isolation by high-power short-duration radiofrequency application: short-term results of the POWER-FAST PILOT study.

Purpose: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) by point-by-point radiofrequency application (PPRF) results in longer procedures than that achieved by single-shot ablation techniques. In addition, it is associated with significant risk of oesophageal injury. The POWER-FAST pilot study evaluated the feasibility and safety of PVI by high-power short-duration (HPSD) PPRF.

Utility of intracardiac echocardiography for catheter ablation of complex cardiac arrhythmias in a medium-volume training center.

Aims And Objectives: New electrophysiology tools like intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) might help to minimize and early detect complications during cardiac ablation procedures. The aim of the study was to assess the utility and vascular safety of ICE during catheter ablation of complex cardiac arrhythmias in a medium-volume training center.

Methods: Prospective, observational study consisted of consecutive patients who underwent catheter-based ablation of complex cardiac arrhythmias.

Implantation of cardioverter defibrillators with minimal fluoroscopy using a three-dimensional navigation system: a feasibility study.

Aims: Fluoroscopy is necessary to implant cardioverter defibrillators using the conventional approach. Modern electroanatomic navigation systems allow the visualization of multiple catheters and, as they are capable of rendering precise geometrical reconstructions of cardiac chambers, have been used for fluoroscopy-free electrophysiological procedures. The aim of our study was to assess the feasibility of non-fluoroscopic implants using a three-dimensional navigation system.

Organized atrial tachycardias after atrial fibrillation ablation.

The efficacy of catheter-based ablation techniques to treat atrial fibrillation is limited not only by recurrences of this arrhythmia but also, and not less importantly, by new-onset organized atrial tachycardias. The incidence of such tachycardias depends on the type and duration of the baseline atrial fibrillation and specially on the ablation technique which was used during the index procedure. It has been repeatedly reported that the more extensive the left atrial surface ablated, the higher the incidence of organized atrial tachycardias.

Osseointegrated implant rehabilitation of irradiated oral cancer patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to analyze implant survival in patients who received radiotherapy treatment for oral malignancies and in patients who had suffered mandibular osteoradionecrosis.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed retrospectively 225 implants placed in 30 patients who had received radiotherapy as part of the oncologic treatment. Radiation doses ranged between 50 and 70 Gy.

A 12-year retrospective analytic study of the implant survival rate in 177 consecutive maxillary sinus augmentation procedures.

Purpose: This retrospective study sought to demonstrate the outcome of maxillary sinus elevation surgery in a series of 177 procedures performed over 12 years and to determine the existence of variables that could independently predict implant survival.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective descriptive and analytic study of a series of maxillary sinus elevation procedures performed between 1996 and 2007 was undertaken. The sample was composed of patients with severe atrophy of the posterior maxilla who had been rehabilitated with osseointegrated implants placed in grafted maxillary sinuses.