Screening of unknown atrial fibrillation through handheld device in the elderly.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of unknown atrial fibrillation (AF) in the elderly population of the Veneto Region, Italy.

Methods: 1820 patients aged ≥ 65 years with no history of AF and not anticoagulated were enrolled in primary-care settings. They underwent an opportunistic electrocardiogram screening with a handheld device (MyDiagnostick) designed to specifically detect AF.

Intra-procedural three-dimensional rotational angiography in cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Cryoballoon (CB) is an established technology for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and is usually performed using solely fluoroscopy. We aimed to study the feasibility of three-dimensional rotational angiography (3DRA) as intra-procedural imaging in CB ablation. Analyzed data were retrospectively collected from patients that underwent second generation CB ablation from February 2015 to August 2017.

Prevalence Of familial hypercholeSTerolaemia (FH) in Italian Patients with coronary artERy disease: The POSTER study.

Background And Aims: Familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) events. High levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) since birth are linked to the early onset of atherosclerotic disease. A genetic mutation determining FH is present in about one subject out of 250; FH should be more represented among subjects with a documented diagnosis of coronary artery disease (CAD).

The role of echocardiography in the embolic stroke of undetermined source.

: Echocardiography plays an important role both in the diagnosis and the treatment/prevention of embolic stroke of undetermined source and should be performed as soon as possible for preventing ischemic stroke recurrencies, which occur more frequently during the first week after the first ischemic event. Early identification of the cause of a transient ischemic attack or stroke is indeed a primary goal for the neurologist in the Stroke Unit and requires specific diagnostic strategies. Echocardiography, together with other diagnostic tools such as carotid and transcranial ultrasounds, provides this information promptly.

Improved real-time recordings using the fourth-generation cryoballoon technology-detection of dual fascicle electrograms.

Background: We aimed to analyze the rate of visualization of real-time (RT) recordings and dual fascicle electrograms in our first series of patients treated with the fourth-generation cryoballoon (CB) device.

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent CB ablation using the fourth-generation technology were included in the analysis. In all procedures, we used a 28-mm CB placed via a single transseptal puncture guided by intracardiac ultrasound.

Use of figure of eight suture for groin closure with no heparin reversal in patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation.

Purpose: We aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of figure of eight (FoE) suture for groin access closure in cryoballoon (CB) ablation and its impact on the lab workflow.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent CB ablation in our institution from June 2018. From June 2019, we have been consistently using FoE suture for hemostasis (FoE+ group), and before that conventional manual compression was utilized (FoE- group).

New-onset extreme right axis deviation in acute myocardial infarction: clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Background: QRS axis deviation can occur during myocardial infarction (MI); to date, little is known about the significance of extreme right axis deviation (ERAD) in the frontal plane, i.e. a shift in QRS axis between +180° and +270°, during MI.

Meta-Analysis Comparing Cryoballoon Versus Radiofrequency as First Ablation Procedure for Atrial Fibrillation.

Pulmonary vein isolation is the cornerstone of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Radiofrequency (RF) represents a standard of care for pulmonary vein isolation, whereas cryoballoon (CB) ablation has emerged as a valid alternative. The aim of our meta-analysis was to explore the efficacy and safety of CB compared with RF as first ablation procedure for AF.

Transient electrocardiographic changes following smoking cannabis.

We report a case of transient ECG abnormalities (negative T waves in the inferior leads) associated with presyncope related to acute cannabis consumption; after a few hours the ECG returned normal. Although pathophysiological mechanisms are not clear, it might be hypothesize a mismatch between increased oxygen demand and decreased oxygen supply or a marked hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system.

An unusual case of AV block.

Nerium oleander is an evergreen small tree, very used in some countries such as India and in Sri Lanka as a self-medication method. We report a case of a 55 year-old man with intermittent, advanced AV block secondary to oleander intoxication.

An expert opinion paper on statin adherence and implementation of new lipid-lowering medications by the ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy: Barriers to be overcome.

Benefits and safety on statins have been well-established over 20 years of research. Despite this, the vast majority of patients are not adequately treated and do not achieve the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol target levels. This is mainly due to poor adherence, which is associated with dangerous and sometimes fatal outcomes.

Management of a patient with heart failure by sacubitril/valsartan: improvement of functional capacity.

The main objectives of the treatment of heart failure (HF) are to improve patient clinical status, functional capacity and quality of life, as well as reducing re-hospitalization rate and mortality. A new compound, consisting of an angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) (valsartan) and a neprilysin (NEP) inhibitor (sacubitril), belonging to the newly established class of angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (ARNIs) showed marked efficacy, without any relevant safety issue, in the treatment of patients with HF. We report a case of a 48 year old male with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) due to hypertensive cardiomyopathy (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class III).