Epicardial ablation of ventricular tachycardia in patients with structural heart disease: a single-centre experience over 12 years.

Aims: Epicardial ablation has risen to an essential part of the treatment of ventricular tachycardias (VTs). In this study, we report the efficacy, risks, and current trends of epicardial ablation in structural heart disease as reported in a tertiary single centre over a 12-year period.

Methods And Results: Two hundred and thirty-six patients referred for VT ablation underwent a successful epicardial access and were included in the analysis (89% non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy, 90% males, mean age 60 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 38.

Role of assist device implantation and heart transplantation in the long-term outcome of patients with structural heart disease after catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia.

Introduction: Ablation of ventricular tachycardias (VTs) in patients with structural heart disease (SHD) has been associated with advanced heart failure and poor survival.

Methods And Results: This matched case-control study sought to assess the difference in survival after left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation and/or heart transplantation (HTX) in SHD patients undergoing VT ablation. From the initial cohort of 309 SHD patients undergoing VT ablation (187 ischemic cardiomyopathy, mean age 64 ± 12 years, ejection fraction of 34 ± 13%), 15 patients received an LVAD and nine patients HTX after VT ablation during a follow-up period of 44 ± 33 months.

Subjective assessment of complexity and prognosis after pulmonary vein isolation as significant predictor for procedural success.

Purpose: Subjective estimation of recurrence after atrial fibrillation ablation is an important tool in clinical use. The aim of this study is to evaluate (1) if the subjective complexity of an atrial fibrillation ablation procedure is correlated with rhythm stability and (2) if the subjective prognosis of the operator has a predictive value.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled patients admitted for ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Relationship between fermented dairy consumption, circulating short-chain acylcarnitines and angiographic severity of coronary artery disease.

Background And Aims: Current epidemiologic data suggest beneficial cardiovascular effects of fermented dairy products (FDP). However, the relationship between FDP consumption and angiographic coronary status has not been previously studied. Furthermore, the role of novel metabolomic biomarkers of cardiovascular risk in this context is unclear.

Impact of single versus double transseptal puncture on outcome and complications in pulmonary vein isolation procedures.

Background: The aim of the current study was to analyze the impact of single versus double transseptal puncture (TSP) for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation.

Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing AF ablation were prospectively included in the AF ablation registry and were analyzed according to single versus double TSP.

Results: A total of 478 patients (female 35%, persistent AF 67%) undergoing AF ablation between 01/2014 and 09/2014 were included.

Association of smoking with myocardial injury and clinical outcome in patients undergoing mechanical reperfusion for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Aims: There is evidence suggesting a positive effect of cigarette smoking on myocardial tissue reperfusion and clinical outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction ('smoker's paradox'). We aimed to evaluate the relationship of smoking with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-determined myocardial salvage and damage as well as clinical outcomes in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Methods And Results: This multicentre study included 727 consecutive STEMI patients reperfused within 12 h after symptom onset.

The value of noncoronary atherosclerosis for identifying coronary artery disease: results of the Leipzig LIFE Heart Study.

Background: Despite the widespread use of noninvasive testing prior to invasive coronary diagnostic the diagnostic yield of elective coronary angiography has been reported low in subjects with suspected obstructive CAD.

Objective: To determine the predictive value of noncoronary atherosclerosis (NCA) in subjects with suspected stable coronary artery disease (CAD) intended to invasive coronary angiography.

Methods: Ultrasound-based assessment of carotid artery plaque (CAP), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) was performed in 2216 subjects with suspected CAD prior to coronary angiography.

Variability of P-wave morphology predicts the outcome of circumferential pulmonary vein isolation in patients with recurrent atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: Severe atrial structural remodeling may reflect irreversible damage of the atrial tissue in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and is associated with changes of P-wave duration and morphology. Our aim was to study whether variability of P-wave morphology (PMV) is associated with outcome in patients with AF after circumferential PV isolation (CPVI).

Methods And Results: 70 consecutive patients (aged 60±9years, 46 men) undergoing CPVI due to symptomatic AF were studied.

Validation of a brief step-test protocol for estimation of peak oxygen uptake.

Background: Physical exercise capacity has been shown to predict cardiovascular disease incidence and is increasingly measured in epidemiological studies. However, direct measurement of peak oxygen uptake is too time consuming in large-scale studies. We therefore investigated whether a brief 3-minute step-test protocol can be used to estimate peak oxygen uptake in these settings.