Tailored electrocardiographic-based criteria for different pacing locations within the left bundle branch.

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiographic (ECG)-based criteria are used to confirm left bundle branch (LBB) pacing (LBBP), but current cutoff values have never been validated for different pacing locations. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to describe diagnostic performance of V6-R wave peak time (RWPT), V6-V1 interpeak interval, and aVL-RWPT for different pacing sites within the LBB and to determine 100% specific values for each criterion at each pacing location. METHODS: Consecutive patients with confirmed LBBP were selected. Population was divided into subgroups based on the site of pacing: left bundle trunk pacing (LBTP), left septal fascicular pacing (LSFP), left posterior fascicular pacing (LPFP), and left anterior fascicular pacing (LAFP). RESULTS: A total of 147 patients with unequivocal LBB capture were analyzed. Left fascicular pacing was more frequently achieved (82.8%) than LBTP (17.2%). Diagnostic performance of V6-RWPT, V6-V1 interpeak interval, and aVL-RWPT for discrimination of LBBP was good in all subgroups. V6-RWPT cutoff values with 100% specificity (SP) for LBBP discrimination were 75 ms in LBTP, 68 ms in LPFP, 81 ms in LAFP, and 79.5 ms in LSFP. V6-V1 interpeak interval cutoff values with 100% SP for LBBP discrimination were 35.5 ms in LBTP, 53.5 ms in LPFP, 41 ms in LAFP, and 46 ms in LSFP. In LAFP, aVL-RWPT cutoff value with 100% SP for LBBP discrimination was 68 ms, but was 74 ms in LBTP, 74.5 ms in LSFP, and 73.5 ms in LPFP. CONCLUSIONS: Tailored ECG-based criteria might be useful to confirm LBBP at different pacing locations within the LBB.

Atrial mechanical contraction and ambulatory atrioventricular synchrony: Predictors from the OPTIVALL study.

INTRODUCTION: The role that preprocedural factors have on atrioventricular synchrony (AVS) provided by leadless pacemakers requires investigation. METHODS AND RESULTS: We aimed to assess the correlation between mitral inflow echocardiographic parameters and p-wave morphology with the accelerometer A4 signal amplitude. We also sought to identify clinical and echocardiographic predictors of optimal ambulatory AVS (≥85% of cardiac cycles). Forty-three patients undergoing Micra AV implant from June 2020 to March 2023 were prospectively enrolled. Baseline echocardiogram and 12-lead resting ECG were performed. Device follow-up was scheduled at 24 h, 1, 3, and 6 months and yearly after the implant. Ambulatory AVS was studied with a 24 h Holter monitor performed at 3 months follow-up in 35 patients who remained in VDD mode. A4 signal amplitude at 1 month correlated to peak A wave velocity (r = .376; p = .024) at echocardiogram, but no relationship was found with peak A' wave velocity, E/A, or E'/A' ratio. P-wave amplitude in lead I and aVF correlated to A4 signal amplitude at 1- and 3-months follow-up, respectively. Median AVS during 24 h of daily activities was 85.6 ± 7.6% and remained stable up to 100 bpm. Twenty-three out of 35 patients (65.7%) reached optimal ambulatory AVS. There was no association between mitral inflow echocardiographic parameters and optimal AVS. Diabetes (OR: 0.05, 95% CI: 0.01-0.47; p = .009) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01-0.63; p = .019) strongly predicted ambulatory AVS <85%. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes and COPD should be considered when selecting candidates for Micra AV. Measurements of pulsed wave Doppler mitral inflow do not systematically reflect the behavior of the A4 signal amplitude.

Redefining QRS transition to confirm left bundle branch capture during left bundle branch area pacing.

Background: QRS transition criteria during dynamic manoeuvers are the gold-standard for non-invasive confirmation of left bundle branch (LBB) capture, but they are seen in <50% of LBB area pacing (LBBAP) procedures. Objective: We hypothesized that transition from left ventricular septal pacing (LVSP) to LBB pacing (LBBP), when observed during lead penetration into the deep interventricular septum (IVS) with interrupted pacemapping, can suggest LBB capture. Methods: QRS transition during lead screwing-in was defined as shortening of paced V6-R wave peak time (RWPT) by ≥10 ms from LVSP to non-selective LBBP (ns-LBBP) obtained during mid to deep septal lead progression at the same target area, between two consecutive pacing manoeuvres. ECG-based criteria were used to compared LVSP and ns-LBBP morphologies obtained by interrupted pacemapping. Results: Sixty patients with demonstrated transition from LVSP to ns-LBBP during dynamic manoeuvers were compared to 44 patients with the same transition during lead screwing-in. Average shortening in paced V6-RWPT was similar among study groups (17.3 ± 6.8 ms vs. 18.8 ± 4.9 ms for transition during dynamic manoeuvres and lead screwing-in, respectively; p = 0.719). Paced V6-RWPT and aVL-RWPT, V6-V1 interpeak interval and the recently described LBBP score, were also similar for ns-LBBP morphologies in both groups. LVSP morphologies showed longer V6-RWPT and aVL-RWPT, shorter V6-V1 interpeak interval and lower LBBP score punctuation, without differences among the two QRS transition groups. V6-RWPT < 75 ms or V6-V1 interpeak interval > 44 ms criterion was more frequently achieved in ns-LBBP morphologies obtained during lead screwing-in compared to those obtained during dynamic manoeuvres (70.5% vs. 50%, respectively p = 0.036). Conclusions: During LBBAP procedure, QRS transition from LVSP to ns-LBBP can be observed as the lead penetrates deep into the IVS with interrupted pacemapping. Shortening of at least 10 ms in paced V6-RWPT may serve as marker of LBB capture.

Worldwide survey on implantation of and outcomes for conduction system pacing with His bundle and left bundle branch area pacing leads.

BACKGROUND: Adoption and outcomes for conduction system pacing (CSP), which includes His bundle pacing (HBP) or left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP), in real-world settings are incompletely understood. We sought to describe real-world adoption of CSP lead implantation and subsequent outcomes. METHODS: We performed an online cross-sectional survey on the implantation and outcomes associated with CSP, between November 15, 2020, and February 15, 2021. We described survey responses and reported HBP and LBBAP outcomes for bradycardia pacing and cardiac resynchronization CRT indications, separately. RESULTS: The analysis cohort included 140 institutions, located on 5 continents, who contributed data to the worldwide survey on CSP. Of these, 127 institutions (90.7%) reported experience implanting CSP leads. CSP and overall device implantation volumes were reported by 84 institutions. In 2019, the median proportion of device implants with CSP, HBP, and/or LBBAP leads attempted were 4.4% (interquartile range [IQR], 1.9-12.5%; range, 0.4-100%), 3.3% (IQR, 1.3-7.1%; range, 0.2-87.0%), and 2.5% (IQR, 0.5-24.0%; range, 0.1-55.6%), respectively. For bradycardia pacing indications, HBP leads, as compared to LBBAP leads, had higher reported implant threshold (median [IQR]: 1.5 V [1.3-2.0 V] vs 0.8 V [0.6-1.0 V], p = 0.0008) and lower ventricular sensing (median [IQR]: 4.0 mV [3.0-5.0 mV] vs. 10.0 mV [7.0-12.0 mV], p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, CSP lead implantation has been broadly adopted but has yet to become the default approach at most surveyed institutions. As the indications and data for CSP continue to evolve, strategies to educate and promote CSP lead implantation at institutions without CSP lead implantation experience would be necessary.

Combination of current and new electrocardiographic-based criteria: a novel score for the discrimination of left bundle branch capture.

AIMS: Most of the criteria used to diagnose direct capture of the left bundle branch (LBB) have never been validated in an external sample. We hypothesized that lead aVL might add relevant information, and the combination of several electrocardiograph (ECG)-based criteria might discriminate better LBB capture from left ventricular septal (LVS) capture, than each criterion separately. METHODS AND RESULTS: Single-centre study involving all consecutive patients who received LBB area pacing. LBB capture was defined according to QRS morphology transition criteria during decremental pacing. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to develop a predictive score for LBB capture. A total of 71 patients with confirmed LBB capture were analysed. The optimal cut-off values of R wave peak time (RWPT) in lead V6 (V6-RWPT) and V6-V1 interpeak interval for the discrimination of LBB capture were <83 ms and ≥33 ms, respectively. The RWPT in lead aVL (aVL-RWPT) showed a good discrimination power for the differential diagnosis of LBB capture and LVS capture. The optimal value for aVL-RWPT was 79 ms [sensitivity (SN) and specificity (SP) of 71.2% and 88.4%, respectively]. A new score, with a good diagnostic performance (area under the curve of 0.976), was constructed gathering the information from V6-RWPT, aVL-RWPT, and V6-V1 interpeak interval. The optimal score of 3 points showed a SN and SP of 89.2% and 100%, respectively for the differentiation of LBB capture. CONCLUSIONS: ECG-based criteria are useful to confirm the capture of the LBB. The combination of V6-RWPT, aVL-RWPT, and V6-V1 interpeak interval values demonstrated better diagnostic performance than isolated measurements.

Optimizing atrial sensing parameters in leadless pacemakers: Atrioventricular synchrony achievement in the real world.

BACKGROUND: Performance of the leadless pacemaker capable of atrioventricular (AV) synchronous pacing in de novo patients warrants further investigation. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to assess what programming changes are needed to achieve proper atrial tracking and to study the percentage of AV synchrony (AVS) the device can provide under real-world conditions. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing Micra AV implantation between June 2020 and November 2021 were studied. Reprogramming of atrial sensing parameters during follow-up was performed by following device counters. AVS was studied with an ambulatory 24-hour Holter monitor and automatically analyzed by an electrocardiogram delineation system. The primary end point was AVS ≥85% of total cardiac cycles during 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram monitoring. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients who remained in VDD mode were studied, and all of them required manual reprogramming. The automatic A3 window end was deactivated, and a fixed and short value was set in all patients throughout follow-up. AVS significantly increased from 68.7% ± 14.7% at 24-hour follow-up to 83.9% ± 7.4% at 1-month visit (P = .001). At 1-month visit, shorter A3 window end time (P = .019), higher A4 threshold (P = .011), and deactivation of the automatic A3 window (P = .054) were independently related to higher AVS. A total of 2,291,953 Holter-recorded cardiac cycles were analyzed. Median AVS during 24-hour daily activities was 87.6% (interquartile range 84.5%-90.6%). Twenty of 26 patients (79.6%) reached AVS ≥85% of cardiac cycles. CONCLUSION: High rates of AVS can be achieved in real-world patients undergoing leadless pacing. Manual reprogramming of the atrial sensing parameters is essential to optimize mechanically sensed atrial tracking.

Long-Term Outcomes Among a Nationwide Cohort of Patients Using an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: UMBRELLA Study Final Results.

Background Large-scale studies describing modern populations using an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) are lacking. We aimed to analyze the incidence of arrhythmia, device interventions, and mortality in a broad spectrum of real-world ICD patients with different heart disorders. Methods and Results The UMBRELLA study is a prospective, multicenter, nationwide study of contemporary patients using an ICD followed up by remote monitoring, with a blinded review of arrhythmic episodes. From November 2005 to November 2017, 4296 patients were followed up. After 46.6±27.3 months, 16 067 episodes of sustained ventricular arrhythmia occurred in 1344 patients (31.3%). Appropriate ICD therapy occurred in 27.3% of study population. Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (hazard ratio [HR], 1.51; 95% CI, 1.29-1.78), dilated cardiomyopathy (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.07-1.53), and valvular heart disease (HR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.43-2.62) exhibited a higher risk of appropriate ICD therapies, whereas patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54-0.96) and Brugada syndrome (HR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.14-0.45) showed a lower risk. All-cause death was 13.4% at follow-up. Ischemic cardiomyopathy (HR, 3.09; 95% CI, 2.58-5.90), dilated cardiomyopathy (HR, 3.33; 95% CI, 2.18-5.10), and valvular heart disease (HR, 3.97; 95% CI, 2.25-6.99) had the worst prognoses. Delayed high-rate detection was enabled in 39.7% of patients, and single-zone programming occurred in 52.6% of primary prevention patients. Both parameters correlated with lower risk of first appropriate ICD therapy, with no excess risk of mortality. The rate of inappropriate shocks at follow-up was low (6%) and did not differ among type of ICD but was lower in SmartShock-capable devices. Conclusions Irrespective of the cause, contemporary ICD patients with heart failure-related disorders had a similar risk of ICD life-saving interventions and death. Current ICD programming recommendations still need to be implemented. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NTC01561144.

Prognostic value of initial QRS analysis in anterior STEMI: Correlation with left ventricular systolic dysfunction, serum biomarkers, and cardiac outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The presence of pathologic Q waves on admission electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with anterior ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI) has been related to adverse cardiac outcomes. Our study evaluates the prognostic value of QRS complex and Q waves in patients with STEMI undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: We prospectively analyzed the specific characteristics of QRS complex and pathologic Q waves on admission and on discharge ECG in 144 patients hospitalized for anterior STEMI. We correlated these findings with the development of left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD), appearance of heart failure (HF) or death during follow-up, and levels of several biomarkers obtained 6 months after the index event. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that QRS width (odds ratios [OR] 1.05, p = .001) on admission ECG and the sum of Q-wave depth (OR 1.06, p = .002) on discharge ECG were independent predictors of LVSD development. Moreover, QRS width on admission ECG was related to an increased risk of HF or death (OR 1.03, p = .026). Regarding biomarkers, QRS width on admission ECG revealed a statistically significant relationship with the levels of NT-pro-BNP at 6 months (0.29, p = .004); the sum of Q-wave depth (0.27, p = .012) and width (0.25, p = .021) on admission ECG was related to the higher levels of hs-cTnI; the sum of the voltages in precordial leads both on admission ECG (-0.26, p = .011) and discharge ECG (0.24, p = .046) was related to the lower levels of parathormone. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of QRS complex width and pathologic Q waves on admission and discharge ECGs aids in predicting long-term prognosis in patients with STEMI.

Prognostic role of NYHA class in heart failure patients undergoing primary prevention ICD therapy.

AIMS: Concerns about the prognostic value of NYHA functional class (FC) in heart failure (HF) patients carrying a prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) are still present. We aimed to compare whether mortality and arrhythmic risk were different, in a cohort of HF patients undergoing ICD-only implant, according to their FC. METHODS AND RESULTS: HF patients with left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%, undergoing first prophylactic ICD-only implant were collected from a multicentre nationwide registry (2006-2015). Six hundred and twenty-one patients were identified (101 patients in NYHA I; 411 in NYHA II; 109 in NYHA III). After a mean follow-up of 4.4 years (±2.1), 126 patients died (20.3%). All-cause mortality risk was higher in symptomatic patients: 13.9% in NYHA I patients, 18.3% in NYHA II patients (HR: 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.2), and 32.9% in NYHA III patients (HR: 3.9, 95% CI 2.1-7.3). Seventy-eight out of all deaths were due to cardiovascular causes (12.6%). Cardiovascular mortality risk was also higher in symptomatic patients: 6.9% in NYHA I patients, 11% in NYHA II patients (HR: 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.9), and 23.9% in NYHA III (HR: 5.5, 95% CI 2.4-12.7). One hundred and seventeen patients received a first appropriate ICD therapy (19.4%). Arrhythmia free survival did not differ among study groups [20.8% in NYHA I patients, 18.7% in NYHA II (HR: 1.1, 95% CI 0.6-1.7) and 20.8% in NYHA III patients (HR: 1.3, 95% CI 0.7-2.5)]. NYHA class independently predicted cardiovascular mortality (NYHA III vs. NYHA I: HR, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.7-12.8, P = 0.002; NYHA II vs. NYHA I: HR, 2.1, 95% CI, 1.0-5.6, P = 0.05) but not all-cause death (NYHA III vs. NYHA I: HR: 1.8, 95% CI 0.8-3.9, P = 0.11; NYHA II vs. NYHA I: HR, 1.1, 95% CI 0.6-2.2, P = 0.71;). Atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, and diabetes emerged as predictors of both all-cause death [(HR: 1.8, 95% CI 1.2-2.8, P = 0.005), (HR: 2.2, 95% CI 1.4-3.4, P < 0.001), (HR: 2.0, 95% CI 1.3-3.1, P = 0.001), respectively] and cardiovascular mortality [(HR: 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.1, P = 0.02), (HR: 3.1, 95% CI 1.8-5.4, P < 0.001), (HR: 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-3, P = 0.032), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality in HF patients undergoing prophylactic ICD implantation was higher in symptomatic patients. NYHA functional class along with other comorbidities might be helpful to identify a subgroup of ICD carriers with poorer prognosis and higher risk of cardiovascular death.

Survival and arrhythmic risk among ischemic and non-ischemic heart failure patients with prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillator only therapy: A propensity score-matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Concerns about the efficacy of prophylactic ICD in non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) heart failure (HF) patients are still present. We aimed to assess whether survival and arrhythmic risk were different among ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) and NICM ICD-only patients, along with specific predictors for mortality. METHODS: HF patients undergoing ICD-only implant were extracted from the nationwide multicenter UMBRELLA registry. Arrhythmic events were collected by remote monitoring and reviewed by a committee of experts. RESULTS: 782 patients (556 ICM; 226 NICM) were recruited: mean ejection fraction of 26.6%; 83.4% in NYHA class II-III; mean QRS duration of 108.9 ms (only 14.9% with QRS > 130 ms). After 4.35 years of mean follow-up, all-cause mortality rate was 4.2%/year. In propensity-score (PS) analysis no survival differences between ICM and NICM subgroups appeared (mortality rates: 19.4% vs. 20%, p = 0.375). Age (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.02, p = 0.009), diabetes (HR = 2.61, p ≤ 0.001), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (HR = 2.13, p = 0.002), and previous HF (HR = 2.28, p = 0.027) correlated with increased mortality for the entire population, however atrial fibrillation (AF) (HR = 2.68, p = 0.002) and chronic kidney disease (HR = 3.74, p ≤ 0.001) emerged as specific predictors in NICM patients. At follow-up, 134 patients (17.1%) were delivered a first appropriate ICD therapy (5.1%/year) without significant differences between ICM and NICM patients in the PS analysis (17.6% vs. 15.8%, p = 0.968). ICD shocks were associated with a higher mortality (HR = 2.88, p < 0.001) but longer detection windows (HR = 0.57, p = 0.042) correlated with fewer appropriate therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality and arrhythmia free survival is similar among ICM and NICM HF patients undergoing ICD-only implant for primary prevention strategy.

Single-brand dual-chamber discriminators to prevent inappropriate shocks in patients implanted with prophylactic implantable cardioverter defibrillators: a propensity-weighted comparison of single- and dual-chamber devices.

PURPOSE: Comparisons of the efficacy of dual- vs. single-chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in preventing inappropriate shocks have had contradictory results. We investigated whether dual-chamber devices have a lower risk of inappropriate shocks and the specific role of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) discriminators. METHODS: All heart failure (HF) patients without an indication for pacing and implanted with a prophylactic ICD were recruited from the nationwide multicenter UMBRELLA registry. Arrhythmic events were collected by remote monitoring and reviewed by a committee of experts. RESULTS: Among 782 patients, single-chamber ICDs were implanted in 537 (68.7%) and dual-chamber devices in 245 (31.3%). During a mean follow-up of 52.2 ± 24.5 months, 109 inappropriate shocks were delivered in 49 patients (6.2%). In the propensity-score-matched analysis, dual-chamber ICDs were related to lower rates of inappropriate shocks as compared to single-chamber devices (0.9% vs. 11.8%, p = < 0.001, log-rank test). In multivariable Cox proportional analysis, independent predictors of inappropriate shock were history of atrial fibrillation (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.78, CI 1.37-5.64, p = 0.004), chronic kidney disease (HR = 6.15, CI 2.82-13.53, p < 0.001), and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (HR = 2.84, CI 1.54-5.23, p = 0.001). Among ICD settings, PR logic was the only discriminator independently related to a reduced risk of inappropriate shocks (HR = 0.18, CI 0.06-0.48, p = 0.001), along with an SVT limit enabled over 200 bpm (HR = 0.24, CI 0.11-0.51, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this nationwide cohort of primary prevention ICD-only patients, dual-chamber devices were related to lower risk of inappropriate shocks compared to single-chamber ICDs. Besides, PR logic and SVT limit > 200 bpm emerged as protective factors.

Relationship between different doses of beta-blockers and prognosis in elderly patients with reduced ejection fraction.

BACKGROUND: Beta-blockers (BBs) remain underused in elderly patients with reduced ejection fraction (REF). Our aim was to determine the prognostic impact of different doses of BB in this setting. METHODS AND RESULTS: A single-center observational study was conducted. Inclusion criteria were age≥75 and EF≤0.35. Six months after diagnosis, patients were divided into 3 groups depending on BB dose: no BB (NBB), low dose (<50% of the target dose) (LD), and high dose (≥50%) (HD). Two different analytical approaches were employed: multivariate Cox model and propensity-score (PS) matching. Outcomes were all-cause death and heart failure (HF) admission. We included 559 patients (134 NBB, 259 LD, and 166 HD) with median follow-up of 29.9months. There were 212 deaths (NBB: 70 (52.2%); LD: 94 (36.3%); and HD: 48 (28.9%)) and 171 HF admissions (NBB: 42 (31.3%); LD: 85 (32.8%); and HD: 44 (26.5%)). On multivariate analysis, both LD and HD were associated with improved survival, with no differences between them (HD vs. NBB=0.67, 95% CI=[0.46-0.98], p=0.037; HD vs. LD=1.03, 95% CI=[0.72-1.46], p=0.894; and LD vs. NBB=0.65, 95% CI=[0.48-0.90], p=0.009). However, BB therapy failed to show benefits in HF admissions (p=NS, for each comparison). PS-matched analysis included 198 patients, with similar results to those mentioned above. CONCLUSIONS: BB therapy was associated with a significant reduction in mortality among elderly patients with REF, regardless of dose. Nevertheless, it was not associated with a decrease in HF admissions. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal BB dose in these patients.

Predictors of persistent pulmonary hypertension after mitral valve replacement.

Persistent pulmonary hypertension (P-PH) after mitral valve replacement (MVR) leads to an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. We sought to determine which factors were involved in its occurrence. Patients undergoing MVR for a 3-year period were collected in a retrospective way. We excluded those with an available follow-up shorter than 3 months. Sample size was 111 patients. PH was diagnosed if systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) estimated by Doppler echocardiography was >40 mmHg. Clinical, echocardiographic, and surgical factors were analyzed. P-PH was present in 42.3 % of patients after 12.6 months of mean follow-up. P-PH was more frequently observed in elderly and female patients, in those with severe degrees of PH before surgery, and significant tricuspid regurgitation (TR). On multivariable analysis, significant TR (OR 1.739; p = 0.01) and more severe degrees of PH before surgery (OR 1.761; p = 0.03) were significantly associated with the presence of P-PH after MVR. Surgical factors related to P-PH were prosthesis size and tricuspid annuloplasty: no need for the performing of tricuspid annuloplasty (OR 0.345; p = 0.025) and the implantation of a smaller prosthesis (OR 0.656; p = 0.004) were related to higher rates of P-PH after MVR. MVR was associated with high prevalence of P-PH after mid-term follow-up. Both PH and significant TR before surgery were associated with P-PH. Our data point out that MVR should be planned before the development of PH and greater TR. Smaller prosthetic size is also a risk factor for P-PH and bigger prostheses are desirable when possible.

Isolated Right Ventricular Dilated Cardiomyopathy: An Early Diagnosis.

Because of an incomplete right bundle branch block, a severe right ventricular dilatation with no left ventricular cardiomyopathy was found in a 44-year-old man. Magnetic resonance and transesophageal echocardiography confirmed the finding and these tests also failed to find any potential cause. A pulmonary hemodynamic study and a coronary angiography were strictly normal. Lastly pulmonary function tests and a pulmonary angiography were performed, which did not find any lung disease causing the right ventricular dilatation. The patient was catalogued as an early stage of an idiopathic form of right ventricular dilated cardiomyopathy.

[Improvements in oral anticoagulant therapy for atrial fibrillation]. / Avances en el tratamiento anticoagulante oral de la fibrilación auricular.

For the last decades vitamin K antagonists have been the most effective anticoagulant treatment of atrial fibrillation. New molecules are being designed, mainly due to the great amount of disadvantages in the management of conventional anticoagulation. Dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban will soon be available as an alternative to warfarin/acenocumarol. All of them have demonstrated to be non-inferior to warfarin in preventing stroke and systemic embolism, with even dabigatran 150 mg bid and apixaban being superior. They have also a lower risk of bleeding, especially regarding severe/fatal and intracranial hemorrhages. This is a real revolution. The advance of these new anticoagulants will be limited only by the higher cost, and will progressively become the protagonists of oral anticoagulation in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.