The Impact of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors on Atrial Electromechanical Conduction Time.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the impact of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, a newer class of oral antidiabetic drugs, on atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). This is particularly relevant given the significantly higher incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in diabetic patients compared to the general population. Atrial electromechanical delay is recognized as an important factor influencing the development of atrial fibrillation. METHODS: This study included 30 type 2 DM patients (53.3% female, mean age 60.07 ± 10.03 years), initiating treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitors. The patients were assessed using echocardiography at baseline and again at 6 months, focusing on basic echocardiographic parameters and atrial electromechanical delay times (EMD) measured via tissue Doppler imaging. RESULTS: No significant changes were observed in intra-atrial EMD times. However, significant reductions were noted in interatrial EMD times, decreasing from 15.13 ± 5.87 ms to 13.20 ± 6.12 ms (P = 0.029). Statistically significant shortening occurred in lateral pulmonary acceleration (PA) times (from 58.73 ± 6.41 ms to 54.37 ± 6.97 ms, P < 0.001), septal PA times (from 50.90 ± 6.02 ms to 48.23 ± 5), and tricuspid PA times (from 43.60 ± 6.28 ms to 41.30 ± 5.60 ms, P = 0.003). Additionally, there was a significant reduction in the E/e' ratio from 8.13 ± 4.0 to 6.50 ± 2.37 (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION: SGLT-2 inhibitors might positively influence atrial electromechanical conduction, reducing DM-related functional impairments and the risk of arrhythmias, particularly AF.

Factors of mortality in patients with cardiac implantable electronic device: 5-year experience.

OBJECTIVE: The use of cardiac implantable electronic devices has increased in recent years. It has also brought some issues. Among these, the complications of cardiac implantable electronic devices infection and pocket hematoma are difficult to manage. It can be fatal with the contribution of patient-related risk factors. In this study, we aimed to find mortality rates in patients who developed cardiac implantable electronic devices infection and pocket hematoma over 5 years. We also investigated the risk factors affecting mortality in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices. METHODS: A total of 288 cardiac implantable electronic devices patients were evaluated. Demographic details, history, and clinical data of all patients were recorded. Cardiac implantable electronic devices infection was defined according to the modified Duke criteria. The national registry was used to ascertain the mortality status of the patients. The patients were divided into two groups (exitus and survival groups). In addition, the pocket hematoma was defined as significant bleeding at the pocket site after cardiac implantable electronic devices placement. RESULTS: The cardiac implantable electronic devices infection was similar in both groups (p=0.919), and the pocket hematoma was higher in the exitus group (p=0.019). The exitus group had higher usage of P2Y12 inhibitors (p≤0.001) and novel oral anticoagulants (p=0.031). The Cox regression analysis, including mortality-related factors, revealed that renal failure is the most significant risk factor for mortality. Renal failure was linked to a 2.78-fold higher risk of death. CONCLUSION: No correlation was observed between cardiac implantable electronic devices infection and mortality, whereas pocket hematoma was associated with mortality. Furthermore, renal failure was the cause of the highest mortality rate in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices.

Impaired Renal Vein Flow in Atrial Fibrillation: A Potential Risk for Renal Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders. Identification and early treatment of AF risk factors can improve mortality and morbidity rates. This study aimed to compare the renal venous stasis index (RVSI) and intra-renal venous flow (IRVF) patterns evaluated by intra-renal Doppler ultrasonography in patients with AF and sinus rhythm (SR). MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 68 patients, 34 with AF (lasting >12 months AF) and 34 with SR (no previous diagnosis of AF and no AF attack in 24-h Holter monitoring) were included in the study. The RVSI was calculated, and the IRVF patterns were determined using intra-renal Doppler ultrasonography. High RVSI was defined as >0.12 RVSI. In addition, echocardiography and a 6-min walk test were performed. A model including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, creatine, Pro-BNP, left ventricular ejection fraction, presence of AF, and systolic pulmonary artery pressure was created to evaluate the effects of variables on high RVSI. RESULTS The RVSI value was significantly higher in patients with AF than in those with SR (P=0.004). The SR group exhibited a higher prevalence of the continuous flow pattern, which is one of the IRVF patterns (P=0.015). In contrast, the biphasic flow pattern was observed more frequently in patients with AF (P=0.003). The presence of AF was found to predict the high RVSI (P=0.002, OR=14.134, 95% CI 2.083-71.277). CONCLUSIONS The presence of AF may affect the IRVF and cause an increase in RVSI.

Effects of amifostine against blunt chest trauma-induced cardiac injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to examine whether two different doses of dexamethasone (DXM), which is a corticosteroid, and amifostine (AMI), which reduces cumulative tissue toxicity induced by cisplatin in advanced-stage cancer patients, have ameliorative effects on pathologic changes associated with cardiac contusion (CC) induced in rats. METHODS: Forty-two Wistar albino rats were equally divided into six groups (n=7): C, CC, CC+AMI 400, CC+AMI 200, CC+AMI+DXM, and CC+DXM. Tomography images and electrocardiographic analyzes were performed, mean arterial pressure was measured from the carotid artery, and blood and tissue samples were obtained for histopathological and biochemical analyses after trauma-induced CC. RESULTS: While the total oxidant status and disulfide parameters in the cardiac tissue and serum were significantly higher (p<0.05), the total antioxidant status, total thiol, and native thiol parameters were significantly lower (p<0.01) in rats with trauma-induced CC. The most frequently observed finding in the electrocardiography analyze was ST elevation. CONCLUSION: According to evaluation based on histological, biochemical, and electrocardiographic examinations, we believe that only 400 mg/kg dose of AMI or DXM can be effective in the treatment of myocardial contusion in rats. Evaluation based on histological findings.

Dapagliflozin Improves Cardiac Autonomic Function Measures in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac autonomic neuropathy is a frequent complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy, in which sympathetic tone predominates over parasympathetic activity, increases both cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and unfortunately has no definitive treatment. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors have been suggested to reduce sympathetic nervous system activity, based on the results from previous studies. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of 24-week treatment with dapagliflozin, a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor, on cardiac autonomic function measures in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiac autonomic neuropathy. METHODS: Dapagliflozin 10 mg/day (n=42) or non-sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor oral antidiabetic(s) (n=38) was added to the treatment of patients whose glycemic control could not be achieved with existing treatments. The patients with definite or confirmed cardiac autonomic neuropathy diagnosed by cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests underwent 24-hour Holter-electrocardiogram recordings to obtain heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence parameters before starting additional medication and after a 24-week treatment period. RESULTS: In-group analyses showed that dapagliflozin 10 mg/day for 24 weeks improved heart rate variability and heart rate turbulence parameters and decreased the frequency of ventricular premature beats relative to their baseline values. No such findings were observed in the control group despite similar glycemic control. Comparisons between dapagliflozin group and the control group showed that these effects of dapagliflozin were significantly better than non-sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor oral antidiabetics. CONCLUSION: Dapagliflozin improves measures of cardiac autonomic function compared to the control group in type 2 diabetic patients with cardiac autonomic neuropathy. This intergroup benefit, demonstrated for the first time, may be promising for the regression of cardiac autonomic neuropathy with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors.

Impact of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors on Sympathetic Nervous System Activity Detected by Sympathetic Activity Index and LF/HF Ratio in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: Cardiac autonomic neuropathy is a serious microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus that affects a significant portion of patients. Due to decreased parasympathetic activity, the sympathetic nervous system becomes dominant, causing several problems that lead to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors have been shown to reduce sympathetic nervous system activity previously. This is a promising finding for restoring the impaired sympathovagal balance in cardiac autonomic neuropathy. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of at least 6 months of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor treatment on sympathetic nervous system activity with sympathetic activity index and heart rate variability parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Holter-electrocardiogram recordings of 50 patients who were using an sodiumglucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (empagliflozin or dapagliflozin) for at least 6 months and 50 patients who did not were analyzed retrospectively. The sympathetic activity index and heart rate variability parameters of these 2 groups, which were similar in terms of age, gender, hemoglobin A1c, and duration of diabetes, were compared. RESULTS: The ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency power reflecting the sympathovagal balance [-1.495 (-2.165/-1.196) vs. -1.224 (-1.619/-0.863), P=.008] and sympathetic activity index [1.44 (1.06/2.76) vs. 2.47 (1.42/3.68), P=.009] was lower in the sodiumglucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor group than in the control group. In addition, the sympathetic activity index was correlated with the ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency power (r=0.418, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor treatment for at least 6 months was found to result in lower values of sympathetic activity index and the ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency power in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. These findings indicate lower sympathetic nervous system activity, which supports the sympathoinhibitor effects of sodiumglucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors.

Triglyceride glucose index is related with cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Aim    Cardiac autonomic dysfunction is encountered in approximately 25 % of patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). 24 hr Holter-ECG based heart rate variability (HRV) and heart rate turbulence (HRT) parameters are used to evaluate cardiac autonomic function. We aimed to investigate the relationship between a novel insulin resistance marker, triglyceride glucose (TyG) index and cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with MetS.Material and methods    We examined a total of 400 non-diabetic subjects, 136 with MetS and 264 without MetS. All underwent TyG index calculations, and 24 hr Holter-ECG recordings for the measurement of HRV and HRT parameters.Results    HRV and HRT parameters were lower or higher in patients with MetS than in subjects without MetS, indicating cardiac autonomic dysfunction. We observed significant correlations between TyG index and measures of cardiac autonomic function. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the TyG index was an independent predictor of almost all HRV and HRT parameters.Conclusion    This study demonstrates the independent relationship between cardiac autonomic dysfunction and the TyG index, a novel marker of insulin resistance in non-diabetic patients with MetS.

Altered Cardiac Repolarization in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Altered cardiac repolarization is an important mechanism in the development of malignant cardiac arrhythmia and in the occurrence of sudden cardiac death. It is known that the risk of cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death is increased in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Evaluating the measurements of repolarization in the electrocardiogram may provide useful information to determine potential risks for lethal arrhythmias in the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the present study, we investigated the possible relationships between repolarization parameters in the electrocardio and demographic, clinical, and biochemical findings in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the present study, 35 patients with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease A-B constituted group 1 and 35 patients with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease C-D constituted group 2. Cardiac repolarization and dispersion (QTc interval and QT dispersion) were measured on 12-lead electrocardiogram. QTc interval, QT dispersion, TP-e, and Tp-e/ QTc were evaluated in order to determine the patients at risk of sudden cardiac death. QTc interval >440 ms in men and >460 ms in women was considered as prolonged QTc interval. RESULTS: QTc and QTd values were found to be statistically significantly prolonged in the group of GOLD C-D compared to the group of GOLD A-B (P < .001). QTc value showed negative correlation with the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity and partial pressure of oxygen (P = .030, r = -0.260; P = .006, r = -0.332, respectively). No significant difference was in Tp-e and Tp-e/QTc between the groups (P = .73, P = .12, respectively). CONCLUSION: QTc and QTd are non-invasive markers reflecting arrhythmogenicity, and our findings were found to be related to prolonged QTc and QTd in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Prolongation in the dispersion of repolarization and altered cardiac repolarization in the population with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be related to hypoxemia and airway obstruction. Alterations in the cardiac repolarization may put these patients at high risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death.

Relationship between Oxidative Stress Markers and Presence of Chronic Total Occlusion in Coronary Artery Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between chronic total occlusion (CTO) development and oxidative stress markers in stable coronary artery patients. STUDY DESIGN: A cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Cardiology Clinic, Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Medical Faculty, between January 2018 and December 2019. METHODOLOGY: Patients, who underwent coronary angiography for stable chest pain, were consecutively included. The study group consisted of those with CTO and the control group from those without CTO. Serum total oxidant/anti-oxidant, dynamic thiol/disulfide, antioxidant (ascorbate, alfa-tocopherol, beta-carotene) vitamin levels, and routine biochemistry tests of the patients were compared. RESULTS: The study group (24 men, 5 women, mean age 63.79 ± 9.21 years) and control group (23 men, 6 women, mean age 61.38 ± 8.20 years) consisted of 29 patients each. The oxidative stress markers (total thiol, native thiol, disulfide, reduced thiol ratio, oxidized thiol ratio, thiol oxidation-reduction ratio, total antioxidant status, total oxidant status, and vitamin E) were found to have similar values between the groups. However, of the anti-oxidative vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin C/vitamin E ratio were significantly lower in the CTO group and predicted a CTO lesion (AUC: 0.084, p<0.001, 95% CI: 0.007-0.162; AUC: 0.285, p=0.005, 95% CI: 0.154-0.416 and AUC: 0.181, p <0.001, 95% CI: 0.062-0.299, respectively). CONCLUSION: The lower serum vitamin C and vitamin A levels and low vitamin C/vitamin E ratio may be useful in predicting the risk of CTO in stable patients with non-critical stenosis in coronary angiography. KEY WORDS: Chronic total occlusion, Oxidative balance, Stable coronary artery disease, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin C / vitamin A ratio.

Cardiac electrical and structural alterations in preeclampsia.

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia increases the risk of cardiovascular mortality and morbidity both during pregnancy and long term after the labor by causing cardiac changes that may lead to atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate noninvasive predictors of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias and cardiac structural changes in preeclampsia. METHODS: The study included 34 preeclampsia patients as the study group and 33 healthy pregnant women as the control group. The presence of fragmented QRS morphology, P dispersion, QT dispersion, Tp-e/QTc ratio, inter- and intra-atrial electromechanical delay, left ventricular mass index was evaluated in the groups by 12 lead- ECG and standard and tissue Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS: Left ventricular mass index and relative wall thickness, and E/Em ratio was significantly higher in preeclampsia. Inter- and intra-atrial electromechanical delay and Tp-e were prolonged, and P dispersion, QT dispersion, and Tp-e/QTc ratio were increased significantly in patients with preeclampsia. In addition, fragmented QRS morphology was seen in 76.5% of patients with preeclampsia while it was present in only 27.3% of the control group (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Preeclampsia causes significant cardiac structural and electrocardiographic alterations that may increase the risk of atrial and/or ventricular arrhythmias. A more thorough and earlier cardiac assessment and closer follow-up of these patients would be useful to avoid further complications.

Early cardiac electrical and structural changes in patients with non-obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background    Obese non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was found to increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) regardless of the metabolic syndrome subgroups that may accompany it. In this study, the effect of NAFLD on the structural and electrical functions of the heart was investigated using tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDE) in non-obese NAFLD patients without any known risk factors for AF.Material and methods    The study included 43 female patients (31.3±3.8 years), who had stage 2-3 hepatosteatosis detected by liver ultrasonography and diagnosed as non-obese NAFLD (patient group), and 31 healthy women (control group, 32.5±3.6 years). In addition to standard echocardiographic parameters, inter- and intra-atrial electromechanical delay (EMD) were evaluated by TDE.Results    Interatrial EMD (PA lateral - PA tricuspid) and intraatrial EMD (PA septum - PA tricuspid) were significantly longer in patient group (16.1±3.4 vs. 12.5±2.3 ms, p<0.001, and 8.4±1.6 vs. 6.6±1.6 ms, p<0.001, respectively). At the subclinical level. atrial size, left ventricular diastolic function, and left ventricular wall thickness measurements were greater in the patient group.Conclusion    Inter-atrial and intra-atrial EMD were detected in young women with non-obese NAFLD. In addition, at the subclinical level, structural and functional impairment was detected However, large-volume prospective studies are required to cobfirm these findings regarding the development of AF in non-obese NAFLD patients.

Time delays in each step from symptom onset to treatment in acute myocardial infarction: Results from a nation-wide TURKMI registry.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aimed to analyze the TURKMI registry to identify the factors associated with delays from symptom onset to treatment that would be the focus of improvement efforts in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Turkey. METHODS: The TURKMI study is a nation-wide registry that was conducted in 50 centers capable of 24/7 primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). All consecutive patients (n=1930) with AMI admitted to coronary care units within 48 hours of symptom onset were prospectively enrolled during a predefined 2-week period between November 1, 2018, and November 16, 2018. All the patients were examined in detail with regard to the time elapsed at each step from symptom onset to initiation of treatment, including door-to-balloon time (D2B) and total ischemic time (TIT). RESULTS: After excluding patients who suffered an AMI within the hospital (2.6%), the analysis was conducted for 1879 patients. Most of the patients (49.5%) arrived by self-transport, 11.8% by emergency medical service (EMS) ambulance, and 38.6% were transferred from another EMS without PCI capability. The median time delay from symptom-onset to EMS call was 52.5 (15-180) min and from EMS call to EMS arrival 15 (10-20) min. In ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the median D2B time was 36.5 (25-63) min, and median TIT was 195 (115-330) min. TIT was significantly prolonged from 151 (90-285) min to 250 (165-372) min in patients transferred from non-PCI centers. The major significant factors associated with time delay were patient-related delay and the mode of hospital arrival, both in STEMI and non-STEMI. CONCLUSION: The baseline evaluation of the TURKMI study revealed that an important proportion of patients presenting with AMI within 48 hours of symptom onset reach the PCI treatment center later than the time proposed in the guidelines, and the use of EMS for admission to hospital is extremely low in Turkey. Patient-related factors and the mode of hospital admission were the major factors associated with the time delay to treatment.

Protective Effects of Adrenomedullin on Rat Cerebral Tissue After Transient Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion and Reperfusion.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the protective effect of adrenomedullin (ADM) on cerebral tissue of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. METHODS: Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomized into four groups (n=8). In the I/R Group, bilateral common carotid arteries were clamped for 30 minutes and, subsequently, reperfused for 120 minutes. In the ADM Group, rats received 12 µg/kg of ADM. In the I/R+ADM Group, bilateral common carotid arteries were clamped for 30 minutes and, subsequently, the rats received 12 µg/ kg of ADM. Then, reperfusion was performed for 120 minutes. The Control Group underwent no procedure. Blood and brain tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological analysis. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were analysed. Brain tissue was evaluated histopathologically and neuronal cells were counted in five different fields, at a magnification of ×400. RESULTS: Brain MDA in I/R Group was significantly higher than in ADM Group. Brain GPx and SOD in I/R+ADM Group were significantly higher than in I/R Group. The number of neurons was decreased in I/R Group compared to the Control Group. The number of neurons in I/R+ADM Group was significantly higher than in I/R Group, and lower than in Control Group. Apoptotic changes decreased significantly in I/R+ADM Group and the cell structure was similar in morphology compared to the Control Group. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated the cerebral protective effect of ADM in the rat model of cerebral I/R injury after bilateral carotid artery occlusion.

Protective effects of adrenomedullin on rat cerebral tissue after transient bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and reperfusion

Abstract Objective: We aimed to investigate the protective effect of adrenomedullin (ADM) on cerebral tissue of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods: Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomized into four groups (n=8). In the I/R Group, bilateral common carotid arteries were clamped for 30 minutes and, subsequently, reperfused for 120 minutes. In the ADM Group, rats received 12 µg/kg of ADM. In the I/R+ADM Group, bilateral common carotid arteries were clamped for 30 minutes and, subsequently, the rats received 12 µg/ kg of ADM. Then, reperfusion was performed for 120 minutes. The Control Group underwent no procedure. Blood and brain tissue samples were collected for biochemical and histopathological analysis. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were analysed. Brain tissue was evaluated histopathologically and neuronal cells were counted in five different fields, at a magnification of ×400. Results: Brain MDA in I/R Group was significantly higher than in ADM Group. Brain GPx and SOD in I/R+ADM Group were significantly higher than in I/R Group. The number of neurons was decreased in I/R Group compared to the Control Group. The number of neurons in I/R+ADM Group was significantly higher than in I/R Group, and lower than in Control Group. Apoptotic changes decreased significantly in I/R+ADM Group and the cell structure was similar in morphology compared to the Control Group. Conclusion: We demonstrated the cerebral protective effect of ADM in the rat model of cerebral I/R injury after bilateral carotid artery occlusion.

Subclinical cardiac structural and electrical abnormalities in fibromyalgia syndrome

Background/aim: In the literature, there is a paucity of data about the effects of fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) on myocardial function and electrophysiological properties of atrium and ventricles. In this study, we investigated cardiac functions and noninvasive predictors of arrhythmias in patients with FMS. Materials and methods: The study included 43 female patients diagnosed with FMS and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. The presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS) morphology, P dispersion, QT dispersion, inter- and intraatrial electromechanical delay was evaluated in the groups with 12-lead ECG and standard and tissue Doppler echocardiography. Results: Among electrocardiographic parameters, P dispersion, QT dispersion, and the ratio of presence of fQRS morphology were found to be significantly higher in the study group as compared to the control group. In lateral and septal, the ratio of the early transmitral flow velocity to the early diastolic tissue velocity (E/Em) was significantly higher in the study group. Additionally, intra- and interatrial electromechanical delay was found significantly prolonged in the study group. Conclusion: FMS is found to be associated with significant cardiac electrical alterations that may indicate the increased risk of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in this group of patients.

Comparison of Ultrasound Guidance and Conventional Method for Common Femoral Artery Cannulation: A Prospective Study of 939 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Many techniques, methods and closure devices have been developed in order to reduce vascular complications that occur after coronary and peripheral interventions. The aim of the present study was to identify which method i.e. ultrasound (US) guidance or traditional access technique, is better for common femoral artery cannulation. METHODS: The study included 939 patients, who were assigned to either the US-guided cannulation group (n = 449) or manual technique group (n = 490). The procedure time, first pass success rate, inadvertent venous puncture rate and complications developing within the first 7 days of the procedure were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: No differences were found between the two groups regarding basic characteristics and antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy administered during and up to 24 hours before the procedure. Arterial puncture attempts (p < 0.001), inadvertent venous entry (p = 0.02), and total procedure time (p = 0.012) were significantly lower in the US-guided group compared to the manual technique group. Furthermore, the first pass success rate was significantly higher in the US-guided group compared to the manual technique group (p < 0.001). The US-guided group had significantly lower pain levels (p < 0.001), hematomas (p < 0.001) and arteriovenous fistulas (p = 0.011) than the manual technique group. CONCLUSIONS: US-guided common femoral artery cannulation yields both higher access rates at first attempt and a shorter access time, and lower pain and complication rates.

What is the most appropriate method for coronary sinus cannulation? The telescopic method or the electrophysiologic method?

OBJECTIVES: The most challenging stage of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is coronary sinus cannulation (CS). The aim of this study was to compare coronary sinus cannulation techniques using electrophysiology catheters and coronary angiography catheters. METHODS: In this observational, retrospective and non-randomized study, 87 patients who were eligible for CRT device implantation were screened at Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University Hospital between March 2014 and March 2018. Seventy-two patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The study population was divided into 2 groups: the first group consisted of 36 patients whose coronary sinuses were cannulated via electrophysiology (EP) catheters and the second group included 36 patients who received coronary angiography catheters for coronary sinus cannulation. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in terms of the baseline characteristics of the patients. The total fluoroscopy time was less with cannulation using coronary angiography catheters. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of the amount of contrast material and the success of the operations. CONCLUSIONS: Coronary sinus catheterization using coronary angiography catheters significantly reduces fluoroscopy time in patients undergoing CRT.