The CathEye: A Forward-Looking Ultrasound Catheter for Image-Guided Cardiovascular Procedures.

Catheter based procedures are typically guided by X-Ray, which suffers from low soft tissue contrast and only provides 2D projection images of a 3D volume. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) can serve as a complementary imaging technique. Forward viewing catheters are useful for visualizing obstructions along the path of the catheter.

The CathCam: A Novel Angioscopic Solution for Endovascular Interventions.

Peripheral arterial diseases are commonly managed with endovascular procedures, which often face limitations in device control and visualization under X-ray fluoroscopy guidance. In response, we developed the CathCam, an angioscope integrated into an expandable cable-driven parallel mechanism to enhance real-time visualization, precise device positioning and catheter support for successful plaque crossing. The primary objective of this study was to assess and compare the performance of the novel CathCam with respect to conventional catheters and the CathPilot (i.

The CathPilot: Performance Validation and Preclinical Safety and Feasibility Assessment.

Objectives: Peripheral endovascular revascularization procedures often fail due to technical limitations of guidewire support, steering, and visualization. The novel CathPilot catheter aims to address these challenges. This study assesses the safety and feasibility of the CathPilot and compares its performance to conventional catheters for peripheral vascular interventions.

Quantification of Mechanical Characteristics of Conventional Steerable Ablation Catheters for Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation Using a Heart Phantom.

Purpose: Accurate and reliable catheter navigation is important in formation of adequate lesions during radiofrequency cardiac catheter ablation. To inform future device design efforts and to characterize the limitations of conventional devices, the focus of this study is to assess and quantify the mechanical performance of manual ablation catheters for pulmonary vein isolation procedures within a phantom heart model.

Methods: We measured three important metrics: accuracy of catheter tip navigation to target anatomical landmarks at the pulmonary veins (PVs), orientation of the catheter relative to the tissue at the targets, and the delivered force values and their stability and variations at those targets.

Experimental Protocol and Phantom Design and Development for Performance Characterization of Conventional Devices for Peripheral Vascular Interventions.

Conventional catheter-based interventions for treating peripheral artery disease suffer high failure and complication rates. The mechanical interactions with the anatomy constrain catheter controllability, while their length and flexibility limit their pushability. Also, the 2D X-ray fluoroscopy guiding these procedures fails to provide sufficient feedback about the device location relative to the anatomy.

A comparison of Atrial Fibrillation Detection Strategies After Ischemic Stroke-A Retrospective Study.

Objective of this retrospective study was to determine if long-term continuous cardiac monitoring with Implantable loop recorder (ILR) in patients with Cryptogenic strokes or TIA is superior at detecting Atrial Fibrillation (AF) than 30-day Event Monitor (EM) and 48-hour Holter Monitor (HM). Furthermore, we aimed to deduce if uncovering AF leads to lower risk of future ischemic strokes, or reduction in mortality. In 20%-30% cases, the cause of stroke remained unexplained after diagnostic workup which has led to coining of the term, Cryptogenic Stroke (CS).

Stapling for wound dehiscence after cardiac implantable electronic device implantation.

Objective: Wound dehiscence (WD) has been reported as a complication in 0.3% of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) procedures. Stapling has not previously been reported as a treatment modality for WD.

The Importance of Right Ventricular Lead Positioning in Determining Outcomes of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy is known to improve clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure and left ventricular dyssynchrony. However, the optimal positioning of the right ventricular lead is unknown, and there is conflicting data on the acute hemodynamic effects and long-term outcomes. Here, we present a case of a patient who underwent implantation of a dual-chamber pacemaker for complete heart block, but who after three months, still had symptoms consistent with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class IV heart failure.

Meta-analysis of risk of stroke and thrombo-embolism with rivaroxaban versus vitamin K antagonists in ablation and cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.

Background: Anticoagulation in cardioversion and ablation of atrial fibrillation is imperative for reducing thrombo-embolic events. Ample information is available about the use of warfarin and vitamin K antagonists (VKA) but few trials examine safety and efficacy of rivaroxaban in these procedures. We aim to explore the hypothesis that rivaroxaban causes equal thrombo-embolic and bleeding events when used in atrial fibrillation patients undergoing ablation or cardioversion compared to VKA.

Recurrent A V block following ablation for AVNRT.

Slow pathway modification has become the mainstay for the treatment of atrio-ventricular nodal re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) ablation because of high success rate and low incidence of complications. Our patient had a rare complication of slow pathway modification by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in form of delayed complete heart block, occurring 10 days after the procedure and resolving in 6 weeks to normal conduction. Complete AV block is a rare immediate complication of RFA but can present weeks later.

In-hospital complications associated with catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation in the United States between 2000 and 2010: analysis of 93 801 procedures.

Background: Atrial fibrillation ablation has made tremendous progress with respect to innovation, efficacy, and safety. However, limited data exist regarding the burden and trends in adverse outcomes arising from this procedure. The aim of our study was to examine the frequency of adverse events attributable to atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and the influence of operator and hospital volume on outcomes.

Cardiac sarcoidosis masquerading as syncope with right ventricular septal mass.

Cardiac sarcoid remains a challenging diagnostic entity. Electrical abnormalities in sarcoid myocarditis range from heart blocks to lethal ventricular tachycardias. Sarcoid granulomas have predilection for left ventricular side and basal septum in cardiac involvement.

Pseudoaneurysm of the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF): A comprehensive review.

Pseudoaneurysm in the region of the fibrous body between the mitral and aortic valve, the mitral-aortic intervalvular fibrosa (MAIVF), is a rare complication. The authors provide a comprehensive review of all relevant English-language articles published from 1966 to December 2009. Pseudoaneurysm of the MAIVF was identified in 88 patients in the medical literature and one from the authors' institution (total reported cases, 89).

Ultrasound at 27 kHz increases tissue expression and activity of nitric oxide synthases in acute limb ischemia in rabbits.

Transcutaneous low-frequency ultrasound (US) preserves myocardial and skeletal muscle viability by increasing tissue perfusion through an undefined nitric oxide (NO)-dependent mechanism. We have examined whether US increases tissue expression and activity of the three nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms: endothelial (eNOS), neuronal (nNOS) and inducible (iNOS). The two femoral arteries of four New Zealand rabbits were ligated for a total of 120 min.

Q wave and non-Q wave myocardial infarction: a multivariate analysis of survival experience and clinical outcome after first diagnosis at a tertiary care hospital.

Introduction: Myocardial infarction (MI) is a well-recognized clinical entity with a worldwide distribution. In the United States alone, 1.5 million cases of MI occur per year.

Aspiration pneumonia in pediatric age group: etiology, predisposing factors and clinical outcome.

Introduction: Aspiration pneumonia in children is an important disease in terms of the morbidity and mortality associated with it. The objective of this study is to characterize the cases of aspiration pneumonia on the basis of the predisposing factors, types of aspiration syndromes, materials aspirated and their clinical outcome.

Methods: A total of 107 patients diagnosed as having aspiration pneumonia, were included in this study.

Effect of prepregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain on birth weight.

Objective: Nutritional status of women has been considered an important prognostic indicator of birth outcome. The study aims to show the effect of various prepregnancy Body Mass Index (BMI) categories and corresponding gestational weight gain on newborn birth weight.

Methods: Two hundred women were included in the study.