Long-term Clinical Outcomes of Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation versus Permanent Pacemaker Implantation in Patients with Tachycardia-Bradycardia Syndrome.

Background And Objectives: Pacemaker (PM) implantation is a well-accepted treatment option for patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and related tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (TBS). Data on the long-term clinical outcomes after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) or PM implantation are sparse.

Methods: The medical records of 217 patients with TBS were retrospectively assessed.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Ergonovine Echocardiography for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Coronary Vasospasm.

Objectives: This study sought to obtain large-scale evidence supporting the clinical usefulness of ergonovine echocardiography.

Background: The role of noninvasive ergonovine provocation testing with echocardiographic monitoring of ventricular wall motion (ergonovine echocardiography) needs to be defined.

Methods: Clinical data of patients who underwent ergonovine echocardiography in 3 tertiary referral hospitals in South Korea were analyzed.

Extracellular Myocardial Volume in Patients With Aortic Stenosis.

Background: Myocardial fibrosis is a key mechanism of left ventricular decompensation in aortic stenosis and can be quantified using cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) measures such as extracellular volume fraction (ECV%). Outcomes following aortic valve intervention may be linked to the presence and extent of myocardial fibrosis.

Objectives: This study sought to determine associations between ECV% and markers of left ventricular decompensation and post-intervention clinical outcomes.

Clinical Situations Associated with Inappropriately Large Regurgitant Volumes in the Assessment of Mitral Regurgitation Severity Using the Proximal Flow Convergence Method in Patients with Chordae Rupture.

Background: Regurgitant volume (RVol) calculated using the proximal flow convergence method (proximal isovelocity surface area [PISA]) has been accepted as a key quantitative parameter for the diagnosis of and clinical decision-making with regard to severe mitral regurgitation (MR). However, a recent prospective study showed a significant overestimation of RVol by the echocardiographic PISA method compared with the MR volume measured using magnetic resonance imaging. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of overestimation of RVol by the PISA method and the clinical conditions that require a different quantitative method to correct the overestimation.

Early decongestive therapy versus high-flow nasal cannula for the prevention of adverse clinical events in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Background: Few studies have investigated the role of decongestive therapy and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in preventing reintubation and in-hospital mortality in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE).

Methods: Data from patients with ACPE who were weaned from mechanical ventilation in the cardiac intensive care unit between January 2013 and December 2017 were retrospectively evaluated. All patients were treated with HFNC or conventional oxygen therapy (COT), such as a nasal cannula or venturi mask, immediately after extubation.

Comparative effectiveness analysis of percutaneous coronary intervention versus coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with chronic kidney disease and unprotected left main coronary artery disease.

Aims: Outcomes according to the status of renal insufficiency have not been fully evaluated in left main coronary artery disease (LMCAD). In the present study therefore, we sought to evaluate clinical outcomes in patients with significant LMCAD stratified by the degree of renal insufficiency and the relative clinical outcomes after PCI and CABG stratified by the differential levels of renal function using data from the large multinational "all-comers" Interventional Research Incorporation Society-Left MAIN Revascularization (IRIS-MAIN) registry.

Methods And Results: Among 4,894 patients with LMCAD, renal insufficiency was graded according to the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Differential clinical features and long-term prognosis of acute aortic syndrome according to disease entity.

Aims: To evaluate the acute and long-term prognosis of acute aortic syndrome (AAS) according to the disease entity [intramural haematoma (IMH) vs. aortic dissection (AD)] and the anatomical location (type A vs. B).

Relation of Body Mass Index to Risk of Death or Stroke in Patients Who Underwent Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Obesity and overweight have been associated with better clinical outcomes in different populations with a diverse spectrum of cardiovascular disease (obesity paradox). However, conflicting data exist about the relation between body mass index (BMI) and outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of body mass index with clinical outcomes in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) who underwent TAVI.

Case series of precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.

Precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (B-LBL) is an uncommon subtype of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounting for only 0.3% of NHL in adults and less than 10% of all LBL cases. Unlike T-cell LBL, it usually presents with extranodal involvement while sparing the bone marrow (BM).

Transcatheter closures for fistula tract and paravalvular leak after mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty.

Paravalvular leaks (PVLs) often occur after surgical valve replacement. Surgical reoperation has been the gold standard of therapy for PVLs, but it carries a higher operative risk and an increased incidence of re-leaks compared to the initial surgery. In high surgical risk patients with appropriate geometries, transcatheter closure of PVLs could be an alternative to redo-surgery.