Successful Urgent TAVI for Critical Aortic Valve Stenosis after ECMO Implantation.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has evolved to be the treatment of choice for patients with severe aortic stenosis and high perioperative risk. Cardiogenic shock is one of the most severe complications during the TAVI procedure, especially as the prognosis of cardiogenic shock secondary to aortic stenosis is very poor. This situation can be challenging, while extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) can be a treatment option.

The Utilization of Stress Tests Prior to Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Stable Coronary Artery Disease in Taiwan.

Background: Ischemia shown in non-invasive tests is considered to be a fundamental requirement for treating patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) with a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). In a nationwide cohort, we investigated the utilization of stress tests, including myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), treadmill exercise test (TET) and stress echocardiography (SE) prior to elective PCI.

Methods: This retrospective study used the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID2000) of the National Health Insurance program in Taiwan.

The Electrical Characteristics and Clinical Significance of the Effect of Adenosine on Dissociated Activity after Circumferential Venous Isolation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Dissociated activity can occur after circumferential thoracic vein isolation for treating atrial fibrillation (AF). However, its clinical significance and response to adenosine remain unclear.

Methods: Fifty-three patients (10 women, 11 with non-paroxysmal AF, with mean age 54.

Atrial tachycardia originating from the atrial septum in a patient with dextrocardia and complex structural heart disease.

We report a case with dextrocardia, corrected transposition of the great arteries. He also had an atrial septum defect (ASD) with patch repair. Activation map showed a centrifugal activation from a focal origin on the systemic lower left atrial ASD patch.

A novel finding of the atrial substrate properties and long-term results of catheter ablation in chronic atrial fibrillation patients with left atrial spontaneous echo contrast.

Background: The atrial substrate in chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with a left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (LASEC) has not been previously reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the atrial substrate properties and long-term follow-up results in the patients who received catheter ablation of chronic AF.

Methods: Of 36 consecutive patients with chronic AF who received a stepwise ablation approach, 18 patients with an LASEC (group I) were compared with 18 age-gender-left atrial volume matched patients without an LASEC (group II).