Outcomes and Safety of Catheter Ablation in the Elderly.

Catheter ablation has emerged as a first-line therapy for many arrhythmias. However, data on the safety and outcomes of catheter ablation in the elderly population remain limited. Here, we aimed to study the outcomes of catheter ablation in octogenarians.

Right to Left Cardiac Power Output- New Prognosticator in STEMI Patients With Cardiogenic Shock (R-Shock).

ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is a leading cause of cardiogenic shock (CS) and carries substantial mortality. Cardiac power output (CPO) is the strongest predictor of clinical outcome in CS, and worse outcomes result from concomitant right and left ventricular failure. Right ventricular performance is calculated using right sided CPO.

Electrocardiogram changes as predictors for new imaging findings in repeat transthoracic echocardiography.

To determine if electrocardiogram (EKG) findings may be a useful tool to predict changes in repeat transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). We evaluated patients who underwent TTE during hospitalization and their EKGs, and whether findings differed between studies. Of 229 hospitalized patients who underwent repeat TTE, 183 (80%) were abnormal.

Transcatheter Leadless Pacemaker for the Treatment of Vasovagal Syncope.

Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is largely a benign condition focused on patient education, lifestyle modification, and avoidance of triggers. However, a subset of patients may benefit from permanent pacemaker placement. Commonly, patients with VVS are younger and those requiring pacing have symptoms associated with severe cardioinhibitory syncope.

Same-Day Discharge After Left Bundle Area Pacing.

Background: Left bundle area pacing (LBAP) has emerged as an area that appears to be an attractive alternative to other forms of physiological pacing owing to its ease and favorable pacing parameters. Same-day discharge after conventional pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and more recently leadless pacemakers have become routine, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. With the advent of LBAP, the safety and feasibility of same-day discharge remain unclear.

Relation of Patient's Opinion of Alcohol's Health Effects and Drinking Habits Among Hospitalized Patients With Cardiovascular Disease.

Media reports frequently cite observational studies and meta-analyses to promote the reputed cardiovascular benefits of moderate alcohol consumption; however, it is unclear whether public opinion or drinking behavior align with these reports. We administered an anonymous, single-center, 35-question, cross-sectional survey among patients hospitalized for acute cardiac illnesses from June to September 2019, who were eligible for cardiac rehabilitation. We assessed patient opinions toward alcohol use, perceptions of alcohol's health impact, and role of media in forming these beliefs.

Very low tidal volume, high-frequency ventilation in atrial fibrillation ablation: a systematic review.

Background: Ventilation strategies in atrial fibrillation ablation affect procedure outcomes by influencing catheter stability. Studies have highlighted favorable atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation outcomes with the use of high-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) which has been shown to improve lesion durability, energy delivery, and tissue contact. However, this mode of ventilation is not readily available.

Frequency of Hazardous and Binge Drinking Alcohol Among Hospitalized Cardiovascular Patients.

Excessive alcohol use is a risk factor for most cardiac diseases. The prevalence of unhealthy alcohol use among hospitalized cardiac patients is uncertain as is the frequency with which it is addressed. We performed a single center, patient-level anonymous survey among hospitalized cardiac patients eligible for cardiac rehabilitation.

Cardiac rehabilitation in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: Predictors of utilization and effects of exercise training.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) patients may benefit from cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

Objectives: The purpose to this study is to examine utilization of CR in TCM.

Methods: We conducted a review of hospitalized TCM patients at Baystate Medical Center between 2010 and 2017.

Utility of ICD Codes for Stress Cardiomyopathy in Hospital Administrative Databases: What Do They Signify?

Prior studies of stress cardiomyopathy (SCM) have used International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes to identify patients in administrative databases without evaluating the validity of these codes. Between 2010 and 2016, we identified 592 patients discharged with a first known principal or secondary ICD code for SCM in our medical system. On chart review, 580 charts had a diagnosis of SCM (positive predictive value 98%; 95% CI: 96.

The Left Distal Transradial Artery Access for Coronary Angiography and Intervention: A US Experience.

Background: The radial artery is the access of choice in many catheterization labs around the world due to its proven benefits over the femoral artery access. There has been growing interest in the left radial artery. We sought to evaluate the feasibility, safety and complication rates of the left distal radial artery (ldTRA) access for cardiac catheterization.

Acute psychosocial stress differentially influences salivary endocrine and immune measures in undergraduate students.

Undergraduate students routinely experience acute psychosocial stress when interviewing for post-collegiate employment. While numerous studies have demonstrated that acute stress can increase release of immune-relevant molecules in blood, fewer studies have examined if acute stress also increases immune-relevant molecules into saliva. Saliva, and the biomolecules found in saliva often serve important immune defense roles and can be used to non-invasively screen for many systemic diseases.