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Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2019 Feb 19. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

Background: Epicardiac conduction via the vein of Marshall (VOM) can bypass the mitral isthmus (MI) line, making MI ablation difficult. This study aimed to assess the contribution of the VOM in achieving MI conduction block.

Methods: This study included 143 consecutive patients with non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation who underwent initial MI ablation. Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2019 Feb 18. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC.

Background: Atrial arrhythmias (AA), including atrial fibrillation (AF), have been reported in patients after cavotricuspid isthmus ablation (CTI) for typical atrial flutter (AFL). Several studies have examined the effect of performing concomitant pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) with CTI on recurrent AA. These studies were analyzed to determine the overall effect of this approach on recurrent AA. Read More

Hypertension 2019 Feb 19:HYPERTENSIONAHA11812396. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, State College (X. Zhang, X.G.).

Arterial stiffness and blood pressure (BP) both increase with aging synchronously. Whether elevated BP results from thickening of arterial wall or vice versa is controversial in previous studies. This study included 17 862 participants without history of myocardial infarction, stroke, atrial fibrillation or flutter, or cancer and with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and BP measurements during 2010 to 2016. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2019 Feb 15. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

The University of Chicago Medicine Center for Arrhythmia Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL; UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center UCLA Health System, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA; Department of Cardiology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou,China. Electronic address:

Background: Recurrences of atrial fibrillation (AF) after ablation have been attributed to conduction gaps and non-transmural ablation lesions OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of adjunctive percutaneous mapping of the epicardial regions of the left atrium to characterize the transmural extent of substrate and ablation lesions.

Methods: Between 2014-2018, combined epi-endo mapping of AF was performed in 18 patients via inferior subxiphoid percutaneous approach (16 with previously failed ablations, and 2 patients with long-standing persistent AF) at 2 centers. Epicardial substrate was compared to the endocardial electroanatomic mapping to assess transmural uniformity. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2019 Jan 30. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Division of Cardiology; University of California, San Francisco; San Francisco, CA. Electronic address:

Background: Triggers for discrete atrial fibrillation (AF) events remain poorly studied and incompletely characterized.

Objective: The present study describes common triggers for AF and their relationships with patient characteristics.

Methods: We invited symptomatic, paroxysmal AF patients enrolled in the Health eHeart Study and through the patient-centered advocacy organization StopAfib. Read More

Eur J Intern Med 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Department of Cardiology, Cardiology I, University Medical Center Mainz (Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz), Mainz, Germany.

Aims: Syncope is a common phenomenon in the general population. Although most of the causes are of benign origin, some comorbidities are accompanied by high mortality. We aimed to compare the in-hospital mortality of patients with syncope related to different comorbities and investigate the impact of syncope in patients with atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF). Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Clinica Montevergine, Mercogliano (AV), Italy.

It is not unusual to find areas of organized atrial activity in the left atrium during atrial fibrillation but when it happens these rhythms are mostly interrelated. Our report shows that extensive ablation can dissociate different portions of the same chamber to the point that simultaneous occurring atrial flutter and atrial fibrillation can be studied and terminated independently from each other This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Cardiology, Shaoxing People's Hospital (Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine), 568 # Zhongxing North Road, 312000, P. R. China.

Introduction: A left common pulmonary vein (LCPV) is a common anatomical variant in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. Whether a LCPV influences outcomes of repeated radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for AF has not been elucidated.

Methods: From a prospectively collected database, we enrolled 154 patients who received repeated RFCA for recurrent AF after the initial RFCA (56 ± 9 years, 72% paroxysmal AF, 32 patients with a LCPV and 122 patients with typical left-sided PVs). Read More

Clin Res Cardiol 2019 Feb 14. Epub 2019 Feb 14.

Department of Cardiology I, University Hospital Muenster, Münster, Germany.

Background: Cardiac involvement in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (MD1) includes conduction disease, arrhythmias, and left-ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction leading to an increased sudden cardiac death risk. An understanding of the interplay between electrical and structural myocardial changes could improve the prediction of adverse cardiac events. We aimed to explore the relationship between signs of cardiomyopathy by conventional and advanced cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR), and electrical abnormalities in MD1. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Feb;98(7):e14466

Department of Cardiology, Wenzhou People's Hospital, Wenzhou Third Clinical Institute Affiliated with Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.

Rationale: Amiodarone, a broad-spectrum antiarrhythmic drug, is widely used for the clinical treatment of tachyarrhythmias because of its safety and efficacy.

Patient Concerns: A 30-year-old woman presented with known paroxysmal atrial tachycardia and severe preeclampsia. Two days before admission, she had given birth to twins. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Cardiac Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Service, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Purpose: To describe regional differences in patient characteristics, ablation procedures, and bleeding events in the RE-CIRCUIT study. RE-CIRCUIT was a prospective, multicenter study that captured data from different regions, providing an opportunity to understand the practices followed in various regions. The incidence of major bleeding events (MBEs) was significantly lower with uninterrupted dabigatran versus uninterrupted warfarin. Read More

Int Heart J 2019 Feb 8. Epub 2019 Feb 8.

Department of Cardiology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) improve survival in patients who are at risk of sudden death. However, inappropriate therapy is commonly given to ICD recipients, and this situation may be associated with an increased risk of death. This study aimed to construct a risk stratification scheme by using decision tree analysis in patients who received inappropriate ICD therapy. Read More

J Am Heart Assoc 2019 Feb;8(4):e010661

1 Clinical and Translational Neuroscience Unit Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute Weill Cornell Medical College New York NY.

Background Black individuals in the United States experience higher rates of ischemic stroke than other racial groups but have lower rates of clinically apparent atrial fibrillation ( AF ). It is unclear whether blacks truly have less AF or simply more undiagnosed AF . Methods and Results We performed a retrospective cohort study using inpatient and outpatient claims from 2009 to 2015 for a 5% nationally representative sample of Medicare beneficiaries. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2019 Jan 9. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Sydney Street, London, SW3 6NP, UK; Fetal Medicine Unit, St George's University Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London, SW17 0QT, UK; Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK. Electronic address:

Fetal dysrhythmias are common abnormalities, usually manifesting as irregular rhythms. Although most irregularities are benign and caused by isolated atrial ectopics, in a few cases, rhythm irregularity may indicate partial atrioventricular block, which has different etiological and prognostic implications. We provide a flowchart for the initial management of irregular rhythm to help select cases requiring urgent specialist referral. Read More

CJEM 2019 Feb 6:1-9. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

§Department of Emergency Medicine,Rockyview Hospital and the University of Calgary,Calgary,AB.

CLINICIAN'S CAPSULEWhat is known about the topic?The influence of renal impairment upon emergency department-based outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter (AFF) is unknown.What did this study ask?What was the impact of renal impairment upon adverse events (AE) and rate and rhythm control (RRC) attempts in emergency department (ED) AFF patients?What did this study find?When ED AFF patients with renal impairment are administered RRC, they have more than 10% excess AE risk.Why does this study matter to clinicians?Emergency physicians should be cautious about attempting RRC in ED AFF patients with renal impairment. Read More

Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2019 Feb 4:1-11. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

a Department of Cardiology , Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires , Argentina.

Introduction: The past few years have given rise to extensive research on an interatrial block and its clinical relevance, mainly its association with supraventricular arrhythmias. In 2015, the authors of this article reviewed the Bayes syndrome for the first time and after three years there has been so much evidence accumulated that it seems reasonable to rewrite an update, based fundamentally on the new findings. Focused on its relationship with cardioembolic strokes, today efforts are being targeted at understanding its pathophysiology, its diagnosis, and its prognostic implications, in order to learn if it should be treated. Read More

Neth Heart J 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

Background: Combined 'hybrid' thoracoscopic and percutaneous atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation is a strategy used to treat AF in patients with therapy-resistant symptomatic AF. We aimed to study efficacy and safety of single-stage hybrid AF ablation in patients with symptomatic persistent AF, or paroxysmal AF with failed endocardial ablation, and assess determinants of success and quality of life.

Methods: We included consecutive patients undergoing single-stage hybrid AF ablation. Read More

Am J Health Syst Pharm 2019 Feb;76(4):214-220

Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL.

Purpose: The study was designed to characterize "on-label" use of i.v. diltiazem in patients with acute atrial fibrillation or flutter (AFF). Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2019 Feb 2. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Duke Clinical Research Institute, 2400 Pratt Street, Durham, NC, 27705, USA.

Purpose: Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) undergoing cardiac surgery are at substantially increased risk for stroke. Increasing evidence has suggested that surgical left atrial appendage occlusion (S-LAAO) may have the potential to substantially mitigate this stroke risk; however, S-LAAO is performed in a minority of patients with AF undergoing cardiac surgery. We sought to identify factors associated with usage of S-LAAO. Read More

Kardiologiia 2019 Jan 28;59(1):69-78. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University).

Purpose Of The Study: Evaluation of the value of the results of the use of cardiac functional examination methods for the stratification of the risk of developing cardiovascular complications in planned abdominal surgical interventions in patients over 65 years of age or with cardiac pathology.

Materials And Methods: The study included 179 patients over 65 years of age or with a history of heart disease who underwent elective abdominal surgery. The median age was 70 years. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2019 Jan 31. Epub 2019 Jan 31.

Pacific Coast Cardiac & Vascular Surgeons, Redwood City, CA, USA.

Purpose: To compare findings in patients undergoing atrial fibrillation(AF) and/or atrial flutter(AFl) ablation after failed cut and sew (CS) vs. non-cut and sew (NCS) surgical maze.

Methods: We compared 10 patients with prior CS to 25 with prior NCS maze undergoing catheter ablation after failed maze. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Ethiop J Health Sci 2019 Jan;29(1):887-894

Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology Unit, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Thyro-cardiac disease describes the existence of a combination of thyroid toxicity and significant heart disease in an individual patient. The frequent manifestations of thyro-cardiac disease are hypertension, atrial flutter or fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension and dilated cardiomyopathy. The aim of the study was to determine the pattern and presentation of cardiovascular diseases in patients with hyperthyroidism on follow-up at St. Read More

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2019 Feb;57(2):98-102

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Heart Center, the First Hospital of Tsinghua University (Beijing Huaxin Hospital), Beijing 100016, China.

To investigate the clinical features and results of treatment for right atrial appendage aneurysms complicated by atrial tachyarrhythmias in children. This retrospective study included three children with right atrial appendage aneurysm complicated by atrial tachyarrhythmias (aged 1.0 to 5. Read More

Intern Med J 2019 Jan 28. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Department of Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, Monash Health.

Background: Atrial fibrillation(AF) occurs frequently following cardiothoracic surgery and treatment decisions are informed by evidence-based clinical guidelines. Outside this setting there is little data to guide clinical management. Our aim was to describe the characteristics, management and outcomes of hospitalised adult patients with new-onset AF. Read More

Front Physiol 2018 14;9:1910. Epub 2019 Jan 14.

Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany.

Atypical atrial flutter (AFlut) is a reentrant arrhythmia which patients frequently develop after ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Indeed, substrate modifications during AF ablation can increase the likelihood to develop AFlut and it is clinically not feasible to reliably and sensitively test if a patient is vulnerable to AFlut. Here, we present a novel method based on personalized computational models to identify pathways along which AFlut can be sustained in an individual patient. Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2019 Jan 27. Epub 2019 Jan 27.

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Introduction: The MARVEL study demonstrated at a single time point that accelerometer (ACC)-based atrial sensing improves atrioventricular (AV) synchrony (AVS) in patients with AV block and a Micra pacemaker (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA). The purpose of the MARVEL Evolve substudy was to assess the performance over time.

Methods: This prospective single-center study compared AVS and ACC signals at two visits ≥6 months apart. Read More

Rev Port Cardiol 2019 Jan 24;38(1):11-16. Epub 2019 Jan 24.

Cardiology Department, Santa Marta Hospital, Lisbon, Portugal.

Introduction: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) monitoring zones (MZ) provide passive features that do not interfere with the functioning of active treatment zones. However, it is not known for certain whether programming an MZ affects arrhythmia detection by the ICD. The aim of the present study is to assess the clinical relevance of MZ in a population of patients with ICDs. Read More

Circulation 2019 Jan 28:CIR0000000000000665. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

J Geriatr Cardiol 2018 Dec;15(12):725-731

Department of Cardiology, the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China.

Backgroud: Recent studies have demonstrated that cystatin C is a valuable risk marker for cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Therefore, we hypothesized that the pre-ablation cystatin C level was associated with post-ablation atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence.

Methods: 207 patients were enrolled and completed in this prospective observational study. Read More

JAMA Cardiol 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee.

Importance: Thyroid hormone levels are tightly regulated through feedback inhibition by thyrotropin, produced by the pituitary gland. Hyperthyroidism is overwhelmingly due to thyroid disorders and is well recognized to contribute to a wide spectrum of cardiovascular morbidity, particularly the increasingly common arrhythmia atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: To determine the association between genetically determined thyrotropin levels and AF. Read More

PeerJ 2019 17;7:e6211. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Roy and Lucille J. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA, United States of America.

Background: Patients with atrial fibrillation-flutter (AF) admitted on the weekends were initially reported to have poor outcomes. The primary purpose of this study is to re-evaluate the outcomes for weekend versus weekday AF hospitalization using the 2014 Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS).

Methods: Included hospitalizations were aged above 18 years. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2018 Nov 3;15(11):1642-1647. Epub 2018 Jul 3.

Cardiac Arrhythmia Service, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Electronic address:

Background: There are no randomized controlled studies of the efficacy and safety of protamine to reverse anticoagulant effects of heparin after catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of protamine to expedite vascular hemostasis and ambulation after CA of AF.

Methods: CA to eliminate AF (n = 139) or left atrial flutter (n = 11) was performed in 150 patients using radiofrequency catheter ablation (n = 112) or cryoballoon ablation (n = 38). Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2019 Jan 19. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Department of Cardiology, Asklepios Klinik St. Georg, Hamburg, Germany.

Background: Dextrocardia with situs inversus is a rare cardiac positional anomaly. Catheter ablation procedures performed in this set of patients have not been sufficiently reported.

Methods: A total of 10 patients with dextrocardia and situs inversus who received catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) were included from a cohort of over 20 000 cases of catheter ablation for SVT in three centers from 2005 to 2016. Read More

Am J Med 2019 Jan 18. Epub 2019 Jan 18.

Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston. Electronic address:

Objective: The belief that cirrhotic patients are "auto-anticoagulated" often results in anticoagulation therapy being withheld in these patients. We aimed to understand patterns of use of anticoagulation and to determine the risk of bleeding complications in cirrhotic patients.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 320 cirrhotic patients treated with anticoagulation therapy from July 15, 2014 to January 30, 2018. Read More

Am J Epidemiol 2019 Jan 10. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Denmark.

Children with obesity have a cardio-metabolic risk profile that may predispose them to cardiovascular diseases. We examined the associations between childhood body mass index (BMI) levels and changes on the risk of atrial fibrillation and flutter (AFF) in adulthood.We conducted a population-based cohort study of Danish schoolchildren aged 7-13 years born from 1930-1989. Read More

Equine Vet J 2019 Jan 16. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Department of Large Animal Internal Medicine, Ghent University, Equine Cardioteam Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.

Background: Atrial tachycardia including focal atrial tachycardia and macroreentrant atrial tachycardia (atrial flutter), are occasionally found in horses. Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of these arrhythmias has been inadequately described.

Objectives: To describe the findings on surface electrocardiography (ECG), intra-atrial electrogram recording and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), the response to treatment by transvenous electrical cardioversion (TVEC), and TDI follow-up, of sustained atrial tachycardia in horses. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2018 Aug 3;1(4):e180941. Epub 2018 Aug 3.

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

Importance: Current guidelines support treating atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL) as equivalent risk factors for ischemic stroke stratified by CHA2DS2-VASc scores, recommending anticoagulation therapy for patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 2 or higher, but some studies found differences in clinical outcomes.

Objective: To investigate differences in clinical outcomes among AF, AFL, and matched control cohorts.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This nationwide cohort study analyzed data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2012. Read More

Cardiol J 2019 Jan 15. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

1st Chair and Department of Cardiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Banacha 1A, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland.

Background: Mobile devices are gaining a rising number of users in all countries around the globe. Novel solutions to diagnose patients with out-of-hospital onset of arrhythmic symptoms can be easily used to record such events, but the effectiveness of these devices remain unknown.

Methods: In a group of 100 consecutive patients of an academic cardiology care center (mean age 68 ± 14. Read More

J Electrocardiol 2018 Dec 19;53:57-63. Epub 2018 Dec 19.

IUCPQ - Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec, Canada.

Background: Cardiostat™ is a single lead ambulatory ECG monitor. Recording is made through 2 electrodes positioned in a lead 1-like configuration. We first validated its accuracy for atrial fibrillation detection compared to a 12-lead ECG. Read More

Circulation 2019 Jan;139(3):407-409

Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO (P.S.C., A.N.).

PLoS One 2019 3;14(1):e0210170. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Department of Cardiology, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom.

Aims: To assess the impact of the introduction of direct oral anticoagulants upon the outcomes from elective electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation.

Methods: This is a retrospective comparison of delay to elective cardioversion with different anticoagulants. The data was gathered from a large regional hospital from January 2013 to September 2017. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2019 Jan 3. Epub 2019 Jan 3.

Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate efficacy, safety, and long-term outcome of radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATa) in patients with atrial septal defect (ASD).

Methods: Seventy-five ASD patients with ATa (52% atrial fibrillation, AF) were enrolled. Electrophysiological study and RFCA were performed, with endpoints of index and multiple procedures as follows: (a) atrial tachycardia/atrial flutter (AT/AFL), absence of inducibility of any atrial arrhythmia and (b) AF, circumferential pulmonary vein ablation (CPVA, paroxysmal AF), bidirectional block of lines, and disappearance of complex fractionated atrial electrograms (persistent and long-standing persistent (LSP)-AF). Read More

Eur J Radiol 2019 Jan 20;110:105-111. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Medical University of Innsbruck, University Clinic of Internal Medicine III / Cardiology and Angiology, Innsbruck, Austria. Electronic address:

Background: Exposure to high doses of radiation during cardiac interventional procedures is associated with increased rates of cataract and cancer in patients and staff members. Thus, reduction of radiation is recommended by international medical societies. The aim of this study was to evaluate, if the lowest reasonable fluoroscopic acquisition setting for electrophysiological procedures using a novel X-ray detector operated at a minimum detector entrance dose per fluoroscopy pulse is feasible and safe. Read More

Indian Heart J 2018 Dec 24;70 Suppl 3:S372-S376. Epub 2018 Jul 24.

Department of Cardiology and Angiology, Marien Hospital Herne, Ruhr - University Bochum, Germany.

Background: In patients with supraventricular tachycardia, catheter ablation is an important treatment option. However, approximately one quarter of these patients remain symptomatic, so sustainable strategies for the treatment of those patients who do not benefit from the first catheter ablation are required.

Methods: In a series of redo procedures, we investigated the combined use of an electro-anatomic mapping system and an ablation catheter with mini-electrodes. Read More

Environ Pollut 2019 Mar 22;246:552-558. Epub 2018 Dec 22.

Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 3004, Australia. Electronic address:

Background: There is growing recognition of a potential role for environmental and climatic factors in influencing cardiovascular risk. It has been speculated that temperature variability (TV) is a risk factor for cardiac arrhythmia but evidence is limited.

Objective: To quantify the geographic and demographic variations in the association between TV and hospitalization for cardiac arrhythmia in Brazil during 2000-2015. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2018 Dec 24. Epub 2018 Dec 24.

Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address:

Background: The presence of inferior vena cava filters (IVCFs) has been considered a relative contraindication to electrophysiology (EP) procedures that require transfemoral venous placement of multiple catheters and/or long sheaths. There are inadequate data related to complex EP procedures in this population.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the experience of a single high-volume center with respect to complex EP procedures in patients with IVCFs. Read More

J Postgrad Med 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Neurology, Rouen University Hospital, France.

Transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) typically present with easily recognizable neurological focal deficits. Symptoms such as paroxysmal involuntary movements are not usually considered to be a manifestation of TIA. We report a case with video documentation of TIA due to permanent atrial flutter presenting as acute left hemichorea. Read More

BMJ Open Qual 2018 1;7(4):e000260. Epub 2018 Dec 1.

Department of Cardiology, Severn Deanery, Bristol, UK.

Background: Direct current cardioversion (DCCV) is a safe and effective treatment for recent-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) or flutter and when performed in the emergency department (ED), it can provide an excellent treatment option for patients as well as reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and healthcare costs. However, appropriate periprocedural anticoagulation is absolutely essential to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes, chiefly thromboembolic stroke. Our intention was for 100% of patients undergoing DCCV in the ED to receive appropriate periprocedural anticoagulation. Read More