The Japanese lead extraction registry (J-LEX): Annual report 2020.

The Japanese Heart Rhythm Society established a nationwide, mandatory, multi-center, prospective, observational registry of transvenous lead extraction (TLE) named the Japanese lead extraction registry (J-LEX) in 2018. We have published the first annual report of J-LEX with 661 cases from 42 hospitals. The second annual report of J-LEX in 2020 enrolled increased numbers of 785 cases from 75 hospitals.

Japanese Lead EXtraction (J-LEX) registry: Annual report 2019.

Along with the incremental cases of cardiac implantable electronic devices implantation or upgrade, the lead-related complications are also in rise year after year. The most common and serious lead-related complication is infection that needs a transvenous lead extraction (TLE) as the first-line therapy. TLE is also performed for abandoned leads in case of lead failure or device upgrade, and for lead-related trouble such as pain, vessel stenosis or occlusion, too many leads, tricuspid valve regurgitation, and difficulty of radiation therapy.

Study Design of the Nationwide Japanese Lead Extraction (J-LEX) Registry: Protocol for a Prospective, Multicenter, Open Registry.

Background: Transvenous lead extractions (TLEs) in Japan have grown to become the standard therapy since the approval of the laser extraction system in 2008. However, little is known about the current indications, methods, success rate, and acute complications in the real-world setting.

Methods: The Japanese Lead EXtraction (J-LEX) registry is a nationwide, multicenter, observational registry, performed by the Japanese Heart Rhythm Society (JHRS) in collaboration with the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center.

Lifestyle Modification or Medication to Improve Condition of Patients With Asymptomatic Heart Failure - Monitoring and Management of OptiVol Alert to Reduce Heart Failure Hospitalization II (MOMOTARO II) Study.

Background: In heart failure (HF) patients implanted with high-energy devices, worsening of HF can be diagnosed from intrathoracic impedance (ITI) before symptoms appear. Early therapeutic intervention can prevent HF worsening, but the optimal intervention remains unknown. This study aimed to examine which lifestyle modifications or medications can improve HF indicators in asymptomatic HF patients diagnosed from ITI.

An improved algorithm calculated from intrathoracic impedance can precisely diagnose preclinical heart failure events: Sub-analysis of a multicenter MOMOTARO (Monitoring and Management of OptiVol Alert to Reduce Heart Failure Hospitalization) trial study.

Background: Ambulatory measurement of intrathoracic impedance (ITI) with an implanted device has potential to assess fluid accumulation in patients with heart failure (HF), but it has failed to reduce HF-related hospitalization because of a high false-positive rate.

Objective: We aimed to examine whether a modified algorithm (OptiVol 2.0) could reduce false-positive HF events documented in our multicenter trial (MOMOTARO).

Decreased Intrathoracic Impedance Associated With OptiVol Alert Can Diagnose Increased B-Type Natriuretic Peptide - MOMOTARO (Monitoring and Management of OptiVol Alert to Reduce Heart Failure Hospitalization) Study - .

Background: Ambulatory measurement of intrathoracic impedance (ITI) with an implanted device may detect increases in pulmonary fluid retention early, but the clinical utility of this method is not well established. The goal of this study was to test whether conventional ITI-derived parameters can diagnose fluid retention that may cause early stage heart failure (HF).

Methods And Results: HF patients implanted with high-energy devices with OptiVol (Medtronic) monitoring were enrolled in this study.

Radiographic and electrocardiography-gated noncontrast cardiac CT assessment of lead perforation: modality comparison and interobserver agreement.

Background: Pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator lead extraction may be required because of infection, malfunction, or breakage. The preprocedural identification of lead tip position may help ensure safe performance of the procedure.

Objective: To analyze the ability of chest radiography and CT imaging to characterize lead tip position and identify perforation in a population of patients who underwent lead extraction.

Serial clinical and angiographic follow-up after phosphorylcholine-coated stent implantation.

The efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) has been proven, but concerns about late complications after DES have been raised. Polymers that do not increase inflammatory or hypersensitivity reactions which may contribute to late complications are needed for new generation DES. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of phosphorylcholine-polymer coating, we investigated serial clinical and angiographic outcomes after phosphorylcholine-coated stent placement.

Effectiveness of paclitaxel-eluting balloon catheter in patients with sirolimus-eluting stent restenosis.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a paclitaxel-eluting balloon (PEB) for the treatment of sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) restenosis.

Background: Because drug-eluting stents (DES) are being used in increasingly complicated settings, DES restenosis is no longer an uncommon phenomenon, and its optimal treatment is unknown.

Methods: This study was a prospective single-blind randomized trial conducted in 50 patients with SES restenosis.