Fusion pacing in patients with right bundle branch block who undergo cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Purpose: Patients with right bundle branch block (RBBB) are less likely to respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We aimed to assess whether patients with RBBB respond to CRT with biventricular fusion pacing.

Methods: Consecutive patients with RBBB at a single tertiary care center, who were implanted with a CRT device capable of biventricular fusion pacing using SyncAV programming, were assessed and compared to a historical cohort of CRT patients with RBBB.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy reprogramming to improve electrical synchrony in patients with existing devices.

Background: Optimal programming of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has not yet been fully elucidated. A novel algorithm (SyncAV) has been developed to improve electrical synchrony by fusion of the triple wavefronts: intrinsic, right ventricular (RV)-paced, and left ventricular (LV)-paced.

Methods: Consecutive patients at a single tertiary care center with a previously implanted CRT device with SyncAV algorithm (programmable negative AV hysteresis) were evaluated.

Predicting response to cardiac resynchronization therapy: Use of strict left bundle branch block criteria.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduces morbidity and mortality in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). CRT efficacy is greater in left bundle branch block (LBBB). This study aimed to determine if strict LBBB criteria predict an improved QRS duration and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) response after CRT.

Prognostic value of atrial fibrillation inducibility after right atrial flutter ablation.

Background: Patients with typical right atrial flutter (AFL) may also have underlying atrial fibrillation (AF) or be at high risk of developing AF. Inducibility of AF among patients undergoing AFL ablation may be an important predictor of future occurrence of AF and may be useful in guiding management of this patient population.

Objective: This study aimed to determine whether inducibility of AF at the time of AFL ablation is independently associated with the risk of future AF.

Psychological impact of surveillance in patients with a defibrillator lead under advisory: a prospective evaluation.

Background: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads are subject to technical failures and the impact of the resulting public advisories on patient welfare is unclear. The psychological status of patients who received an advisory for their Medtronic Fidelis ICD lead (Medtronic Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA) and followed either by self-surveillance for alarm or home monitoring with CareLink was evaluated prospectively and compared to patients with ICDs not under advisory.

Improved Flutter Ablation Outcomes Using a 10mm-tip Ablation Catheter.

Introduction: Radiofrequency(RF) ablation has become the first line of therapy for atrial flutter(AFL). Advances in catheter and mapping technologies have led to better understanding and different approaches for treating this arrhythmia. We describe the results of different approaches to ablate this arrhythmia.

Patterns and predictors of warfarin use in patients with new-onset atrial fibrillation from the FRACTAL Registry.

Warfarin is underused for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF). Previous studies addressing this have lacked longitudinal assessment. This study sought to characterize contemporary warfarin use in new-onset AF and evaluate its change over time.