Transcoronary pacing to assess myocardial viability prior to percutaneous coronary intervention: Pilot study to assess feasibility.

Background: The assessment of myocardial viability is crucial before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is carried out to ensure that the patient will gain benefit. Trans-coronary pacing (TCP) has previously been used to pace myocardium but may also provide information on myocardial viability.

Methods: Patients with a single, significant coronary stenosis requiring PCI were recruited.

Can image enhancement allow radiation dose to be reduced whilst maintaining the perceived diagnostic image quality required for coronary angiography?

Objective: The aim of this research was to quantify the reduction in radiation dose facilitated by image processing alone for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patient angiograms, without reducing the perceived image quality required to confidently make a diagnosis.

Methods: Incremental amounts of image noise were added to five PCI angiograms, simulating the angiogram as having been acquired at corresponding lower dose levels (10-89% dose reduction). 16 observers with relevant experience scored the image quality of these angiograms in 3 states-with no image processing and with 2 different modern image processing algorithms applied.

South Asian ethnicity is associated with a lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation despite greater prevalence of established risk factors: a population-based study in Bradford Metropolitan District.

Aims: Previous studies indicate that South Asians (SAs) may have a reduced risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) despite having a higher prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. This observational study was designed to explore the relative differences between SAs and Whites in a well-defined, multi-ethnic population with careful consideration of traditional cardiovascular risk factors that are thought to contribute to the development of AF.

Methods And Results: Anonymized data from 417 575 adults were sourced from primary care records within Bradford Metropolitan District, UK.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging of a patient with an magnetic resonance imaging conditional permanent pacemaker.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly used as the optimum modality for cardiac imaging. An aging population and rising numbers of patients with permanent pacemakers means many such individuals may require cardiac MRI scanning in the future. Whilst the presence of a permanent pacemaker is historically regarded as a contra-indication to MRI scanning, pacemaker systems have been developed to limit any associated risks.

Aortic root repair for thoracic aorta false aneurysm following Bentall procedure.

The Bentall procedure for aortic root replacement in Marfan's syndrome is safe and durable. We describe successful repair of periprosthetic valvular leak, 12 years following Bentall repair with composite graft. The aim of this report is to analyse and evaluate technical factors leading to this unusual occurrence.