The Application and Teaching Value of a Ventricular Septal Defect Canine Model Established by Transcatheter Puncture.

This study aimed to improve and further explore a ventricular septal defect (VSD) canine model on the basis of the transcatheter puncture method and to evaluate its application and teaching value.In order to lessen the complications of VSD closure, it is necessary to improve the currently available treatment devices using appropriate animal models.In this study, we used 16 healthy adult canines as our models.

Outcomes of Transvenous Lead Extraction for Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Device Infections in Patients With Prosthetic Heart Valves.

Background: Lead-related or valve-related endocarditis can complicate cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infection in patients with both CIED and prosthetic valves. The objective of this study was to determine the outcomes of transvenous lead extraction for CIED infection in patients with prosthetic valves.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively screened 794 transvenous lead extraction procedures, between September 1, 2001 and August 31, 2012, at Mayo Clinic to identify patients with prosthetic valves who underwent lead extraction for infection.

Outcomes and Complications of Lead Removal: Can We Establish a Risk Stratification Schema for a Collaborative and Effective Approach?

Background: Removal of an entire cardiovascular implantable electronic device is associated with morbidity and mortality. We sought to establish a risk classification scheme according to the outcomes of transvenous lead removal in a single center, with the goal of using that scheme to guide electrophysiology lab versus operating room extraction.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing transvenous lead removal from January 2001 to October 2012 at Mayo Clinic were retrospectively reviewed.

Extraction of superfluous device leads: A comparison with removal of infected leads.

Background: Although increasingly more lead extraction was performed for superfluous leads, the extraction of such leads remains controversial.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the outcomes and complications of transvenous extraction of superfluous leads in a single center in the era of laser technology.

Methods: Four hundred eighty transvenous lead extraction procedures performed from January 2001 through October 2012 at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota) were retrospectively reviewed.

Outcome and management of pacemaker-induced superior vena cava syndrome.

Background: We aimed to determine the long-term outcomes of percutaneous lead extraction and stent placement in patients with pacemaker-induced superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome.

Methods: The study retrospectively screened patients who underwent lead extraction followed by central vein stent implantation at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA), from January 2005 to December 2012, to identify the patients with pacemaker-induced SVC syndrome. Demographic, clinical, and follow-up characteristics of those patients were collected from electronic medical records.

Outcomes of lead revision for myocardial perforation after cardiac implantable electronic device placement.

Introduction: Cardiac perforation is an infrequent but potentially life-threatening complication associated with placement of a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED). The objective of this study was to determine the outcomes of percutaneous lead revision in patients who had lead perforation of the myocardium after CIED placement.

Methods And Results: We reviewed records of 1,458 patients who underwent CIED lead extraction or repositioning.

Relative efficacy of catheter ablation vs antiarrhythmic drugs in treating premature ventricular contractions: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: It is unknown whether radiofrequency ablation (RFA) or antiarrhythmic therapy is superior when treating patients with symptomatic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs).

Objective: To determine the relative efficacy of RFA and antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) on PVC burden reduction and increasing left ventricular systolic function.

Methods: Patients with frequent PVCs (>1000/24 h) were treated either by RFA or with AADs from January 2005 through December 2010.

Animal experimental study of the fully biodegradable atrial septal defect (ASD) occluder.

This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility, safety, biocompatibility, and degradation features of a fully biodegradable occluder for closure of atrial septal defect (ASD) in an acute canine model. The ASD was created in 20 healthy mongrel dogs by the brockenbrough needle, and the fully biodegradable occluders were implanted by self-made delivery system. The success rate and complications were observed.

Development and preclinical evaluation of a biodegradable ventricular septal defect occluder.

Objectives: This study evaluated the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of a biodegradable (BD) occluder for closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) in an acute canine model.

Background: All current available VSD occluders are permanent implants which consist of a metal framework and synthetic fabrics. However, the septal occluder in vivo plays the role of a temporary bridge that facilitates the ingrowth of fibrous connective tissue and endothelialization.

Symptomatic sinus tachycardia with perpetuating slow pathway: successful treatment with radiofrequency ablation.

We report a case of sinus tachycardia with perpetuating slow pathway (SP) conduction in a 42-year-old woman who developed severe symptoms as a result of atrioventricular (AV) desynchronization. The restoration of an AV synchrony, achieved with selective radiofrequency ablation of the SP, eliminated the symptomatic arrhythmia and may represent a reasonable therapeutic option despite the fact that the patient has no AV-node reentrant tachycardia. This case demonstrates the importance of AV timing.

Early diagnosis and rescue pericardiocentesis for acute cardiac tamponade during radiofrequency ablation for arrhythmias. Is fluoroscopy enough?

Background: With the number of complex catheter ablation procedures increasing, procedure-related acute cardiac tamponade is encountered more frequently in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Survival depends on prompt recognition and rescue pericardiocentesis.

Objective: The aim of this report was to validate fluoroscopic heart silhouette characteristics associated with cardiac tamponade as a diagnostic method, and evaluate the safety and effectiveness of fluoroscopy-guided pericardiocentesis during catheter ablation.

Safety and efficacy of transcatheter closure of large patent ductus arteriosus in adults with a self-expandable occluder.

Most occurrences of large patent ductus arteriosus (PDAs) of > or =10 mm have been surgically closed, and transcatheter closure of these large PDAs was only reported in a few case reports. The present study reviewed our experience in transcatheter closure of such large PDAs with a Chinese self-expandable occluder, which is similar to but much cheaper than the Amplatzer occluder. From July 2000 to January 2008, 23 patients underwent transcatheter closure of large PDA > or =10 mm with this kind of occluder.

Plasma ghrelin and obestatin levels are increased in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Obestatin, encoded by the same gene as ghrelin, was first described as a physiological opponent of ghrelin. We investigated fasting plasma ghrelin and obestatin levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats and Wistar-Kyoto rats. We found that ghrelin levels, obestatin levels and the ratio of ghrelin to obestatin were significantly higher in spontaneously hypertensive rats than Wistar-Kyoto rats.

[Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in sheep: 6-month evaluation of self-expanding valved stents].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in sheep up to 6 months post procedure.

Methods: Fresh sheep pericardium treated with a 0.6% glutaraldehyde solution for 36 hours was sutured to a valvular ring and then fixed onto a newly designed nitinol self-expandable stent.