Efficacy of cryoablation in idiopathic and non-idiopathic atrial fibrillation patients.

Objectives And Background: Studies assessing the unicentric and prospective comparison of efficacy of cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation in idiopathic and non-idiopathic atrial fibrillation (AF) patients are missing. The aim of this study was to compare a single procedural outcome in these subgroups of AF patients.

Methods: A total of 208 patients with drug resistant AF were included in this study.

The Impact of Novel Anticoagulants on the Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Mucosa.

Although treatment with novel oral non-vitamin K antagonist 3anticoagulants (NOACs) is associated with an overall decrease in hemorrhagic complications compared to warfarin, the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding remains contradictory. After the exclusion of patients with pre-existing pathological lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) on esophageal-gastroduodenoscopy (EGD) at entry, a cohort of 80 patients (mean age of 74.8 ± 2.

HeartLogic Multisensor Algorithm Identifies Patients During Periods of Significantly Increased Risk of Heart Failure Events: Results From the MultiSENSE Study.

Background: Care of heart failure (HF) patients results in a high burden on healthcare resources, and estimating prognosis is becoming increasingly important to triage resources wisely. Natriuretic peptides are recommended prognosticators in chronic HF. Our objective was to evaluate whether a multisensor HF index and alert algorithm (HeartLogic) replaces or augments current HF risk stratification.

Predictors of Left Ventricular Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction in Patients With a Patent Infarct Related Coronary Artery After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (from the Post-Myocardial Infarction Remodeling Prevention Therapy [PRomPT] Trial).

Left ventricular (LV) remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) is a strong predictor of heart failure and mortality. The predictors of long-term remodeling after MI have been incompletely studied. We therefore examined the correlates of LV remodeling in patients with large ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and a patent infarct artery after percutaneous 2coronary intervention (PCI) from the randomized Post-Myocardial Infarction Remodeling Prevention Therapy trial.

The prognostic value of high sensitive cardiac troponin I in patients receiving cardiac resynchronisation therapy.

Background: Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a valuable prognostic biomarker in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). However, the prognostic importance of cTnI in patients who received cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) remains unknown. The aim of this prospective study was to determine the prognostic value of high-sensitive cTnI (hs-cTnI) in CHF patients receiving CRT.

The effectiveness of CRT on improvement of survival of heart failure patients in real life clinical settings.

Objectives Prolongation of QRS (≥ 120 ms) in patients with heart failure (HF) is associated with higher all-cause mortality than in those with narrow QRS. The aim of our study was to compare the survival of patients with HF and wide QRS after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with survival of HF patients with narrow QRS and to assess factors predictive of non-response to CRT. Methods We enrolled 680 patients with advanced HF and optimal pharmacologic therapy.

Safety and efficiency of ventricular pacing prevention with an AAI-DDD changeover mode in patients with sinus node disease or atrioventricular block: impact on battery longevity-a sub-study of the ANSWER trial.

Aims: This ANSWER (EvaluAtioN of the SafeR mode in patients With a dual chambER pacemaker indication) sub-study assesses safety and effectiveness of SafeR™ and the impact of ventricular pacing (VP) prevention on anticipated device longevity and replacement rate.

Methods And Results: Patients implanted for atrioventricular block (AVB, n = 310) or sinus node dysfunction (SND, n = 336) were randomly assigned to SafeR (n = 314) or DDD (n = 318) and followed for 36 months. Safety, median VP, estimated device longevity (mean difference, 95% confidence interval [CI]), and anticipated replacement rates were analysed by pacing mode and implant indication.

Peri-infarct zone pacing to prevent adverse left ventricular remodelling in patients with large myocardial infarction.

Aims: We sought to determine whether peri-infarct pacing prevents left ventricular (LV) remodelling and improves functional and clinical outcomes in patients with large first myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods And Results: A total of 126 patients at 27 international sites within 10 days of onset of anterior or non-anterior MI with creatine phosphokinase >3000 U/L and QRS duration ≤120 ms were randomized 1:1:1 to dual-site biventricular pacing vs. single-site LV only pacing vs.

A long-term evaluation of cryoballoon ablation in 205 atrial fibrillation patients: a single center experience.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia with significant healthcare impact with regards to treatment costs, morbidity, and mortality. Many of the focal electrical activities that initiate and sustain atrial fibrillation have been found to reside within or near the pulmonary veins. Consequently, pulmonary vein isolation by catheter ablation has emerged as an effective method to eliminate the focal triggers associated with atrial fibrillation.

The Post-Myocardial Infarction Pacing Remodeling Prevention Therapy (PRomPT) Trial: Design and Rationale.

Background: Despite considerable improvements in the medical management of patients with myocardial infarction (MI), patients with large MI still have substantial risk of developing heart failure. In the early post-MI setting, implantable cardioverter defibrillators have reduced arrhythmic deaths but have no impact on overall mortality. Therefore, additional interventions are required to further reduce the overall morbidity and mortality of patients with large MI.

[Importance of EKG in patients wuth resynchronization therapy].

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves symptoms and survival in patients with chronic heart failure. The presence of electrocardiographic (ECG) signs of electrical dyssynchrony during ventricular contractions are an essential criterion for the implantation of CRT. Nevertheless, 1/3 proportion of patients who undergo CRT do not seem to respond favorably.

Complications of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation using the cryoballoon technique: Incidence and predictors.

Background: Cryoballoon ablation technique for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a complex procedure consisting of several procedural steps associated with significant risk of complications. The aim of this single-centre study was to give detailed analysis of the complication rate and corresponding risk factors of pulmonary veins cryoisolation (PVI) procedures.

Methods And Results: A total of 158 consecutive patients (71.

[Is there a relationship between inflammatory markers, oxidative stress and postoperative atrial fibrillation?].

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common complications following heart surgery. The aim of this work was to verify the relationship between inflammatory markers, oxidative stress and postoperative arrhythmia.

Methods: 45 patients with ischemic heart disease (12 women and 33 men, mean age 62.

The occurrence of postoperative atrial fibrillation according to different surgical settings in cardiac surgery patients.

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia after cardiac surgery. The pathogenesis of postoperative atrial fibrillation is multifactorial. The aim of the study was to analyse preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative factors and their relationships with the occurrence and duration of atrial fibrillation.

[Recurrent prosthetic endocarditis in a 21-year old patient with renal transplantation treated with allogeneic homograft].

Prosthetic infective endocarditis is a possible complication of implantation of a prosthetic cardiac valve. Without early and effective treatment, it can have fatal consequences. One treatment option is use of an allogeneic cryopreserved homograft.

Severity of nocturnal cardiac arrhythmias correlates with intensity of sleep apnea in men.

Various cardiac arrhythmias frequently occur in patients with sleep apnea, but complex analysis of the relationship between their severity and the probable arrhythmogenic risk factors is conflicting. The question is what cardiovascular risk factors and how strongly they are associated with the severity of cardiac arrhythmias in sleep apnea. Adult males (33 with and 16 without sleep apnea), matched for cardiovascular co-morbidity were studied by polysomnography with simultaneous ECG monitoring.

Catheter ablations of supraventricular tachycardias.

Background: Supraventricular tachycardias (SVT) occur at all ages. Their spectrum as well as tolerance change with increasing age.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess the course of SVT catheter ablations in elderly patients when compared to younger population.

[Clinical implications of enlargement of left atrium].

Enlargement of left atrium (LA) has been shown to be a barometer of diastolic burden and a predictor of common cardiovascular outcomes such as atrial fibrillation, stroke, congestive heart failure, and cardiovascular death. Different methods exist for the assessment of LA size. The American Society of Echocardiography recommended LA volume and its indexed value assessed by 2-dimensional echocardiography, to measure LA size.

[Septic shock due to infective endocarditis of stimulation system of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator].

We present a case of a 60-year old patient hospitalized at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, Medical faculty of UPJS and L. Pasteurs University Hospital in Kosice with suspected gastroenteritis. The patient was admitted to an intensive care unit because of the signs of septic shock.

[The importance of contractile reserve in patients with resynchronization therapy].

Introduction: Contractile reserve of the myocardium is a strong prognostic factor in patients with heart failure. The presence of a significant amount of myocardial fibrosis might lead to insufficient response to resynchronization therapy We assumed that pre-implantation examination of global contractile reserve will allow prediction of the response to resynchronization treatment.

Methods: 25 symptomatic patients (NYHA III) with severe systolic dysfunction [ejection fraction (EF) 28.

[Resynchronization therapy for heart failure--still many question marks].

At present, the potential benefit of resynchronization therapy, i.e. an improved quality of life and prolonged survival in patients with heart failure, is not achieved in every patient.

[Why there is atrial fibrillation after cardiac operations?].

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmias after cardiac operations. Its incidence ranges from 10-65%. Often there is a patient discomfort, prolongs hospitalization, increases costs of operation and may be permanent or recurrent course.

Cryothermal ablation of typical atrial flutter.

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of cryoablation compared with the radiofrequency (RF) method in the treatment of typical atrial flutter (AFL).

Methods: 12 patients with typical counterclockwise AFL underwent cryoablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus. Cryoablation was performed with a 9F catheter with an 8 mm tip electrode.

The effect of myocardial revascularization on malignant ventricular arrhythmias in coronary artery disease.

Background: Malignant ventricular arrhythmia in coronary artery disease (CAD) is a severe life-threatening disease and a risk factor for sudden cardiac death. Myocardial revascularization influences the arrhythmogenic substrate of the malignant ventricular arrhythmia in the secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Its effectivity remains controversial.