Ablation of Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia with Focal Cryoablation, Compared with Radiofrequency Ablation: Single-Center Experience.

Background: The ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) with cryoablation is an alternative to radiofrequency (RF) ablation in patients due to the low risk of total atrioventricular block. An increase in early-late recurrences after cryoablation is reported as an important disadvantage.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to compare the acute procedural success and the long-term recurrence rates of patients, with AVNRT who underwent methods.

Incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia and its association with long-term outcome.

Background: Atrioventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is the most common paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. We sought to investigate the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with electrophysiologically confirmed/ablated AVNRT and its association with transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke as well as mortality during long-term follow-up.

Methods: From the Karolinska Ablation Registry, 2855 consecutive patients with a first-time ablation for AVNRT between 2005 and 2018 were analyzed.

Risk assessment in patients with symptomatic and asymptomatic pre-excitation.

Aims: Controversy remains as to whether the exercise stress test (EST) is sufficient for risk evaluation in patients with pre-excitation. This study aims to clarify the usefulness of EST in risk stratification in both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients presenting with pre-excitation.

Methods And Results: This prospective study includes consecutive asymptomatic and symptomatic patients with pre-excitation referred for risk assessment.

Association between catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation and mortality or stroke.

Objective: Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation effectively reduces symptomatic burden. However, its long-term effect on mortality and stroke is unclear. We investigated if patients with atrial fibrillation who undergo catheter ablation have lower risk for all-cause mortality or stroke than patients who are managed medically.

Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients ≤30 Years of Age.

Pulmonary vein (PV) automaticity is an established trigger for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), making PV isolation (PVI) the cornerstone of catheter ablation. However, data on triggers for atrial fibrillation (AF) and catheter ablation strategy in very young patients aged <30 years are sparse. A total of 51 young patients (mean age 24.

Permanent His bundle pacing and atrioventricular node ablation in a case with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation.

Permanent His bundle pacing (HBP) activates the ventricles through the normal conduction system and has become a useful technique for patients with a high ventricular pacing rate. Presently described is a case of drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF) with a high ventricular rate that was treated with atrioventricular (AV) node ablation and permanent HBP. A 62-year-old woman with persistent AF and a drug-refractory high ventricular response was referred for exercise intolerance and palpitation.

Directly ventricular septal defect closure without using arteriovenous wire loop: Our adult case series using transarterial retrograde approach.

Objective: The standard transcatheter ventricular septal defects (VSD) closure procedure is established with arteriovenous (AV) loop and is called as antegrade approach. The directly retrograde transarterial VSD closure without using AV loop might be better option as shortens the procedure time and decreases radiation exposure.

Methods: Our series consist of twelve sequential adult cases with congenital VSDs (seven with perimembranous, four with muscular, one with postoperative residuel VSD).

Impact of cavotricuspid isthmus morphology in CRYO versus radiofrequency ablation of typical atrial flutter.

Objectives: Cryoablation (CRYO) is an alternative to radiofrequency (RF) for catheter ablation of cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter (AFL). We aimed to study whether different CTI morphologies had different impacts on procedural success for CRYO and RF.

Design: This study randomized 153 patients with CTI-dependent AFL (median age 65 years; range 34-82) to RF or CRYO (78 CRYO; 75 RF).

Impact of anxiety level on circadian rhythm of blood pressure in hypertensive patients.

Introduction: Considering the high prevalence rates and growing incidences of hypertension (HT) and anxiety disorders in the modern world, a full understanding of anxiety's relationship to HT is crucial. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of anxiety level on circadian rhythm of blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients.

Material And Method: This cross-sectional study included 160 previously diagnosed essential hypertensive patients (80 female, 80 male, mean age: 55.

Myocardial injury during radiofrequency and cryoablation of typical atrial flutter.

Purpose: Cardiac enzyme elevation after radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation of atrial flutter (AFL) is common. Some studies found that cryoablation (CRYO) of AFL, compared to RF, is associated with higher levels of troponin, a finding that may indicate CRYO causes a greater amount of myocardial injury than RF. However, other investigations found no significant differences between troponin levels after CRYO versus RF.

Digoxin intoxication: An old enemy in modern era.

Objectives: Although development of new treatment modalities limited digoxin usage, digoxin intoxication is still an important issue which could be easily overlooked. In this report, we analyzed a case series definitively diagnosed as digoxin intoxication in the modern era.

Methods: We analyzed 71 patients hospitalized with digoxin intoxication confirmed by history, complaints, clinical and electrocardiograph (ECG) findings, and serum digoxin levels > 2.

Atrial Fibrillation and the Role of LAA in Pathophysiology and Clinical Outcomes?

Left atrial appendage (LAA) is a source of thromboembolism especially in patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). It is reasonable to accept LAA as a distinct part of left atrium (LA) with unique anatomical and physiological properties. Advances in imaging modalities increased the knowledge about anatomical and physiological characteristics of LAA.

Association between inherited thrombophilia and impaired right ventricular function in deep vein thrombosis without symptomatic pulmonary embolism.

The aim was to evaluate the right ventricular function in patients with inherited thrombophilia and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) without pulmonary embolism. A total of 38 patients with DVT without symptomatic pulmonary embolism and 30 patients with varicose veins were enrolled. Clinical data, echocardiography, and 2 thrombophilic mutations were analyzed.

Long pentraxin-3 measured at late phase associated with GRACE risk scores in patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome and coronary stenting.

Objectives: We analyzed pentraxin 3 (PTX3) levels and the relation of PTX3 levels with GRACE risk scores in 39 patients with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and stabile angina after stenting.

Study Design: Seventeen patients with ACS and 22 patients with stabile angina who underwent coronary stenting were included in the study. PTX3 levels were measured serially at admission, at the 8th hour and at the 24th hour after stenting.

N-acetylcysteine in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy assessed by cystatin C.

Aims: Prophylactic oral N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been widely used for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). However, clinical studies have not been demonstrating this effect consistently because of evidence that NAC can alter serum creatinine levels without affecting glomerular filtration rate (GFR). We investigated NAC for the prevention of CIN by monitoring creatinine and cystatin C.

Left atrial appendage function in mitral stenosis: is it determined by cardiac rhythm?

Background And Aim Of The Study: The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a common source of cardiac thrombus formation associated with systemic embolism in patients with mitral stenosis (MS). Low flow velocities in the LAA are important factors in the development of thrombosis. Whilst oral anticoagulant therapy is used routinely in MS with atrial fibrillation (AF), the characteristics of LAA contractile functions and the protective role of oral anticoagulant treatment in patients with MS in sinus rhythm (SR) are unclear.

A floating thrombus in sinus of valsalva complicated with cardiogenic shock in a patient with plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 4G/5G polymorphism.

Thrombus in sinus of Valsalva is unusual reason for acute myocardial infarction. We demonstrated a case with floating thrombus in sinus of Valsalva obstructing the right coronary ostium intermittently, and causing cardiogenic shock. The patient was diagnosed with multiplane transesophageal echocardiography and treated successfully with surgical removal of mass.

Ventricular arrhythmia in dialysis patients: a link with higher hemoglobin levels?

We investigated the frequencies and associated risk factors of cardiac arrhythmias and heart rate variability (HRV) in hemodialysis (HD) patients. One hundred fifty prevalent HD patients underwent 48-hour Holter monitoring. Holter monitoring was analyzed in 4 phases: early post-HD phase (12 hours), late post-HD phase (20 hours), pre-HD phase (12 hours), and HD phase (4 hours).

High inflammatory activity related to the number of metabolic syndrome components.

It has been known that each component of the metabolic syndrome (MS) has an atherogenic potential and increases the risk of cardiovascular events. Therefore, patients who have MS are candidates for the development of atherosclerosis and accompanying complications. In this study, the authors assessed the levels of acute phase reactants as an indicator of inflammation in patients with MS.

Non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in patient with essential thrombocythemia.

A 68-year-old woman presented with acute chest pain and a greatly increased platelet count. Cardiac catheterization revealed subtotal occlusion and a thrombus-like filling defect in the right coronary artery. The patient was successfully treated with intravenous tirofiban.