Impact of fracture-prone implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads on long-term patient mortality.

Background: The long-term relationship between fracture-prone implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads and poor prognosis remains unclear in Japanese patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the records of 445 patients who underwent implantation of advisory/Linox leads (Sprint Fidelis, 118; Riata, nine; Isoline, 10; Linox S/SD, 45) and non-advisory leads (Endotak Reliance, 33; Durata, 199; Sprint non-Fidelis, 31) between January 2005 and June 2012 at our hospital. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality and ICD lead failure.

Prognostic significance of cardiorenal dysfunction within 1 year after atrial fibrillation ablation in patients with systolic dysfunction.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation can improve left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and renal function and can even reduce mortality in patients with impaired LVEF. However, the effect of post-ablation cardiorenal dysfunction on the prognosis of patients with impaired LVEF who underwent AF ablation remains unclear. Of the 1243 consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation, the prognosis of 163 non-dialysis patients who underwent AF ablation with < 50% LVEF was evaluated.

Prognostic significance of diastolic dysfunction in patients with systolic dysfunction undergoing atrial fibrillation ablation.

Background: The relationship between pre-ablation left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and prognosis in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) undergoing atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation remains unclear.

Methods: The prognosis of 173 patients with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (<50%) who underwent AF ablation was examined. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality, heart failure (HF) hospitalization, and worsening HF symptoms requiring unplanned outpatient intensification of decongestive therapy.

Semi-urgent pulmonary vein isolation using cryoballoon for haemodynamically unstable atrial fibrillation storm in a patient with low cardiac output syndrome: a case report.

Background: Atrial fibrillation and heart failure are common coexisting conditions requiring hospitalisation for heart failure and death. Pulmonary vein isolation is a well-established option for symptomatic atrial fibrillation and for atrial fibrillation concomitant with heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. Recently, pulmonary vein isolation using cryoballoon showed non-inferiority to radiofrequency ablation with respect to the treatment of patients with drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.