Accuracy of Physician Estimation of Thromboembolic Risk and Its Association With Oral Anticoagulant Utilization for the Management of Atrial Fibrillation.

Clinical practice guidelines for atrial fibrillation (AF) recommend thromboembolic risk stratification using empirical risk scores. We aimed to investigate how appropriately physicians recognize patients' actual thromboembolic risk and how this correlates with the use of oral anticoagulants (OACs). This prospective cohort study enrolled consecutive patients with initial AF treatment.

Impact of inter-hospital transfers and admissions to transfer hubs on outcomes of cardiac implantable electronic device-associated infective endocarditis.

Background: Transvenous lead extraction/removal (TLE) is recommended for management of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-associated infective endocarditis (IE). The effect of inter-hospital transfer on management and outcomes of CIED-associated IE has not been studied.

Objective: To analyze the impact of inter-hospital transfer on management and outcome of CIED-associated IE.

Cardiac CT Versus Transesophageal Echocardiography Following Left Atrial Appendage Closure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: In the landmark WATCHMAN trials, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was used to evaluate peri-device leak (PDL) and device-related thrombus (DRT) after percutaneous left atrial appendage closure (LAAC). We aimed to investigate the diagnostic utility of cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) compared with TEE for post-LAAC device surveillance.

Methods: We conducted a literature search of 5 electronic databases to identify studies that included patients who underwent both CCTA and TEE after LAAC.

Sex differences in hospital outcomes of medically-managed type B aortic dissection.

Background: Medical management is recommended for uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (TBAD). However, data focused on sex differences in outcomes in TBAD patients managed medically are limited.

Methods: Hospitalizations of adults with TBAD were identified using the 2016-2019 Nationwide Readmissions Database.

Impact of Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator Shocks on Mental Health: Review and Management Guidance.

Survivors of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and those who experience shocks from an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD-S) are at risk of developing unrecognized and untreated mental health (MH) symptoms. MH sequelae can include anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress symptoms which hinder one's ability to return to usual life and activity, impeding follow-up, health care seeking, and adherence to care plans. Addressing MH as part of a whole person care in such scenarios could lead to improved wellness and recovery.

Pulsed Field Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: 1-Year Results of ADVANTAGE AF.

Background: Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has gained prominence for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) to treat atrial fibrillation, but there are limited outcome data on PFA to treat persistent atrial fibrillation (PerAF).

Objectives: This study sought to determine the safety and efficacy of PVI + posterior wall ablation (PWA) with PFA in PerAF.

Methods: ADVANTAGE AF (A Prospective Single Arm Open Label Study of the FARAPULSE Pulsed Field Ablation System in Subjects with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation) is a prospective, single-arm, multicenter pivotal investigational device exemption study of PerAF patients undergoing PVI+PWA with the pentaspline PFA catheter.

HRS/ACC scientific statement: Guiding principles on same-day discharge for intracardiac catheter ablation procedures.

Percutaneous catheter ablation in interventional cardiac electrophysiology has evolved over the past several decades. Technologic advances and evolving procedural strategies have improved procedural efficiencies, increased success rates, and lowered complication rates. These advances have increased the ability to treat more patients successfully; however, limitations to access have grown.

HRS/ACC Scientific Statement: Guiding Principles on Same-Day Discharge for Intracardiac Catheter Ablation Procedures.

Percutaneous catheter ablation in interventional cardiac electrophysiology has evolved over the past several decades. Technologic advances and evolving procedural strategies have improved procedural efficiencies, increased success rates, and lowered complication rates. These advances have increased the ability to treat more patients successfully; however, limitations to access have grown.

Association of air pollution with ventricular arrhythmias and physical activity: A natural experiment from US wildfires.

Background: The association between particulate matter (PM) air pollution and ventricular arrhythmias is not well established. In patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), publicly available day-level air pollution data provide a unique opportunity to study acute and subacute effects of PM pollution.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of air pollution with ventricular arrhythmias, physical activity, and CIED markers of heart failure.

Impact of hospital lead extraction volume on management of cardiac implantable electronic device-associated infective endocarditis.

Aims: Utilization of transvenous lead extraction/removal (TLE) for the management of cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)-associated infective endocarditis (IE) remains low. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of hospital TLE procedural volume on TLE utilization and outcomes for patients with CIED-associated IE.

Methods And Results: Using the Nationwide Readmissions Database, we evaluated 21 545 admissions for patients (mean age 70 years, 39% female) with CIEDs hospitalized with IE at TLE centres.

State of the art of mobile health technologies use in clinical arrhythmia care.

The rapid growth in consumer-facing mobile and sensor technologies has created tremendous opportunities for patient-driven personalized health management. The diagnosis and management of cardiac arrhythmias are particularly well suited to benefit from these easily accessible consumer health technologies. In particular, smartphone-based and wrist-worn wearable electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmography (PPG) technology can facilitate relatively inexpensive, long-term rhythm monitoring.

Predictors of Shock-Reduction Programming and Its Impact on Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Therapies and Mortality: The CERTITUDE Registry.

Background: Shock-reduction implantable cardioverter-defibrillator programming (SRP) was associated with fewer therapies and improved survival in randomized controlled trials, but real-world studies investigating SRP and associated outcomes are limited.

Methods And Results: The BIOTRONIK CERTITUDE registry was linked with the Medicare database. We included all patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implanted between August 22, 2012 and September 30, 2021 in the United States.

Electrophysiologic and cardiovascular manifestations of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies.

There have been significant advances in the diagnosis and management of the hereditary muscular disorders Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy (DMD and BMD). Cardiac electrophysiologic and cardiovascular involvement has long been important in the surveillance, care, and prognosis of patients with both BMD and DMD and is the leading cause of mortality in patients with DMD. With improved long-term prognosis, rhythm disorders and progressive cardiomyopathy with resultant heart failure are increasingly common.

Contemporary Management of Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infection: The American College of Cardiology COGNITO Survey.

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) infection remains a serious complication, causing increased morbidity and mortality. Early recognition and escalation to definitive therapy including extraction of the infected device often pose challenges.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess U.

Rates of pulmonary vein reconnection at repeat ablation for recurrent atrial fibrillation and its impact on outcomes among females and males.

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that females have a higher risk of arrhythmia recurrence after pulmonary vein (PV) isolation for atrial fibrillation (AF). There are limited data on sex-based differences in PV reconnection rates at repeat ablation. We aimed to investigate sex-based differences in electrophysiological findings and atrial arrhythmia recurrence after repeat AF ablation METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 161 consecutive patients (32% female, age 65 ± 10 years) who underwent repeat AF ablation after index PV isolation between 2010 and 2022.