Preparticipation screening in young female elite ice hockey players.

Objectives: The occurrence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in competitive athletes has led to a discussion about appropriate preparticipation screening models. The role of an electrocardiogram (ECG) in routine testing remains controversial in current guidelines. Furthermore, data on cardiac findings and the prognostic utility of screening strategies in young female elite ice hockey is scarce.

An economic evaluation of first-line cryoballoon ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation from a German healthcare payer perspective.

Background: Three recent randomized controlled trials demonstrated that, in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), first-line pulmonary vein isolation with cryoballoon catheter ablation reduces atrial arrhythmia recurrence compared to initial antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of first-line cryoablation compared to first-line AADs from a German healthcare payer perspective.

Methods: Individual patient-level data from 703 participants with untreated PAF enrolled into three randomized clinical trials (Cryo-FIRST, STOP AF First and EARLY-AF) were used to derive parameters for the cost-effectiveness model (CEM).

Impact of intracardiac echocardiography usage on the safety of cryoballoon atrial fibrillation ablation: Subanalysis of the prospective FREEZE cluster cohort study.

Introduction: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) aiming at pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) became a standardized atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedure. Life-threatening complications like cardiac tamponade exist. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) usage is associated with superior safety in radiofrequency ablation.

Left atrial appendage volume is an independent predictor of atrial arrhythmia recurrence following cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation in persistent atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is the cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation in persistent AF (persAF), and cryoballoon PVI emerged as an initial ablation strategy. Symptomatic atrial arrhythmia recurrence following successful PVI in persAF is observed more frequently than in paroxysmal AF. Predictors for arrhythmia recurrence following cryoballoon PVI for persAF are not well described, and the role of left atrial appendage (LAA) anatomy is uncertain.

Gender Differences in Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Plaque Composition by Coronary CT Angiography: Association with Cardiovascular Outcome.

To investigate gender differences in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and plaque composition by coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and the association with cardiovascular outcome. Data of 352 patients (64.2 ± 10.

Electrophysiology lab efficiency comparison between cryoballoon and point-by-point radiofrequency ablation: a German sub-analysis of the FREEZE Cohort study.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is recommended to treat paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). This analysis aimed to assess the hospital efficiency of single-shot cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and point-by-point radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Methods: The discrete event simulation used PVI procedure times from the FREEZE Cohort study to establish the electrophysiology (EP) lab occupancy time.

Association of epicardial adipose tissue with coronary CT angiography plaque parameters on cardiovascular outcome in patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

Background And Aims: We aimed to evaluate the association of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) with coronary CT angiography (CCTA) plaque parameters on cardiovascular outcome in patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Data of 353 patients (62.9 ± 10.

Catheter Ablation in Complex Atrial Arrhythmias: Pilot Study Evaluating a 3D Wide-Band Dielectric Imaging System.

Background: Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a standard in atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation but might not be enough in complex atrial arrhythmias (AA). An open three-dimensional wide-band dielectric imaging system (3D-WBDIS) has been introduced to guide CBA.

Material And Methods: Pilot study evaluating feasibility and safety of 3D-WBDIS in combination with CBA and optional radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with complex AA defined as (1) history of persistent AF, (2) additional atrial tachycardia/flutter, or (3) previous left atrial ablation.

Cryoballoon Ablation Strategy in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Cryoballoon ablation is established for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). The objective was to evaluate CBA strategy in consecutive patients with persistent AF in the initial AF ablation procedure. Prospectively, patients with symptomatic persistent AF scheduled for AF ablation all underwent cryoballoon PVI.

Prognostic Utility of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography-derived Plaque Information on Long-term Outcome in Patients With and Without Diabetes Mellitus.

Purpose: To investigate the long-term prognostic value of coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA)-derived plaque information on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in patients with and without diabetes mellitus.

Materials And Methods: In all, 64 patients with diabetes (63.3±10.

Antiarrhythmic drug therapy after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation-Insights from the German Ablation Registry.

Data on the optimal treatment strategy for antiarrhythmic drug therapy (AAD) after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) are inconsistent. The present study investigates whether postinterventional AAD leads to an improved long-term outcome. Patients from the prospective German Ablation Registry (n = 3275) discharged with or without AAD after catheter ablation for AF were compared regarding the rates of recurrences, reablations and cardiovascular events as well as patient reported outcomes during 12 months follow-up.

Cardiac computed tomography angiography-derived analysis of left atrial appendage morphology and left atrial dimensions for the prediction of atrial fibrillation recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation.

Background: Left atrial appendage (LAA) is a potential source of atrial fibrillation (AF) triggers.

Hypothesis: LAA morphology and dimensions are associated with AF recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Methods: From cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA), left atrial (LA), pulmonary vein (PV), and LAA anatomy were assessed in cryoballoon ablation (CBA) patients.

Value of Machine Learning-based Coronary CT Fractional Flow Reserve Applied to Triple-Rule-Out CT Angiography in Acute Chest Pain.

Purpose: To evaluate the additional value of noninvasive artificial intelligence (AI)-based CT-derived fractional flow reserve (CT FFR), derived from triple-rule-out coronary CT angiography for acute chest pain (ACP) in the emergency department (ED) setting.

Materials And Methods: AI-based CT FFR from triple-rule-out CT angiography data sets was retrospectively obtained in 159 of 271 eligible patients (102 men; mean age, 57.0 years ± 9.

Non-invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR) in the evaluation of acute chest pain - Concepts and first experiences.

Objective: To evaluate 30 day rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) utilizing cCTA and FFR for evaluation of patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) with acute chest pain.

Materials And Methods: Patients between the ages of 18-95 years who underwent clinically indicated cCTA and FFR in the evaluation of acute chest pain in the emergency department were retrospectively evaluated for 30 day MACE, repeat presentation/admission for chest pain, revascularization, and additional testing.

Results: A total of 59 patients underwent CCTA and subsequent FFR for the evaluation of acute chest pain in the ED over the enrollment period.

Impact of age on the outcome of cryoballoon ablation as the primary approach in the interventional treatment of atrial fibrillation: Insights from a large all-comer study.

Introduction: The objective was to analyze the impact of patient age on clinical characteristics, procedural results, safety, and outcome of cryoballoon ablation (CBA) as the primary approach in the interventional treatment of symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods And Results: The single-center prospective observational study investigated consecutive patients who underwent initial left atrial ablation for symptomatic paroxysmal (PAF) or persistent AF (persAF). Age groups (A-F) of less than 40, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and more than or equal to 80 years were evaluated.

CT Angiography-Derived RECHARGE Score Predicts Successful Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients with Chronic Total Occlusion.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility and the accuracy of the coronary CT angiography (CCTA)-derived Registry of Crossboss and Hybrid procedures in France, the Netherlands, Belgium and United Kingdom (RECHARGE) score (RECHARGE) for the prediction of procedural success and 30-minutes guidewire crossing in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusion (CTO).

Materials And Methods: One hundred and twenty-four consecutive patients (mean age, 54 years; 79% male) with 131 CTO lesions who underwent CCTA before catheter angiography (CA) with CTO-PCI were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The RECHARGE scores were calculated and compared with RECHARGECA and other CTA-based prediction scores, including Multicenter CTO Registry of Japan (J-CTO), CT Registry of CTO Revascularisation (CT-RECTOR), and Korean Multicenter CTO CT Registry (KCCT) scores.

Safety and patient-reported outcomes in index ablation versus repeat ablation in atrial fibrillation: insights from the German Ablation Registry.

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation is an established strategy for catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). However, in a significant number of patients, a repeat procedure is mandatory due to arrhythmia recurrence. In this study, we report safety data and procedural details of patients undergoing index ablation versus repeat ablation in a registry-based real-life setting.

Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Hypertension-An Analysis from the German Ablation Registry.

Background: Hypertension (HTN) constitutes a risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF), as well as for thromboembolic and bleeding events. We analysed the outcome after catheter ablation of AF in HTN in a cohort from the prospective multicenter German Ablation Registry.

Methods: Between 03/2008 and 01/2010, 626 patients undergoing AF-ablation were analysed.

Improved long-term prognostic value of coronary CT angiography-derived plaque measures and clinical parameters on adverse cardiac outcome using machine learning.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term prognostic value of coronary CT angiography (cCTA)-derived plaque measures and clinical parameters on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) using machine learning (ML).

Methods: Datasets of 361 patients (61.9 ± 10.

Impact of machine learning-based coronary computed tomography angiography fractional flow reserve on treatment decisions and clinical outcomes in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

Objectives: This study investigated the impact of machine learning (ML)-based fractional flow reserve derived from computed tomography (FFR) compared to invasive coronary angiography (ICA) for therapeutic decision-making and patient outcome in patients with suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: One thousand one hundred twenty-one consecutive patients with stable chest pain who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) followed ICA within 90 days between January 2007 and December 2016 were included in this retrospective study. Medical records were reviewed for the endpoint of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs).

Efficacy and complications of cavo-tricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter ablation in patients with and without structural heart disease: results from the German Ablation Registry.

Background: The impact of structural heart disease (SHD) on safety and efficacy of catheter ablation of cavo-tricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter (AFLU) is unclear. In addition, recent data suggest a higher complication rate of AFLU ablation compared to the more complex atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedure.

Methods And Results: Within our prospective multicenter registry, 3526 consecutive patients underwent AFLU ablation at 49 German electrophysiological centers from 2007 to 2010.