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21,200 | Predictors of atrial fibrillation in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The primary aim of this study (HCM Risk-AF) was to determine the predictors of AF in a large multicentre cohort of patients with HCM. Exploratory analyses were performed to investigate the association between AF and survival and the efficacy of antiarrhythmic therapy in maintaining sinus rhythm (SR).</AbstractText>A retrospective, longitudinal cohort of patients recruited between 1986 and 2008 in seven centres was used to develop multivariable Cox regression models fitted with preselected predictors. HCM was defined as unexplained hypertrophy (maximum left ventricular wall thickness of ≥15 mm or in accordance with published criteria for the diagnosis of familial disease). 28% of patients (n=1171) had coexistent hypertension. The primary end point was paroxysmal, permanent or persistent AF detected on ECG, Holter monitoring or implantable device interrogation.</AbstractText>Of the 4248 patients with HCM without pre-existing AF, 740 (17.4%) reached the primary end point. Multivariable Cox regression revealed an association between AF and female sex, age, left atrial diameter, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, hypertension and vascular disease. The proportion of patients with cardiovascular death at 10 years was 4.9% in the SR group and 10.9% in the AF group (difference in proportions=5.9%; 95% CI (4.1% to 7.8%)). The proportion of patients with non-cardiovascular death at 10 years was 3.2% in the SR group and 5.9% in the AF group (difference in proportions=2.8%; 95% CI (0.1% to 4.2%)). An intention-to-treat propensity score analysis demonstrated that β-blockers, calcium channel antagonists and disopyramide initially maintained SR during follow-up, but their protective effect diminished with time. Amiodarone therapy did not prevent AF during follow-up.</AbstractText>This study shows that patients with HCM who are at risk of AF development can be identified using readily available clinical parameters. The development of AF is associated with a poor prognosis but there was no evidence that antiarrhythmic therapy prevents AF in the long term.</AbstractText>Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,201 | Location of In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in the United States-Variability in Event Rate and Outcomes. | In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) is a major public health problem with significant mortality. A better understanding of where IHCA occurs in hospitals (intensive care unit [ICU] versus monitored ward [telemetry] versus unmonitored ward) could inform strategies for reducing preventable deaths.</AbstractText>This is a retrospective study of adult IHCA events in the Get with the Guidelines-Resuscitation database from January 2003 to September 2010. Unadjusted analyses were used to characterize patient, arrest, and hospital-level characteristics by hospital location of arrest (ICU versus inpatient ward). IHCA event rates and outcomes were plotted over time by arrest location. Among 85 201 IHCA events at 445 hospitals, 59% (50 514) occurred in the ICU compared to 41% (34 687) on the inpatient wards. Compared to ward patients, ICU patients were younger (64±16 years versus 69±14; P<0.001) and more likely to have a presenting rhythm of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (21% versus 17%; P<0.001). In the ICU, mean event rate/1000 bed-days was 0.337 (±0.215) compared with 0.109 (±0.079) for telemetry wards and 0.134 (±0.098) for unmonitored wards. Of patients with an arrest in the ICU, the adjusted mean survival to discharge was 0.140 (0.037) compared with the unmonitored wards 0.106 (0.037) and telemetry wards 0.193 (0.074). More IHCA events occurred in the ICU compared to the inpatient wards and there was a slight increase in events/1000 patient bed-days in both locations.</AbstractText>Survival rates vary based on location of IHCA. Optimizing patient assignment to unmonitored wards versus telemetry wards may contribute to improved survival after IHCA.</AbstractText>© 2016 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,202 | Effect and mechanism of Irbesartan on occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in rats with myocardial ischemia through connexin43 (cx43). | To explore the effect and mechanism of angiotensin II receptor blockers - Irbesartan on occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in rats with myocardial ischemia.</AbstractText>Rats with embryonic cardiomyocytes-H9c2 were randomly divided into control group, ischemia group, Irbesartan group and Irbesartan + ischemia group. The cell viability of rats in each group was tested using MTT. Real-time PCR was employed to detect the expression of connexin43 (Cx43) mRNA and western blot to detect the expression of Cx43 and phosphorylated Cx43. SD rats were randomly divided into the sham-operation group (SO), myocardial infarction group (MI), Irbesartan group and MI + Irbesartan group, with 10 rats in each group. HE staining was employed to observe the change in the pathomorphology of left ventricular tissue and TUNEL method to analyze the cell apoptosis in the tissue. The immunofluorescence was adopted to observe the expression and distribution of Cx43 in the left ventricular myocardium and study the change in the expression of Cx43 in the cardiac muscular tissue at mRNA and protein level.</AbstractText>The intervention of Irbesartan in the condition of ischemia indicated the significant decrease in the number of necrotic cells. The expression of Cx43 was significantly decreased under the culture of ischemia (P < 0.05), but in the presence of Irbesartan, the expression of Cx43 was increased compared with the ischemia group (P < 0.01). The results of WB assay showed the similar trend of change at mRNA level. There was the significant difference in the score of ventricular arrhythmia between MI group and SO group (P < 0.01). The incidence of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation was significantly increased compared with the one in SO group (P < 0.05). There was the significant difference in the overall score between MI + Irbesartan group and MI group (P < 0.05). The expression of Cx43 in the cardiac muscular tissue in MI group was significantly decreased (P < 0.01 vs SO group). But the expression of Cx43 was increased after the treatment with Irbesartan.</AbstractText>Irbesartan can inhibit the injury of H9c2 cardiomyocytes and the decreased expression of Cx43 that are induced by the ischemic myocardial infarction. Irbesartan can also improve the reconstruction of Cx43 in rats with ischemic myocardium to inhibit the myocardial infarction-induced arrhythmias.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Hainan Medical University. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,203 | CPR Induced Consciousness During Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Case Report on an Emerging Phenomenon. | High quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has produced a relatively new phenomenon of consciousness in patients with vital signs absent. Further research is necessary to produce a viable treatment strategy during and post resuscitation.</AbstractText>To provide a case study done by paramedics in the field illustrating the need for sedation in a patient whose presentation was consistent with CPR induced consciousness. Resuscitative challenges are provided as well as potential future treatment options to minimize harm to both patients and prehospital providers.</AbstractText>A 52-year-old male presented as a witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). During CPR the patient began to exhibit signs of life including severe agitation and thrashing of his limbs while CPR was ongoing for ventricular fibrillation prior to defibrillation. Resuscitation became considerably more complicated due to the violent and counterintuitive motions done by the patient during their own resuscitation. Despite the atypical presentation of cardiac arrest the patient was successfully resuscitated employing high quality CPR, standard advanced life support (ALS) care as well as two double sequential external defibrillation shocks. The patient underwent emergency percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for a 100% occlusion of his left anterior descending artery (LAD). The patient returned home 3 days later fully recovered with a Cerebral Performance Score of 1.</AbstractText>CPR induced consciousness is emerging as a new phenomenon challenging providers of high quality CPR during cardiac arrest resuscitation. Our case report describes the manifestations of CPR induced consciousness as well as the resuscitative challenges which occur during resuscitation. Further research is required to determine the true frequency of this condition as well as treatment algorithms that would allow for appropriate and safe management for both the patient and EMS providers.</AbstractText> |
21,204 | Effect of liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue, on left ventricular function in stable chronic heart failure patients with and without diabetes (LIVE)-a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. | To determine the effect of the glucagon-like peptide-1 analogue liraglutide on left ventricular function in chronic heart failure patients with and without type 2 diabetes.</AbstractText>LIVE was an investigator-initiated, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled multicentre trial. Patients (n = 241) with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF ≤45%) were recruited (February 2012 to August 2015). Patients were clinically stable and on optimal heart failure treatment. Intervention was liraglutide 1.8 mg once daily or matching placebo for 24 weeks. The LVEF was similar at baseline in the liraglutide and the placebo group (33.7 ± 7.6% vs. 35.4 ± 9.4%). Change in LVEF did not differ between the liraglutide and the placebo group; mean difference (95% confidence interval) was -0.8% (-2.1, 0.5; P = 0.24). Heart rate increased with liraglutide [mean difference: 7 b.p.m. (5, 9), P < 0.0001]. Serious cardiac events were seen in 12 (10%) patients treated with liraglutide compared with 3 (3%) patients in the placebo group (P = 0.04).</AbstractText>Liraglutide did not affect left ventricular systolic function compared with placebo in stable chronic heart failure patients with and without diabetes. Treatment with liraglutide was associated with an increase in heart rate and more serious cardiac adverse events, and this raises some concern with respect to the use of liraglutide in patients with chronic heart failure and reduced left ventricular function. More data on the safety of liraglutide in different subgroups of heart failure patients are needed.</AbstractText>© 2016 The Authors. European Journal of Heart Failure © 2016 European Society of Cardiology.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,205 | [Clinical analysis of 19 cases of pregnant women with rapid arrhythmia in the treatment of radiofrequency catheter ablation]. | Objective:</b> To investigate the risk of radiofrequency catheter ablation and maternal and infant in pregnant women with rapid arrhythmia during pregnancy. Methods:</b> The clinical data of the 19 cases of pregnancy complicated with rapid arrhythmia were retrospectively analyzed and followed up, including the gestational week, the type of arrhythmia, the treatment, and the outcome of the mother and child in Beijing Anzhen Hospital of Capital Medical University from January 2002 to March 2016. Results:</b> (1)Clinical characteristics: the ages of the 19 cases were(31±4)years old(ranged from 26 to 35 years old), the onset gestational ages were(21±4)weeks(ranged from 15 to 32 weeks).</AbstractText>paroxysmal palpitation, chest tightness, dizziness, and blurred vision. Arrhythmia types: 1 case of atrial flutter and atrial tachycardia, 1 case of atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation, 1 case of atrial fibrillation, 3 cases of supraventricular tachycardia, 1 case of atrial tachycardia and supraventricular tachycardia, 4 cases of ventricular tachycardia, 3 cases of ventricular premature beats and ventricular tachycardia, and 5 cases of atrial tachycardia. All cases were treated by drugs, but all failed 2 cases of them were performed esophageal pacing and cardioversion and also failed.(2)Treatment plan: 19 cases after treatment of arrhythmia, completely terminated, the first 7 patients(from 2002 to 2014)were operated in a small amount of radiation under the guidance, the other 12 patients(after 2015)were carried out in the Ensite NavX mapping system, whichwere operated with zero radiation. Complications and adverse reactions: 1 case of uterine contraction end operation and was gived magnesium sulfate 3 days intravenous inhibition of uterine contractions, 1 case occurred vagal reflex caused by reduced blood pressure and was gived fluid infusion utill normal blood pressure.(3)Maternal and neonatal outcomes: in addition 1 case of pregnancy to give up, the remaining 18 cases were full-term pregnant women, including 4 cases of vaginal delivery and 14 cases of cesarean section. The survival neonates were followed up for 1 to 14 years, average(2.0 ± 2.9)years. The infants were well developed during the follow-up period. Conclution:</b> Radiofrequency catheter ablation is a safe and effective method for the treatment of pregnancy complicated with rapid arrhythmia.</AbstractText> |
21,206 | Ventricular fibrillation waveform measures and the etiology of cardiac arrest. | Early determination of the acute etiology of cardiac arrest could help guide resuscitation or post-resuscitation care. In experimental studies, quantitative measures of the ventricular fibrillation waveform distinguish ischemic from non-ischemic etiology.</AbstractText>We investigated whether waveform measures distinguished arrest etiology among adults treated by EMS for out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation between January 1, 2006-December 31, 2014. Etiology was classified using hospital information into three exclusive groups: acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), ACS without ST elevation (non-STEMI), or non-ischemic arrest. Waveform measures included amplitude spectrum area (AMSA), centroid frequency (CF), mean frequency (MF), and median slope (MS) assessed during CPR-free epochs immediately prior to the initial and second shock. Waveform measures prior to the initial shock and the changes between first and second shock were compared by etiology group. We a priori chose a significance level of 0.01 due to multiple comparisons.</AbstractText>Of the 430 patients, 35% (n=150) were classified as STEMI, 29% (n=123) as non-STEMI, and 37% (n=157) with non-ischemic arrest. We did not observe differences by etiology in any of the waveform measures prior to shock 1 (Kruskal-Wallis Test) (p=0.28 for AMSA, p=0.07 for CF, p=0.63 for MF, and p=0.39 for MS). We also did not observe differences for change in waveform between shock 1 and 2, or when the two acute ischemia groups (STEMI and non-STEMI) were combined and compared to the non-ischemic group.</AbstractText>This clinical investigation suggests that waveform measures may not be useful in distinguishing cardiac arrest etiology.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,207 | Sodium nitroprusside enhanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation improves short term survival in a porcine model of ischemic refractory ventricular fibrillation. | Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) enhanced CPR (SNPeCPR) demonstrates increased vital organ blood flow and survival in multiple porcine models. We developed a new, coronary occlusion/ischemia model of prolonged resuscitation, mimicking the majority of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests presenting with shockable rhythms.</AbstractText>SNPeCPR will increase short term (4-h) survival compared to standard 2015 Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) guidelines in an ischemic refractory ventricular fibrillation (VF), prolonged CPR model.</AbstractText>Sixteen anesthetized pigs had the ostial left anterior descending artery occluded leading to ischemic VF arrest. VF was untreated for 5min. Basic life support was performed for 10min. At minute 10 (EMS arrival), animals received either SNPeCPR (n=8) or standard ACLS (n=8). Defibrillation (200J) occurred every 3min. CPR continued for a total of 45min, then the balloon was deflated simulating revascularization. CPR continued until return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or a total of 60min, if unsuccessful. SNPeCPR animals received 2mg of SNP at minute 10 followed by 1mg every 5min until ROSC. Standard ACLS animals received 0.5mg epinephrine every 5min until ROSC. Primary endpoints were ROSC and 4-h survival.</AbstractText>All SNPeCPR animals (8/8) achieved sustained ROSC versus 2/8 standard ACLS animals within one hour of resuscitation (p=0.04). The 4-h survival was significantly improved with SNPeCPR compared to standard ACLS, 7/8 versus 1/8 respectively, p=0.0019.</AbstractText>SNPeCPR significantly improved ROSC and 4-h survival compared with standard ACLS CPR in a porcine model of prolonged ischemic, refractory VF cardiac arrest.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,208 | RISK pathway is involved in oxytocin postconditioning in isolated rat heart. | The reperfusion injury salvage kinase (RISK) pathway is a fundamental signal transduction cascade in the cardioprotective mechanism of ischemic postconditioning. In the present study, we examined the cardioprotective role of oxytocin as a postconditioning agent via activation of the RISK pathway (PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2). Animals were randomly divided into 6 groups. The hearts were subjected under 30minutes (min) ischemia and 100min reperfusion. OT was perfused 15min at the early phase of reperfusion. RISK pathway inhibitors (Wortmannin; an Akt inhibitor, PD98059; an ERK1/2 inhibitor) and Atosiban (an OT receptor antagonist) were applied either alone 10min before the onset of the ischemia or in the combination with OT during early reperfusion phase. Myocardial infarct size, hemodynamic factors, ventricular arrhythmia, coronary flow and cardiac biochemical marker were measured at the end of reperfusion. OT postconditioning (OTpost), significantly decreased the infarct size, arrhythmia score, incidence of ventricular fibrillation, Lactate dehydrogenase and it increased coronary flow. The cardioprotective effect of OTpos was abrogated by PI3K/Akt, ERK1/2 inhibitors and Atosiban. Our data have shown that OTpost can activate RISK pathway mostly via the PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 signaling cascades during the early phase of reperfusion. |
21,209 | Short ECG segments predict defibrillation outcome using quantitative waveform measures. | Quantitative waveform measures of the ventricular fibrillation (VF) electrocardiogram (ECG) predict defibrillation outcome. Calculation requires an ECG epoch without chest compression artifact. However, pauses in CPR can adversely affect survival. Thus the potential use of waveform measures is limited by the need to pause CPR. We sought to characterize the relationship between the length of the CPR-free epoch and the ability to predict outcome.</AbstractText>We conducted a retrospective investigation using the CPR-free ECG prior to first shock among out-of-hospital VF cardiac arrest patients in a large metropolitan region (n=442). Amplitude Spectrum Area (AMSA) and Median Slope (MS) were calculated using ECG epochs ranging from 5s to 0.2s. The relative ability of the measures to predict return of organized rhythm (ROR) and neurologically-intact survival was evaluated at different epoch lengths by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) using the 5-s epoch as the referent group.</AbstractText>Compared to the 5-s epoch, AMSA performance declined significantly only after reducing epoch length to 0.2s for ROR (AUC 0.77-0.74, p=0.03) and with epochs of ≤0.6s for neurologically-intact survival (AUC 0.72-0.70, p=0.04). MS performance declined significantly with epochs of ≤0.8s for ROR (AUC 0.78-0.77, p=0.04) and with epochs ≤1.6s for neurologically-intact survival (AUC 0.72-0.71, p=0.04).</AbstractText>Waveform measures predict defibrillation outcome using very brief ECG epochs, a quality that may enable their use in current resuscitation algorithms designed to limit CPR interruption.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,210 | Antiarrhythmic gene therapy - will biologics replace catheters, drugs and devices? | The clinical management of heart rhythm disorders still constitutes a major challenge. The development of alternatives to current approaches is of significant interest in order to establish more effective therapies that increase quality of life and reduce symptoms and hospitalizations. Over the past two decades the mechanistic understanding of pathophysiological pathways underlying cardiac arrhythmias has advanced profoundly, opening up novel avenues for mechanism-based therapeutic approaches. In particular, gene therapy offers greater selectivity than small molecule-based or interventional treatment. The gene of interest is packaged into viral or non-viral carriers and delivered to the target area via direct injection or using catheter-based techniques, providing the advantage of site-restricted action in contrast to systemic application of drugs. This work summarizes the current knowledge on mechanistic background, application strategies, and preclinical outcome of antiarrhythmic gene therapy for atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and modulation of sinus node function. |
21,211 | Predictors of Ventricular Arrhythmias and Sudden Death in a Québec Cohort With Brugada Syndrome. | Patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) are at risk for ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and sudden death. Identification of high-risk individuals beyond those with syncope or resuscitated sudden death remains a major challenge.</AbstractText>We assessed the value of clinical, electrophysiological, and electrocardiographic (ECG) features, including depolarization and repolarization metrics, in predicting arrhythmic events and sudden death in consecutive patients with BrS diagnosed between 2002 and 2013 in Quebec, Canada. Qualifying electrocardiograms with the highest type 1 ST-segment elevations were reviewed and analyzed by 2 electrophysiologists who were blinded to clinical history. Survival analyses were adjusted for Firth bias correction and left truncation.</AbstractText>A total of 105 patients, 79.8% of whom were men, were diagnosed with BrS at a mean age of 46.2 ± 13.3 years and were followed for 59.6 ± 16.4 months. Ten (9.5%) had a history of cardiac arrest, 37 (35.2%) had syncope, and 7 (6.7%) experienced 20 arrhythmic events during follow-up, all consisting of appropriate ICD therapy (7 antitachycardia pacing; 13 shocks). In multivariate Cox regression analyses, a spontaneous type 1 electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern (hazard ratio [HR], 10.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-113.87; P = 0.0476), maximal T peak-end (Tp-e</sub>) duration ≥ 100 ms (HR, 29.73; 95% CI, 1.33-666.37; P = 0.0325), and QRS duration in lead V6</sub> > 110 ms (HR, 15.27; 95% CI, 1.07-217.42; P = 0.0443) were independently associated with VAs or aborted sudden cardiac death.</AbstractText>In a multicentre cohort with BrS from Quebec, Canada, VAs and sudden death were independently associated with standard 12-lead ECG features, including a spontaneous type 1 pattern, depolarization (QRS in lead V6</sub>), and repolarization (maximal Tp-e</sub> duration) criteria.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,212 | The Application of Ambulatory Electrocardiographically-Based T-Wave Alternans in Patients with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy. | Patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) carry the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). This study investigated the prognostic information of modified moving average T-wave alternans (MMA TWA) in patients with ARVD/C.</AbstractText>A total of 63 consecutive patients (mean age, 44.7 ± 14.8 years; 38 men) with ARVD/C were enrolled. Baseline characteristics and structural and electrocardiographic parameters were obtained. All patients underwent ambulatory electrocardiographic examination at the time of diagnosis, and MMA TWA data were exported for further analysis. Events were defined as documented SCD or ventricular tachyarrhythmias during clinical follow-up.</AbstractText>During a mean follow-up of 28.1 ± 15.4 months, 19 of 63 (30.2%) patients experienced events, including SCD in 2 patients (10.5%) and ventricular tachyarrhythmias in 17 patients (89.5%). Patients with events had higher TWA within modified V5</sub> and V1</sub> channels than did those without events (54.7 ± 24.9 μV vs 35.0 ± 18.3 μV; P = 0.004; 58.8 ± 27.6 μV vs 38.4 ± 18.6 μV; P = 0.007, respectively). After multivariate Cox regression analysis, maximal TWA derived from either the modified CM5</sub> or NASA channel predicted the occurrence of events (P < 0.001; hazard ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.03-1.10). At the cutoff value of > 66 μV, maximal TWA yielded a sensitivity and a specificity of 89.5% and 90.5%, respectively, in predicting SCD or ventricular tachyarrhythmias.</AbstractText>The initial analysis of MMA TWA could provide prognostic implications in the prediction of SCD or ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with ARVD/C.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,213 | Phenotypic Variability of ANK2 Mutations in Patients With Inherited Primary Arrhythmia Syndromes. | Mutations inANK2have been reported to cause various arrhythmia phenotypes. The prevalence ofANK2mutation carriers in inherited primary arrhythmia syndrome (IPAS), however, remains unknown in Japanese. Using a next-generation sequencer, we aimed to identifyANK2mutations in our cohort of IPAS patients, in whom conventional Sanger sequencing failed to identify pathogenic mutations in major causative genes, and to assess the clinical characteristics ofANK2mutation carriers.Methods and Results:We screened 535 probands with IPAS and analyzed 46 genes including wholeANK2exons using a bench-top NGS (MiSeq, Illumina) or performed whole-exome-sequencing using HiSeq2000 (Illumina). As a result, 12 of 535 probands (2.2%, aged 0-61 years, 5 males) were found to carry 7 different heterozygousANK2mutations.ANK2-W1535R was identified in 5 LQTS patients and 1 symptomatic BrS and was predicted as damaging by multiple prediction software. In total, as to phenotype, there were 8 LQTS, 2 BrS, 1 IVF, and 1 SSS/AF. Surprisingly, 4/8 LQTS patients had the acquired type of LQTS (aLQTS) and suffered torsades de pointes. A total of 7 of 12 patients had documented malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias.</AbstractText>VariousANK2mutations are associated with a wide range of phenotypes, including aLQTS, especially with ventricular fibrillation, representing "ankyrin-B" syndrome. (Circ J 2016; 80: 2435-2442).</AbstractText> |
21,214 | Ventricular Fibrillation in a General Population　- A National Database Study. | Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a life-threatening disease that can be remedied by prompt defibrillation. However, data regarding such risk in a general population remain limited. This general population study was to explore the epidemiological profile of VF.Methods and Results:We investigated patients with VF younger than 60 years (average population, 19,725,031) using a national database spanning the period 2000-2010. We identified 3,971 (68.4% male) patients with VF (crude incidence rate: 1.83/100,000). Incidence rates were low in patients younger than 10 years and increased steadily after adolescence. Comorbidities were noted in 2,766 (69.7%) patients, with 2,431 (61%) having cardiac diseases. Over half of the adolescent and young adult patients did not have comorbidities. Among the 838 deaths (mortality rate 21.1%), approximately half (381/838, 45.5%) occurred after arrival at emergency services (ES). The proportion of deaths after arrival at ES relative to total deaths increased sharply to a peak in the 15-19-years age group and thereafter remained stationary.</AbstractText>VF patients, with a male dominance, increased after adolescence and were likely to die at presentation to ES. Approximately half of young adults, with high mortality, did not have comorbidities, suggesting underdiagnosis of underlying primary electrical diseases and the need for implementing automated external defibrillator programs. (Circ J 2016; 80: 2310-2316).</AbstractText> |
21,215 | Sex Differences in Inappropriate ICD Device Therapies: MADIT-II and MADIT-CRT. | Approximately 10-20% of ICD recipients receive inappropriate device therapies. The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of inappropriate therapies (IT) between men and women enrolled in MADIT II and MADIT-CRT, and assess for potential adverse outcomes.</AbstractText>The electrograms for each ICD or CRT-D therapy, defined as either ATP or shock, were reviewed by adjudication committees for both studies. ICD therapy was considered inappropriate if it was delivered for reasons other than VT/VF. The rhythm triggering IT was categorized as atrial fibrillation/flutter, SVT, or inappropriate sensing when possible.</AbstractText>One thousand nine hundred and fifty-four men and 556 women received ICD or CRT-D devices. The risk of IT was significantly lower in women than men (9.2% vs. 13.5%, P = 0.006). The most common cause of IT in men was atrial fibrillation (38%) and SVT in women (43%). Inappropriate shock was not associated with increased mortality in either women (HR 0.82 [95% CI 0.11-6.08]; P = NS) or men (HR 1.37 [95% CI 0.75-2.48]; P = NS) by multivariate analysis. Conversely, appropriate shock therapy strongly correlated with increased risk of death during subsequent post-shock follow-up in women (HR 5.99 [95% CI 2.75-13.02]; P < 0.0001) and men (HR 2.61 [95% CI 1.82-3.74]; P < 0.0001).</AbstractText>Women experience significantly less IT than men, partially explained by the increased frequency of atrial fibrillation in men. IT was not associated with increased mortality in either sex. Appropriate shock therapy was a strong predictor of death in both, with women showing a 2-fold higher risk than men during post-shock long-term follow-up.</AbstractText>© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,216 | Pacing From the Right Ventricular Septum and Development of New Atrial Fibrillation in Paced Patients With Atrioventricular Block and Preserved Left Ventricular Function. | Whether pacing from the right ventricular (RV) septum improves prognosis is unclear. Furthermore, the clinical characteristics of patients who develop atrial fibrillation (AF) and cardiovascular events during long-term RV septal pacing have not been described.Methods and Results:We retrospectively evaluated the incidence of AF and cardiovascular events, including cardiac death, heart failure requiring hospitalization, or stroke, for a median of 4.0 years in 123 recipients of dual-chamber pacemakers implanted for atrioventricular block with preserved left ventricular function, who were free from AF before device implantation. AF developed in 30 patients (24%), and multivariable analysis suggested that the cumulative percentage of RV pacing was the only independent predictor of newly developed AF (hazard ratio: 1.19 for each 10% increment; 95% confidence interval: 1.04-1.41; P=0.01). Furthermore, older age, newly developed AF and a paced QRS duration ≥155 ms at pacemaker implantation were significant predictors of cardiovascular events.</AbstractText>RV septum pacing may induce AF in up to one-quarter of patients paced for atrioventricular block, according to the frequency of pacing. More importantly, in such patients, AF induced by RV pacing and a paced QRS duration ≥155 ms at pacemaker implantation are significantly associated with poor prognosis. Therefore, we recommend pacing from sites producing a paced QRS duration <155 ms and avoiding unnecessary RV pacing. (Circ J 2016; 80: 2302-2309).</AbstractText> |
21,217 | Real-life use of digoxin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation: data from the RAMSES study. | Although inappropriate use of digoxin has been described in various populations, a real-world evaluation of patterns of digoxin prescription has not been well studied in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to identify prevalence, indications and appropriateness of digoxin use in the general population of patients with non-valvular AF (NVAF) in Turkey.</AbstractText>We included and classified patients from the RAMSES (ReAl-life Multicentre Survey Evaluating Stroke prevention strategies in Turkey) study, a prospective registry including 6273 patients with NVAF, on the basis of digoxin use. After excluding the data of 73 patients whose medical history about digoxin use or left ventricle function was absent, 6200 patients were included for the final analysis. Digoxin use was considered inappropriate if patients did not have left ventricular systolic dysfunction or symptomatic heart failure (HF).</AbstractText>Digoxin was used in 1274 (20·5%) patients. Patients treated with digoxin were older (71·4 ± 9·8 years vs. 69·2 ± 10·9 years, P < 0·001), more likely to be female (58·8% vs. 55·9%, P = 0·019) and had more common comorbidities such as HF (40·2% vs. 17·4%), diabetes (26·4% vs. 21·1%), coronary artery disease (35·3 vs. 27·6%) and persistent/permanent AF (93·4% vs. 78·4%; P < 0·001 for each comparison). Of the 1274 patients, the indication of digoxin use was considered inappropriate in 762 (59·8%).</AbstractText>Our findings show that nearly one-fifth of the patients with NVAF were on digoxin therapy and nearly 60% of these patients were receiving digoxin with inappropriate indications in a real-world setting.</AbstractText>© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,218 | Public-Access Defibrillation and Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Japan. | Early defibrillation plays a key role in improving survival in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrests due to ventricular fibrillation (ventricular-fibrillation cardiac arrests), and the use of publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can help to reduce the time to defibrillation for such patients. However, the effect of dissemination of public-access AEDs for ventricular-fibrillation cardiac arrest at the population level has not been extensively investigated.</AbstractText>From a nationwide, prospective, population-based registry of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Japan, we identified patients from 2005 through 2013 with bystander-witnessed ventricular-fibrillation arrests of presumed cardiac origin in whom resuscitation was attempted. The primary outcome measure was survival at 1 month with a favorable neurologic outcome (Cerebral Performance Category of 1 or 2, on a scale from 1 [good cerebral performance] to 5 [death or brain death]). The number of patients in whom survival with a favorable neurologic outcome was attributable to public-access defibrillation was estimated.</AbstractText>Of 43,762 patients with bystander-witnessed ventricular-fibrillation arrests of cardiac origin, 4499 (10.3%) received public-access defibrillation. The percentage of patients receiving public-access defibrillation increased from 1.1% in 2005 to 16.5% in 2013 (P<0.001 for trend). The percentage of patients who were alive at 1 month with a favorable neurologic outcome was significantly higher with public-access defibrillation than without public-access defibrillation (38.5% vs. 18.2%; adjusted odds ratio after propensity-score matching, 1.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.80 to 2.19). The estimated number of survivors in whom survival with a favorable neurologic outcome was attributed to public-access defibrillation increased from 6 in 2005 to 201 in 2013 (P<0.001 for trend).</AbstractText>In Japan, increased use of public-access defibrillation by bystanders was associated with an increase in the number of survivors with a favorable neurologic outcome after out-of-hospital ventricular-fibrillation cardiac arrest.</AbstractText> |
21,219 | Sulfonylurea and the Heart: Theoretically a Compounded Question from a Pathophysiological Perspective. | Evidence from literature illustrates that from a pathophysiological perspective, sulfonylureas (SU) may impact the heart three ways: directly by intrinsic properties from a pharmacological receptor perspective, indirectly by adverse effects related to hypoglycemia, and obesity. From a pharmacologlogical receptor perspective, SU can bind to ATP-sensitive potassium channels in cardiomyocytes. Channel binding by SU in cardiac tissue may prevent ischemia myocardial protective mechanisms. From a pathophysiological perspective, obesity is associated with cardiac issues such as pulmonary hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, arrhythmia, and atrial fibrillation. From a pathophysiological perspective, hypoglycemia is associated with cardiac sympathetic activation and QT prolongation. With the high prevalence and incidence of diabetes, obesity and aging, future basic and clinical studies should further explore the questions related to the pathophysiology of SU utilization and potential cardiac impact in randomized clinical trials and real-world outcome research settings. |
21,220 | Benefits of Heart Rate Slowing With Ivabradine in Patients With Systolic Heart Failure and Coronary Artery Disease. | Heart rate (HR) is a risk factor in patients with chronic systolic heart failure (HF) that, when reduced, provides outcome benefits. It is also a target for angina pectoris prevention and a risk marker in chronic coronary artery disease without HF. HR can be reduced by drugs; however, among those used clinically, only ivabradine reduces HR directly in the sinoatrial nodal cells without other known effects on the cardiovascular system. This review provides current information regarding the safety and efficacy of HR reduction with ivabradine in clinical studies involving >36,000 patients with chronic stable coronary artery disease and >6,500 patients with systolic HF. The largest trials, Morbidity-Mortality Evaluation of the I<sub>f</sub> Inhibitor Ivabradine in Patients With Coronary Disease and Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Study Assessing the Morbidity-Mortality Benefits of the I<sub>f</sub> Inhibitor Ivabradine in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease, showed no effect on outcomes. The Systolic Heart Failure Treatment With the I<sub>f</sub> Inhibitor Ivabradine Trial, a randomized controlled trial in >6,500 patients with HF, revealed marked and significant HR-mediated reduction in cardiovascular mortality or HF hospitalizations while improving quality of life and left ventricular mechanical function after treatment with ivabradine. The adverse effects of ivabradine predominantly included bradycardia and atrial fibrillation (both uncommon) and ocular flashing scotomata (phosphenes) but otherwise were similar to placebo. In conclusion, ivabradine improves outcomes in patients with systolic HF; rates of overall adverse events are similar to placebo. |
21,221 | Spanish Catheter Ablation Registry. 15th Official Report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Electrophysiology and Arrhythmias (2015). | This report presents the findings of the 2015 Spanish Catheter Ablation Registry.</AbstractText>For data collection, each center was allowed to choose freely between 2 systems: retrospective, requiring the completion of a standardized questionnaire, and prospective, involving reporting to a central database.</AbstractText>Data were collected from 82 centers. A total of 12 863 ablation procedures were performed, for a mean of 157±119 and a median of 138 procedures per center. The ablation target most frequently treated was cavotricuspid isthmus (n=2992 [23.2%]), followed by atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (n=2966 [23%]) and atrial fibrillation (n=2640 [20.5%]). There were fewer ablation procedures for atrial tachycardia, idiopathic ventricular tachycardia and accessory pathways, while those for ventricular tachycardia in ischemic cardiomyopathy remained steady. The overall success rate, excluding atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in cardiomyopathy, was 87.5%, the rate of major complications was 2%, and the mortality rate was 0.08%.</AbstractText>The 2015 registry is the first to show a slight reduction in the number of centers sending in their results and in the total number of ablation procedures performed. The most frequently treated substrate was the cavotricuspid isthmus. There was also a slight decrease in the success rate. The complications and mortality rates remained low.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Sociedad Española de Cardiología. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,222 | Pulmonary Hypertension due to Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation (RFCA) for Atrial Fibrillation: The Lungs, the Atrium or the Ventricle? | Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder in United States, characterised by rapid and irregular beating of both the atria resulting in the similar ventricular response. While rate and rhythm control using pharmacological regimens remain the primary management strategies in these patients, radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) is rapidly rising as an alternative modality of treatment. Increase in the incidence of RFCA has shed light on complications associated with this procedure. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is one of the long-term complications that has been observed postcatheter ablation. There have been multiple mechanisms which have been proposed to explain these elevated pulmonary pressures. These include the involvement of the lungs due to pulmonary vein stenosis, pulmonary vein occlusion and, rarely, pulmonary embolism. Radiofrequency catheter ablation can also lead to scarring of the atrium which can cause left atrial diastolic dysfunction leading to elevated pulmonary pressures. Recently, it was also proposed that elevated pulmonary pressure was related to the unmasking of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction occurring after this procedure. In this article, we review all the mechanisms that are associated with the development of pulmonary hypertension in patients undergoing RCFA for atrial fibrillation and the approach to diagnosis and management of such patients. |
21,223 | Long-time "real-life" performance of the subcutaneous ICD in patients with electrical heart disease or idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. | The totally subcutaneous implantable defibrillator (S-ICD) has been designed as a new alternative to conventional implantable defibrillators. This system is especially attractive for young patients. However, long-term experience is not yet available. To address the question whether the S-ICD system is safe and feasible for young patients with electrical heart disease or idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (VF), the data of a standard of care prospective single center S-ICD registry were evaluated.</AbstractText>In the present study, 24 patients (age 34.2 ± 11.5 years) with electrical heart disease or idiopathic VF received an S-ICD for primary (n = 8) or secondary prevention (n = 16). The mean follow-up duration was 29.6 ± 15.1 months.</AbstractText>Ventricular arrhythmias were adequately detected in four patients (17 %). In three patients (13 %) oversensing was noticed and led to at least one inappropriate shock in two patients (8 %). Further adverse events included surgical revision due to a mobile pulse generator as well as explantation of one system and switch to a transvenous ICD system due to several ineffective shocks.</AbstractText>The results of the present study suggest that S-ICD therapy may be an attractive alternative in young patients with electrical heart disease or idiopathic VF. However, episodes of oversensing as well as ineffective shocks may occur.</AbstractText> |
21,224 | Radiofrequency ablation of posteroseptal accessory pathways associated with coronary sinus diverticula. | Posteroseptal accessory pathways may be associated with a coronary sinus (CS) diverticulum. Our purpose was to describe the clinical characteristics, mapping and ablation of these pathways.</AbstractText>This was a retrospective study of all patients who underwent ablation of posteroseptal accessory pathways in a single centre. Patients with a diverticulum of the CS or one of its tributaries were included in group I, while the other patients formed group II. Clinical presentation, ablation procedure and outcome were compared between the two groups.</AbstractText>A total of 51 patients were included, 16 in group I and 35 in group II. There were no significant differences in age or sex distribution. Atrial fibrillation (AF) and previous unsuccessful ablation were more common in group I. A negative delta wave in lead II was the ECG finding with best sensitivity and specificity for the presence of a diverticulum. A pathway potential was common at the successful site in group I, and the interval between local ventricular electrogram and delta wave onset was shorter (19.5 ± 8 vs 33.1 ± 7.6 ms, p < 0.001). There was a trend toward lower procedural success rate and higher recurrence rate in group I, although this was not significant.</AbstractText>CS diverticula should be suspected in patients with manifest posteroseptal accessory pathways who have a previous failed ablation, documented AF or typical electrocardiographic signs. A discrete potential is frequently seen at the successful site, but the local ventricular electrogram is not as early as in other accessory pathways.</AbstractText> |
21,225 | Left Atrial Size and Left Ventricular End-Systolic Dimension Predict the Progression of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation After Catheter Ablation. | Although rare, some paroxysmal atrial fibrillations (AF) still progress despite radiofrequency (RF) ablation. In the study, we evaluated the long-term efficacy of RF ablation and the predictors of AF progression.</AbstractText>A total of 589 paroxysmal AF patients (404 men and 185 women; aged 54 ± 12 years) who received 3-dimensional mapping and ablation were enrolled. Their clinical parameters and electrophysiological characteristics were collected. They were divided into Group 1 (N = 13, with AF progression) and Group 2 (N = 576, no AF progression). AF progression was defined as recurrence of persistent AF.</AbstractText>Group 1 patients had larger left atrial (LA) diameter, larger left ventricle (LV) end-systolic and end-diastolic diameters, poorer LV systolic function, and more amiodarone use at baseline. After 1.2 ± 0.5 procedures, 123 (21%) patients experienced recurrence during 56 ± 29 months' follow-up. In the multivariate analysis, LA diameter (P = 0.018, HR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02-1.24) and LV end-systolic diameter (P = 0.005, HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.03-1.17) independently predicted AF progression. LA diameter >43 mm and LV end-systolic diameter >31 mm were the best cut-off values for predicting AF progression by ROC analysis. AF progression rate achieved 19% if they had both larger LA diameter (>43 mm) and LV end-systolic diameter (>31 mm).</AbstractText>RF ablation prevents the progression of paroxysmal AF effectively, except in patients with increased LA diameter and LV end-systolic diameter on echocardiogram, suggesting more aggressive rhythm control therapies should be considered in these patients.</AbstractText>© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,226 | Improvement in the prediction of exercise-induced elevation of left ventricular filling pressure in patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction. | Noninvasive diagnosis of exercise-induced elevation of left ventricular filling pressure is difficult and remains unsatisfactory. The aim of this study was to assess the accuracy of the ratio of early diastolic transmitral (E) to mitral annular (e') velocity and to determine new parameters or parameter combinations with the ability to predict exercise-induced left atrial pressure (LAP) elevation.</AbstractText>Eighty patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) referred for catheter AF ablation underwent simultaneous exercise echocardiography and direct invasive LAP measurements, as well as a resting and postexercise biomarker analysis. Exercise E/e' ≥8.85 predicted exercise LAP ≥20 mm Hg with 61.5% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity (area under the curve [AUC], 0.76). Of all of the individual parameters tested, the best prediction was achieved with exercise E/s' (s'=peak systolic mitral annular velocity) ≥8.75 (sensitivity, 88.5%; specificity, 64.8%; positive predictive value, 54.8%; negative predictive value, 92.1%; AUC, 0.84). However, the combination of exercise E/A (A = late diastolic transmitral flow velocity) ≥1.22 + exercise E/e' ≥8.85 + exercise s'≤11.05 cm/s provided the most precise prediction of exercise LAP elevation (sensitivity, 84.6%; specificity, 79.6%; positive predictive value, 66.7%; negative predictive value, 91.5%; AUC, 0.90).</AbstractText>Exercise E/e', when used as a sole parameter, was not sufficiently reliable to predict exercise-induced elevation of LAP. The application of a multivariate-adjusted combination of parameters appeared to be the preferable approach for the noninvasive prediction of exercise LAP elevation.</AbstractText>© 2016, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,227 | Long-Term Stability and Clinical Utility of Amplified Atrial Electrograms in a Single-Lead ICD System with Floating Atrial Electrodes. | Available atrial electrograms in implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) improve arrhythmia diagnosis, allow monitoring for atrial fibrillation, and may reduce the risk of inappropriate therapies. A recently introduced ICD system using a single-lead with floating atrial electrodes provides diagnostic capability of a dual-chamber system without placing an additional lead. Data on long-term clinical performance of this system are limited.</AbstractText>We retrospectively analyzed data from 35 consecutive patients implanted with Biotronik VR-T DX devices and LinoxSmart</sup> DX leads. (Biotronik, SE & Co., Berlin, Germany) RESULTS: Of 35 patients (77% male, age 52 ± 11.28 years), 32 were followed for a mean of 432 ± 197 days (range 56-765). During implantation, average preamplified and amplified sinus P-wave amplitudes were 2.61 ± 1.39 mV (range 0.9-6.8 mV) and 8.7 ± 4.51 mV (range 1.4-18 mV), respectively. Despite statistically significant variations, the amplified P-wave amplitude measurements (calculated mean values over 3 months) remained within a clinically acceptable range during follow-up (5.4-8.7 mV). R-wave amplitude and ventricular pacing threshold measurements were stable over time. A total of 13 stored arrhythmia events (three ventricular tachycardia, eight supraventricular tachycardia, two atrial fibrillation) were reviewed. All of them showed readily interpretable atrial electrograms. Eight out of 10 (80%) supraventricular events were correctly classified by the device. Three patients received inappropriate ICD therapies.</AbstractText>The single-lead ICD system using a floating atrial dipole provides reliable recording of atrial signals during sinus rhythm and arrhythmias. Our data suggest that the system may offer diagnostic advantages of a dual-chamber device without potential risks of an additional atrial lead.</AbstractText>© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,228 | Duration of Prehospital Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Favorable Neurological Outcomes for Pediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests: A Nationwide, Population-Based Cohort Study. | The appropriate duration of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) remains unclear and may differ based on initial rhythm. We aimed to determine the relationship between the duration of prehospital CPR by emergency medical services (EMS) personnel and post-OHCA outcomes.</AbstractText>We analyzed the records of 12 877 pediatric patients who experienced OHCAs (<18 years of age). Data were recorded in a nationwide Japanese database between 2005 and 2012. Study end points were 30-day survival and 30-day survival with favorable neurological outcomes (Cerebral Performance Category [CPC] scale 1-2). Prehospital EMS-initiated CPR duration was defined as the time from CPR initiation by EMS personnel to prehospital return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) or to hospital arrival when prehospital ROSC was not achieved during prehospital CPR efforts.</AbstractText>The rates of 30-day survival and 30-day CPC 1 to 2 were 9.1% (n=1167) and 2.5% (n=325), respectively. Prehospital EMS-initiated CPR duration was significantly and inversely associated with 30-day outcomes (adjusted odds ratio for 1-minute increments: 0.94, 95% confidence interval: 0.93-0.95 for survival; adjusted odds ratio: 0.90, 95% confidence interval: 0.88-0.92 for CPC 1-2). The duration of prehospital EMS-initiated CPR, beyond which the chance for favorable outcomes diminished to <1%, was 42 minutes for each key outcome, 30-day survival, and 30-day survival with CPC 1 to 2. When categorized by initial rhythm, the prehospital EMS-initiated CPR durations beyond which the chance for 30-day survival with CPC 1 to 2 diminished to <1% were 39 minutes for shockable rhythms, 42 minutes for pulseless electric activity, and 46 minutes for asystole, respectively. In patients with bystander-initiated CPR, the prehospital CPR duration, beyond which the chance for favorable outcome diminished to <1%, was 46 minutes from call receipt.</AbstractText>Prehospital EMS-initiated CPR duration for pediatric OHCAs was independently and inversely associated with 30-day favorable outcomes. The duration of prehospital EMS-initiated CPR, beyond which the chance for 30-day favorable outcomes diminished to <1%, was 42 minutes. However, the CPR duration to achieve this proportion of outcomes differed based on initial rhythm. Further research is required to elucidate appropriate CPR duration for pediatric OHCAs, including in-hospital CPR time.</AbstractText>URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02432196.</AbstractText>© 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,229 | Synchronous ventricular pacing with direct capture of the atrioventricular conduction system: Functional anatomy, terminology, and challenges. | Right ventricular apical pacing is associated with an increased incidence of heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and overall mortality. As a result, pacing the ventricles in a manner that closely mimics normal AV conduction with an intact His-Purkinje system has been explored. Recently, the sustainable benefits of selective His-bundle stimulation have been demonstrated and proposed as the preferred method of ventricular stimulation for appropriate patients. Ideally, conduction system pacing should be selective without myocardial capture, overcome distal bundle branch block when present, and not compromise tricuspid valve function. Contemporary literature on conduction system pacing is confusing largely because of inconsistent terminology and, at times, anatomically inaccurate terms used interchangeably for nonsynonymous anatomic sites. In this review, we discuss the functional anatomy of AV conduction access with specific emphasis on terminology, relationship to the membranous septum, tricuspid valve tissue, and proximity to atrial or ventricular myocardium. The potential benefits of each specific site as well as associated unique difficulties with those sites are described. |
21,230 | Characterization of the epicardial substrate for catheter ablation of Brugada syndrome. | Catheter ablation in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) may modify the electrophysiologic substrate for recurrent ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS).</AbstractText>The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism and arrhythmogenic substrate of VT/VF and to evaluate the long-term outcomes of catheter ablation in patients with BrS.</AbstractText>Eleven consecutive patients with BrS referred to 2 academic medical centers underwent combined epicardial-endocardial electroanatomic mapping. Catheter ablation was performed in regions of localized conduction slowing. Transmural dispersion of late activation was calculated as the difference between the latest activation between epicardium and endocardium, and low-voltage areas were analyzed.</AbstractText>Eleven patients met diagnostic criteria for BrS (spontaneous type 1, n = 9; Na channel provocation = 2). All patients were found to have a localized region in the anterior epicardial RVOT with conduction slowing evidenced by prolonged electrogram duration (78.79 ± 19.87 ms vs 58.93 ± 10.11 ms in epicardial right ventricle, and 59.87 ± 12.61 ms in endocardial RVOT, P <.005, respectively) with variable low voltage (0.97 ± 0.48 mV; median scar area 19.8 ± 25.9 cm2</sup>). Epicardial ablation resulted in normalization of spontaneous type 1 Brugada ECG pattern in all patients, and 73% were free from VT/VF at 25 ± 11 months.</AbstractText>Prolonged electrograms localized to epicardial RVOT with variable low voltage were identified in all patients with BrS. J-point and ST-segment elevation correlated with greater transmural dispersion of late activation and was independent of total low-voltage area. Despite normalization of spontaneous type 1 pattern in all patients after ablation, recurrence was still observed, suggesting the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator as the cornerstone therapy for BrS.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Heart Rhythm Society. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,231 | Electrocardiographic Parameters Indicating Worse Evolution in Patients with Acquired Long QT Syndrome and Torsades de Pointes. | Acquired long QT syndrome (a-LQTS) is associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, mainly torsades de pointes (TdP). ECG parameters predicting evolving into ventricular fibrillation (VF) are ill defined.</AbstractText>To determine ECG parameters preceding and during TdP associated with higher risk of developing VF.</AbstractText>We analyzed 151 episodes of TdP, recorded in 28 patients with a-LQTS (mean QTc 638 ms ± 57).</AbstractText>All 28 patients had prolonged QT interval, (mean QTc 638 ms ± 57) ranging from 502 ms to 858 ms correcting by Bazett's formula. The mean TdP heart rate was 218 bpm ± 38 (mean cycle length of TdP 274 ± 47 ms). We classified TdPs episodes into "slower"-TdP (s-TdP) < 220 bpm (range from 145-220 bpm) observed in 81 (53.6%) episodes and "faster"-TdP (f-TdP) ≥ 220 bpm (ranged from 221-281 bpm) observed in 70 (46.4%) episodes. Among 151 episodes of TdP, 21 (13.9%) were unstable (converted into VF). Out of 81 episodes of "slower"-TdP only 2 (2.5%) episodes converted into VF. The mean coupling interval (CI) of the PVC initiating TdP was 510 ms ± 118, the pause-RR interval was 1147 ms ± 335, the prematurity index (PI) of PVC that initiated TdP was 0.45 ± 0.13. The mean cycle length variability of TdP (VRV-TdP) was 30.79 ms ± 19.7. U wave was observed in 86 episodes (56.9%), among that in 69 episodes, the U/T wave ratio was > 1. Macro T wave alternans was observed in 4 patients. The QT interval was not different in patients with VF(+) and VF(-) episodes, 633 ± 60 and 639 ± 57, respectively.</AbstractText>Some electrocardiographic parameters can be helpful in determining the risk of TdP evolving into VF. The slower ventricular rate (< 220 bpm), the higher rate instability (VRV > 30 ms) and the short episodes < 20 beats could predict benign evolution.</AbstractText>© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,232 | Atrial fibrillation in highly trained endurance athletes - Description of a syndrome. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart arrhythmia, the risk of which typically increases with age. This condition is commonly associated with major cardiovascular diseases and structural heart damage, while it is rarely observed in healthy young people. However, increasing evidence indicates that paroxysmal AF can also onset in young or middle-aged and otherwise healthy endurance athletes (e.g., cyclists, runners and cross-country skiers). Here we review the topic of AF associated with strenuous endurance exercise (SEE), for example cycling, running and cross-country skiing, especially at a competitive level, and we propose the definition of a new syndrome based on the accumulating data in the literature: SEE-related AF under the acronym of 'PAFIYAMA' ('paroxysmal AF in young and middle-aged athletes'). Special emphasis is given to the proper differentiation of PAFIYAMA from 'classical AF' regarding pathophysiology, diagnosis and medical management. |
21,233 | Effect of balloon mitral valvotomy on left ventricular function in rheumatic mitral stenosis. | Mitral stenosis (MS) is found to produce left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in some studies. We sought to study the left ventricular function in patients with rheumatic MS undergoing balloon mitral valvotomy (BMV). Ours is the first study to analyze effect of BMV on mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE), and to quantify prevalence of longitudinal left ventricular dysfunction in rheumatic MS.</AbstractText>In this prospective cohort study, we included 43 patients with severe rheumatic mitral stenosis undergoing BMV. They were compared to twenty controls whose distribution of age and gender were similar to that of patients. The parameters compared were LV ejection fraction (EF) by modified Simpson's method, mitral annular systolic velocity (MASV), MAPSE, mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E'), and myocardial performance index (MPI). These parameters were reassessed immediately following BMV and after 3 months of procedure.</AbstractText>MASV, MAPSE, E', and EF were significantly lower and MPI was higher in mitral stenosis group compared to controls. Impaired longitudinal LV function was present in 77% of study group. MAPSE and EF did not show significant change after BMV while MPI, MASV, and E' improved significantly. MASV and E' showed improvement immediately after BMV, while MPI decreased only at 3 months follow-up.</AbstractText>There were significantly lower mitral annular motion parameters including MAPSE in patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis. Those with atrial fibrillation had higher MPI. Immediately after BMV, there was improvement in LV long axis function with a gradual improvement in global LV function. There was no significant change of MAPSE after BMV.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2015 Cardiological Society of India. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,234 | Follow-Up of Electrocardiographic Findings and Arrhythmias in Patients With Anomalously Arising Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Trunk. | Follow-up data and correlation of arrhythmias, electrocardiogram (ECG) changes, and cardiac function in anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk or artery have not been previously studied. This is a retrospective single-center review of 44 anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk or artery patients diagnosed between 1992 and 2014, at a median age of 3 months (3 days to 13 years). Clinical history, ECG, Holter, and echocardiogram data were reviewed. ECGs were reviewed for contiguous Q-or T-wave inversions, hypertrophy, bundle branch block, and axis deviation. High-grade ventricular ectopy, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and ventricular tachycardia (VT) were recorded. Patients with <6 months of clinical follow-up were excluded from longitudinal analysis. At diagnosis, 43 (98%) were noted to have electrocardiographic changes. During hospitalization, arrhythmias were seen in 13 patients (30%): 2 (5%) with sustained VT or ventricular fibrillation, 6 (17%) with high-grade ventricular ectopy, and 4 (9%) with SVT. Seven patients (16%) required antiarrhythmic treatment. During outpatient follow-up, arrhythmias were seen in 11 patients. New arrhythmias were documented in 6 without a history of in-hospital arrhythmias. Of 34 patients with at least 6 months follow-up (median 6 years, 0.5 to 20 years), 20 had left ventricular (LV) dysfunction before surgery. Normalization of function occurred in 94% (median 1 year, 5 days to 4 years). Electrocardiographic changes persisted in 94% at the time of LV function recovery. In conclusion, electrocardiographic changes and arrhythmias may persist despite recovery of ventricular function. Therefore, prolonged myocardial remodeling may continue even after resolution of LV dysfunction during which time arrhythmias may occur. |
21,235 | The C of CHADS: Historical perspective and clinical applications for anticoagulation in patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. | The risk stratification of patients with coexisting non valvular atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure, is often a clinical challenge, as the definitions of congestive heart failure in the popular CHADS2 and CHA2DS2VASc scoring systems, and amongst major clinical trials on Warfarin and Novel Oral Anticoagulants (NOAC) have heterogeneity. Available evidence reveals that any heart failure and/or left ventricular systolic dysfunction is associated with higher rates of stroke/systemic embolism and bleeding in patients with non valvular atrial fibrillation compared to patients without heart failure and normal left ventricular function. Most standard dose NOAC regimens have a better safety and efficacy profile over warfarin in most heart failure sub-group types with a few exceptions including patients with NYHA III/IV on Dabigatran 150mg BID from the RE-LY trial, who had higher major bleeding events, and patients with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤40%) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction on 20mg of Rivaroxaban in the ROCKET-AF trial, when compared to patients on Warfarin in the corresponding groups. With the gaining popularity and use of NOACs, understanding their safety profile in such situations is paramount. |
21,236 | Ivabradine reduced ventricular rate in patients with non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. | It has been shown that If</sub> channels can be found in AV node, apart from the sinus node. Previous animal studies showed that If</sub> inhibitor resulted in the rate-dependent reduction in AV node conduction during atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore, we aimed to examine the effect of ivabradine on ventricular rate in patients with non-paroxysmal AF.</AbstractText>This study was a prospective randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study. Ivabradine, 5mg twice a day (n=21), or placebo (n=11) was administered for 1month to adult patients with non-paroxysmal AF, in addition to standard therapy. The primary end point was the change in mean ventricular rate between baseline and 1month, as assessed by 24-hour Holter.</AbstractText>The baseline characteristics did not differ between ivabradine and placebo groups (mean age was 59.7±13.3years, male 62.5%). Mean 24-hour ventricular rate at baseline was comparable between 2 groups. We found that ivabradine significantly decreased mean ventricular rate from 86.0±10.9beats/min to 79.2±9.6beats/min (p<0.001). In contrast, no significant change in ventricular rate was observed in placebo group (84.3±11.2 vs. 82.9±9.9beats/min, p=0.469). The effect of ivabradine on rate reduction was significantly greater than placebo (6.9±6.3 vs. 1.4±6.0beats/min, p=0.024). No drug-related adverse effects were observed in both groups.</AbstractText>We demonstrated that ivabradine significantly decreased ventricular rate during AF compared to placebo. Therefore, ivabradine can be a potential treatment to improve ventricular control in patients with non-paroxysmal AF. Due to the small sample size, larger studies are needed to confirm this effect of ivabradine.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,237 | Late recurrence of left ventricular dysfunction after aortic valve replacement for severe chronic aortic regurgitation. | Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) with a decreased ejection fraction (EF) leads to improvement in left ventricular (LV) function, but there are no reports on late recurrence of LV dysfunction over long-term after AVR. This study aimed to identify frequency and predictors of late recurrent LV dysfunction after AVR.</AbstractText>We retrospectively investigated 58 consecutive patients undergoing AVR for severe chronic AR and with follow-up echocardiography for >5years after AVR. Late recurrence of LV dysfunction was defined as an EF of <50% late after AVR and a 10% reduction in the EF compared with that observed at 1year after AVR.</AbstractText>The mean follow-up period was 10.3±5.2years. The preoperative EF was <50% in 21 (36%) patients, but it was normalized at 1year after AVR in all patients except for one. However, late recurrence of LV dysfunction developed in 7 (12%) of the 58 patients. These patients showed significantly higher LV end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters before and at 1year after AVR, a lower EF and relative wall thickness before AVR, a higher LV mass index at 1year after AVR, and a higher incidence of preoperative and postoperative atrial fibrillation than those without late recurrence.</AbstractText>Late recurrent LV dysfunction may occur after AVR for severe chronic AR despite EF being once normalized. Early surgery proceeding remarkable LV enlargement and maintaining sinus rhythm are important for LV function over the long-term after AVR.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,238 | Impact of Preoperative Atrial Fibrillation on Postoperative Thromboembolic Events After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation. | The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) among patients undergoing left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is high. However, the impact of AF on clinical outcomes has not been clarified. We reviewed our 9-year experience of continuous flow (CF) LVADs to determine the impact of preoperative AF on stroke, device thrombosis, and survival.</AbstractText>Between March 2006 and May 2015, 231 patients underwent implantation of 240 CF LVADs, 127 (52.9%) as bridge to transplantation and 113 (47.1%) as destination therapy. Effect of AF on postoperative outcomes was assessed by using Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox proportional hazard regression.</AbstractText>There were 78 patients (32.5%) with preoperative AF with a mean age of 55.7 ± 11.4 years. A similar incidence of stroke was found in patients with and without AF, 12.8% versus 16.0%, respectively (p = 0.803). Survival was similar, with 1-, 6-, 12-, and 24-month survivals of 96.2%, 91.7%, 84.5%, and 69.2%, respectively, for AF patients, versus 93.1%, 85.0%, 79.4%, and 74.1%, respectively, for non-AF patients (p = 0.424). Preoperative AF was not a significant independent predictor of survival with the use of Cox proportional hazard regression (hazard ratio 1.08, 95% confidence interval: 0.66 to 1.76).</AbstractText>Preoperative AF was associated with a similar incidence of postoperative stroke, device thrombosis, and survival. On the basis of these data, it seems unnecessary to perform a left atrial appendage ligation or to alter postoperative anticoagulation in patients with AF undergoing LVAD implantation.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,239 | High-Frequency Spinal Cord Stimulation in a Patient with an Implanted Cardiac Device. | New advances in spinal cord stimulation have led to improved treatment of patients suffering from chronic pain. While the overall safety of newer stimulation devices has been established, no published reports exist regarding safety considerations when these devices are implanted in patients with a preexisting cardiac device.</AbstractText>An 83-year-old man with a history of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest secondary to an episode of ventricular fibrillation underwent automated implantable cardiac defibrillator placement. Concomitantly, he suffered from intractable chronic low axial back pain and was deemed a candidate for high-frequency (10 kHz) spinal cord stimulation (SCS). Cardiac monitoring during SCS trial and implantation was performed with no interference noted. Following high-frequency SCS implantation, the patient was observed to have significant pain relief with functional improvement.</AbstractText>While others have reported safety during traditional SCS in patients with implanted cardiac devices, this is the first case report to describe safe and effective use of high-frequency SCS in a patient with an implanted cardiac device.</AbstractText>© 2016 World Institute of Pain.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,240 | Prognostic Significance of Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients With Functional Mitral Regurgitation Undergoing MitraClip. | Functional mitral regurgitation (MR) is common in patients with heart failure and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. MitraClip (MC) is a novel therapeutic option for patients with high-risk MR. Similar to LV dysfunction, right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is an important predictor of patients with heart failure. We aimed to clarify the effect of RVD on outcomes of functional MR and LV dysfunction after MC implantation. We examined 117 patients with severe functional MR and reduced LV ejection fraction (≤40%) treated with MC. RVD was defined as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion <15 mm and was observed in 41 patients (35%). Mean age and gender were similar between patients with and without RVD. Atrial fibrillation was more common in patients with RVD. MR grades at baseline and discharge and LV ejection fraction were not different between the groups. Six months after MC implantation, responders to the N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide were less common in patients with RVD than those without (29% vs 65%, p = 0.005). Kaplan-Meier curves showed that survival rates of patients with RVD were significantly lower than those without (36.2% vs 69.6%, p = 0.008). After adjusting for covariates, RVD was still associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.975, p = 0.042). The present study's results suggest that RVD is associated with worse survival of functional MR and LV dysfunction in patients undergoing MC in association with no response to N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. The indication for MC should be carefully considered in functional MR patients with RVD. |
21,241 | LV mechanical dispersion as a predictor of ventricular arrhythmia in patients with advanced systolic heart failure : A pilot study. | Myocardial mechanical dyssynchrony induced by the presence of postinfarction scar and/or conduction abnormalities in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of < 35 % may be associated with a greater propensity toward inducing serious ventricular arrhythmia [(ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF)] and sudden cardiac death. The assessment of regional myocardial function using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) allows for noninvasive analysis of regional mechanical dysfunction (LV mechanical dispersion).</AbstractText>The aim of this study was to evaluate the TDE-based mechanical dispersion as a potential echocardiographic predictor of VT/VF.</AbstractText>The study group consisted of 47 consecutive ambulatory patients with implanted cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) devices who were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 29) comprised patients with recorded episodes of VT/VF, in whom baseline TDE data were available, and group 2 (n = 18) comprised patients without registered VT/VF in the device memory within 4 years after implantation. LV mechanical dispersion was defined as the standard deviation of the time measured from the beginning of the QRS complex to the peak longitudinal strain in apical four-chamber and two-chamber views. A retrospective quantitative assessment of LV regional deformation was based on the color tissue velocity recordings.</AbstractText>The average time to event after implantation was 345 days. Patients with electrical events demonstrated greater mechanical dispersion: 99.14 ± 33.60 vs. 72.98 ± 19.70, p=0.002.</AbstractText>During the 4-year follow-up, patients with documented VT/VF were characterized by significantly higher LV mechanical dispersion as compared with patients without electrical events. Measurement of LV mechanical dispersion might be helpful in determining the risk of sudden cardiac death.</AbstractText> |
21,242 | Combined Post- and Precapillary Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With Heart Failure. | Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a well-recognized complication of left ventricular heart failure (HF).</AbstractText>Differences exist in demographic, clinical, hemodynamic, and survival characteristics of patients with left ventricular HF who have combined postcapillary and precapillary PH (CpcPH), isolated postcapillary PH, or no PH.</AbstractText>A secondary data analysis was conducted using a large prospective database of patients undergoing right heart catheterization from 1994 to 2012. One-year mortality postcatheterization was assessed between PH groups using Kaplan-Meier and log-rank techniques, as well as a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for age, sex, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, atrial fibrillation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Mortality rates were calculated for each group as deaths per 100 person-years.</AbstractText>Of the 724 patients identified, 29.4% (n = 213) had no evidence of PH, 63.1% (n = 457) had isolated postcapillary PH, and 7.5% (n = 54) had CpcPH. Compared with no PH, there was an increased mortality rate within 1 year for CpcPH patients (crude hazard ratio: 5.22, 95% confidence interval: 2.06-13.22), but not for isolated postcapillary PH patients (crude hazard ratio: 2.12, 95% confidence interval: 0.99-4.57). Adjusted analyses revealed similar results. Mortality rates per 100 person-years were 3.9, 8.4, and 21.0 for no PH, isolated postcapillary PH, and CpcPH patients, respectively.</AbstractText>Heart failure patients with CpcPH are associated with increased death rate 1 year post-cardiac catheterization, compared with patients without PH. They are a high-risk PH group and should be evaluated and diagnosed earlier in the disease state.</AbstractText>© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,243 | Feasibility of In-Vivo Simulation of Acute Hemodynamics in Human Atrial Fibrillation. | This study evaluated hemodynamic feasibility and reproducibility of a new method for in vivo simulation of human atrial fibrillation (AF). The method was tested during sinus rhythm in 10 patients undergoing catheter ablation for AF. A simple electronic device was assembled that allowed triggering a cardiac stimulator by predefined series of RR intervals. Irregular RR interval sequences with a mean heart rate of 90/min and 130/min were obtained from ECG recordings of another patients with AF. Simultaneous atrioventricular pacing was delivered by catheters placed inside the coronary sinus and at the His bundle region. Hemodynamic effect of the simulated AF was assessed by invasive measurement of the left ventricular (LV) pressure, dP/dt, and Tau. Compared to regular pacing at the same mean heart rate, the simulated AF significantly impaired the LV both systolic and diastolic function. Repeated AF pacing in the same patients generated similar LV hemodynamics. The proposed method provides a realistic and reproducible in-vivo model of AF. It can be exploited for investigation of the hemodynamic consequences of AF in various patient populations. |
21,244 | Use of New Imaging CARTO® Segmentation Module Software to Facilitate Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmias. | A new imaging software (CARTO® Segmentation Module, Biosense Webster) allows preprocedural 3-D reconstruction of all heart chambers based on cardiac CT. We describe our initial experience with the new module during ablation of ventricular arrhythmias.</AbstractText>Eighteen consecutive patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias or ischemic ventricular tachycardia (VT) were studied. In the latter group, a combined endocardial and epicardial ablation was performed. Of the 14 patients with idiopathic arrhythmias, 12 were ablated in the outflow tract (OT), 1 in the midseptal left ventricle, and 1 at the left posterior fascicular area; acute successful ablation was achieved in 11 (78.6%) patients. The procedure was discontinued due to close proximity of the arrhythmia origin to the coronary arteries (CA) in 2 patients. Acute successful uncomplicated ablation was achieved in all 4 patients with ischemic VT. During ablation in the coronary cusps commissures, the CARTO® Segmentation Module accurately defined the cusps anatomy. The precise anatomic location provided by the module assisted in successfully ablating when information from activation mapping was not optimal, by ablating at the opposite side of the cusps. In addition, by demonstrating the precise location of the CA, it allowed safe ablation of arrhythmias that originated in close proximity to the CA both in the OT area and the epicardium, eliminating the need for repeat angiography.</AbstractText>The CARTO® Segmentation Module is useful for accurate definition of the exact anatomic location of ventricular arrhythmias and for safely ablating them especially in close proximity to the CA.</AbstractText>© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,245 | Catheter ablation for ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients with channelopathies. | Drug treatment and/or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation are the most widely accepted first-line therapies for channelopathic patients who have recurrent syncope, sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT), or documented ventricular fibrillation (VF), or are survivors of cardiac arrest. In recent years, there have been significant advances in mapping techniques and ablation technology, coupled with better understanding of the mechanisms of ventricular tachyarrhythmia in channelopathies. Catheter ablation has provided important insights into the role of the Purkinje network and the right ventricular outflow tract in the initiation and perpetuation of VT/VF, and has evolved as a promising treatment modality for ventricular tachyarrhythmia even in channelopathies. When patients are exposed to a high risk of sudden cardiac death or deterioration of their quality of life due to episodes of tachycardia and frequent ICD discharges, catheter ablation may be an effective treatment option to reduce the risk of sudden cardiac death and decrease the frequency of cardiac events. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of catheter ablation for VT/VF in patients with channelopathies including Brugada syndrome, idiopathic VF, long QT syndrome, and catecholaminergic polymorphic VT. |
21,246 | Recent advances in genetic testing and counseling for inherited arrhythmias. | Inherited arrhythmias, such as cardiomyopathies and cardiac ion channelopathies, along with coronary heart disease (CHD) are three most common disorders that predispose adults to sudden cardiac death. In the last three decades, causal genes in inherited arrhythmias have been successfully identified. At the same time, it has become evident that the genetic architectures are more complex than previously known. Recent advancements in DNA sequencing technology (next generation sequencing) have enabled us to study such complex genetic traits. This article discusses indications for genetic testing of patients with inherited arrhythmias. Further, it describes the benefits and challenges that we face in the era of next generation sequencing. Finally, it briefly discusses genetic counseling, in which a multidisciplinary approach is required due to the increased complexity of the genetic information related to inherited arrhythmias. |
21,247 | [Severe Acute Myocardial Infarction during Induction Chemotherapy for Retroperitoneal Germ Cell Tumor : A Case Report]. | A 37-year-old man presented at our hospital. Pathological examination of a right orchiectomy specimen, radiographic examination, and tumor marker profile resulted in a diagnosis of retroperitoneal nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (intermediate risk according to IGCC classification). Laboratory testing revealed mild elevation of low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Induction chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP) was started, but he complained of chest pain on day 10 of the second cycle of BEP. We immediately started cardiac monitoring. One hour later, he suffered cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation. Fortunately, sinus rhythm was restored after defibrillation. A diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with total occlusion at the mid-portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery was established by coronary angiography. After percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was successfully performed, he recovered uneventfully. The induction chemotherapy was re-started 19 days after AMI. To avoid endothelial damage by bleomycin, we elected to treat with etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (VIP). After two further courses of VIP, the patient underwent resection of retoperitoneal tumor and achieved complete remission. The patient has remained disease-free during 3 years follow up without recurrence of AMI. |
21,248 | Delayed diagnosis with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 2 causing acute adrenal crisis: A case report. | Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 2 (APS-2), also known as Schmidt's syndrome, is an uncommon disorder characterized by the coexistence of Addison's disease with thyroid autoimmune disease and/or type 1 diabetes mellitus. Addison's disease as the obligatory component is potentially life-threatening. Unfortunately, the delayed diagnosis of Addison's disease is common owing to its rarity and the nonspecific clinical manifestation.</AbstractText>Here we reported a case of 38-year-old female patient who presented with 2 years' history of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and received levothyroxine replacement. One year later, skin hyperpigmentation, fatigue, loss of appetite, and muscle soreness occurred. She was advised to increase the dose of levothyroxine, but the symptoms were not relieved. After 4 months, the patient accompanied with dizziness, nausea, nonbloody vomiting, and fever. However, she was diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis and fell into shock and ventricular fibrillation subsequently. Further evaluation in our hospital revealed elevated adrenocorticotrophic hormone and low morning serum cortisol, associated with hyponatremia and atrophic adrenal gland. Hypergonadotropic hypogonadism and Hashimoto's thyroiditis were also demonstrated.</AbstractText>After the supplementation with hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone was initiated, the physical discomforts were alleviated and plasma electrolytes were back to normal.</AbstractText>The uncommon case involving 3 endocrine organs reinforced the significance of a timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment of APS-2, and physicians needed to sharpen their awareness of the potentially life-threatening disease.</AbstractText> |
21,249 | Does Sotalol Still Have a Role in the Management of Arrhythmias? | Despite proven effectiveness in treating tachyarrhythmias, sotalol is proarrhythmic and can cause torsades de pointes. Given the emergence of studies that show no benefit from rhythm control strategies in managing atrial fibrillation, as well as the introduction of nonpharmacological approaches to treating arrhythmias, we felt it necessary to ascertain if there was any role for sotalol given its side effects. Review of the literature regarding sotalol use in the prevention and treatment of supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias seems to show that more effective and safer agents and nonpharmacological alternatives are currently available. However, sotalol still seems to be useful in preventing supraventricular tachyarrhythmias postcardiac surgery and in reverting hemodynamically stable sustained ventricular tachycardias in the setting of coronary artery disease. Its role in the prevention of tachyarrhythmias in the setting of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy requires further investigation. |
21,250 | Early Repolarisation Changes in ECG: Are they Benign or Malignant? | Till recently, ST segment elevation in the absence of conduction abnormalities or chest pain occurring particularly in young bradycardia individuals has been considered a normal variant called early repolarisation (ER). However, recent studies suggest a more worrisome picture as patients with history of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation showed increased prevalence of ER in ECG. ER is an ECG pattern characterised by elevation of the QRS-ST junction (J point) ≥ 2 mv from baseline in the inferior (II, III, aVF) or lateral (I, aVL, V4-V6) leads manifested as QRS slurring or notching. The ER pattern describes the patient with appropriate ECG findings in the absence of symptomatic arrhythmias. The Early Repolarisation Syndrome (ERPS) applies to the patient with both appropriate ECG findings and symptomatic arrhythmias. The current experimental data support the concept that J-point elevation is a marker of increased transmural heterogeneity of ventricular .repolarisation, which increases the vulnerability to ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Male gender, history of syncope or sudden cardiac death (SCD) in family, ER in inferior leads or global ER pattern, terminal notching of QRS complex, J wave amplitude of more than 0.2 mv, horizontal or downward direction of ST segment elevation signify higher risk features for SCD in ER patients. Patients with ER pattern on ECG should have complete cardiac evaluation. The management options for ERPS include anti arrhythmic drugs, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) and radiofrequency ablation. There is a need for the physicians to be aware of this entity, hitherto considered as variant of normal ECG pattern especially in young adults and understand its implications, identify high risk subsets and manage with appropriate strategy. |
21,251 | Preparation and Characterization of the Sulfobutylether-β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complex of Amiodarone Hydrochloride with Enhanced Oral Bioavailability in Fasted State. | Amiodarone hydrochloride (AMD) is used in the treatment of a wide range of cardiac tachyarrhythmias, including both ventricular fibrillation (VF) and hemodynamically unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT). The objectives of this study were to improve the solubility and bioavailability in fasted state and to reduce the food effect of AMD by producing its inclusion complex with sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBE-β-CD). The complex was prepared through a saturated water solution combined with the freeze-drying method and then characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The solubilities of AMD and its complex were 0.35 and 68.62 mg/mL, respectively, and the value of the inclusion complex was significantly improved by 196-fold compared with the solubility of free AMD. The dissolution of the AMD-SBE-β-CD inclusion complex in four different dissolution media was larger than that of the commercial product. The cumulative dissolution was more than 85% in water, pH 4.5 NaAc-HAC buffer, and pH 1.2 HCl aqueous solution. Moreover, the pharmacokinetic study found that the C <sub>max</sub>, AUC<sub>(0-t)</sub>, and AUC<sub>(0-∞)</sub> of the AMI-SBE-β-CD inclusion complex had no significant difference in fasted and fed state, which indicated that the absorption of the AMI-SBE-β-CD inclusion complex in fasted state was increased and not affected by food. |
21,252 | Gain-of-function mutations in GATA6 lead to atrial fibrillation. | The genetic basis of atrial fibrillation (AF) and congenital heart disease remains incompletely understood.</AbstractText>We sought to determine the causative mutation in a family with AF, atrial septal defects, and ventricular septal defects.</AbstractText>We evaluated a pedigree with 16 family members, 1 with an atrial septal defect, 1 with a ventricular septal defect, and 3 with AF; we performed whole exome sequencing in 3 affected family members. Given that early-onset AF was prominent in the family, we then screened individuals with early-onset AF, defined as an age of onset <66 years, for mutations in GATA6. Variants were functionally characterized using reporter assays in a mammalian cell line.</AbstractText>Exome sequencing in 3 affected individuals identified a conserved mutation, R585L, in the transcription factor gene GATA6. In the Massachusetts General Hospital Atrial Fibrillation (MGH AF) Study, the mean age of AF onset was 47.1 ± 10.9 years; 79% of the participants were men; and there was no evidence of structural heart disease. We identified 3 GATA6 variants (P91S, A177T, and A543G). Using wild-type and mutant GATA6 constructs driving atrial natriuretic peptide promoter reporter, we found that 3 of the 4 variants had a marked upregulation of luciferase activity (R585L: 4.1-fold, P < .0001; P91S: 2.5-fold, P = .0002; A177T; 1.7-fold, P = .03). In addition, when co-overexpressed with GATA4 and MEF2C, GATA6 variants exhibited upregulation of the alpha myosin heavy chain and atrial natriuretic peptide reporter activity.</AbstractText>Overall, we found gain-of-function mutations in GATA6 in both a family with early-onset AF and atrioventricular septal defects as well as in a family with sporadic, early-onset AF.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,253 | A type 2 ryanodine receptor variant associated with reduced Ca<sup>2+</sup> release and short-coupled torsades de pointes ventricular arrhythmia. | Ventricular fibrillation may be caused by premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) whose coupling intervals are <300 ms, a characteristic of the short-coupled variant of torsades de pointes (scTdP).</AbstractText>The purpose of this study was to analyze the underlying cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) variants in patients with scTdP.</AbstractText>Seven patients with scTdP (mean age 34 ± 12 years; 4 men and 3 women) were enrolled in this study. The RyR2 gene was screened by targeted gene sequencing methods; variant minor allele frequency was confirmed in 3 databases; and the pathogenicity was investigated in silico analysis using multiple tools. The activity of wild-type and mutant RyR2 channels was evaluated by monitoring Ca2+</sup> signals of HEK293 cells with a [3</sup>H]ryanodine binding assay.</AbstractText>The mean coupling interval of PVCs was 282 ± 13 ms. The 12-lead electrocardiogram had no specific findings except PVCs with an extremely short-coupling interval. Genetic analysis revealed 3 novel RyR2 variants and 1 polymorphism, all located in the cytoplasmic region. p.Ser4938Phe was not detected in 3 databases, and in silico analysis indicated its pathogenicity. In functional analysis, p.Ser4938Phe demonstrated loss of function and impaired RyR2 channel Ca2+</sup> release, while 2 other variants, p.Val1024Ile and p.Ala2673Val, had mild gain-of-function effects but were similar to the polymorphism p.Asn1551Ser.</AbstractText>We identified an RyR2 variant associated with reduced Ca2+</sup> release and short-coupled torsades de pointes ventricular arrhythmia. The mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis remain unclear.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,254 | Use of double sequential external defibrillation for refractory ventricular fibrillation during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. | Survival from out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is highest in victims with shockable rhythms when early CPR and rapid defibrillation are provided. However, a subset of individuals present with ventricular fibrillation (VF) that does not respond to defibrillation (refractory VF). One intervention that may be a possible option in refractory VF is double sequential external defibrillation (DSD). The objective of this case series was to describe the outcome of prehospital victims with refractory VF treated with DSD in the out-of-hospital setting.</AbstractText>This evaluation is a retrospective chart review of VF patients treated with DSD in the prehospital setting from August 1st, 2010 through June 30th, 2014. Patients were excluded if less than 17 years of age. The outcomes we evaluated were the number of patients with return of spontaneous circulation, conversion from VF, survival-to-hospital discharge, and Cerebral Performance Category score.</AbstractText>Total of 2428 OHCA events were reviewed with twelve patients treated with DSD. Median DSD and prehospital resuscitation times were 27min (IQR 22-33) and 32 (IQR 24-38), respectively. Of the 12 patients treated, return of spontaneous circulation was achieved in three patients, nine patients were converted out of ventricular fibrillation, three patients survived to hospital discharge, and two patients (2/12, 17%) were discharged with Cerebral Performance Category scores of 1 (good cerebral performance).</AbstractText>Double sequential defibrillation may be another tool to improve neurologically intact survival from OHCA. Further studies are needed to demonstrate direct benefits to patient outcomes.</AbstractText>Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,255 | Effects of JTV-519 on stretch-induced manifestations of mechanoelectric feedback. | JTV-519 is a 1,4-benzothiazepine derivative with multichannel effects that inhibits Ca<sup>2+</sup> release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and stabilizes the closed state of the ryanodine receptor, preventing myocardial damage and the induction of arrhythmias during Ca<sup>2+</sup> overload. Mechanical stretch increases cellular Na<sup>+</sup> inflow, activates the reverse mode of the Na<sup>+</sup> /Ca<sup>2+</sup> exchanger, and modifies Ca<sup>2+</sup> handling and myocardial electrophysiology, favoring arrhythmogenesis. This study aims to determine whether JTV-519 modifies the stretch-induced manifestations of mechanoelectric feedback. The ventricular fibrillation (VF) modifications induced by acute stretch were studied in Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts using epicardial multiple electrodes under control conditions (n=9) or during JTV-519 perfusion: 0.1 μmol/L (n=9) and 1 μmol/L (n=9). Spectral and mapping techniques were used to establish the baseline, stretch and post-stretch VF characteristics. JTV-519 slowed baseline VF and decreased activation complexity. These effects were dose-dependent (baseline VF dominant frequency: control=13.9±2.2 Hz; JTV 0.1 μmol/L=11.1±1.1 Hz, P<.01; JTV 1 μmol/L=6.6±1.1 Hz, P<.0001). The stretch-induced acceleration of VF (control=38.8%) was significantly reduced by JTV-519 0.1 μmol/L (19.8%) and abolished by JTV 1 μmol/L (-1.5%). During stretch, the VF activation complexity index was reduced in both JTV-519 series (control=1.60±0.15; JTV 0.1 μmol/L=1.13±0.3, P<.0001; JTV 1 μmol/L=0.57±0.21, P<.0001), and was independently related to VF dominant frequency (R=.82; P<.0001). The fifth percentile of the VF activation intervals, conduction velocity and wavelength entered the multiple linear regression model using dominant frequency as the dependent variable (R=-.84; P<.0001). In conclusion, JTV-519 slowed and simplified the baseline VF activation patterns and abolished the stretch-induced manifestations of mechanoelectric feedback. |
21,256 | Altered fasting glycemia in cardiac patients during in-hospital rehabilitation: impact on short and long-term follow-up. | Hospitalized patients after acute cardiovascular events have poorer prognosis if glucose regulation is diagnosed as abnormal. We compared the short and long-term outcome of patients with newly diagnosed altered fasting glycemia (AFG) to that of known diabetic patients and patients with normal glucose regulation (NGR) after admission to cardiac rehabilitation.</AbstractText>We retrospectively analyzed 2490 consecutive patients. Three groups were identified: known diabetes mellitus (n = 540, 22%), fasting glycemia above 110 mg/dl (AFG, n = 269, 11%), and fasting glycemia 110 mg/dl or less (NGR, n = 1681, 67%). Clinical variables, complications, and all-cause mortality were evaluated.</AbstractText>At follow-up (median 3.1 ± 2.4 years), after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, left ventricular ejection fraction, history of coronary artery disease, AFG had a significantly longer hospital stay versus NGR (21 ± 8 versus 20 ± 8 days; P = 0.019) and higher risk of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (P = 0.041), pleural/pericardial effusions (P < 0.001), skin complications (P = 0.033), other events (P = 0.001), and blood tests (urea: P = 0.007; white blood cells: P = 0.002; neutrophils: P < 0.001; creatinine: P = 0.022). All-cause mortality was significantly higher in diabetes mellitus versus NGR (odds ratio 1.61, 95% confidence interval 1.17-2.21); a nonsignificant trend was observed in AFG versus NGR (odds ratio 1.23, 95% confidence interval 0.77-1.98).</AbstractText>A high AFG prevalence in cardiac patients admitted to rehabilitation was observed. AFG patients were more vulnerable than NGR patients, had higher complication rates independently of covariates, and required longer hospital stay. AFG was not a significant predictor of all-cause mortality at 3 years, whereas DM was.</AbstractText> |
21,257 | The wearable defibrillator: current technology, indications and future directions. | The wearable cardioverter-defibrillator has been available for over a decade. In recent years, the device has been prescribed increasingly for a wide range of indications. The purpose of this review is to describe the technical and clinical aspects of the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator. The available literature on safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness is reviewed, and indications for use will be discussed.</AbstractText>The wearable cardioverter-defibrillator has been used successfully in more than 100 000 patients for a variety of indications. These include high-risk patients after myocardial infarction or revascularization or with heart failure and newly diagnosed cardiomyopathy. It has also been used to bridge the time period of postponed implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation or reimplantation, or until heart transplantation. It has been shown that the device safely and effectively terminates ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation with high first shock success. Patient compliance has been high. Although no randomized trial has been published yet, several guidelines recommend wearable cardioverter-defibrillator use in different patient populations and clinical scenarios.</AbstractText>The wearable cardioverter-defibrillator effectively bridges a limited time period in patients with a real or perceived high risk for sudden cardiac arrest and may become a helpful tool for risk stratification to better select patients for primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placement.</AbstractText> |
21,258 | Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Life Support for Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Due To Intractable Arrhythmic Storm. | Extracorporeal life support is used for patients with severe heart failure as a bridge to heart transplantation or recovery. We aimed at analyzing the efficacy and safety of extracorporeal life support to treat refractory arrhythmic storm responsible for cardiogenic shock in patients resistant to antiarrhythmic drugs.</AbstractText>Retrospective study.</AbstractText>University Hospital of Rennes, France.</AbstractText>Patients with refractory arrhythmic storm admitted between January 2005 and March 2015.</AbstractText>Patients with intractable refractory arrhythmic storm and cardiogenic shock despite optimal medical therapy were implanted with an extracorporeal life support. Patients' characteristics and outcomes after extracorporeal life support implantation were analyzed.</AbstractText>Twenty-six patients (23 men, 52.4 ± 9.2 yr old) were included, most of them having ischemic cardiomyopathy (65.4%). Stable sinus rhythm restoration was immediate in 61.5% of patients and occurred after a median time of 3 hours after extracorporeal life support implantation for the remaining ones. Thirteen patients (50%) eventually died, none of them due to extracorporeal life support-related complications, but mostly due to the occurrence of multiple organ failure, and occurred after a median time of 4 days. The remaining 13 patients (50%) had extracorporeal life support withdrawn after 6.7 ± 3.6 days and were discharged after 34.7 ± 14.7 days after admission. Patients with repetitive ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation episodes alternating with periods of sinus rhythm at the time of implantation had a better survival than those in refractory ventricular fibrillation (p = 0.017).</AbstractText>This is the largest database of patients temporary implanted with extracorporeal life support for refractory arrhythmic storm responsible for cardiogenic shock resistant to antiarrhythmic drugs. It provides efficient hemodynamic support and survival rate after the implantation is 50%.</AbstractText> |
21,259 | Reentry Tachycardia in Children: Adenosine Can Make It Worse. | We report on a rare but severe complication of adenosine use in a child with reentry tachycardia.</AbstractText>Treatment with adenosine, which is the standard medical therapy of atrioventricular reentry tachycardia, led to the development of an irregular wide complex tachycardia, caused by rapid ventricular response to atrial fibrillation. The girl was finally stabilized with electrical cardioversion. We analyze the pathomechanism and discuss possible treatment options.</AbstractText>Atrial fibrillation, as well as its conduction to the ventricles, can be caused by adenosine. Rapid ventricular response in children with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is more frequent than previously believed. A patient history of atrial fibrillation is a contraindication for cardioversion with adenosine and needs to be assessed in children with reentry tachycardia. High-risk patients may potentially profit from prophylactic comedication with antiarrhythmic agents, such as flecainide, ibutilide, or vernakalant, before adenosine administration.</AbstractText> |
21,260 | National experience with long-term use of the wearable cardioverter defibrillator in patients with cardiomyopathy. | The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is generally used for short periods of sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk; circumstances may occasionally result in prolonged use (over 1 year). The aim of this study was to determine the benefits and risks of prolonged use in patients with systolic heart failure (HF).</AbstractText>ZOLL's post-market US database included adult patients (≥18 years) with ischemic and/or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM, NICM) and at least 1 year of use. Cox-regression was used to identify factors associated with survival with WCD use, and reasons for stopping use were entered as time-dependent factors.</AbstractText>Among 220 patients, age (mean ± SD) 55.4 ± 14.8 years, WCD use 451.4 ± 289.9 days, and 67.3 % were male and their left ventricle ejection fraction (EF) averaged 20.9 ± 7.2 %. Eighty-nine (40.5 %) were continuing WCD use at the last follow-up. Thirty-six (16.4 %) and 56 (25.5 %) patients discontinued WCD use because of EF recovery and implantable cardioverter (ICD) implantation, respectively. Nine patients (4.1 %) received appropriate shock therapy for 13 episodes of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia with 12 (92.3 %) successful shocks. One patient died of refractory ventricular fibrillation. One patient died from sinus bradycardia transitioning to asystole. Eight patients (3.6 %) had nine episodes of non-fatal inappropriate shocks.</AbstractText>Long-term use of the WCD is safe and effective. Recovery of EF was seen in significant number of patients even after 1 year of WCD use.</AbstractText> |
21,261 | Clinical values of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony assessment by gated myocardial perfusion SPECT in patients with acute myocardial infarction and multivessel disease. | The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of additional evaluation of left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (LVMD) by gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomography (GMPS) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) and multivessel disease.</AbstractText>One hundred and nine acute MI patients with >50 % stenosis in at least one non-culprit artery who underwent GMPS within 2 weeks were enrolled. All patients underwent successful revascularization of the culprit arteries. Those with previous MI, atrial fibrillation, or frequent ventricular premature complexes, cardiac devices, significant patient motion, or procedure-related events were excluded. Phase standard deviation (PSD) and phase histogram bandwidth (PBW) were measured for assessment of LVMD. Patients were followed up for a median of 26 months after index MI, for composite major adverse cardiac events (MACE), which consisted with all-cause death, unplanned hospitalization due to heart failure and severe ventricular arrhythmias (sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation). Independent predictors of MACE were evaluated.</AbstractText>MACE occurred in 22 patients (20 %). Stress PSD (53.3 ± 17.3° vs. 35.3 ± 18.9°; p <0.001), stress PBW (147.6 ± 54.6° vs. 96.8 ± 59.2°; p = 0.001) and resting PBW (126.8 ± 37.5° vs. 96.6 ± 48.9°; p = 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with MACE compared to those without. Multivariate analysis revealed that stress PSD ≥45.5° and stress PBW ≥126.0° were predictive of MACE, as well as suboptimal non-culprit artery revascularization (SNR) and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade medication. Higher stress PSD and stress PBW were associated with poorer prognosis both in patients with and without SNR, and those with RAS blockade medication, but not in those without RAS blockade medication.</AbstractText>LVMD measured by GMPS showed added prognostic value in acute MI with multivessel disease. GMPS could serve as a comprehensive evaluation imaging tool in patients with acute MI and multivessel disease.</AbstractText> |
21,262 | Best Clinical Practice: Emergency Medicine Management of Stable Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia. | Ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation are the causes of approximately 300,000 deaths per year in the United States. VT is classified based on hemodynamic status and appearance. Stable, monomorphic VT treatment is controversial.</AbstractText>Our aim was to provide emergency physicians with an evidence-based review of the medical management of stable, monomorphic VT.</AbstractText>Stable, monomorphic VT is part of a larger class of ventricular dysrhythmias defined by a rate of at least 120 beats/min with QRS > 120 ms without regularly occurring P:QRS association. Little controversy exists for the treatment of hemodynamically unstable VT. The medical management of hemodynamically stable monomorphic VT is surrounded by controversy. Direct current cardioversion is most efficacious. Guidelines for the treatment of stable VT from the American Heart Association provide a IIa recommendation for procainamide, compared with a IIb recommendation for both amiodarone and sotalol. Studies evaluating procainamide, lidocaine, amiodarone, and sotalol suffer from poor design, difference in inclusion and exclusion criteria, small sample size, and outcome determination. Procainamide demonstrates the greatest efficacy. If procainamide is selected, a maximum dose of 10 mg/kg at 50-100 mg/min intravenous (IV) over 10-20 min should be provided with monitoring of blood pressure and electrocardiogram. Monomorphic VT with acute myocardial ischemia requires further study.</AbstractText>Optimal management of stable, monomorphic VT includes direct current cardioversion. If medical management is chosen, procainamide is most efficacious, though current literature suffers from poor design.</AbstractText>Published by Elsevier Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,263 | Prognosis of super-elderly healthy Japanese patients after pacemaker implantation for bradycardia. | The prognosis of super-elderly patients (age≥85 years) who undergo bradycardia pacemaker (PM) implantation remains unknown.</AbstractText>We retrospectively enrolled 868 patients (men 49.0%, 76.6±10.6 years) who could walk unassisted and whose expected life expectancy was more than 1 year, receiving their first bradycardia PM implantation between January 1, 2006, and June 30, 2013. Clinical outcomes were compared between super-elderly patients (n=201, mean age 88.6±3.2 years) and younger patients (n=667, 73.0±9.3 years).</AbstractText>At the end of a median 1285-day follow-up, 128 patients (14.7%) died, of which 54 were cardiac deaths (42.2%). Mortality rates were similar between the groups (16.4% vs. 14.2%, log-rank p=0.56) and across different indications for implantation (atrio-ventricular conduction disturbance or sick sinus syndrome, p=0.59), initial rhythms (sinus rhythm or persistent atrial fibrillation, p=0.62), pacing modes (dual chamber pacing or VVI pacing, p=0.26), and ventricular lead positions (septum or apex, p=0.52). On Cox proportional hazard model analysis, hypertension [hazard ratio (HR)=1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.19-2.54, p=0.004], diabetes mellitus (HR=2.18, 95% CI=1.51-3.14, p<0.001), history of myocardial infarction (HR=3.59, 95% CI=2.49-5.16, p<0.001), and history of stroke (HR=2.26, 95% CI=1.51-3.37, p<0.001) were independent predictors for mortality.</AbstractText>The mortality rate of super-elderly patients who had no critical illnesses and were healthy enough to walk unassisted at the time of PM implantation was not inferior to that of younger patients. Prognosis was determined by comorbidities, but not by age, PM indication, initial rhythm, pacing leads, or mode.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,264 | Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with hemodynamically unstable ventricular arrhythmia - Atypical presentation. | We present a patient with asymptomatic apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (AHCM) who recently developed cardiac arrhythmias, and shortly discuss the diagnostic modalities, differential diagnosis, and treatment strategy for this condition. AHCM is a rare form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which usually involves the apex of the left ventricle. AHCM can occur with varied presentations such as chest pain, palpitations, dyspnea, syncope, atrial fibrillation, myocardial infarction, embolic events, ventricular fibrillation, and congestive heart failure. The most peculiar electrocardiogram findings are giant T-waves inversion in the precordial leads with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. A transthoracic echocardiogram is the initial diagnostic modality in the evaluation of AHCM and shows hypertrophy of the LV apex. Other diagnostic modalities, including left ventriculography, multislice spiral computed tomography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imagings, are also valuable tools. Medications used to manage include verapamil, beta-blockers, and antiarrhythmic agents. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is recommended for high-risk patients. |
21,265 | Lone Atrial Fibrillation Is Associated With Impaired Left Ventricular Energetics That Persists Despite Successful Catheter Ablation. | Lone atrial fibrillation (AF) may reflect a subclinical cardiomyopathy that persists after sinus rhythm (SR) restoration, providing a substrate for AF recurrence. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the effect of restoring SR by catheter ablation on left ventricular (LV) function and energetics in patients with AF but no significant comorbidities.</AbstractText>Fifty-three patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF and without significant valvular disease, uncontrolled hypertension, coronary artery disease, uncontrolled thyroid disease, systemic inflammatory disease, diabetes mellitus, or obstructive sleep apnea (ie, lone AF) undergoing ablation and 25 matched control subjects in SR were investigated. Magnetic resonance imaging quantified LV ejection fraction (LVEF), peak systolic circumferential strain (PSCS), and left atrial volumes and function, whereas phosphorus-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopy evaluated ventricular energetics (ratio of phosphocreatine to ATP). AF burden was determined before and after ablation by 7-day Holter monitoring; intermittent ECG event monitoring was also undertaken after ablation to investigate for asymptomatic AF recurrence.</AbstractText>Before ablation, both LV function and energetics were significantly impaired in patients compared with control subjects (LVEF, 61% [interquartile range (IQR), 52%-65%] versus 71% [IQR, 69%-73%], P<0.001; PSCS, -15% [IQR, -11 to -18%] versus -18% [IQR, -17% to -19%], P=0.002; ratio of phosphocreatine to ATP, 1.81±0.35 versus 2.05±0.29, P=0.004). As expected, patients also had dilated and impaired left atria compared with control subjects (all P<0.001). Early after ablation (1-4 days), LVEF and PSCS improved in patients recovering SR from AF (LVEF, 7.0±10%, P=0.005; PSCS, -3.5±4.3%, P=0.001) but were unchanged in those in SR during both assessments (both P=NS). At 6 to 9 months after ablation, AF burden reduced significantly (from 54% [IQR, 1.5%-100%] to 0% [IQR 0%-0.1%]; P<0.001). However, LVEF and PSCS did not improve further (both P=NS) and remained impaired compared with control subjects (P<0.001 and P=0.003, respectively). Similarly, there was no significant improvement in atrial function from before ablation (P=NS), and this remained lower than in control subjects (P<0.001). The ratio of phosphocreatine to ATP was unaffected by heart rhythm during assessment and AF burden before ablation (both P=NS). It was unchanged after ablation (P=0.57), remaining lower than in control subjects regardless of both recovery of SR and freedom from recurrent AF (P=0.006 and P=0.002, respectively).</AbstractText>Patients with lone AF have impaired myocardial energetics and subtle LV dysfunction, which do not normalize after ablation. These findings suggest that AF may be the consequence (rather than the cause) of an occult cardiomyopathy, which persists despite a significant reduction in AF burden after ablation.</AbstractText>© 2016 The Authors.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,266 | Blood Pressure- and Coronary Perfusion Pressure-Targeted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Improves 24-Hour Survival From Ventricular Fibrillation Cardiac Arrest. | Treatment algorithms for cardiac arrest are rescuer centric and vary little from patient to patient. The objective of this study was to determine if cardiopulmonary resuscitation-targeted to arterial blood pressure and coronary perfusion pressure rather than optimal guideline care would improve 24-hour survival in a porcine model of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest.</AbstractText>Preclinical animal laboratory using female 3-month-old swine.</AbstractText>A randomized interventional study.</AbstractText>After induction of anesthesia and 7 minutes of untreated ventricular fibrillation, 16 female 3-month-old swine were randomized to 1) blood pressure care: titration of chest compression depth to a systolic blood pressure of 100 mm Hg and vasopressor dosing to maintain coronary perfusion pressure of greater than 20 mm Hg or 2) guideline care: chest compression depth targeted to 51 mm and standard guideline vasopressor dosing. Animals received manual cardiopulmonary resuscitation for 10 minutes before the first defibrillation attempt and standardized postresuscitation care for 24 hours.</AbstractText>Twenty-four-hour survival was more likely with blood pressure care versus guideline care (0/8 vs 5/8; p < 0.03), and all survivors had normal neurologic examinations. Mean coronary perfusion pressure prior to defibrillation was significantly higher with blood pressure care (28 ± 3 vs 10 ± 6 mm Hg; p < 0.01). Chest compression depth was lower with blood pressure care (48 ± 0.4 vs 44 ± 0.5 mm Hg; p < 0.05), and the number of vasopressor doses was higher with blood pressure care (median, 3 [range, 1-7] vs 2 [range, 2-2]; p < 0.01).</AbstractText>Individualized goal-directed hemodynamic resuscitation targeting systolic blood pressure of 100 mm Hg and coronary perfusion pressure of greater than 20 mm Hg improved 24-hour survival compared with guideline care in this model of ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest.</AbstractText> |
21,267 | Predictors of reversible severe functional tricuspid regurgitation in patients with atrial fibrillation. | Atrial remodeling associated with atrial fibrillation (AF) is known to be a risk factor for significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR), but the predictor of reversible TR in patients with severe functional TR and AF has been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of reversible TR in patients with severe functional TR and AF.</AbstractText>Among 232 patients with severe TR, a total of 71 patients with severe functional TR and AF were enrolled and divided into 2 groups: reversible TR group (n=16, 70.1±15.5 years, 7 males) vs. non-reversible TR group (n=55, 72.3±11.8 years, 20 males). Improvement of TR to moderate or lesser degree on follow-up (FU) echocardiography was considered as reversible TR in the present study.</AbstractText>During 38.9±26.7 months of FU period, reversible TR was observed in 16 patients (22.5%). The presence of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction was significantly prevalent (43.8% vs. 20.0%, p=0.03) and the improvement in LV ejection fraction (EF) more than 10% on FU echocardiography was more significantly frequent (62.5% vs. 23.3%, p=0.003) in the reversible TR group than in the non-reversible TR group. However, the other echocardiographic parameters, including right ventricular function were not different between the groups. In multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazard model, the improvement of LVEF more than 10% was the only independent predictor of reversible TR (HR=7.39, 95%CI 1.80-30.28, p=0.005). Nine patients died only in patients with non-reversible TR (12.7%), but the reversibility of TR was not associated with mortality.</AbstractText>The improvement of LV systolic function was the only independent predictor of reversible TR. Appropriate medical therapy including management for heart failure should be considered before performing surgery in patients with severe functional TR and AF, especially in patients with LV dysfunction.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2015 Japanese College of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,268 | Outcomes of electrical injuries in the emergency department: a 10-year retrospective study. | Electrical injuries are challenging to assess and current guidelines are based on few studies and case reports. Recommendations on cardiac monitoring were published for certain risk factors, but indications for hospital observation are less clear. Furthermore, the risk of late arrhythmias is not known. Therefore, we aimed to assess possible cardiac complications, including death and immediate or delayed dysrhythmia, after an electrical accident in a sample of patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED).</AbstractText>Medical records of patients presenting to the ED of the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland, during 2004-2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Follow-up in terms of the survival of these patients was performed through hospital databases, and direct contact with patients and caregivers. The primary endpoint was in hospital mortality and mortality within 10, 30, and 90 days, respectively. For our secondary endpoint, we investigated patient charts for the occurrence of dysrhythmias and laboratory findings.</AbstractText>During the study period, a total of 240 patients were identified. Twelve patients were lost to follow-up. Initial ECG was performed in 234 (97.5%) patients and 149 (62.1%) patients received cardiac monitoring. During the time of monitoring, four dysrhythmias (sinus bradycardia, two ventricular premature beats, and atrial fibrillation) were observed. All patients survived, and no potential late serious dysrhythmia requiring a medical intervention was recorded.</AbstractText>No cardiac complications occurred during ED stay or during the 90-day follow-up period. Therefore, the need for continued cardiac monitoring after electrical injury is not supported by our data.</AbstractText> |
21,269 | ["The silent killer: hyper- and hypokalaemia"]. | The estimation of potassium in the serum is basis for the diagnosis of potassium disturbances. The value is a result of intake, excretion and internal distribution of potassium between intra- and extracellular compartments of the body. Clinically, we often see disturbances of potassium. The causes are explained by an aging population with morbidities that warrant diuretic treatment on the one side, and chronic kidney diseases on the other. In the first cases, we see hypokalaemia, in the latter hyperkalaemia. Both can lead to increased mortalities which are often labelled as "sudden heart death" without finding the underlying mechanism to be potassium driven. This is due to the fact that cardiac arrhythmias (ventricular fibrillation, heart block) lead to cardiac arrest. The pathophysiological understanding of the principles is the key for the guidance of diagnosis and therapy of the disturbances of potassium metabolism. Only by that, a decrease in mortality can be accomplished. |
21,270 | Efficacy of β-blocker therapy for secondary prevention for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. | The efficacy and safety of β-blockers in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart failure, have been well established for decades. In this article, we review the current opinions on the application of β-blockers for secondary prevention in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.</AbstractText>As the average age of patients treated surgically for coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasing, it is not uncommon to have candidates for CABG presenting with concomitant atrial fibrillation, heart failure or hypertension, most of which were caused by excessive activation of the adrenergic nervous system. In a recent decade, a number of national quality-improvement efforts using a variety of techniques have been made to increase the use of β-blocker therapy before or following the CABG. Results from recent large observational studies among patients with CAD showed that β-blockers were associated with a lower risk of cardiac events only among those with heart failure or recent myocardial infarction. However, the consistent use of β-blockers could benefit those with or without prior myocardial infarction who underwent CABG and discharged alive.</AbstractText>In real-world clinical practice, β-blockers are effective and safe to control heart rate and symptoms in patients with CAD, especially for those concomitant with left ventricular systolic dysfunction or prior myocardial infarction. Current evidence supports the preoperative use of β-blocker therapy for patients undergoing CABG as a prevention of new-onset atrial fibrillation. It is reasonable to continue β-blockers as chronic therapy in all CABG patients without contraindications after hospital discharge. Further strategies should be developed to understand and improve discharge prescription of β-blockers and long-term patient adherence.</AbstractText> |
21,271 | Sudden death and its risk factors after atrioventricular junction ablation and pacemaker implantation in patients with atrial fibrillation. | Although sudden death (SD) is a rare complication after atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation and permanent pacemaker implantation, the risk factors leading to this SD remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate SD and its risk factors after ablate-and-pace strategy for rate control in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients during long-term follow-up.</AbstractText>METHODS: From January 2005 to December 2009, we enrolled into this study 517 AF patients with AVJ ablation and right ventricular pacemaker implantation. Patients were divided into 2 groups, SD and non-SD. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess potential risk factors for overall mortality and SD.</AbstractText>During a mean follow-up of 25.8 ± 18.6 months (range, 3 days to 63.8 months), 53 patients died (15 with SD). Cox proportional hazards models showed that the presence of congestive heart failure, New York Heart Association functional class, chronic renal failure, and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia were risk factors that predicted overall mortality. For SD, the presence of dilated cardiomyopathy and mitral stenosis were associated risk factors. SD was exclusively seen in patients who had narrow QRS complex or right bundle branch block prior to AVJ ablation and pacemaker implantation; SD was not seen in any patient with preexisting complete left bundle branch block.</AbstractText>Dilated cardiomyopathy, mitral stenosis, and baseline QRS morphology should be examined as potential risk factors for SD after AVJ ablation and pacemaker implantation.</AbstractText>© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,272 | Cardiocutaneous syndrome (Naxos disease) in a Bangladeshi boy. | Naxos disease is a rare autosomal recessive form of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) with woolly hair and palmoplantar keratoderma. The cardiomyopathy presents by adolescence with syncope, ventricular tachycardia (VT) of left bundle branch block (LBBB) morphology, and/or ventricular fibrillation. The diagnosis and management of ARVC are at present in evolution; the recently published modified Task Force Criteria for diagnosis and International Task Force consensus statement for treatment of ARVC will hopefully bring about uniformity in recognition and management of Naxos disease as well. Here, typical phenotype and diagnostic work up have been presented in a Bangladeshi boy with the Cardiocutaneous syndrome. |
21,273 | Cardiogenic syncope possibly related to bevacizumab-containing combination chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer. | We report the case of a 55-year-old man with stage IV lung adenocarcinoma who received carboplatin-paclitaxel-bevacizumab chemotherapy as second-line therapy. After four cycles of chemotherapy, he experienced syncope with a decrease in blood pressure. Electrocardiography (ECG) revealed atrial fibrillation. Cardiac ultrasonography showed a markedly reduced ejection fraction (45%), with moderate decrease in comparison to that before chemotherapy (66%). Bisoprolol fumarate was initiated, and the conversion to sinus rhythm was detected by ECG 4 days after the syncope. At that time, no improvement in the ejection fraction was detected. Bevacizumab-associated cardiotoxicity was suspected, and bevacizumab maintenance therapy was discontinued, although the chemotherapy achieved a stable disease status based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Two months after bevacizumab cessation, the ejection fraction improved to pretreatment level (62%). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on cardiogenic syncope due to left ventricular dysfunction that is most consistent with bevacizumab-associated cardiotoxicity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Our results indicate that bevacizumab could lead to cardiotoxicity in patients with NSCLC and suggest the importance of the follow-up cardiac ultrasonography. |
21,274 | Differences in the Slope of the QT-RR Relation Based on 24-Hour Holter ECG Recordings between Cardioembolic and Atherosclerotic Stroke. | Objective Detecting paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with ischemic stroke presenting in sinus rhythm is difficult because such episodes are often short, and they are also frequently asymptomatic. It is possible that the ventricular repolarization dynamics may reflect atrial vulnerability and cardioembolic stroke. Hence, we compared the QT-RR relation between cardioembolic stroke and atherosclerotic stroke during sinus rhythm. Methods The subjects comprised 62 consecutive ischemic stroke patients including 31 with cardioembolic strokes (71.8±12.7 years, 17 men) and 31 with atherosclerotic strokes (74.8±10.8 years, 23 men). The QT and RR intervals were measured from ECG waves based on a 15-sec averaged ECG during 24-hour Holter recording using an automatic QT analyzing system. The QT interval dependence on the RR interval was analyzed using a linear regression line for each subject ([QT]=A[RR]+B; where A is the slope and B is the y-intercept). Results The mean slope of the QT-RR relation was significantly greater in cardioembolic stroke than in atherosclerotic stroke (0.187±0.044 vs. 0.142±0.045, p<0.001). The mean QT, RR, or QTc during 24-hour Holter recordings did not differ between them. An increased slope (≥0.14) of the QT-RR regression line could predict cardioembolic stroke with 97% sensitivity, 55% specificity and a positive predictive value of 64%. Conclusion The increased slope of the QT-RR linear regression line based on 24-hour Holter ECG in patients with ischemic stroke presenting in sinus rhythm may therefore be a simple and useful marker for cardioembolic stroke. |
21,275 | Antiarrhythmic effects of dantrolene in human diseased cardiomyocytes. | Cardiac type 2 ryanodine receptors (RyR2</sub>s) play a pivotal role in cellular electrophysiology and contractility. Increased RyR2</sub>-mediated diastolic sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+</sup> release is linked to heart failure (HF) and arrhythmias. Dantrolene, a drug used for the treatment of malignant hyperthermia, is known to stabilize RyRs in skeletal muscle.</AbstractText>The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dantrolene on arrhythmogenic triggers and contractile function in human atrial fibrillation (AF) and HF cardiomyocytes (CM).</AbstractText>Human CM were isolated from either patients with HF (ventricular) or patients with AF (atrial), and Ca2+</sup> imaging, patch-clamp, or muscle strip experiments were performed.</AbstractText>After exposure to dantrolene, human atrial AF and left ventricular HF CM showed significant reductions in proarrhythmic SR Ca2+</sup> spark frequency and diastolic SR Ca2+</sup> leak. Moreover, dantrolene decreased the frequency of Ca2+</sup> waves and spontaneous Ca2+</sup> transients in HF CM. Patch-clamp experiments revealed that dantrolene significantly suppressed delayed afterdepolarizations in HF and AF CM. Importantly, dantrolene had no effect on action potential duration in AF or in HF CM. In addition, dantrolene had neutral effects on contractile force of human isometrically twitching ventricular HF trabeculae.</AbstractText>Our study showed that dantrolene beneficially influenced disrupted SR Ca2+</sup> homeostasis in human HF and AF CM. Cellular arrhythmogenic triggers were potently suppressed by dantrolene, whereas action potential duration and contractility were not affected. As a clinically approved drug for the treatment of malignant hyperthermia, dantrolene may be a potential antiarrhythmic drug for patients with rhythm disorders and merits further clinical investigation.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,276 | Cardiovascular complications in chronic dialysis patients. | This review article focuses on the most significant cardiovascular complications in dialysis patients [sudden cardiac death (SCD), acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, and atrial fibrillation].</AbstractText>Current and ongoing research aims to quantify the rate and pattern of significant arrhythmia in dialysis patients and to determine the predominant mechanism of SCD. Preliminary findings from these studies suggest a high rate of atrial fibrillation and that bradycardia and asystole may be more frequent than ventricular arrhythmia as a cause of sudden death. A recently published matched cohort study in dialysis patients who received a defibrillator for primary prevention showed that there was no significant difference in mortality rates between defibrillator-treated patients and propensity-matched controls. Two randomized controlled trials are currently recruiting participants and will hopefully answer the question of whether implantable or wearable cardioverter defibrillators can prevent SCD. An observational study using United States Renal Data System data demonstrated how difficult it is to keep hemodialysis patients on warfarin, as more than two-thirds discontinued the drug during the first year. The ISCHEMIA-CKD trial may provide answers about the optimal strategy for the treatment of atherosclerotic coronary disease in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease.</AbstractText>The article reviews the diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes in dialysis patients, current literature on myocardial revascularization, and data on fatal and nonfatal cardiac arrhythmia. The new classification of heart failure in end-stage renal disease is reviewed. Finally, available cohort studies on warfarin for stroke prevention in dialysis patients with atrial fibrillation are reviewed.</AbstractText> |
21,277 | Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillators. | The use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) has favorably impacted the prevention and treatment of sudden cardiac death (SCD) associated with ventricular arrhythmias. However, there are situations where an ICD cannot be immediately implanted, even though the patient is at high risk for SCD. The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is a unique technology that can bridge this gap for patients. The WCD has been demonstrated to terminate ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation if worn and used correctly. With proper training, it is relatively easy to put on, maintain, and use. Most patients are compliant and are able to consistently wear the device. The WCD negates the infection risk or procedural complications associated with insertion and possible extraction of leads, as with an ICD. In terms of primary prevention of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation in patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, prospective, randomized studies evaluating the survival of patients utilizing the WCD will need to be performed before evidenced-based criteria for its use can be established. On the basis of current data, WCD use for those awaiting heart transplant, for those with ICD indications status post-ICD explant, and for high-risk SCD patients with possible reversible cardiomyopathy appears to be a reasonable approach on the basis of current data. |
21,278 | Cardiac arrhythmias in patients with Danon disease. | Different cardiac arrhythmias have been suggested to be associated with Danon disease, e.g. Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. However, a systematic electrophysiological investigation of patients with Danon disease is lacking thus far.</AbstractText>Seven patients with Danon disease (4 males, 35.8 ± 10.8 years; 3 females, 51.3 ± 19.9 years) from 3 different families were studied. In all patients, the presence of Danon disease was confirmed by western blot of biopsy material or genetic testing. The patients were characterized by 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), Holter ECG, echocardiography, and serial implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) interrogations (in ICD recipients). All male patients underwent electrophysiological investigation (EP study). Asymptomatic ventricular tachyarrhythmias were documented in six of the seven patients. Moreover, 5 of the 7 patients suffered from atrial fibrillation (AF), with 1 of them experiencing thromboembolic stroke at the age of 30 years. In male patients, the initial QRS complex was characterized by a slurring upstroke and shortened PQ interval mimicking ventricular pre-excitation. One male patient showed initial QRS complex slurring with prolonged PR interval. However, the presence of an accessory pathway was excluded by an EP study in all patients. In female patients, initial QRS complex slurring was significantly less distinct. In four patients, ICD implantation was performed for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. However, sustained ventricular arrhythmias were not documented in any of the patients.</AbstractText>The present study indicates that the distinct surface ECG pattern in Danon disease is not associated with ventricular pre-excitation. Atrial fibrillation is frequently observed in these patients and may be associated with thromboembolic events in the young, while sustained ventricular arrhythmias occur less frequently than previously reported.</AbstractText>Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2016. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,279 | Percutaneous balloon atrial septostomy on top of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation results in safe and effective left heart decompression. | Transcatheter techniques are emerging for left atrial (LA) decompression under venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). We aimed to assess whether balloon atrioseptostomy (BAS) is a safe and efficient strategy.</AbstractText>All patients who underwent percutaneous static BAS under VA-ECMO at four tertiary institutions were retrospectively reviewed.</AbstractText>From 2000 to 2014, BAS was performed in 64 patients (32 adults and 32 children). Indications for ECMO support included acute myocarditis (31.3%) and non-myocarditis cardiac disease, mostly end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy (32.8%). BAS was required because of pulmonary oedema/haemorrhage and left ventricular (LV) distension. The mean balloon diameter was 21.8 ± 8.4mm. Adequate LA decompression was achieved in all patients. Mean LA pressure fell from 24.2 ± 6.9 mmHg to 7.8 ± 2.6 mmHg ( p < 0.001). The left-to-right atrial pressure gradient fell from 17.2 ± 7.1 mmHg to 0.09 ± 0.5 mmHg ( p < 0.001). Echocardiography showed an unrestrictive left-to-right atrial shunting in all patients. Improvement of day 1 chest X-ray was observed in 76.6% of patients, clinical status in 98.4% of patients and pulmonary haemorrhage in 14 out of 14 patients. Complications occurred in 9.4% of patients, representing pericardial effusion, fast atrial fibrillation, ventricular fibrillation requiring defibrillation, transient complete heart block and femoral venous dissection requiring covered stent placement. In the 37 (57.8%) patients who were successfully decannulated, the median ECMO duration was 9 (range: 4-24) days. After a median follow-up of 12.3 (range: 0.1-142) months, 35.9% patients died, 17.2% received a LV assist device as a bridge to transplantation, 31.2% were transplanted and 56.2% were home discharged and alive.</AbstractText>Percutaneous BAS may be a safe and efficient strategy for discharging the LA in both adults and children supported by VA-ECMO.</AbstractText> |
21,280 | Feasibility of selection of antiarrhythmic drug treatment on the basis of arrhythmogenic mechanism - Relevance of electrical restitution, wavebreak and rotors. | Antiarrhythmic drug therapy has seen significant challenges over the past 3 decades with unexpected results from clinical trials such as CAST, SWORD and more recently PALLAS showing harm in patients whom antiarrhythmic drugs were given based on their intended antiarrhythmic actions and previously demonstrated efficacy. These results question whether the precise mechanism of action of the drugs was understood and highlight the complexity of the situation where there is the combination of multiple actions of the antiarrhythmic drugs on various molecular systems, some of which may be unknown with associated adverse outcome, and their interaction with pre-existing abnormality in disease states in patients treated. In addition, there is no effective drug strategy for complex arrhythmias such as atrial and ventricular fibrillation. Their complex dynamics are not adequately described by the classical mechanisms of automaticity, triggered activity and re-entry. Experimental data showing that flattening of the electrical restitution curve can convert ventricular fibrillation into stable tachycardia and prevent its initiation via wavebreak, and the advancement of computation biology in the describing the behaviour of wavetip and rotors in driving fibrillation have ignited the quest for more detailed understanding of the mechanisms underlying these complex arrhythmias. Their precise ionic basis which could be targeted for drug therapy remains to be fully characterised and tested in appropriate disease models and preparations. This review summarises some of these developments in the context of antiarrhythmic drug therapy consideration. |
21,281 | A Clinical and Echocardiographic Score to Identify Pulmonary Hypertension Due to HFpEF. | Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a frequent cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH) that is not easy to differentiate from precapillary PH. We aimed to determine whether the characteristic features of the patients may help differentiate between HFpEF and precapillary PH.</AbstractText>Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were analyzed in 156 patients referred to our PH referral center. Right heart catheterization identified 78 PH-HFpEF patients and 78 with precapillary PH. Compared with precapillary PH, PH-HFpEF patients were older, with a smaller proportion of women, a higher proportion of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea syndrome, and a higher body mass index. On echocardiography, PH-HFpEF patients had higher left ventricular mass index, higher left atrial area, and smaller right ventricular end-diastolic area. Following multivariate analysis, a model predicting the probability of PH-HFpEF was built with history of diabetes mellitus, presence of atrial fibrillation, left atrial area, right ventricular end-diastolic area, and left ventricular mass index. The score was internally validated using bootstrap method (area under the curve 0.93 [95% confidence interval 0.918-0.938]). A score <5 ruled out PH-HFpEF.</AbstractText>A score including clinical and echocardiographic criteria may help physicians to identify PH-HFpEF from precapillary PH.</AbstractText>Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,282 | Proximal complete occlusion of right coronary artery presenting with precordial ST-segment elevation: A case report. | It is well known that cardiologists empirically judge the culprit lesion of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) according to the corresponding electrocardiographic leads. However, In addition to the obstruction of left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery, rare cases with the occlusion of proximal right coronary artery (RCA) and/or isolated right ventricular (RV) branch showed the ST-segment elevation in precordial leads V1-V3 as well.</AbstractText>We reported a patient complaining of acute chest pain and suffering ventricular fibrillation (VF) on admission. The electrocardiogram (ECG) showed mild ST-segment elevation in precordial leads V1-V3 and V4R. Bedside echocardiography displayed normal left ventricular ejection fraction and slight RV dilation. Proximal occlusion of nondominant RCA was confirmed by coronary angiography and urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) to RCA successfully resolved the chest pain and ST-segment elevation.</AbstractText>Undoubtedly, coronary angiography is usually the definite measurement for the diagnosis of culprit lesion. However, bedside echocardiography, ST-segment features in left and right precordial leads, and heart rate will be the additional information for judging ST-segment elevation in precordial leads V1-V3 resulting from occlusion of RCA or LAD.</AbstractText> |
21,283 | [Predictors for need of antibradycardia and antitachycardia pacing after ICD implantation : Implications for the subcutaneous ICD]. | Little is known about the incidence and risk factors for progression to pacemaker dependency or the need for cardiac resynchronization in typical patients with an implanted defibrillator with regard to an alternative implantation of a subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD).</AbstractText>After retrospective analysis of 291 patients with first implantation of a transvenous single chamber ICD (VVI-ICD) from 2010-2016 and excluding those with an indication for pacemaker or lack of follow-up data, 121 patients were included and investigated with regard to the following endpoints: need for pacemaker stimulation, upgrade for cardiac resynchronization (CRT), and secondary occurrence and effectiveness of antitachycardia pacing (ATP). We compared the results with those of fundamental S‑ICD studies and tried to determine risk factors on the basis of medical history and pre-implant data.</AbstractText>The study population and the rate of endpoints were significantly different to those of fundamental S‑ICD studies. Within a 2.2-year follow-up, 14.9 % of the patients developed a need for pacemaker stimulation and 0.8 % the need for cardiac resynchronization. Excluding patients who at implantation were already at high risk for pacemaker dependency, 7.4 % remained with a reached endpoint. We identified atrial fibrillation and bundle-branch-block as risk factors. All episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) could be terminated by ATP in 9.9 % of the patients. They more often had ischemic heart disease and a secondary prophylactic indication for an ICD.</AbstractText>The low rate of conversions from S‑ICD to a transvenous ICD in case of pacemaker-dependency as stated in fundamental S‑ICD studies should not be transferred to other typical collectives of ICD recipients. The latter group is at significantly higher risk for developing pacemaker-dependency.</AbstractText> |
21,284 | Prognostic Importance of Exercise Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Asymptomatic Chronic Organic Severe Mitral Regurgitation: An Observational Study. | The optimal timing of surgery in patients with chronic organic severe mitral regurgitation (MR) continues to be debated, especially for those who are asymptomatic. The aim of the study was to determine independent and additive prognostic value of exercise brain natriuretic peptide (eBNP) in patients with severe asymptomatic MR and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF).</AbstractText>Two hundred twenty-three consecutive patients with severe MR defined by effective regurgitant orifice (ERO) area ≥ 40 mm2</sup> and/or residual volume ≥ 60 mL, LVEF > 60%, and normal LV end-systolic diameter < 40 mm underwent symptom limited exercise treadmill test (TMT). Echocardiography was done immediately after exercise. Data were obtained within 3 minutes of peak exercise. BNP levels were assessed before echo (after 30 minutes of supine rest) and at exercise (i.e., within the 3 minutes of the end of effort). Patients were followed up every 3 months up to 15 months for major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) (cardiovascular death, need for mitral valve surgery and hospitalization for acute pulmonary edema or heart failure).</AbstractText>Mean age was 31.2 ± 9 years (range: 18 - 40) with majority being male (n = 153; 68%). Etiologies were rheumatic (n = 201; 90%), mitral valve prolapse (n = 17; 7.6%) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n = 5; 2.4%). BNP level significantly increased from rest (65.24 ± 43.92 pg/mL; median: 43.5 pg/mL) to exercise (100.24 ± 98.24 pg/mL; median: 66.5 pg/mL; P < 0.001). Patients were divided into three tertiles according to eBNP levels (T1</sub> = 15 - 44; T2</sub> = 45 - 104; T3</sub> = 105 - 400). There was trend for significantly lower exercise time in T3</sub>. During TMT, 66 (29.5%) stopped exercise due to dyspnea. They had similar resting BNP level compared with others but had significantly higher eBNP level (136 ± 109.7 pg/mL vs. 84.88 ± 90.2 pg/mL; P < 0.001). During follow-up (15 months), MACE occurred in 83 patients (37.2%): mitral valve replacement (MVR) in 59 patients (symptomatic: 43; LV dilatation or dysfunction: 9; both symptoms and dilatation/dysfunction: 7), 17 hospitalizations for congestive heart failure, five patients developing acute pulmonary edema and atrial fibrillation in remaining two patients. This was 7.6%, 35% and 69% in T1</sub>, T2</sub> and T3</sub>, respectively and had significantly higher eBNP level than without any event (165 ± 119 pg/mL vs. 57 ± 48 pg/mL; P < 0.001). Using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the best cut-off value of eBNP level to predict cardiac events was 90 pg/mL (sensitivity: 75%; specificity: 88.6%; positive predictive value: 79%; negative predictive value: 83.9%).</AbstractText>In asymptomatic patients, eBNP level provides incremental prognostic value beyond echocardiographic data and those with elevated eBNP should be considered at high risk for reduced event-free survival and might be considered for early MVR.</AbstractText> |
21,285 | Surgical Strategy for Thoracic Aortic Pseudoaneurysm with Sternal Adherence. | A thoracic aortic pseudoaneurysm is a life-threatening complication following thoracic aortic surgery. We describe a surgical strategy for this pseudoaneurysm with a high risk for rupture during median sternotomy. The pseudoaneurysm was distended and widely adherent to the posterior sternum. Elective cardiopulmonary bypass and moderate hypothermia were established, and sternotomy was performed without left ventricle distention or brain ischemia. Total arch replacement was successful and the patient was discharged on post operative day (POD) 18. A key surgical strategy was to avoid ventricular fibrillation before sternotomy. Appropriate sternotomy timing and perfusion strategy are crucial for successful treatment. |
21,286 | Asymmetrical left atrial remodelling in atrial fibrillation: relation with diastolic dysfunction and long-term ablation outcomes. | The association between anatomical left atrial (LA) remodelling and ventricular diastolic dysfunction (DD) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients is not well studied. We aimed to examine the effect of DD on anatomic LA remodelling and their relation with ablation outcomes.</AbstractText>In 104 patients (58 ± 10 years, 69% male) referred for AF ablation, LA volume (LAV) was determined by computed tomography. A cutting plane, between the pulmonary vein (PV) ostia and the appendage and parallel to the posterior wall, divided LAV into anterior- (LA-A) and posterior-LA parts. The ratio of LA-A and LAV was defined as the LA asymmetry index (ASI). According to the current guidelines, the presence of DD was evaluated by echocardiography. Regression analysis was used to identify predictors of asymmetry changes and long-term success. Univariate linear regression revealed that ASI is associated with LAV, the presence of DD, and mitral regurgitation. Asymmetry index was higher in patients with DD (n = 35, 62 ± 5 vs. 59 ± 6%, P = 0.013) or mitral regurgitation (n = 67, 61 ± 6 vs. 58 ± 5%, P = 0.025). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that DD (B = 2.6, β = 0.207, 95% confidence interval, CI: 0.167-5.011, P = 0.036) and LAV (B = 0.037, β = 0.211, 95% CI: 0.003-0.071, P = 0.033) were the only factors independently associated with ASI (adjusted r2 = 0.92, F = 6.2, P = 0.003). Regression analysis showed that AF recurrence (33% after 24 months) is associated with asymmetric LA changes, while DD is not.</AbstractText>Left atrial symmetry changes are associated with DD and dilatation. Since DD could cause LA remodelling, appropriate early treatment should be considered for AF patients with DD, before geometrical changes occur.</AbstractText>Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2016. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,287 | Incidence, indications, risk factors, and survival of patients undergoing cardiac implantable electronic device implantation after open heart surgery. | The incidence, indications, and risk factors for cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation after cardiac surgery in an era with an aging population are not well described. There are limited data about the survival of these patients compared with a non-device group. We aimed to evaluate the incidence, indications, and risk factors for postoperative CIED implantation. We also assessed survival of these patients compared with a non-device group.</AbstractText>We included all patients without prior CIED implantation who underwent cardiac surgery at our institution from 1996 to 2008. Characteristics associated with CIED implantation were identified by multivariable logistic regression. A propensity model was constructed to compare survival.</AbstractText>A total of 39 546 patients were included in the study of which 1608 patients (4.1%) underwent postoperative CIED implantation. Conduction disease accounted for most devices, but 371 patients underwent CIED implantation for secondary prevention of ventricular arrhythmias. Risk factors associated with implantation included older age, valvular disease, atrial fibrillation, and prior surgery. The propensity-adjusted risk of early death (within 1 year) was significantly less in the device group (hazard ratio [HR] 0.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.22-0.65; P = 0.0004). However, the propensity-adjusted risk of late death was significantly greater in the device group (HR 1.3; 95% CI 1.2-1.5; P = <0.0001).</AbstractText>Despite an aging population, the incidence of CIED implantation after cardiac surgery remains low and varies by the type of operation. Follow-up suggests increased early survival but decreased late survival in patients who undergo CIED implantation compared with a non-device group.</AbstractText>Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2016. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,288 | Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 activity and human atrial fibrillation: increased plasma angiotensin converting enzyme 2 activity is associated with atrial fibrillation and more advanced left atrial structural remodelling. | Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an integral membrane protein whose main action is to degrade angiotensin II. Plasma ACE2 activity is increased in various cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to determine the relationship between plasma ACE2 activity and human atrial fibrillation (AF), and in particular its relationship to left atrial (LA) structural remodelling.</AbstractText>One hundred and three participants from a tertiary arrhythmia centre, including 58 with paroxysmal AF (PAF), 20 with persistent AF (PersAF), and 25 controls, underwent clinical evaluation, echocardiographic analysis, and measurement of plasma ACE2 activity. A subgroup of 20 participants underwent invasive LA electroanatomic mapping. Plasma ACE2 activity levels were increased in AF [control 13.3 (9.5-22.3) pmol/min/mL; PAF 16.9 (9.7-27.3) pmol/min/mL; PersAF 22.8 (13.7-33.4) pmol/min/mL, P = 0.006]. Elevated plasma ACE2 was associated with older age, male gender, hypertension and vascular disease, elevated left ventricular (LV) mass, impaired LV diastolic function and advanced atrial disease (P < 0.05 for all). Independent predictors of elevated plasma ACE2 activity were AF (P = 0.04) and vascular disease (P < 0.01). There was a significant relationship between elevated ACE2 activity and low mean LA bipolar voltage (adjusted R2 = 0.22, P = 0.03), a high proportion of complex fractionated electrograms (R2 = 0.32, P = 0.009) and a long LA activation time (R2 = 0.20, P = 0.04).</AbstractText>Plasma ACE2 activity is elevated in human AF. Both AF and vascular disease predict elevated plasma ACE2 activity, and elevated plasma ACE2 is significantly associated with more advanced LA structural remodelling.</AbstractText>Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2016. For permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,289 | Medium-term outcomes of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation survivors and family screening: a multicentre experience. | Early repolarization (ER) has been linked to poorer outcomes in idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF). The role of family screening in IVF is not clear. Our aim was to review predictors for poorer outcomes and evaluate the role of family screening in IVF.</AbstractText>This was a retrospective multicentre cohort study including all patients diagnosed with IVF. Data were collected on baseline characteristics, ECG findings, and recurrence of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) during follow-up. Electrocardiogram findings were reviewed in first-degree relatives that were screened. A total of 66 patients were included with male predominance (42/66, 64%) and Caucasian ethnicity (47/66, 71%). Mean age at cardiac arrest was 38 years ± 11. Thirty-one patients had ER (47%) predominantly with J-point amplitude ≥2 mm and horizontal ST segments (18/31, 58%). Recurrent VA was seen in 13 patients (20%). Horizontal ST segments were associated with increased rates of VA recurrence (OR 11, 95% CI 2.7-43.7; P = 0.0007). Early repolarization was seen in 20% of the 72 first-degree relatives and was more common if the proband had persistent ER pattern (OR 10.7, 95% CI 2.2-51.5; P = 0.003).</AbstractText>Ventricular arrhythmia recurrence was lower than previously reported. Early repolarization was common in this IVF cohort, and horizontal ST segments were suggestive predictor for poorer outcomes. Persistent ER in proband was associated with ER in first-degree relatives. With better understanding of its predictive value and the relationship to IVF, this information could potentially be used to guide family screening and identify new mutations using family members with persistent ER.</AbstractText>Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author 2016. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,290 | Characteristics of chaotic processes in electrocardiographically identified ventricular arrhythmia. | The theory of chaos proves a deterministic mechanism of induction of multiple complex processes previously thought to be random in nature. This research explains how these complex processes develop. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis of the chaotic nature of myocardial electrical events during ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF).</AbstractText>Original hardware and software was developed for digitalization of on-line electrocardiography (ECG) data, with the functions of automatic and manual identification as well as categoriza-tion of specific ventricular arrhythmias. Patient ECGs were recorded by specially developed measuring equipment (M2TT). Available ECG sampling frequency was 20,000 Hz, and it was possible to analyze the signal retrospectively. Digital ECG of the sinus rhythm (SR) was analyzed with non-sustained VT, VT and VF. The signals were then subjected to mathematical analysis. Using wavelet analysis, signals carrying frequencies from various ranges were isolated from baseline and each of these isolated signals was subjected to Fourier transformation to check on differences in the Fourier power spectra of the analyzed VT and VF signals.</AbstractText>Ventricular tachycardia identified based on ECG fulfills the criteria of a chaotic process, while no such properties were found for SR and VF. Information obtained by the ECG is used to record myo-cardial electrical signals, but they are not sufficient to differentiate between an advanced chaotic state and the process of linear expansion of electrical activation within the myocardium.</AbstractText>Electrophysiological study requires advanced methods to record the signal of myocardial electrical activity, as ECG is not sufficiently sensitive to identify the features of a chaotic process during VF. (Cardiol J 2017; 24, 2: 151-158).</AbstractText> |
21,291 | Complications in recipients of cardioverter-defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization therapy: Insights from Silesian Center Defibrillator registry. | Current real-life information from all-comers registries from middle and east Europe about the incidence and type of complications during long-term follow-up of patients with cardioverters-defibrillators (ICD) and cardiac resynchronization devices-defibrillators (CRT-D) is still insufficient. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence and determinants of short- and long-term complications related to implantable ICD and CRT-D.</AbstractText>We studied 1,105 recipients hospitalized in our center in 2009-2013, followed for a mean of 2.4 years (total of 2,652 patient-years). The independent association between ICD and CRT-D recipients' and implantation-procedures' characteristics with the incidence of complications was analyzed using multivariable Cox regression analysis.</AbstractText>In 2-month post-procedural period, 124 (11.2%) patients developed complications. Independent predictors of short-term complications (within 2 months) were: atrial fibrillation, dual chamber ICD implantation, and use of antiplatelet therapy or coumarin. Twenty-seven (2.44%) patients experienced complications, mostly lead-related (n = 21). Independent predictors of long-term complications (2-12 months after implantation) were atrial fibrillation and dual chamber ICD implantation.</AbstractText>Despite significant technological progress and operators' experience, the occurrence of complications in ICD and CRT-D recipients is still substantial. Majority of complications are recorded in the early post-implantation phase. Analysis of independent predictors of complications seem to be essential in helping to reduce adverse events in the future and strongly supports the need for routine follow-up.</AbstractText> |
21,292 | Clinical Effect of Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with Mitral Stenosis after Mitral Valve Replacement. | Mitral stenosis (MS) remains one of the important heart diseases. There are many factors that influence the clinical outcomes, and little is known about how left ventricular (LV) dysfunction clinically affects the prognosis of the patient with MS after mitral valve replacement (MVR). We reviewed our clinical experiences of MVR in patients with MS who had LV dysfunction.</AbstractText>Between January 1991 and January 2013, 110 patients with MS who underwent MVR were analyzed and divided into two groups according to ejection fraction (EF). Group 1 (EF≤45%) included 13 patients and group 2 (EF>45%) included 97 patients.</AbstractText>Thromboembolism occurred in 8 patients after MVR (group 1: n=3, 23.1%; group 2: n=5, 5.2%) and its incidence was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (p=0.014). There were 3 deaths each in groups 1 and 2 during follow-up. The overall rate of cardiac-related death in group 1 was significantly higher than in group 2 (group 1: n=3, 23.1%; group 2: n=3, 3.1%; p=0.007). The cumulative survival rate at 1 and 15 years was 83.9% and 69.9% in group 1 and 97.9% and 96.3% in group 2 (p=0.004). The Cox regression analysis revealed that survival was significantly associated with postoperative stroke (p=0.011, odds ratio=10.304).</AbstractText>This study identified postoperative stroke as an adverse prognostic factor in patients with MS after MVR, and as more prevalent in patients with LV dysfunction. Postoperative stroke should be reduced to improve clinical outcomes for patients. Preventive care should be made in multiple ways, such as management of LV dysfunction, atrial fibrillation, and anticoagulation.</AbstractText> |
21,293 | Efficient and robust ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation detection method for wearable cardiac health monitoring devices. | In this Letter, the authors propose an efficient and robust method for automatically determining the VT and VF events in the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal. The proposed method consists of: (i) discrete cosine transform (DCT)-based noise suppression; (ii) addition of bipolar sequence of amplitudes with alternating polarity; (iii) zero-crossing rate (ZCR) estimation-based VTVF detection; and (iv) peak-to-peak interval (PPI) feature based VT/VF discrimination. The proposed method is evaluated using 18,000 episodes of different ECG arrhythmias taken from 6 PhysioNet databases. The method achieves an average sensitivity (Se) of 99.61%, specificity (Sp) of 99.96%, and overall accuracy (OA) of 99.92% in detecting VTVF and non-VTVF episodes by using a ZCR feature. Results show that the method achieves a Se of 100%, Sp of 99.70% and OA of 99.85% for discriminating VT from VF episodes using PPI features extracted from the processed signal. The robustness of the method is tested using different kinds of ECG beats and various types of noises including the baseline wanders, powerline interference and muscle artefacts. Results demonstrate that the proposed method with the ZCR, PPI features can achieve significantly better detection rates as compared with the existing methods. |
21,294 | Enhanced Cytosolic Ca2+ Activation Underlies a Common Defect of Central Domain Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor Mutations Linked to Arrhythmias. | Recent three-dimensional structural studies reveal that the central domain of ryanodine receptor (RyR) serves as a transducer that converts long-range conformational changes into the gating of the channel pore. Interestingly, the central domain encompasses one of the mutation hotspots (corresponding to amino acid residues 3778-4201) that contains a number of cardiac RyR (RyR2) mutations associated with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) and atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the functional consequences of these central domain RyR2 mutations are not well understood. To gain insights into the impact of the mutation and the role of the central domain in channel function, we generated and characterized eight disease-associated RyR2 mutations in the central domain. We found that all eight central domain RyR2 mutations enhanced the Ca<sup>2+</sup>-dependent activation of [<sup>3</sup>H]ryanodine binding, increased cytosolic Ca<sup>2+</sup>-induced fractional Ca<sup>2+</sup> release, and reduced the activation and termination thresholds for spontaneous Ca<sup>2+</sup> release in HEK293 cells. We also showed that racemic carvedilol and the non-beta-blocking carvedilol enantiomer, (R)-carvedilol, suppressed spontaneous Ca<sup>2+</sup> oscillations in HEK293 cells expressing the central domain RyR2 mutations associated with CPVT and AF. These data indicate that the central domain is an important determinant of cytosolic Ca<sup>2+</sup> activation of RyR2. These results also suggest that altered cytosolic Ca<sup>2+</sup> activation of RyR2 represents a common defect of RyR2 mutations associated with CPVT and AF, which could potentially be suppressed by carvedilol or (R)-carvedilol. |
21,295 | Long-Term Outcome of Patients Initially Diagnosed With Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation: A Descriptive Study. | Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) is a rare cause of sudden cardiac arrest. Limited data are available on the long-term outcome of IVF patients.</AbstractText>In this retrospective cohort study, 107 consecutive patients with an initial diagnosis of IVF were analyzed (age at index event 40.4 years, 60% male). Missing diagnostic data were acquired during follow-up, including genetic testing, to exclude underlying disease. A specific diagnosis was revealed in 22 of 107 patients (21%) during a median follow-up of 10.2 years. Mortality rate was 9% in IVF patients (8/85). Appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy was delivered in 23 patients (29%) of 78 IVF patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, with a median of 3 appropriate shocks per patient.</AbstractText>One fifth of the patients initially diagnosed with IVF reveal a specific diagnosis during long-term follow-up. Additional diagnostic testing, including genetic testing, contributes to the detection of specific diseases. The recurrence rate of ventricular arrhythmias in IVF patients is high. Our data show the importance of thorough follow-up and reassessment of diagnosis in IVF patients.</AbstractText>© 2016 American Heart Association, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,296 | Evaluation of a Prediction Model for the Development of Atrial Fibrillation in a Repository of Electronic Medical Records. | Atrial fibrillation (AF) contributes to substantial morbidity, mortality, and health care expenditures. Accurate prediction of incident AF would enhance AF management and potentially improve patient outcomes.</AbstractText>To validate the AF risk prediction model originally developed by the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology-Atrial Fibrillation (CHARGE-AF) investigators using a large repository of electronic medical records (EMRs).</AbstractText><AbstractText Label="DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS" NlmCategory="METHODS">In this prediction model study, deidentified EMRs of 33 494 individuals 40 years or older who were white or African American and had no history of AF were reviewed and analyzed. The participants were followed up in the internal medicine outpatient clinics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center for incident AF from December 31, 2005, until December 31, 2010. Adjusting for differences in baseline hazard, the CHARGE-AF Cox proportional hazards model regression coefficients were applied to the EMR cohort. A simple version of the model with no echocardiographic variables was also evaluated. Data were analyzed from October 31, 2013, to January 31, 2014.</AbstractText>Incident AF. Predictors in the model included age, race, height, weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, treatment for hypertension, smoking status, type 2 diabetes, heart failure, history of myocardial infarction, left ventricular hypertrophy, and PR interval.</AbstractText>Among the 33 494 participants, the median age was 57 (interquartile range, 49-67) years; 57% of patients were women, 43% were men, 85.7% were white, and 14.3% were African American. During the mean (SD) follow-up of 4.8 (0.9) years, 2455 individuals (7.3%) developed AF. Both models had poor calibration in the EMR cohort, with underprediction of AF among low-risk individuals and overprediction of AF among high-risk individuals (10th and 90th percentiles for predicted probability of incident AF, 0.005 and 0.179, respectively). The full CHARGE-AF model had a C index of 0.708 (95% CI, 0.699-0.718) in our cohort. The simple model had similar discrimination (C index, 0.709; 95% CI, 0.699-0.718; P = .70 for difference between models).</AbstractText>Despite reasonable discrimination, the CHARGE-AF models showed poor calibration in this EMR cohort. This study highlights the difficulties of applying a risk model derived from prospective cohort studies to an EMR cohort and suggests that these AF risk prediction models be used with caution in the EMR setting. Future risk models may need to be developed and validated within EMR cohorts.</AbstractText> |
21,297 | Severe Spontaneous Echo Contrast/Auricolar Thrombosis in "Nonvalvular" AF: Value of Thromboembolic Risk Scores. | Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) have an increased thromboembolic risk that can be estimated with risk scores and sometimes require oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT). Despite correct anticoagulation, some patients still develop left atrial spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) or thrombosis. The value of traditional risk scores (R2</sub> CHADS2</sub> , CHADS2</sub> , and CHA2</sub> DS2</sub> -VASc) in predicting such events remains controversial.</AbstractText>The aim of our study was to explore variables linked to severe SEC or atrial thrombosis and evaluate the performance of traditional risk scores in identifying these patients. In order to do this, we retrospectively analyzed 568 patients with nonvalvular nonparoxysmal AF who underwent electrical cardioversion from January 2011 to December 2016 after OAT for a minimum of 4 weeks. A transesophageal echocardiogram was performed in 265 patients for various indications, and 24 exhibited left atrial SEC or thrombosis. Female gender, history of heart failure or left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, and high levels (>1 mg/dL) of C-reactive protein (CRP) were independently associated with left atrial SEC/thrombosis. A score composed by these factors (denominated HIS [Heart Failure, Inflammation, and female Sex]) showed a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 60% (area under receiver operating characteristic curve 0.695, P = 0.002) in identifying patients with a positive transesophageal echo; traditional risk scores did not perform as well.</AbstractText>In patients with persistent AF and suboptimal anticoagulation, a risk score composed by history of heart failure, high CRP, and female gender identifies patients at high risk of left atrial SEC/thrombosis when its value is >1.</AbstractText>© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.</CopyrightInformation> |
21,298 | Time-to-Onset Analysis of Drug-Induced Long QT Syndrome Based on a Spontaneous Reporting System for Adverse Drug Events. | Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a disorder of the heart's electrical activity that infrequently causes severe ventricular arrhythmias such as a type of ventricular tachycardia called torsade de pointes (TdP) and ventricular fibrillation, which can be fatal. There have been no previous reports on the time-to-onset for LQTS based on data from spontaneous reporting systems. The aim of this study was to assess the time-to-onset of LQTS according to drug treatment. We analyzed the association between 113 drugs in 37 therapeutic categories and LQTS including TdP using data obtained from the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database. For signal detection, we used the reporting odds ratio (ROR). Furthermore, we analyzed the time-to-onset data and assessed the hazard type using the Weibull shape parameter. The RORs (95% confidence interval) for bepridil, amiodarone, pilsicainide, nilotinib, disopyramide, arsenic trioxide, clarithromycin, cibenzoline, donepezil, famotidine, sulpiride, and nifekalant were 174.4 (148.6-204.6), 17.3 (14.7-20.4), 52.0 (43.4-62.4), 13.9 (11.5-16.7), 69.3 (55.3-86.8), 54.2 (43.2-68.0), 4.7 (3.8-5.8), 19.9 (15.9-25.0), 8.1 (6.5-10.1), 3.2 (2.5-4.1), 7.1 (5.5-9.2), and 254.8 (168.5-385.4), respectively. The medians and quartiles of time-to-onset for aprindine (oral) and bepridil were 20.0 (11.0-35.8) and 18.0 (6.0-43.0) days, respectively. The lower 95% confidence interval of the shape parameter β of bepridil was over 1 and the hazard was considered to increase over time.Our study indicated that the pattern of LQTS onset might differ among drugs. Based on these results, careful long-term observation is recommended, especially for specific drugs such as bepridil and aprindine. This information may be useful for the prevention of sudden death following LQTS and for efficient therapeutic planning. |
21,299 | Antiarrhythmic effect of the Ca<sup>2+</sup>-activated K<sup>+</sup> (SK) channel inhibitor ICA combined with either amiodarone or dofetilide in an isolated heart model of atrial fibrillation. | Dose is an important parameter in terms of both efficacy and adverse effects in pharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). Both of the class III antiarrhythmics dofetilide and amiodarone have documented anti-AF effects. While dofetilide has dose-related ventricular side effects, amiodarone primarily has adverse non-cardiac effects. Pharmacological inhibition of small conductance Ca<sup>2+</sup>-activated K<sup>+</sup> (SK) channels has recently been reported to be antiarrhythmic in a number of animal AF models. In a Langendorff model of acutely induced AF on guinea pig hearts, it was investigated whether a combination of the SK channel blocker N-(pyridin-2-yl)-4-(pyridin-2-yl)thiazol-2-amine (ICA) together with either dofetilide or amiodarone provided a synergistic effect. The duration of AF was reduced with otherwise subefficacious concentrations of either dofetilide or amiodarone when combined with ICA, also at a subefficacious concentration. At a concentration level effective as monotherapy, dofetilide produced a marked increase in the QT interval. This QT prolonging effect was absent when combined with ICA at non-efficacious monotherapy concentrations. The results thereby reveal that combination of subefficacious concentrations of an SK channel blocker and either dofetilide or amiodarone can maintain anti-AF properties, while the risk of ventricular arrhythmias is reduced. |
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