Comparison of Extended Cryoballoon, Standard Cryoballoon, and Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation in Patients With Persistent AF.

Background: The performance of cryoballoon (CB) ablation compared with radiofrequency (RF) ablation has been demonstrated in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the role of CB ablation in patients with persistent AF has not been well established. Furthermore, the efficacy of additional posterior wall isolation following CB pulmonary vein (PV) isolation remains controversial.

Atrial fibrillation burden and symptom, quality of life, and healthcare resource utilization after cryoballoon ablation in persistent atrial fibrillation.

Aims: To investigate the relationship between continuously monitored atrial fibrillation (AF) burden after cryoballoon ablation (CBA) and improvements in AF-related symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and AF-related healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) in early persistent AF.

Methods And Results: This secondary analysis of the multicentre COOL-PER trial included patients with early persistent AF who underwent CBA and continuous monitoring via an implantable loop recorder. Post-CBA AF burden was defined as the percentage of time in AF between 9- and 12-month after CBA, categorized as <0.

Role of electrograms recorded from mini electrodes in catheter ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia: a retrospective study.

Background: Data on the role of electrograms (EGMs) recorded from mini electrodes (MEs) of the IntellaTip MiFi ablation catheter (Boston Scientific) are limited. We evaluated the additional value of MEs during slow-pathway ablation in atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT).

Methods: Consecutive patients with AVNRT who underwent slow-pathway ablation using the MiFi catheter were included.

Automated, Standardized, Quantitative Analysis of Cardiovascular Borders on Chest X-Rays Using Deep Learning.

Background: The analysis of cardiovascular borders (CVBs) in chest x-rays (CXRs) traditionally relied on subjective assessment and does not have established normal ranges.

Objectives: The authors aimed to develop a deep learning-based method for quantifying CVBs on CXRs and to explore its clinical utility.

Methods: This study used a prevalidated deep learning to analyze CVBs.

Electrical isolation of the left atrial appendage in East Asian patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a source of non-pulmonary vein triggers in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Electrical isolation of the LAA (EILAA) improves rhythm outcome with an inherent risk of embolism unless lifelong anticoagulation is continued. However, evidence of the efficacy and safety of EILAA in the East Asian population remains lacking.

Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing With a Stylet-Driven Lead and Conventional Right Ventricular Pacing.

Backgrounds And Aims: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has been shown to reduce the risk of pacing-facilitated heart failure (HF) compared to right ventricular pacing (RVP), but limited data exists comparing LBBAP with stylet-driven leads (SDL) and conventional RVP. The study aims to compare clinical outcomes between LBBAP using SDL and conventional RVP.

Methods: From December 2018 to December 2023, patients who underwent pacemaker implantation at two tertiary hospitals were enrolled.

Reduction of AF Burden After Cryoballoon Ablation in Patients With Early Persistent AF: The COOL-PER Trial.

Background: Limited data exist on reducing the atrial fibrillation (AF) burden, the regression from persistent to paroxysmal AF, and symptom improvement after cryoablation in patients with persistent AF.

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the efficacy of cryoablation in reducing the AF burden, regression to paroxysmal AF, and symptom improvement in patients with early persistent AF.

Methods: This investigator-initiated, multicenter, and prospective cohort study enrolled the patients with early persistent AF (≤3 years).

Successful Cryoablation of Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient With a Prior Fontan Operation.

Supraventricular or ventricular tachycardia is one of the most serious late sequelae in patients with a single ventricle who have undergone a Fontan operation. A patient with ventricular tachycardia involving the His-Purkinje system was deemed at high risk of atrioventricular block with ablation. Three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping-guided cryoablation was feasible without the development of atrioventricular block with long-term freedom from recurrence.

Safety and Performance of the Micra VR Leadless Pacemaker in a South Korean Cohort: A Comparison to Global Studies.

Background And Objectives: The Micra leadless pacemaker demonstrated a favorable safety and efficacy profile in global trials, but its performance and safety in a South Korean-specific population are unknown.

Methods: The prospective, single-arm Micra Acute Performance South Korean registry was designed to study the performance of the Micra VR leadless pacemaker in patients from South Korea. The primary objectives were to characterize the rate of acute (30 days) and longer-term (12 months) major complications.

Clinical outcomes and risk factors of post-polypectomy microperforation in patients with colorectal neoplasia: a case-control study.

Background: Colonoscopic polypectomy significantly reduces the incidence of colorectal cancer, but it carries potential risks, with colonic perforation being the most common and associated with significant morbidity.

Objectives: This study evaluated the clinical outcomes and risk factors of microperforation during colonoscopic polypectomy.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Factors associated with the detection of atrial fibrillation in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source.

Background: Detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is important for the secondary prevention of stroke. We investigated the factors associated with the detection of newly diagnosed AF in ESUS patients during follow-up.

Methods: Patients with acute ischemic stroke classified as ESUS were included.

Robotic surgery may lead to reduced postoperative inflammatory stress in colon cancer: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Purpose: Robot-assisted surgery is readily applied to every type of colorectal surgeries. However, studies showing the safety and feasibility of robotic surgery (RS) have dealt with rectal cancer more than colon cancer. This study aimed to investigate how technical advantages of RS can translate into actual clinical outcomes that represent postoperative systemic response.

Increasing Very Low-Dose Edoxaban Prescription: Effectiveness and Safety Data of Korean AF Patients.

Background And Objectives: Evidence remains limited on the real-world prescription of very low-dose oral anticoagulation among frail patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). We described the practice patterns, effectiveness, and safety of very low-dose edoxaban (15 mg once daily).

Methods: Patients with AF prescribed edoxaban 15 mg once daily in 2 tertiary hospitals between 2016 and September 2022 were included.

Risk Factors of Reoperation in Patients with Intestinal Behçet's Disease Treated by Initial Bowel Resection.

: Intestinal Behçet's disease (iBD) often requires surgical intervention, with a significant proportion of patients needing reoperation. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors associated with reoperation in patients with iBD who underwent initial bowel resection and to evaluate the perioperative and long-term outcomes in these patients. : This was a retrospective case-control study analyzing patients who underwent their initial bowel resection due to iBD between 2005-2021 at a tertiary referral hospital.

Complications associated with pulsed field ablation vs radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Background: The first commercial systems for pulsed field ablation (PFA) were recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration, but their safety profile in nationwide practice remains underexplored.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe reported adverse events with PFA systems after their market release and to compare the relative proportion of complications associated with PFA vs radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheters.

Methods: We conducted a search of the Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience database for adverse event reports involving Food and Drug Administration-approved PFA and RF catheters from January 1, 2024, to July 31, 2024.

Minimally Invasive Surgery: Is It a Risk Factor for Postoperative Peritoneal Metastasis in pT4 Colon Cancer?

Background: Performing laparoscopic surgery for T4 colon cancer remains controversial because of concerns about whether its oncologic outcomes are comparable to those of open surgery, and postoperative peritoneal metastasis (PM) has been reported to occur more frequently in laparoscopic colectomy for T4 colon cancer. We investigated whether minimally invasive surgery (MIS) demonstrated a higher PM rate than open surgery and analyzed the risk factors for PM in pT4 colon cancer.

Methods: This study included 392 patients with pT4 colon cancer who underwent curative surgery at a referral hospital between January 2000 and December 2018.

Clinical Significance of Prognostic Nutrition Index in Patients with Crohn's Disease after Primary Bowel Resection.

Purpose: Although advancements in medical treatments have been made, approximately half of patients with intestinal Crohn's disease (CD) require intestinal resections during their lifetime. It is well-known that the nutritional status of CD patients can impact postoperative morbidity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in patients with intestinal CD who underwent primary bowel resection.

Long-term clinical impact of early recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia after cryoballoon ablation in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: The impact of early recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ERAT) within the 90-day blanking period on long-term outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients undergoing cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is controversial. This study aimed to assess the relationship between ERAT and late recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (LRAT) post-CBA.

Methods: Utilizing data from a multicenter registry in Korea (May 2018 to June 2022), we analyzed the presence and timing of ERAT (<30, 30-60, and 60-90 days) and its association with LRAT risk after CBA.

Artificial intelligence predicts undiagnosed atrial fibrillation in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source using sinus rhythm electrocardiograms.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled sinus rhythm (SR) electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation can aid in identifying undiagnosed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of an AI model in identifying AF based on SR ECGs in patients with ESUS.

Methods: A transformer-based vision AI model was developed using 737,815 SR ECGs from patients with and without AF to detect current paroxysmal AF or predict the future development of AF within a 2-year period.