Oral Anticoagulation in Patients With Atrial High-Rate Episodes: Focus on Clinical Implications.

Background Although previous studies showed that atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) are associated with a higher risk of developing incident atrial fibrillation (AF) and thromboembolic events, their clinical significance is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to define whether there is any clinical impact on the occurrence of ischemic and hemorrhagic events in patients with AHREs and initiation of oral anticoagulation (OAC). Methodology Patients with AHREs who had received cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs, i.

Atrial High-Rate Episodes in Patients with Devices Without a History of Atrial Fibrillation: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Purpose: Atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs) recorded with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) have been associated with the development of clinical atrial fibrillation (AF) and increase in stroke and death risk. We sought to perform a systematic review with a meta-analysis to evaluate the prevalence of AHREs detected by CIEDs, their association with stroke risk, development of clinical AF, and mortality among patients without a documented history of AF.

Methods: We searched several databases, ClinicalTrials.

Trends in ablation procedures in Greece over the 2008-2018 period: Results from the Hellenic Cardiology Society Ablation Registry.

Objective: In 2008, the radiofrequency ablation (RFA) procedures registry of the Hellenic Society of Cardiology was created. This online database allowed electrophysiologists around the country to input data for all performed ablation procedures. The aim of this study is to provide a thorough report and interpretation of the data submitted to the registry between 2008 and 2018.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators for primary prevention of sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) may complicate hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) natural course. Patient selection for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy in the primary prevention setting is still a challenge.

Methods: Thirty-seven HCM patients with a primary prevention ICD were included.

P wave analysis with wavelets identifies hypertensive patients at risk of recurrence of atrial fibrillation: A case-control study and 1year follow-up.

Aims: Hypertension is a major risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF); however, reliable non-invasive tools to assess AF risk in hypertensive patients are lacking. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of P wave wavelet analysis in predicting AF risk recurrence in a hypertensive cohort.

Methods: We studied 37 hypertensive patients who presented with an AF episode for the first time and 37 age- and sex-matched hypertensive controls without AF.

Percutaneous extraction of transvenous permanent pacemaker/defibrillator leads.

Background: Widespread use of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices has inevitably increased the need for lead revision/replacement. We report our experience in percutaneous extraction of transvenous permanent pacemaker/defibrillator leads.

Methods: Thirty-six patients admitted to our centre from September 2005 through October 2012 for percutaneous lead extraction were included.

Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy at risk for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: advanced echocardiographic evaluation of the left atrium combined with non-invasive P-wave analysis.

Aims: The maintenance of sinus rhythm is crucial for the functional capacity of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Using a multimodality approach, we attempted to identify potential predictors of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) in HCM patients.

Methods And Results: Thirty HCM patients (17 males, mean age 57.

Radiofrequency ablation procedures in Greece: initial experience and results from the national registry 2008-2010.

Introduction: In 2008 the radiofrequency ablation procedures (RFA) registry of the Hellenic Cardiological Society (HCS) was created. This is a dynamic, web-based application, which acts as the interface for storing and retrieving patients' demographic data and ablation procedures. Access to the site is permitted only to registered users.

Novel non-invasive P wave analysis for the prediction of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation recurrences in patients without structural heart disease: a prospective pilot study.

Objectives: The pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for the initiation and recurrence of PAF are not fully elucidated and vary among individuals. We evaluated the ability of a novel non-invasive approach based on P wave wavelet analysis to predict symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) recurrences in individuals without structural heart disease.

Methods: We studied 50 patients (24 males, mean age 54.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with midventricular obstruction and apical aneurysm formation in a single family: case report.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an extremely heterogeneous disease. An under recognized and very often missed subgroup within this broad spectrum concerns patients with left ventricular (LV) apical aneurysms in the absence of coronary artery disease.

Case Presentation: We describe a case of HCM with midventricular obstruction and apical aneurysm formation in 3 patients coming from a single family.