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Heart Rhythm 2020 Jun 1. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA,; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: Reliable quantitative pre-implantation predictors of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are needed.

Objective: We tested the utility of pre-implantation R-wave and T-wave heterogeneity (RWH, TWH) compared to standard QRS complex duration in identifying mechanical super-responders to CRT and mortality risk.

Methods: We analyzed resting 12-lead ECG recordings from all 155 patients who received CRT devices between 2006 and 2018 at our institution and met class I and IIA ACC/AHA/HRS guidelines with echocardiograms before and after implantation. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2020 Jun 1. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Department of Arrhythmology, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.

Background: The isthmus of ventricular tachycardia (VT) circuits has been extensively characterized. Paucity of data exists regarding the contribution of the outer loop (OL) to the VT circuit.

Objective: We aim to characterize the electrophysiological properties of the OL. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2020 Jun 1. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Cardiac Electrophysiology Section, Division of Cardiology, University of California-San Diego. Electronic address:

Background: Randomized trials evaluating cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) have excluded patients with pre-existing implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). The association of CRT upgrade with clinical outcomes in patients with a pre-existing ICD is unclear.

Objective: To examine a CRT-eligible population to evaluate clinical outcomes associated with CRT upgrade compared to patients who did not undergo CRT. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2020 Jun 4. Epub 2020 Jun 4.

Department of Infection, Immunity & Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.

Aims: Clinical outcomes for patients suspected of having heart failure (HF) who do not meet the diagnostic criteria of any type of HF by echocardiography remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical predictors of all-cause mortality in patients with suspected HF, a raised N-terminal pro-b-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) and who do not meet the diagnostic criteria of any type of HF by echocardiography.

Methods And Results: Relevant data were taken from the Sheffield HEArt Failure (SHEAF) registry (222349P4). Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2020 Jun 3. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, USA.

Background: Cardiovascular and arrhythmic events have been reported in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. However, arrhythmia manifestations and treatment strategies used in these patients have not been well-described. We sought to better understand the cardiac arrhythmic manifestations and treatment strategies in hospitalized COVID-19 patients through a worldwide cross-sectional survey. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2019 Jul 15;10(7):3738-3742. Epub 2019 Jul 15.

Department of Cardiology, KIMS Hospital, Secunderabad, India.

Upper-extremity venous obstruction is not an uncommon problem encountered by electrophysiologists. The placement of any catheter including pacemaker leads can cause stenosis or total obstruction. Affected patients often require balloon venoplasty to facilitate lead implantation. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2019 Dec 15;10(12):3937-3939. Epub 2019 Dec 15.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado, Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is used as an adjunctive therapy in adults with advanced heart failure but remains less commonly applied in pediatric patients. Further, CRT is traditionally conducted via biventricular transvenous pacing from the right ventricle and coronary sinus to activate the left ventricle and improve electromechanical synchrony; however, triventricular pacing, in which a third ventricular lead is utilized to activate an additional ventricular location, has been shown to be a feasible therapeutic alternative to typical CRT in patients with advanced heart failure or nonresponders. Limited adult studies involving triventricular pacing have been performed to date but no pediatric data are available. Read More

Cardiol Res 2020 Jun 3;11(3):155-167. Epub 2020 May 3.

Department of Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.

Background: Atrioventricular block requiring permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation is a common complication of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The mechanism of atrioventricular (AV) block during TAVR is not fully understood, but it may be due to the mechanical stress of TAVR deployment, resulting in possible injury to the nearby compact AV node. Aortic valve calcification (AVC) may worsen this condition and has been associated with an increased risk for post-TAVR PPM implantation. Read More

Trials 2020 Jun 3;21(1):470. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Medicine III (Interdisciplinary Medical Intensive Care), Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.

Objectives: SARS-CoV2 infection leads to a concomitant pulmonary inflammation. This inflammation is supposed to be the main driver in the pathogenesis of lung failure (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) in COVID-19. Objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a single dose treatment with Tocilizumab in patients with severe COVID-19. Read More

Trials 2020 Jun 3;21(1):473. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Infectious Diseases, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Objectives: We will investigate the effectiveness of Interferon Beta 1a, compared to Interferon Beta 1b and the usual therapeutic regimen in COVID-19 in patients that have tested positive and are moderately to severely ill.

Trial Design: This is a single center, open label, randomized, controlled, parallel group, clinical trial that will be conducted at Loghman Hakim Medical Education Center in conjunction with Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences.

Participants: Sixty COVID-19 confirmed cases (using the RT-PCR test) will be enrolled in the trial between April 9 to April 14 2020. Read More

N Engl J Med 2020 Jun;382(23):e84

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

Rev Col Bras Cir 2020 29;47:e20202435. Epub 2020 May 29.

Minimally Invasive Surgery Laboratory, University of Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.

Objective: Since its first report, video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lung lobectomy was carried out with the use of conventional surgical instruments, used in laparoscopy and open thoracotomy. These instruments are expensive, not standardized and there are a variety of models and manufacturers. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of the use of these instruments on the experimental pulmonary lobectomy. Read More

Wideochir Inne Tech Maloinwazyjne 2020 Jun 11;15(2):351-357. Epub 2019 Nov 11.

Endometriosis Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Introduction: Laparoscopic gynecologic surgery is one of the most well-known procedures. Pneumoperitoneum with carbon dioxide insufflation can cause unfavorable hemodynamic effects due to catecholamine and vasopressin release.

Aim: To examine the effects of stellate ganglion block on hemodynamic response and postoperative pain. Read More

Heart Fail Rev 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi, 156124, Pisa, Italy.

The use of cocaine constitutes a major health problem. Cocaine use is associated with acute and chronic complications that might involve any system, the most common being the cardiovascular system. The precise incidence of cocaine-induced cardiomyopathy remains mysterious and probably underreported. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Department of Cardiology, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine-IKEM, Videnska 1958/9, 140 21, Prague 4, Czech Republic.

A 19-year-old woman with no previous cardiac history was admitted to the hospital with third-degree atrioventricular block and left ventricular dysfunction. Her condition quickly deteriorated to severe biventricular failure and cardiogenic shock requiring mechanical circulatory support. An endomyocardial biopsy revealed lymphocytic myocarditis with no PCR-detectable viral genomes, with CD8 T-cell predominance and pro-inflammatory macrophage expansion shown by myocardial flow cytometry. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2020 May;99(21):e19970

Department of Cardiology, Poznań University of Medical Sciences.

Introduction: The RF ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or atrial flutter (AFl) can be unsuccessful due to lack of lesion transmurality. Bipolar ablation (BA) is more successful than unipolar ablation (UA). The purpose of our study was to investigate the long-term effect of BA ablation in patients after failed UA. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2018 Aug 15;9(8):3256-3264. Epub 2018 Aug 15.

Division of Cardiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has proven to be a powerful and effective tool in the treatment of adults with severe dilated or ischemic cardiomyopathy. A substantial portion of the adult heart failure population has severely depressed systolic function, heart failure symptoms, QRS prolongation, and left bundle branch block. Indications for CRT in adults are commonly focused on these characteristics. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2018 Mar 15;9(3):3051-3057. Epub 2018 Mar 15.

Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.

Arrhythmias are common in cardiac amyloidosis and vary based on the amyloidosis type. Conduction defects and atrial arrhythmias are more prevalent in transthyretin amyloidosis compared with light chain amyloidosis, and this difference might be a reflection of the longer survival time in the former. This review summarizes the available literature on arrhythmias in this increasingly recognized form of cardiomyopathy and raises the importance of performing systematic data collection to improve outcomes. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2017 Oct 15;8(10):2874-2885. Epub 2017 Oct 15.

Heart Rhythm Institute, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK.

Careful patient selection and optimization of the management of active medical conditions prior to proceeding with catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is critical to reducing complications and improving ablation success. AF ablation performed on patients who have not been offered appropriate antiarrhythmic drug therapy must be tempered with the procedure risks, particularly for those patients having multiple comorbidities. The inability to comply with systemic anticoagulation for thromboembolic prophylaxis in AF is a contraindication to AF ablation, as premature termination of anticoagulation therapy can lead to catastrophic thromboembolic complications. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2017 Oct 15;8(10):2868-2873. Epub 2017 Oct 15.

Department of Cardiology, Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, Northwell Health, Southside Hospital, Bay Shore, NY, USA.

Despite the achievement of acute conduction block during catheter ablation, the recovery of conduction at previously ablated sites remains a primary factor implicated in arrhythmia recurrence after initial ablation. Real-time markers of adequate ablation lesion creation are needed to ensure durable ablation success. However, the assessment of acute lesion formation is challenging, and requires interpretation of surrogate markers of lesion creation that are frequently unreliable. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2019 Apr 15;10(4):3617-3619. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL, USA.

Intact retrograde ventriculoatrial (VA) conduction in the presence of complete atrioventricular (AV) heart block has been well-documented in the past. We sought to describe the prevalence and clinical significance of intact VA conduction accompanied by complete antegrade AV block in patients with implanted cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices. During routine follow-up of CRM devices in our device clinic, 42 patients were found to be in a state of complete heart block. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2019 Jan 15;10(1):3495-3502. Epub 2019 Jan 15.

Piedmont Heart Institute, Piedmont Hospital System, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that frequently involves the myocardium. Unfortunately, the sentinel manifestations of cardiac sarcoidosis are often potentially fatal bradyarrhythmia and tachyarrhythmia. Advanced imaging modalities such as cardiac magnetic resonance have allowed for increased diagnosis of cardiac involvement. Read More

Sarcoidosis Vasc Diffuse Lung Dis 2018 28;35(2):171-177. Epub 2018 Apr 28.

Emeritus Professor, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.

The author presents a clinical history and personal case study following his diagnosis of inactive sarcoidosis in 2004, followed by an acute episode of cardiac sarcoidosis (CS) in 2012 which resulted in complete heart block, cardiac myopathy, heart failure and insertion of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) pacemaker. Following a detailed review of the clinical and scientific literature he concluded that sarcoidosis may be a mycobacterial infection and could be treated with anti-MAP antibiotic regime (1) developed to treat Crohn's disease. After successful culture and identification of viable MAP in his blood, treatment with the MAP antibiotic regime for one year led to complete metabolic resolution of the previously avid cardiac sarcoidosis and no PET evidence of any metabolically active sarcoidosis anywhere. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2019 May 15;10(5):3668-3673. Epub 2019 May 15.

Geisinger Heart Institute, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Wilkes Barre, PA, USA.

His-bundle pacing (HBP) constitutes an excellent alternative to right ventricular pacing. Recently, several studies have reported on the success and efficacy of HBP in patients with left bundle branch block requiring cardiac resynchronization therapy. Nonetheless, HBP may not always be feasible due to high capture thresholds or disease in the distal His bundle. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2019 Dec 15;10(12):3924-3928. Epub 2019 Dec 15.

Trinity Medical Center, Rock Island, IL, USA.

Atrioventricular node (AVN) ablation is a strategy to manage patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure in whom cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation has been prescribed. This study describes a practical method to perform these two procedures using the same surgical site. Twenty-seven patients were indicated for AVN ablation and concurrent CRT device implantation while presenting with AF and rapid ventricular response (RVR) refractory to medical therapy. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2019 Dec 15;10(12):3919-3922. Epub 2019 Dec 15.

Jefferson Heart Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

This report discusses the mapping of an incomplete cavotricuspid isthmus flutter line with a high-density mapping catheter to visualize the arrhythmogenic substrate responsible for incomplete block. The relevant signals were unapparent when using a traditional ablation catheter but were evident with application of a high-density mapping catheter. High-density mapping holds promise for recording electrograms in gaps in other ablation lesion sets that may not be able to be easily identified using more traditional equipment alone. Read More

J Innov Card Rhythm Manag 2019 Oct 15;10(10):3848-3852. Epub 2019 Oct 15.

Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.

Capture management algorithms in current cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) can enhance device performance and battery longevity. Although generally safe, these algorithms have on rare occasions been implicated in the onset of significant complications, especially in pacemaker-dependent patients. CIEDs implanted in patients with postoperative congenital heart disease (CHD) often require epicardial pacing leads rather than transvenous leads; unfortunately, epicardial leads can experience higher rates of malfunction. Read More

Am J Transplant 2020 Jun 1. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.

The XVth Banff Conference on Allograft Pathology meeting was held on September 23-27, 2019, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. During this meeting two main topics in cardiac transplant pathology were addressed: 1 - Improvement of endomyocardial biopsy accuracy for the diagnosis of rejection and other significant injury patterns. Molecular technologies have evolved in recent years, deciphering pathophysiology of cardiac rejection. Read More

West Afr J Med 2020 Jul-Aug;37(3):281-283

National Cardiothoracic Centre, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, P. O. Box KB 846, Korle-Bu, Accra, Ghana.

Background: Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is the commonest congenital heart disease. Without appropriate treatment, it is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Surgical repair under cardiopulmonary bypass has been the standard treatment. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2020 May 30. Epub 2020 May 30.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Institute of Cardio Vascular Diseases, Madras Medical Mission, 4A, Dr J J Nagar, Mogappair, Chennai, 600037, India.

Ductal stenting (DS) palliates duct-dependent lesions using coronary stents. Sirolimus-eluting stents have replaced bare-metal stents in coronary interventions. Concerns exist about sirolimus levels in neonates. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Mayo Clinic/St. Marys Campus, Rochester, Minnesota, USA. Electronic address:

Background: The cryoballoon (CB) catheter is an established tool for isolation of the pulmonary veins (PVI), however, its use is limited to that end.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate biophysical properties of a newly developed linear cryoablation catheter (LC) for creation of linear ablation lesions in an in vivo model.

Methods: Twenty-nine (14 acutely ablated, 15 chronically followed) dogs underwent cryoablation using the LC. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Division of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiology, Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart and Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas,. Electronic address:

Background: Venous ethanol infusion via an occlusive balloon has been utilized as bail-out approach to treat ablation-refractory ventricular arrhythmias (VA). Unfavorable venous anatomy - lack of intramural veins at the targeted site or collateral vein-ethanol shunting- limits its efficacy. Blocking collateral flow with a second balloon may optimize myocardial ethanol delivery. Read More

Heart Vessels 2020 May 29. Epub 2020 May 29.

Health Care Center, Fukuoka Dental College Hospital, Tamura 2-15-1, Sawaraku, Fukuoka, 814-0193, Japan.

Serial changes of electrocardiograms (ECG) could be used to assess their clinical features in atrial septal defects (ASD) after transcatheter closure together with other clinical parameters. We retrospectively studied 100 ASD patients who underwent transcatheter closure. Complications of persistent atrial fibrillation occurred in five ASD patients, and they were excluded. Read More

J Biol Regul Homeost Agents 2020 Mar-Apr;34(2):687-690

Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Toxicology, A. Gemelli University Hospital Foundation IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020 May 26;13(6). Epub 2020 May 26.

Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. After diagnosis, cancer treatment may involve radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. Several of the approaches used to treat cancer also attack normal cells and, thus, there is the need for more effective treatments that decrease the toxicity to normal cells and increase the success rates of treatment. Read More

Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2020 Jun 8;20:841-850. Epub 2020 May 8.

Department of Pharmacology (State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P. R. China; Northern Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150081, P. R. China; Research Unit of Noninfectious Chronic Diseases in Frigid Zone (2019RU070), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Heilongjiang 150081, P. R. China. Electronic address:

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Identifying the pathways that block cardiac cell death is a therapeutic strategy for ischemic heart disease. We found that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) myocardial infarction-regulatory factor (MIRF) promoted ischemic myocardial injury by regulating autophagy through targeting miR-26a. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2020 May 27. Epub 2020 May 27.

NYU Langone Medical Center New York University, New York, NY, USA.

Purpose: The prospective, multicenter SMART SF trial demonstrated the acute safety and effectiveness of the 56-hole porous tip irrigated contact force (CF) catheter for drug-refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) ablation with a low primary adverse event rate (2.5%), leading to FDA approval of the catheter. Here, we are reporting the long-term effectiveness and safety results that have not yet been reported. Read More

Cardiovasc Interv Ther 2020 May 27. Epub 2020 May 27.

Pediatric Cardiac Center, College of Medicine, Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Rangsit University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) is an alternative treatment of surgery. However, because of the potential risk of the complete atrioventricular block (AVB) and the lack of available dedicated devices for VSD, this procedure rarely used most centers. Recently in Thailand, with distinct device design that may cause less clamp force and radial force, the AmplatzerDuct Occluder (ADO) II has become available for the closure of small VSDs. Read More

HeartRhythm Case Rep 2020 May 25;6(5):261-264. Epub 2020 Jan 25.

Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Postgraduate Course in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2020 May 27. Epub 2020 May 27.

Department of Cardiology II, Electrophysiology, University Hospital Muenster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, D-48159, Münster, Germany.

Background: The impact of structural heart disease (SHD) on safety and efficacy of catheter ablation of cavo-tricuspid isthmus-dependent atrial flutter (AFLU) is unclear. In addition, recent data suggest a higher complication rate of AFLU ablation compared to the more complex atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation procedure.

Methods And Results: Within our prospective multicenter registry, 3526 consecutive patients underwent AFLU ablation at 49 German electrophysiological centers from 2007 to 2010. Read More

Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 2020 May 26. Epub 2020 May 26.

Cardiac Electrophysiology, Geisinger Heart Institute, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, MC 36-10, 1000 E Mountain Blvd, 18711, Wilkes-Barre, PA, USA.

Chronic right ventricular (RV) pacing has been associated with significant electrical and mechanical dyssynchrony leading to increased risk for recurrent heart failure hospitalizations and atrial arrhythmias. His bundle pacing (HBP) is an effective alternative to RV pacing as it is physiological and provides synchronized contraction of both ventricles. But there are limitations to HBP, which include lead stability, rise in threshold, early battery depletion and longer learning curve. Read More

Toxicol Commun 2020 30;4(1):40-42. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

The media have featured the antimalarials chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to treat coronavirus (COVID-19). Political leaders have touted their use and recommended availability to the public. These anti-inflammatory agents have substantial human toxicity with a narrow therapeutic window. Read More

Front Cardiovasc Med 2020 7;7:83. Epub 2020 May 7.

AP-HP, Cochin Hospital, Internal Medicine Department, Referral center for Rare Autoimmune and Systemic Diseases, Paris, France.

J Clin Med 2020 May 22;9(5). Epub 2020 May 22.

Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University, School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea.

Despite rapid advancements in laparoscopic surgical devices and techniques, pain remains a significant issue. We examined the efficacy of preemptive transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block for acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. We retrospectively analyzed 153 patients who underwent laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery with or without TAP block; among them, 142 were allocated to the TAP or non-TAP group. Read More

Nutrients 2020 May 21;12(5). Epub 2020 May 21.

Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

The majority of the epidemiological evidence over the past few decades has linked high intake of fats, especially saturated fats, to increased risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. However, findings of some recent studies (e.g. Read More

Medicina (Kaunas) 2020 May 21;56(5). Epub 2020 May 21.

Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.

: Acute heart failure (AHF) is one of the main causes of hospitalization in Western countries. Usually, patients cannot be admitted directly to the wards (access block) and stay in the emergency room. Holding units are clinical decision units, or observation units, within the ED that are able to alleviate access block and to contribute to a reduction in hospitalization. Read More

Cureus 2020 Apr 21;12(4):e7761. Epub 2020 Apr 21.

Pediatrics, Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, USA.

Lamin A/C (LMNA) cardiomyopathy is an adult-onset, autosomal dominant, rapidly progressive cardiomyopathy which belongs to a spectrum of familial idiopathic cardiomyopathies. It is the most common type of familial dilated cardiomyopathy that is associated with conduction defects. A 76-year-old African American female with second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block presented for evaluation of persistent fatigue. Read More

Emerg Med Int 2020 11;2020:7695638. Epub 2020 May 11.

Department of Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: Electrocardiography (ECG) is the graphical display of electrical potential differences of an electric field originating in the heart. Interpretation of ECG is a core clinical skill in the department of emergency medicine. The main aim of this survey was to assess competency of ECG interpretation among 2018 graduating class medical students in Addis Ababa University and Haramaya University. Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2020 May 25. Epub 2020 May 25.

The Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.

Background: Programmed long AV delays and intrinsic long first degree AV block may increase risk for competitive atrial pacing (CAP) in devices without CAP avoidance algorithms.

Methods: Patients identified with CAP-induced mode switch episodes were followed clinically from 9/2013 to 08/2019. Attempts to avoid CAP included shortening of post-ventricular atrial refractory period (PVARP) or post ventricular atrial blanking period (PVAB), or change to AAI or DDI modes. Read More

J Interv Card Electrophysiol 2020 May 25. Epub 2020 May 25.

The Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute (KCHRI), HCA MidWest, Overland Park, KS, 66221, USA.

Purpose: Idiopathic junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) is typically refractory to antiarrhythmic agents. Catheter ablation for JET is feasible but is associated with high risk of unintended atrioventricular (AV) block. There is limited data on the appropriate procedural technique and clinical outcomes with catheter ablation for idiopathic JET in adults. Read More