The Association Between Chronic Kidney Disease and Third-Degree Atrioventricular Block: A Danish Nationwide Study.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is frequently complicated by arrhythmias, plausibly leading to the increased risk of sudden cardiac death in this population. However, little is known about the association between CKD and third-degree atrioventricular block (3AVB) and need for permanent pacing.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between CKD and 3AVB.

Atrial Tachyarrhythmias With Ultra-Rapid Ventricular Response and Sudden Death in Patients Without Structural Heart Disease.

Background: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is generally associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Supraventricular arrhythmias are an accepted cause of SCD in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and complex congenital heart disease. However, the role of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATAs) in SCD in patients with structurally normal hearts is unclear.

Racial Differences in Device-Detected Incident Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Prior research suggests Black individuals have a lower risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) than White individuals, but this may be related to the underdetection of AF. Whether this trend persists using highly sensitive methods of AF diagnosis has not been well-studied.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to use cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) capable of AF diagnosis to compare AF incidence between Black and White individuals.

Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices in Cardiac Transplant Patients: A Comprehensive Review.

A fraction of patients (approximately 10%) undergoing heart transplantation require permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation due to sinus node dysfunction or atrioventricular block, occurring either shortly after surgery or later. The incidence of PPM implantation has declined to less than 5% with the introduction of bicaval anastomosis transplantation surgery. Pacing dependency during follow-up varies among recipients.

Serial secretoneurin measurement and risk of ventricular arrhythmias and death in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Background: Secretoneurin, a member of the granin protein family, is associated with the risk of mortality in patients with acute and chronic heart failure. Secretoneurin may play an important role in cardiomyocyte calcium handling, suggesting that it may influence cardiac arrhythmia risk. We hypothesized that baseline and serial measurements of circulating secretoneurin are associated with the risk of incident ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VA) and death, and that serial measurement would provide prognostic information beyond baseline values.

To shock or not to shock - the accuracy of cardiac arrest rhythm assessment by paramedics in a simulated environment.

Purpose: Defibrillation in shockable rhythm is a well-known key intervention in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). The aim of this study was to analyze accuracy (the sum of the numbers of true positive results and true negative results, divided by the number of total results) of deciding by paramedics whether the rhythm was shockable or non-shockable.

Methods: In this study 103 paramedics from various regions of Poland participated voluntarily.

The impact of shock therapy on depression development and remote prognosis in cardiac resynchronization therapy recipients.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the incidence and clinical significance of depression in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (CRT-D). The study was also to evaluate the impact of shock therapy on depression development and long-term prognosis.

Methods: The prospective study encompassed 396 consecutive heart failure (HF) patients implanted with CRT-D.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Assessment of the Risk of Sudden Death in Cardiac Sarcoidosis: What Is Extensive or Significant Late Gadolinium Enhancement?

Background: Cardiac sarcoidosis involves a significant but difficult-to-define risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Current guidelines recommend consideration of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for patients with extensive or significant myocardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. However, extensive/significant LGE is not defined.

Successful Rescue of Ventricular Fibrillation Electrical Storm Secondary to Acute Myocardial Infarction in a Patient Presenting to a District General Hospital: A Case Report.

Ventricular arrhythmia is a critical and challenging cardiovascular complication of myocardial infarction (MI). An electrical storm (ES), characterised by three or more episodes of sustained ventricular arrhythmia within 24 hours, poses a significant life-threatening risk. Standard management includes advanced life support (ALS) protocols and specialised pharmacological interventions.

A refined, minimally invasive, reproducible ovine ischaemia-reperfusion-infarction model using implantable defibrillators: Methodology and validation.

Ischaemic heart disease remains a leading cause of premature mortality and morbidity. Understanding the associated pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiac dysfunction arising from ischaemic heart disease and the identification of sites for new therapeutic interventions requires a preclinical model that reproduces the key clinical characteristics of myocardial ischaemia, reperfusion and infarction. Here, we describe and validate a refined and minimally invasive translationally relevant approach to induce ischaemia, reperfusion and infarction in the sheep.

Management of patient with acute lymphocytic myocarditis and congenital long QT syndrome presenting with electrical storm and incessant Torsade de Pointes: a case report.

Background: This case highlights the management of concomitant acute myocarditis and congenital long QT syndrome with electrical storm and incessant Torsade de Pointes.

Case Presentation: An 18 years-old Southeast Asian para 1 abortus 0 (P1A0) postpartum patient with cesarean section owing to severe preeclampsia, acute lymphocytic myocarditis, and prolonged QT interval owing to long QT syndrome. She has incessant Torsade de Pointes treated with beta-blocker, lidocaine, overdrive pacing with a temporary transvenous pacemaker, left cardiac sympathetic denervation per video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation.

Effect of Rate-Adaptive Atrial Support Compared to VDD Pacing in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Recipients: A Randomized Cross-Over Study.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a cornerstone treatment for heart failure, yet the optimal pacing mode remains uncertain. This study investigates the impact of DDDR (rate-adaptive atrial support) versus VDD pacing modes on functional capacity and echocardiographic outcomes in patients with CRT-defibrillators.

Methods: In a multicenter, double-blind, crossover trial, 26 sinus rhythm patients undergoing CRT-defibrillator implantation were randomized to DDDR at 60 beats-per-minute or VDD at 30 beats-per-minute.

Knowledge of the nursing team about cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation: mixed methods studies.

Objective: To analyze the knowledge and perceptions of the nursing team about arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation in adults before and after in situ simulation in emergency care.

Method: A sequential explanatory mixed methods study conducted in an Emergency Care Unit. Quantitative data were obtained through pre- and post-simulation questionnaire answered by 21 professionals and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

A case report of pre-implantation feasibility test for combining leadless pacemaker and subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in adult congenital heart disease.

Unlabelled: New cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), such as leadless pacemakers and subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillators (S-ICDs), are being used in patients with adult congenital heart disease. The selection of CIEDs often requires careful consideration due to technical challenges posed by a unique heart structure. A 27-year-old man following a surgical tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair developed non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, sick sinus syndrome, and complete atrioventricular block.

Uncomplicated Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Extraction After 4 Years Dwell Time: A Case Report.

The extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (EV-ICD) was developed to overcome complications associated with transvenous leads while being able to deliver anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP). The lead is implanted in the substernal space, which makes extraction a cautious procedure. We present a case of a 51-year-old women with a successful EV-ICD extraction after a lead dwell time of 4 years, which is the longest reported.

Awareness and knowledge of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among the general public in West-Bank in Palestine.

Background: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is a leading cause of cardiovascular-related deaths, often occurring outside hospitals in undiagnosed individuals. Our study aims to assess the baseline awareness and skills in performing CPR among the population in Palestine.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to assess CPR knowledge among residents of the West Bank, Palestine.

An hiPSC-CM approach for electrophysiological phenotyping of a patient-specific case of short-coupled TdP.

Introduction: A healthy young woman, age 26 without prior cardiac complications, experienced an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation (VF), which coincided with a fever. Comprehensive diagnostics including echo, CMR, exercise testing, and genetic sequencing, did not identify any potential cause. This led to the diagnosis of idiopathic VF and installment of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, which six months later appropriately intervened another VF episode under conditions comparable to the first event.

Rates of post procedural prophylactic antibiotic use following cardiac implantable electronic device insertion and the impact on surgical site infections in Alberta, Canada.

Background: The necessity of post procedural prophylactic antibiotics following clean surgeries is controversial. While most evidence suggests that there is no benefit from these additional antibiotics and guidelines do not support their use, there is a paucity of evidence as to how often they are still being used and their impact on infection outcomes. The current study assessed the use of prophylactic antibiotics following cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantations in the province of Alberta, and their impact on infection and mortality.

Rationale and Design of the Personalized Therapy Study: Evaluating Real-World Performance of Two Automated Defibrillation Therapy Algorithms.

Background: Barriers to maximizing patient benefit with implantable defibrillation devices include limited ability to tailor antitachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy in real-time and identify patients at risk of heart failure (HF) events early on. The Personalized Therapy study aims to evaluate the performance of two algorithms, intrinsic ATP (iATP) and TriageHF, to address these barriers in routine clinical practice.

Methods And Results: The Personalized Therapy Study was designed as a prospective, multicenter, post-market registry study expected to enroll approximately 2,200 patients meeting the following criteria: (1) implanted with a study-eligible device regardless of procedure type; (2) Medtronic CareLink® Network enrolled; (3) TriageHF enabled within CareLink and High Risk Alert notifications turned ON; and (4) iATP enabled.

Re-arrest immediately after return of spontaneous circulation: A retrospective observational study of in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Background: Patients who achieve return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) after in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) may re-arrest. This phenomenon has not been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this study was to examine the immediate (1-min) and short-term (20-min) risks of re-arrest in IHCA.

Life-Saving Cooperative Function of a Subcutaneous Cardioverter-Defibrillator and a Pacemaker in Dextrocardia With Heart Failure.

A 47-year-old man with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, dextrocardia, heart failure, and pacemaker-dependency presented with nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. He underwent a right-sided transmuscular cardioverter-defibrillator insertion after appropriate testing. One year later, life-saving antiarrhythmic therapy was applied by the subcutaneous defibrillator while the appropriate pacemaker functioning supported heart rhythm.

CT-guided Left Stellate Ganglion Cryoneurolysis for Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias.

Background Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation, present substantial therapeutic challenges due to their high morbidity, mortality, and increasing prevalence. Current treatments often prove infeasible or inadequate in patients with refractory VAs. Purpose To evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CT-guided left stellate ganglion cryoneurolysis (SGC) in the treatment of refractory VAs.

Much More Than a Stroke: Emery-Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy Type 2 Revealed by Ischemic Stroke.

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy type 2 (EDMD2) is a rare autosomal dominant neuromuscular disorder caused by LMNA gene mutations and characterized by progressive skeletal muscle weakness and significant cardiac involvement. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who presented with sudden-onset, left-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria. Initial imaging was unremarkable, and symptoms transiently improved, suggesting a transient ischemic attack.