Stroke 2017 Sep 22. Epub 2017 Sep 22.

From the Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Unit, Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute (A.E.M., G.G., C.I., B.B.N., H.K.), Department of Neurology (A.E.M., C.I., B.B.N., H.K.), and Division of Cardiology (P.M.O.), Weill Cornell Medicine, New York; and Department of Neurology, the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI (S.Y.).

Background And Purpose: We sought to evaluate the real-world rate of safety outcomes after patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure in patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data on all hospitalizations from 2005 to 2013 in New York, California, and Florida. Using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes, we identified patients who underwent percutaneous transcatheter PFO closure within 1 year of ischemic stroke or TIA. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2017 Sep 21;6(9). Epub 2017 Sep 21.

West Virginia University Heart & Vascular Institute, Morgantown, WV

Background: Studies assessing the differential impact of sex on outcomes of aortic valve replacement (AVR) yielded conflicting results. We sought to investigate sex-related differences in AVR utilization, patient risk profile, and in-hospital outcomes using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Methods And Results: In total, 166 809 patients (63% male and 37% female) who underwent AVR between 2003 and 2014 were identified, and 48. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2017 Sep 18. Epub 2017 Sep 18.

Cardiocenter, Department of Cardiac Surgery, 3rd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and University Hospital Kralovske Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic.

Purpose: Hybrid ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) is a promising treatment strategy for patients with non-paroxysmal AF, although, data regarding mid-term outcomes are limited.

Methods: Patients with persistent or long-standing persistent AF were enrolled. Initially, a thoracoscopic, right-sided, epicardial ablation was performed, with a goal of creating a box lesion on the posterior wall of the left atrium; a novel versapolar radiofrequency (RF) catheter was used. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2017 Sep 15. Epub 2017 Sep 15.

Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Heart 2017 Sep 11. Epub 2017 Sep 11.

Cardiac Arrhythmia Service and Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent arrhythmia associated with substantial morbidity, mortality and costs. Available management strategies generally have limited efficacy and are associated with potential adverse effects. In part, the limited efficacy of approaches to managing AF reflect an incomplete understanding of the biological mechanisms underlying the arrhythmia, and only a partial understanding of how best to individualise management. Read More

Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol 2017 Sep;10(9)

From the ITACA Institute, Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain (M.R., M.S.G.); CIBERCV, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Instituto de investigación sanitaria Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain (A.M.C., A.L., F.F.-A., F.A.); Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain (F.F.-A., F.A.); and Center for Arrhythmia Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (O.B.).

Background: Phase mapping has become a broadly used technique to identify atrial reentrant circuits for ablative therapy guidance. This work studies the phase mapping process and how the signal nature and its filtering affect the reentrant pattern characterization in electrogram (EGM), body surface potential mapping, and electrocardiographic imaging signals.

Methods And Results: EGM, body surface potential mapping, and electrocardiographic imaging phase maps were obtained from 17 simulations of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and focal atrial tachycardia. Read More

Heart Lung Circ 2017 Aug 8. Epub 2017 Aug 8.

Department of Cardiology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; North Shore Heart Research Group, Kolling Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is common and management by pharmacotherapy is limited by modest efficacy and significant toxicities. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a safe and effective alternative in select patients with atrial fibrillation. However, prolonged procedure time raises concerns of health risks from radiation exposure. Read More

Oncotarget 2017 Aug 13;8(32):52724-52734. Epub 2017 Apr 13.

Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.

Background: For perimitral atrial flutter (PMFL) developing after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF), to create a complete conduction block at the mitral isthmus (MI) is mandatory to terminate it, however, it is still challenging.

Methods: This study consisted of 80 patients (74 male, 61 ± 8.1 years) undergoing MI ablation. Read More

Health Econ Rev 2017 Aug 29;7(1):30. Epub 2017 Aug 29.

Ministry of Health, 1-3 The Terrace Level 2, Reception, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand.

Background: One of the major challenges in estimating health care spending spent on each cause of illness is allocating spending for a health care event to a single cause of illness in the presence of comorbidities. Comorbidities, the secondary diagnoses, are common across many causes of illness and often correlate with worse health outcomes and more expensive health care. In this study, we propose a method for measuring the average spending for each cause of illness with and without comorbidities. Read More

BMJ Open 2017 Aug 29;7(8):e016597. Epub 2017 Aug 29.

Department of Data Science, NCVC, Suita, Japan.

Introduction: Several retrospective or single-centre studies demonstrated the efficacy of transplacental treatment of fetal tachyarrhythmias. Our retrospective nationwide survey showed that the fetal therapy will be successful at an overall rate of 90%. For fetuses with hydrops, the treatment success rate will be 80%. Read More

Neonatal Netw 2017 Sep;36(5):313-317

Atrial flutter (AF) is an uncommon neonatal tachyarrhythmia that can present during the first few days after birth. The infant with AF may demonstrate an abrupt increase in heart rate greater than 220 bpm that is sustained despite vagal maneuvers. The diagnosis is made by electrocardiogram (ECG), and the treatments may include medication management and cardioversion. Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2017 Aug 28. Epub 2017 Aug 28.

Cardiology Department, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.

Introduction: Our aim was to characterize a stepwise approach in cavotricuspid isthmus ablation for typical atrial flutter in a prospective, noncrossover randomized study.

Methods: One hundred and fifty patients referred for cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI)-dependent atrial flutter ablation were randomized to undergo an ablation with an 8-mm-tip catheter (group 1), a 3.5-mm open irrigation-tip catheter (group 2), and a 3. Read More

Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev 2017 Jun;6(2):85-93

King's College London, London, UK.

MR-guidance of electrophysiological (EP) procedures offers the potential for enhanced arrhythmia substrate assessment, improved procedural guidance and real-time assessment of ablation lesion formation. Accurate device tracking techniques, using both active and passive methods, have been developed to offer an interface similar to electroanatomic mapping platforms, and MR-compatible EP equipment continues to be developed. Progress to clinical implementation of these technically complex fields has been relatively slow over the last 10 years, but recent developments have led to successful clinical experience. Read More

Card Electrophysiol Clin 2017 Sep;9(3):383-409

Heart and Vessels Department, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla, 3, 50134 Florence, Italy; IRCCS Multimedica, Cardiology Department, Via Milanese, 300, 20099 Sesto San Giovanni, Italy.

Atrial flutter, atrial tachycardias, and atrial fibrillation are the main sustained atrial tachycardias. Reentry, increased automaticity, and triggered activity are atrial arrhythmia's main mechanisms. Atrial flutter is the clinical and theoretical model of reentry. Read More

Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev 2017 Jun;6(2):55-62

Getafe University Hospital, European University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

Clinical electrophysiology has made the traditional classification of rapid atrial rhythms into flutter and tachycardia of little clinical use. Electrophysiological studies have defined multiple mechanisms of tachycardia, both re-entrant and focal, with varying ECG morphologies and rates, authenticated by the results of catheter ablation of the focal triggers or critical isthmuses of re-entry circuits. In patients without a history of heart disease, cardiac surgery or catheter ablation, typical flutter ECG remains predictive of a right atrial re-entry circuit dependent on the inferior vena cava-tricuspid isthmus that can be very effectively treated by ablation, although late incidence of atrial fibrillation remains a problem. Read More

Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev 2017 Jun;6(2):42-49

Institution of Medical Science, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

An increasing number of patients with congenital heart disease survive to adulthood; such prolonged survival is related to a rapid evolution of successful surgical repairs and modern diagnostic techniques. Despite these improvements, corrective atrial incisions performed at surgery still lead to subsequent myocardial scarring harbouring a potential substrate for macro-reentrant atrial tachycardia. Macroreentrant atrial tachycardias are the most common (75 %) type of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) in patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2017 Aug 22. Epub 2017 Aug 22.

Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Introduction: We hypothesized that very high-density mapping of typical atrial flutter (AFL) would facilitate a more complete understanding of its circuit. Such very high-density mapping was performed with the Rhythmia(TM) (Boston Scientific) mapping system using its 64 electrode basket catheter.

Methods And Results: Data were acquired from 13 patients in AFL. Read More

Cardiol Rev 2017 Aug 18. Epub 2017 Aug 18.

Third Department of Cardiology, Athens University School of Medicine, Athens, Greece.

Atrial flutter (AFlu) is usually a fast (>240 bpm) and regular right atrial macroreentrant tachycardia, with a constrained critical region of the reentry circuit located at the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) (typical CTI-dependent AFlu). However, a variety of right and left atrial tachycardias, resulting from different mechanisms, can also present as AFlu (atypical non-CTI-dependent AFlu). The electrocardiogram can provide clues to its origin and location, however, additional entrainment and more sophisticated electro-anatomical mapping techniques may be required to identify its mechanism, location and target-area for a successful ablation. Read More

Future Cardiol 2017 Aug 23. Epub 2017 Aug 23.

The Epidemiological Cardiology Research Center (EPICARE), Department of Epidemiology & Prevention, & Department of Medicine, Section on Cardiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, USA.

Pol Arch Intern Med 2017 Aug 24;127(7-8):524-531. Epub 2017 May 24.

INTRODUCTION    Restoring sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF)/atrial flutter (AFl) requires adequate oral anticoagulation prior to direct current cardioversion (DCC). Some patients eligible for DCC are not properly anticoagulated. OBJECTIVES    The aim of the study was to assess risk factors for thrombus and spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) in the left atrium (LA) as well as the safety profile of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-guided DCC in patients with inadequate anticoagulation. Read More

Clin Pharmacol Drug Dev 2017 Aug 11. Epub 2017 Aug 11.

Mayne Pharma, Inc., Greenville, NC, USA.

Class III antiarrhythmics are preferred therapy for managing atrial fibrillation/flutter. Dofetilide 0.5-mg capsules were US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved in 1999 to treat atrial fibrillation/flutter. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2017 Aug 11. Epub 2017 Aug 11.

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.

Background: Understanding the factors associated with early readmissions following atrial flutter (AFL) ablation is critical to reduce the cost and improving the quality of life in AFL patients.

Method: The study cohort was derived from the National readmission database 2013-14. International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision (ICD-9-CM) diagnosis code 427. Read More

Cardiol Young 2017 Aug 11:1-4. Epub 2017 Aug 11.

Division of Pediatric Cardiology,University of Washington School of Medicine,Seattle Children's Hospital,Seattle,Washington,United States of America.

In critically ill children, multi-organ-system disease can influence the choice of antiarrhythmic medication. Intravenous therapy is often necessary. There is a scarcity of paediatric critical-care cases demonstrating the dosing, monitoring, and efficacy of intravenous sotalol. Read More

Kyobu Geka 2017 Jul;70(8):643-648

Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan.

Perioperative/postoperative atrial fibrillation and flutter( POAF) is one of the common complications after pulmonary resection and the frequency is reported as 12.6% according to Society of Thoracic Surgeons general thoracic surgery database. We usually observed POAF 2~3 day after operation. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2017 Aug 7;2017. Epub 2017 Aug 7.

Department of Pulmonary & Critical Care, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas, USA.

Atraumatic rupture of the normal spleen is a rare entity. Often, a triggering factor or minor physical event can be ascribed as the aetiology for rupture, including coughing, vomiting or minor medical procedures not involving the spleen. A 65-year-old man who was hospitalised for eosinophilic pneumonia developed haemodynamically unstable atrial flutter that necessitated urgent synchronised direct current cardioversion (DCCV). Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2017 Aug 7;2017. Epub 2017 Aug 7.

Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

J Heart Lung Transplant 2017 Jul 21. Epub 2017 Jul 21.

Unité de Rythmologie, Institut de Cardiologie, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.

Background: Organized atrial arrhythmias (OAAs) are common after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT). Some controversies remain about their clinical presentation, relationship with atrial anastomosis and electrophysiologic features. The objectives of this retrospective study were to determine the mechanisms of OAAs after OHT and describe the outcomes of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Read More

Clin Case Rep 2017 Aug 21;5(8):1252-1254. Epub 2017 Jun 21.

Department of CardiologyErasmus Medical Center RotterdamRotterdamThe Netherlands.

ST-T segment depression during right-sided endovascular catheter ablation is not only caused by obstructive coronary artery disease or (induced) tachycardia. Clinicians should also consider coronary artery spasms evoked by manipulation of nearby catheters, especially in patients with abnormal coronary artery anatomy. Read More

Korean J Fam Med 2017 Jul 20;38(4):229-232. Epub 2017 Jul 20.

Non-Communicable Disease Department, Seremban Primary Care Clinic, Seremban, Malaysia.

Cardiac myxoma is often discovered as an incidental finding and presents with various subtle symptoms and signs. Electrocardiographic findings are mostly non-specific. Atrial flutter or conduction abnormalities are known to be rare. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2017 Jul 29. Epub 2017 Jul 29.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Background: The role of the ligament of Marshall (LOM) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been well defined.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the role of the LOM in patients with AF and related arrhythmias.

Methods: Fifty-six patients (mean age 63 ± 11 years; persistent AF in 48 [86%]; ejection fraction 0. Read More

J Clin Diagn Res 2017 Jun 1;11(6):OM01-OM04. Epub 2017 Jun 1.

Resident, Department of Medicine, SS Medical College and SGM Hospital, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Introduction: Mechanism of a regular, monomorphic Wide QRS Complex Tachycardia (WCT) is an important diagnostic challenge in day to day practice for the clinicians and affects further management and prognosis. Many of the WCT and Narrow Complex Tachycardia (NCT) produce certain characteristic changes in lead aVR by which we can differentiate between them.

Aim: The present study was aimed to evaluate tachyarrhythmias in relation to lead aVR and to highlight the clinical significance of lead aVR, "The Neglected Lead". Read More

Endocrine 2017 Jul 29. Epub 2017 Jul 29.

Department of Emergency Medicine, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.

Purpose: Previous animal studies have reported that acute anticholinesterase pesticide (organophosphate and carbamate) poisoning may affect thyroid hormones. However, there is no human study investigating the association between hypothyroidism and anticholinesterase pesticide poisoning, and therefore, we conducted a retrospective nationwide population-based cohort study to delineate this issue.

Methods: We identified 10,372 anticholinesterase pesticide poisoning subjects and matched 31,116 non-anticholinesterase pesticide poisoning subjects between 2003 and 2012 from the Nationwide Poisoning Database and the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000, respectively, in a 1:3 ratio by index date, age, and sex for this study. Read More

J Invasive Cardiol 2017 Aug;29(8):E92-E93

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Department of Cardiology, Block B, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0HS, United Kingdom.

A 52-year-old man with previous mitral valve replacement, cavotricuspid isthmus, and left-sided roof-line ablation for previous typical atrial flutter and tachycardia presented with recurrence of symptoms with an atrial tachycardia measuring 260 ms cycle length on electrocardiogram. Rhythmia electroanatomical mapping (Boston Scientific) was performed to understand the mechanism of arrhythmia and to guide ablative treatment. Read More

Acta Cardiol 2017 Jul 28:1-6. Epub 2017 Jul 28.

b Department of Cardiovascular Medicine , Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences , Okayama , Japan.

Objective: Non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) is frequently complicated by thromboembolism. Left atrial appendage (LAA) flow is a predictor of LAA thrombosis. LAA flow is measured by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), which is a semi-invasive diagnostic tool. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2017 Jul 27. Epub 2017 Jul 27.

Arrhythmia Services, Schulich Heart Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Suite D-377, Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada.

Purpose: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac dysrhythmia. Appropriate detection of AF and early initiation of oral anticoagulation therapy are critical to reduce the risk of stroke. Patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) are at high risk of developing AF. Read More

HeartRhythm Case Rep 2017 Jul 17;3(7):352-356. Epub 2017 May 17.

Division of Cardiology, Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan.

HeartRhythm Case Rep 2017 May 24;3(5):251-254. Epub 2017 Feb 24.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology, Hypertension and Nephrology, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Ehime, Japan.

Trends Cardiovasc Med 2017 Jun 10. Epub 2017 Jun 10.

Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, CAMH, Toronto, ON, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Alcohol consumption has a major but complex impact on cardiovascular diseases. Both irregular and chronic heavy drinking occasions detrimentally impact on most major cardiovascular disease categories, whereas light to moderate drinking has been associated with beneficial effects on ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke. Both detrimental and beneficial effects of alcohol consumption have been corroborated by biochemical pathways. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2017 Sep 22;49(3):319-326. Epub 2017 Jul 22.

Colorado Springs Cardiologists, Colorado Springs, CO, USA.

Purpose: The purposes of the study were to evaluate and characterize the cavotricuspid isthmus using multipoint high density voltage gradient mapping (HD-VGM) to see if this would improve on current ablation techniques compared to standard cavotricuspid isthmus ablation techniques.

Methods: Group 1, 25 patients who underwent ablation using standard methods of 3D mapping and ablation, was compared to group 2, 33 patients undergoing ablation using HD-VGM and ablation. Using this method, we are able to identify the maximum voltage areas within isthmus and target it for ablation. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2017 Jul 21;6(7). Epub 2017 Jul 21.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Background: Atrial flutter (AFL) has been identified to be equivalent to atrial fibrillation (AF) in terms of preventing ischemic stroke, although differences exist in atrial rate, substrate, and electrophysiological mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate differences in clinical outcomes between nonvalvular AF and AFL.

Methods And Results: AF and AFL patients without any prescribed anticoagulation were enrolled from a 13-year national cohort database. Read More

Aerosp Med Hum Perform 2017 Aug;88(8):789-793

Introduction: Hypergravitational exposures during human centrifugation are known to provoke dysrhythmias, including sinus dysrhythmias/tachycardias, premature atrial/ventricular contractions, and even atrial fibrillations or flutter patterns. However, events are generally short-lived and resolve rapidly after cessation of acceleration. This case report describes a prolonged ectopic ventricular rhythm in response to high G exposure. Read More

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2017 Jul 19:1-6. Epub 2017 Jul 19.

o Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Mie University , Tsu , Japan.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical course of fetal tachycardia and analyze the impact of intrauterine treatment on the postnatal treatment and patient outcomes.

Study Design: This was a retrospective review of cases of fetal tachycardia that occurred from 2004 to 2006. Data were collected from questionnaires that were sent to all 750 secondary or tertiary perinatal care centers in Japan. Read More

Intern Med 2017 15;56(14):1771-1779. Epub 2017 Jul 15.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.

Objective Supraventricular arrhythmias are commonly detected in patients with anti-mitochondrial antibody M2 (AMA-M2)-associated myopathy. However, the prevalence of supraventricular arrhythmias in unselected AMA-M2-positive patients and the impact of AMA-M2 on supraventricular arrhythmias have yet to be fully investigated. Methods We analyzed 384 patients (116 men; age, 60 [48-69] years), who underwent AMA-M2 testing following the detection of elevated hepatobiliary enzymes. Read More

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2017 Jul 17;17(1):189. Epub 2017 Jul 17.

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon.

Background: The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) may pose more risks than benefits to patients and is a major factor contributing to the likelihood of serious adverse drug reactions and negative health outcomes among older patients.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in a tertiary care center in USA where home medications of the older patients were reviewed and analyzed upon hospital admission over three months, from March till May 2016. Inclusion criteria were age of 65 years and above, history of cardiovascular disease, and admission to the cardiology service. Read More

J Clin Pharm Ther 2017 Jul 16. Epub 2017 Jul 16.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL, USA.

What Is Known And Objective: Amiodarone, a commonly used class III antiarrhythmic agent notable for a relatively long half-life of up to 6 months and its pronounced adverse effect profile, is used for both acute and chronic management of cardiac arrhythmias. Chronic use of amiodarone has been associated with asymptomatic hepatotoxicity; however, acute toxicity is thought to be uncommon. There are only six reported cases of acute liver failure (ALF) secondary to amiodarone. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2017 Dec 30;248:196-200. Epub 2017 Jun 30.

Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute at St. David's Medical Center, Austin, TX, United States.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the temporal trends in utilization of catheter ablation of accessory pathways in the United States.

Methods: All patients from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) ≥18years of age with a primary diagnosis of anomalous atrioventricular excitation syndrome (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] code 426.7) were included in the study. Read More

Rev Port Cardiol 2017 Jul - Aug;36(7-8):535-546. Epub 2017 Jul 11.

Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained arrhythmia in clinical practice and a major cause of morbidity, due to the associated risk of stroke. However, since it is often paroxysmal, it is commonly underdiagnosed and undertreated.

Objectives: The primary objective of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) in patients aged 40 and above in a population who underwent continuous 24-hour electrocardiographic monitoring. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2017 Jul;96(28):e7403

aAmerican University of Antigua, College of Medicine, St. John's, Antigua bDepartment of Medical and Population Health Sciences Research, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA.

Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Current evidence identified electrocardiographic abnormalities and cardiac arrhythmias in 50% of patients with an acute stroke. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the presence of ventricular arrhythmia (VA) in adult patients hospitalized in Florida with acute stroke increased the risk of in-hospital mortality. Read More

J Hosp Med 2017 Jul;12(7):544-550

Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.

Background/objective: Direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are increasingly used to prevent or treat thromboembolism. We conducted a study to compare how well initial DOAC prescribing for adult inpatients adhered to dosing recommendations approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Design: Retrospective analysis. Read More

J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2017 Oct 13;154(4):1260-1266. Epub 2017 Jun 13.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St Louis, Mo.

Objective: Inconsistent definitions of atrial fibrillation after coronary artery bypass grafting have caused uncertainty about its incidence and risk. We examined the extent to which limiting the definition to post-coronary artery bypass grafting atrial fibrillation events requiring treatment underestimates its incidence and impact on 30-day mortality.

Methods: We assessed in-hospital atrial fibrillation and 30-day mortality in 9268 consecutive patients without preoperative atrial fibrillation who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting at 5 US hospitals (2004-2010). Read More