Cardiac resynchronization therapy in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy: a mini review.

Chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy (CHIC) represents a growing clinical challenge due to the increasing use of cardiotoxic treatments. These therapies can lead to progressive myocardial dysfunction, ultimately resulting in heart failure. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been widely investigated in selected patients with chronic heart failure; however, those with CHIC remain underrepresented in CRT trials.

Appropriate therapies predict long-term mortality in primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death.

Background: Less than 50% of patients implanted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) receive device therapy during the follow-up. The aim of our study was to prospectively evaluate the predictive role of appropriate ICD therapy on long-term survival of patients implanted for primary or secondary sudden death prevention.

Methods: From 2002 to 2003, 139 consecutive patients [mean age 66±9 years, male 77%, ischemic heart disease 56%, New York Heart Association functional class >II (74%), primary prevention 74%, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 30±9%, cardiac resynchronization ICD 65%] were enrolled.

Clinical and technical determinants of long-term performance of coronary sinus leads.

Objectives: Little is known about coronary sinus lead performance in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy devices. We evaluated the impact of clinical and technical parameters on coronary sinus lead performance over long-term follow-up.

Methods: From February 1999 to July 2004, 235 patients (181 men; mean age, 68 +/- 9 years; mean left ventricular ejection fraction, 26.

Dynamic and dual-site atrial pacing in the prevention of atrial fibrillation: The STimolazione Atrial DInamica Multisito (STADIM) Study.

Objectives: The impact of new algorithms to consistently pace the atrium on the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains unclear. Our randomized, crossover study compared the efficacy of single- and dual-site atrial pacing, with versus without dynamic atrial overdrive pacing in preventing AF.

Methods: We studied 72 patients (mean age = 69.

Long-term outcome of right and left atrial radiofrequency ablation in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical outcome of right and left atrial radiofrequency ablation after the first 12 months in patients with drug-refractory persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), and to identify predictors of long-term success.

Methods: We analyzed the clinical outcome of 74 consecutive patients with a follow-up >12 months who underwent right and left atrial ablation for persistent AF. Patients who did not present symptomatic or asymptomatic atrial tachyarrhythmias (AT) lasting >30 seconds after the first 3 months of follow-up were defined responders to pulmonary veins ablation.

Catheter ablation treatment in patients with drug-refractory atrial fibrillation: a prospective, multi-centre, randomized, controlled study (Catheter Ablation For The Cure Of Atrial Fibrillation Study).

Aims: We conducted a multi-centre, prospective, controlled, randomized trial to investigate the adjunctive role of ablation therapy to antiarrhythmic drug therapy in preventing atrial fibrillation (AF) relapses in patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF in whom antiarrhythmic drug therapy had already failed.

Methods And Results: One hundred and thirty seven patients were randomized to ablation and antiarrhythmic drug therapy (ablation group) or antiarrhythmic drug therapy alone (control group). In the ablation group, patients underwent cavo-tricuspid and left inferior pulmonary vein (PV)-mitral isthmus ablation plus circumferential PV ablation.

Role of transtelephonic electrocardiographic monitoring in detecting short-term arrhythmia recurrences after radiofrequency ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of asymptomatic recurrences of atrial fibrillation (AF) by daily transtelephonic (TT) electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring, as compared with standard ECG and 24-h Holter recording, in patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation (RCA) of AF.

Background: The efficacy of RCA of AF is usually evaluated by means of patients' symptoms.

Methods: Seventy-two patients with paroxysmal (n = 37) or persistent (n = 35) drug-refractory AF underwent circumferential RCA of the pulmonary vein (PV) ostia.