Redo aortic valve replacement versus valve-in-valve trans-catheter aortic valve implantation: a UK propensity-matched analysis.

This study sought to compare the morbidity and mortality of redo aortic valve replacement (redo-AVR) versus valve-in-valve trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (valve-in-valve TAVI) for patients with a failing bioprosthetic valve. A multicenter UK retrospective study of redo-AVR or valve-in-valve TAVI for patients referred for redo aortic valve intervention due to a degenerated aortic bioprosthesis. Propensity score matching was performed for confounding factors. From July 2005 to April 2021, 911 patients underwent redo-AVR and 411 patients underwent valve-in-valve TAVI. There were 125 pairs for analysis after propensity score matching. The mean age was 75.2±8.5 years. In-hospital mortality was 7.2% (n=9) for redo-AVR versus 0 for valve-in-valve TAVI, p=0.002. Surgical patients suffered more post-operative complications, including intra-aortic balloon pump support (p=0.02), early re-operation (p<0.001), arrhythmias (p<0.001), respiratory and neurological complications (p=0.02 and p=0.03) and multi-organ failure (p=0.01). The valve-in-valve TAVI group had a shorter intensive care unit and hospital stay (p<0.001 for both). However, moderate aortic regurgitation at discharge and higher post-procedural gradients were more common after valve-in-valve TAVI (p<0.001 for both). Survival probabilities in patients who were successfully discharged from the hospital were similar after valve-in-valve TAVI and redo-AVR over the 6-year follow-up (log-rank p=0.26). In elderly patients with a degenerated aortic bioprosthesis, valve-in-valve TAVI provides better early outcomes as opposed to redo-AVR, although there was no difference in mid-term survival in patients successfully discharged from the hospital.

Outcomes following PCI in CABG candidates during the COVID-19 pandemic: The prospective multicentre UK-ReVasc registry.

OBJECTIVES: To describe outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients who would usually have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). BACKGROUND: In the United Kingdom, cardiac surgery for coronary artery disease (CAD) was dramatically reduced during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many patients with "surgical disease" instead underwent PCI. METHODS: Between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2020, 215 patients with recognized "surgical" CAD who underwent PCI were enrolled in the prospective UK-ReVasc Registry (ReVR). 30-day major cardiovascular event outcomes were collected. Findings in ReVR patients were directly compared to reference PCI and isolated CABG pre-COVID-19 data from British Cardiovascular Intervention Society (BCIS) and National Cardiac Audit Programme (NCAP) databases. RESULTS: ReVR patients had higher incidence of diabetes (34.4% vs 26.4%, P = .008), multi-vessel disease with left main stem disease (51.4% vs 3.0%, P < .001) and left anterior descending artery involvement (94.8% vs 67.2%, P < .001) compared to BCIS data. SYNTAX Score in ReVR was high (mean 28.0). Increased use of transradial access (93.3% vs 88.6%, P = .03), intracoronary imaging (43.6% vs 14.4%, P < .001) and calcium modification (23.6% vs 3.5%, P < .001) was observed. No difference in in-hospital mortality was demonstrated compared to PCI and CABG data (ReVR 1.4% vs BCIS 0.7%, P = .19; vs NCAP 1.0%, P = .48). Inpatient stay was half compared to CABG (3.0 vs 6.0 days). Low-event rates in ReVR were maintained to 30-day follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: PCI undertaken using contemporary techniques produces excellent short-term results in patients who would be otherwise CABG candidates. Longer-term follow-up is essential to determine whether these outcomes are maintained over time.

Initial experience of a self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve with an outer pericardial wrap: The United Kingdom and Ireland Implanters' registry.

OBJECTIVES: The United Kingdom and Ireland Implanters' registry is a multicenter registry which reports on real-world experience with new transcatheter heart valves. BACKGROUND: The Evolut PRO (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN) transcatheter aortic valve is a self-expanding transcatheter aortic valve with an outer pericardial wrap, designed to minimize paravalvular regurgitation. METHODS: Between July 2017 and December 2018, clinical, procedural, and 30-day outcome data were prospectively collected from all patients receiving the Evolut PRO valve across nine participating centers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The primary efficacy outcome was the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2 (VARC-2)-defined endpoint of device success. The primary safety outcome was the VARC-2-defined composite endpoint of early safety at 30 days. RESULTS: A total of 317 patients underwent implantation. Mean age was 81.8 ± 6.4 years and Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality Score 5.5 ± 1.8%. Iliofemoral access was used in 99.1% of patients. Device success was 91.2%. Mean gradient was 7.6 ± 4.7 mmHg and effective orifice area 1.9 ± 0.7 cm2 . The incidence of moderate paravalvular regurgitation was 1.7% and there was no severe paravalvular regurgitation. A new permanent pacemaker was implanted in 17.8% of patients without a pacemaker at baseline. Early safety was demonstrated in 92.7%. At 30 days, all-cause mortality was 0.6%, stroke 3.8%, and major vascular complication 2.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Real-world experience of the Evolut PRO transcatheter aortic valve demonstrated favorable procedural success, safety, valve function, and incidence of new permanent pacemaker implantation.

Aspirin Discontinuation in Patients Requiring Oral Anticoagulation Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, The Role of Procedural Complexity.

BACKGROUND: The prognostic role of procedural complexity when discontinuing aspirin in patients on oral anticoagulation undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has never been studied. METHODS: Ischaemic events were compared in 256 consecutive patients according to procedural complexity and aspirin on discharge. PCI complexity was defined according to the high-risk features for ischaemic events in the current guidelines RESULTS: Forty percent patients had stable presentation. In patients with complex PCI, ischaemic events were significantly higher when discharged without aspirin (adjusted HR 3.66, (95% CI 1.07 to 12.47), P = 0.038). This was driven from both target vessel failure and de-novo coronary lesions. Ischaemic events were comparable between patients with complex PCI on aspirin and those who underwent non-complex PCI. CONCLUSIONS: Procedural complexity in patients with indication for oral anticoagulation undergoing PCI should be factored in when deciding optimal antithrombotic therapies. Aspirin discontinuation in patients with high-risk PCI features should be discouraged.

Initial experience of a large, self-expanding, and fully recapturable transcatheter aortic valve: The UK & Ireland Implanters' registry.

OBJECTIVES: The UK & Ireland Implanters' registry is a multicenter registry which reports on real-world experience with novel transcatheter heart valves. BACKGROUND: The 34 mm Evolut R transcatheter aortic valve is a self-expanding and fully recapturable transcatheter aortic valve, designed to treat patients with a large aortic annulus. METHODS: Between January 2017 and April 2018, clinical, procedural and 30-day outcome data were prospectively collected from all patients receiving the 34 mm Evolut R valve across 17 participating centers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The primary efficacy outcome was the Valve Academic Research Consortium-2(VARC-2)-defined endpoint of device success. The primary safety outcome was the VARC-2-defined composite endpoint of early safety at 30 days. RESULTS: A total of 217 patients underwent attempted implant. Mean age was 79.5 ± 8.8 years and Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality Score 5.2% ± 3.4%. Iliofemoral access was used in 91.2% of patients. Device success was 79.7%. Mean gradient was 7.0 ± 4.6 mmHg and effective orifice area 2.0 ± 0.6 cm2 . Paravalvular regurgitation was more than mild in 7.2%. A new permanent pacemaker was implanted in 15.7%. Early safety was demonstrated in 91.2%. At 30 days, all-cause mortality was 3.2%, stroke 3.7%, and major vascular complication 2.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Real-world experience of the 34 mm Evolut R transcatheter aortic valve demonstrated acceptable procedural success, safety, valve function, and incidence of new permanent pacemaker implantation.

Complex percutaneous coronary intervention in patients unable to undergo coronary artery bypass grafting during the COVID-19 pandemic: insights from the UK-ReVasc Registry.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiac surgery for coronary artery disease was dramatically reduced during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many patients with disease ordinarily treated with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) instead underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We sought to describe 12-month outcomes following PCI in patients who would typically have undergone CABG. METHODS: Between March 1 and July 31, 2020, patients who received revascularization with PCI when CABG would have been the primary choice of revascularization were enrolled in the prospective, multicenter UK-ReVasc Registry. We evaluated the following major adverse cardiovascular events at 12 months: all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization, stroke, major bleeding, and stent thrombosis. RESULTS: A total of 215 patients were enrolled across 45 PCI centers in the United Kingdom. Twelve-month follow up data were obtained for 97% of the cases. There were 9 deaths (4.3%), 5 myocardial infarctions (2.4%), 12 repeat revascularizations (5.7%), 1 stroke (0.5%), 3 major bleeds (1.4%), and no cases of stent thrombosis. No difference in the primary endpoint was observed between patients who received complete vs incomplete revascularization (residual SYNTAX score £ 8 vs > 8) (P = .22). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with patterns of coronary disease in whom CABG would have been the primary therapeutic choice outside of the pandemic, PCI was associated with acceptable outcomes at 12 months of follow-up. Contemporary randomized trials that compare PCI to CABG in such patient cohorts may be warranted.

A Complex Case of Pregnancy-related Left Main Stem Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a less common cause of acute coronary syndrome. Pregnancy-related SCAD is uncommon, but often presents with a more severe phenotype. This report describes a 30-year-old woman with an anterior ST elevation MI, presenting 1 day postpartum. Left main stem (LMS) SCAD with extensive intramural haematoma (IMH) and resultant LMS occlusion was confirmed by angiography and intravascular imaging. Given the extent of disease, the patient underwent emergency cardiac surgery. Coronary flow was initially improved by decompressing the IMH using cutting balloons. The coronary wires were successfully left in situ during transfer in an effort to both maintain flow and allow the surgeon to identify true LMS. Ideally, SCAD can be managed conservatively given the risk of intervention worsening IMH, and hence myocardial ischaemia/MI. However, emergency revascularisation is indicated in cases of persistent ischaemia. This case demonstrates percutaneous therapies to bridge towards and help with subsequent surgical revascularisation.

Reframing Optimal Implantation of the Sapien 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve.

OBJECTIVES: To define the optimal implantation of the Sapien 3 (Edwards Lifesciences) transcatheter heart valve (THV), this study systematically analyzed the predeployment fluoroscopic THV position and correlated this to clinical outcomes. METHODS: This was an observational study of 279 patients treated with the Sapien 3 THV. Fluoroscopic imaging was used to categorize patients into low (n = 147), intermediate (n = 86), and high (n = 46) implantation zones. These zones were based on the relationship of the balloon marker and radiolucent line of the valve frame (line of lucency) to the annular plane at deployment. The primary outcome was the rate of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) at 30 days. The secondary outcomes were the rates of new left bundle-branch block (LBBB) in-hospital and all-cause mortality at 1 year. RESULTS: In the high, intermediate, and low groups, 30-day PPI rates were 4.3%, 8.1%, and 8.8% (P=.62); in-hospital LBBB rates were 10.9%, 26.7%, and 32.0% (P=.02); and all-cause mortality rates at 1 year were 3.1%, 7.3%, and 12.5% (P=.14), respectively. No differences were observed with respect to procedural success/complications or THV performance between the groups. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates fewer conduction abnormalities for Sapien 3 valves positioned within a higher zone defined fluoroscopically by the line of lucency and balloon marker.

Heart fatty acid-binding protein in combination with the 80-lead body surface potential map improves early detection of acute myocardial infarction in patients who are cardiac troponin T-negative at presentation.

UNLABELLED: Of patients who present with ischemic-type chest pain and a negative cardiac troponin T (cTnT) at first medical contact, there are patients at a very early stage of infarction. The aim of this research was to assess heart fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP), a novel marker of myocyte necrosis, in combination with the 80-lead body surface potential map (BSPM) in the early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: In this prospective study, consecutive patients presenting with acute ischemic-type chest pain between 2003 and 2006 were enrolled. At first medical contact, blood was sampled for cTnT and H-FABP; in addition, a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and BSPM were recorded. A second cTnT was sampled 12 hours or more after presentation. Peak cTnT 0.03 µg/L or higher diagnosed AMI. Elevated H-FABP was 5 ng/mL or higher. A cardiologist blinded to both the clinical details and 12-lead ECG interpreted the BSPM. RESULTS: Enrolled were 407 patients (age 62 ± 13 years; 70% men). Of these 407, 180 had cTnT less than 0.03 µg/L at presentation. Acute myocardial infarction occurred in 52 (29%) of 180 patients. Of these 180 patients, 27 had ST-segment elevation (STE) on ECG, 104 had STE on BSPM (sensitivity, 88%; specificity, 55%), and 95 (53%) had H-FABP elevation. The proportion with elevated H-FABP was higher in the AMI group compared with non-AMI group (P < .001). Body surface potential map STE was significantly associated with H-FABP elevation (P < .001). Of those with initial cTnT less than 0.03 µg/L, the c-statistic for the receiver operating characteristic curve distinguishing AMI from non-AMI using H-FABP alone was 0.644 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.521-0.771), using BSPM alone was 0.716 (95% CI, 0.638-0.793), and using the combination of BSPM and H-FABP was 0.812 (95% CI, 0.747-0.876; P < .001). CONCLUSION: In patients with acute ischemic-type chest pain who have a normal cTnT at presentation, the combination of H-FABP and BSPM at first assessment identifies those with early AMI (c-statistic, 0.812; P < .001), thus allowing earlier triage to reperfusion therapy and secondary prevention.

Flow, Reflected by Stroke Volume Index, Is a Risk Marker in High-Gradient Aortic Stenosis Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

BACKGROUND: Tools are needed to identify patients at increased risk after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Indexed stroke volume (SVi) is an echocardiographic measurement that is used for low-gradient aortic stenosis. We studied whether low SVi is a high-risk marker in patients with high-gradient aortic stenosis (HG-AS) and assessed the relationship between SVi and left ventricle (LV) systolic function in contributing to this risk. METHODS: A total of 816 consecutive patients who underwent TAVR were screened, and only patients with HG-AS were included. Low flow (LF) was defined as SVi ≤ 35 mL/m2. The primary endpoint was defined as a combination of all-cause mortality and readmission with heart failure at 1 year. RESULTS: Of the 476 patients with HG-AS, 215 (45%) had LF. They had higher N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) (2565 [1037-5492] vs 1730 [818-3575], P = 0.006) and smaller indexed valve area (0.30 ± 0.10 vs 0.37 ± 0.10 cm2/m2, P < 0.001) when compared with normal flow patients. The primary endpoint was higher in LF patients (hazard ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-2.21; P = 0.045). There were no statistical differences in the individual components of death (13.0% vs 8.9%, P = 0.16) or heart failure (14.9% vs 10.1%, P = 0.12). When stratified according to LV function, low SVi was associated with future adverse events in patients with reduced function (hazard ratio, 3.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.26-8.98; P = 0.015) with comparable clinical outcomes in those with preserved function. LF was an independent predictor of adverse events in the reduced LV function subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: SVi can further characterize patients with HG-AS and may help to identify those who are at increased risk after TAVR.

Prespecified Risk Criteria Facilitate Adequate Discharge and Long-Term Outcomes After Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation.

Background Despite the availability of guidelines for the performance of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), current treatment pathways vary between countries and institutions, which impact on the mean duration of postprocedure hospitalization. Methods and Results This was a prospective, multicenter registry of 502 patients to validate the appropriateness of discharge timing after transfemoral TAVI, using prespecified risk criteria from FAST-TAVI (Feasibility and Safety of Early Discharge After Transfemoral [TF] Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation), based on hospital events within 1-year after discharge. The end point-a composite of all-cause mortality, vascular access-related complications, permanent pacemaker implantation, stroke, cardiac rehospitalization, kidney failure, and major bleeding-was reached in 27.0% of patients (95% CI, 23.3-31.2) within 1 year after intervention; 7.5% (95% CI, 5.5-10.2) had in-hospital complications before discharge and 19.6% (95% CI, 16.3-23.4) within 1 year after discharge. Overall mortality within 1 year after discharge was 7.3% and rates of cardiac rehospitalization 13.5%, permanent pacemaker implantation 4.2%, any stroke 1.8%, vascular-access-related complications 0.7%, life-threatening bleeding 0.7%, and kidney failure 0.4%. Composite events within 1 year after discharge were observed in 18.8% and 24.3% of patients with low risk of complications/early (≤3 days) discharge and high risk and discharged late (>3 days) (concordant discharge), respectively. Event rate in patients with discordant discharge was 14.3% with low risk but discharged late and increased to 50.0% in patients with high risk but discharged in ≤3 days. Conclusions The FAST-TAVI risk assessment provides a tool for appropriate, risk-based discharge that was validated with the 1-year event rate after transfemoral TAVI. Registration URL: https://www.ClinicalTrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT02404467.

Novel biomarkers in early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction compared with cardiac troponin T.

AIMS: To evaluate the role of novel biomarkers in early detection of acute myocardial infarction (MI) in patients admitted with acute chest pain. METHODS AND RESULTS: A prospective study of 664 patients presenting to two coronary care units with chest pain was conducted over 3 years from 2003. Patients were assessed on admission: clinical characteristics, ECG (electrocardiogram), renal function, cardiac troponin T (cTnT), heart fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP), glycogen phosphorylase-BB, NT-pro-brain natriuretic peptide, D-dimer, hsCRP (high sensitivity C-reactive protein), myeloperoxidase, matrix metalloproteinase-9, pregnancy associated plasma protein-A, soluble CD40 ligand. A > or = 12 h cTnT sample was also obtained. MI was defined as cTnT > or = 0.03 microg/L. In patients presenting <4 h of symptom onset, sensitivity of H-FABP for MI was significantly higher than admission cTnT (73 vs. 55%; P = 0.043). Specificity of H-FABP was 71%. None of the other biomarkers challenged cTnT. Combined use of H-FABP and cTnT (either one elevated initially) significantly improved the sensitivities of H-FABP or cTnT (85%; P < or = 0.004). This combined approach also improved the negative predictive value, negative likelihood ratio, and the risk ratio. CONCLUSION: Assessment of H-FABP within the first 4 h of symptoms is superior to cTnT for detection of MI, and is a useful additional biomarker for patients with acute chest pain.

Saphenous Vein Graft Sacrifice Following Native Vessel PCI is Safe and Associated with Favourable Longer-Term Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Competitive flow from saphenous vein grafts (SVG) that remain patent following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the native vessel may compromise durability of the reconstructed vessel. SVG sacrifice has been advocated, but the safety and longer-term outcomes of this are unknown. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all post-bypass patients who following successful PCI of the native vessel underwent attempted saphenous vein graft (SVG) closure between January 2014 and July 2018 in two institutions. The co-primary end-points of interest were safety and target lesion failure (TLF), defined as a composite of cardiac death, target vessel recurrent myocardial infarction or clinically driven target lesion revascularisation (TLR). RESULTS: Of the 33 consecutive patients included, the reconstructed native vessel was a chronic total occlusion (CTO) in 93.9% of patients (n = 31) with a mean J-CTO score of 3.2 (±1.1) SVG closure was successful in 97.0% of patients (n = 32). Amplatzer Vascular Plugs (AVP; Abbott Vascular) were used in all patients with most grafts closed by a single plug (72.7%). The average procedure time was 20.1 min with evidence of a short learning curve. Over a mean follow up of 602 (±393) days from the date of SVG closure, the incidence of TLF was 9.1% (n = 3). There was an additional case of targe vessel failure (TVF) due to progression of native vessel disease not treated at the index procedure. SVG closure resulted in only 1 episode of "slow flow" that was transient and self-resolving. There were no other associated peri-procedural or in-hospital complications. CONCLUSION: Following native vessel PCI, SVG sacrifice may be considered to terminate the potentially deleterious effects of residual competitive flow. In selected cases, this approach achieves high success rate and favourable longer-term outcomes.

Eosinopenia as an Adverse Marker of Clinical Outcomes in Patients Presenting with Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Eosinopenia is considered a surrogate of inflammation in several disease settings. Following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, eosinopenia is presumed to be a marker of infarct severity. We sought to study the relationship between eosinopenia and infarct severity and how this relationship determined the long-term outcomes following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. METHODS: Six hundred and six consecutive patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary interventions from a large volume single center were enrolled. Low eosinophil count was defined as < 40 cells/mL from samples within 2 hours after reperfusion. Primary endpoint was defined as composite of death, myocardial infarction, stroke, unplanned revascularization, and readmission for heart failure over 3.5 years' follow-up. RESULTS: Sixty-five percent of the patients had eosinopenia. Patients in the low eosinophil group had larger infarct size as measured by troponin value (2934 vs 1177 ng/L, P < .001) and left ventricle systolic function on echocardiography (48% vs 50%, P = 0.029). There was a weak correlation between eosinophil count and both troponin (r = -0.25, P < 0.001) and ejection fraction (r = 0.10, P = .017). The primary endpoint was higher in eosinopenic patients (28.8% vs. 20.4%; hazard ratio [HR] 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05 to 2.13, P = .023). A discordance between eosinopenia and severe left ventricle systolic dysfunction was observed in 55.6% of cases. Compared with normal count, eosinopenia was associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with non-severe left ventricle dysfunction (24.1% vs 16.2%; HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.01 to 2.45, P = .044) but not in those with severe left ventricle dysfunction (42.3% vs. 38.9%; HR 1.10, 95% CI 0.59 to 2.03, P = .77) (P < .01 for interaction). CONCLUSIONS: Eosinopenia is an easily determined marker that reflects worse clinical outcomes over long-term follow-up.

32 year follow up of patients following atrial redirection surgery for transposition of the great arteries.

OBJECTIVE: A significant body of patients who have undergone Mustard or Senning procedure require lifelong follow up. In this retrospective review, we examined the cohort of such patients currently attending our center. DESIGN: Patients who had undergone either Mustard or Senning procedure were identified. We retrospectively reviewed medical records, recorded demographic information and data regarding the clinical state, NHYA class, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, NT-proBNP measurement, and recent cardiac MRI findings. RESULTS: Forty-six patients were identified, the mean age was 32.2 years (± 6.1 years), 67.4% were male. Thirty-two patients (69.6%) had undergone a Senning procedure. The median length of the follow-up was 32 years. Thirty-two patients (69.6%) were NHYA class 1. The mean VO2max achieved was 24.2 ± 5.8 mL/min/kg. The mean NT-proBNP was 266.4 pg/mL (± 259.9 pg/mL). The mean right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) was 212.4 mL ± 73.1 mL (indexed 114.2 mL/m2  ± 34.4 mL/m2 ). The mean right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) was 53.7% ± 7.9%. The mean left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) was 161.5 mL ± 73.7 mL (indexed 87.8 mL/m2  ± 41.1 mL/m2 ). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 59.8% ± 5.7%. There was a significant correlation between right ventricular (RV) size on MRI and NT-proBNP level. CONCLUSIONS: We present a relatively well cohort of patients with overall favorable long-term outcome. The majority of patients are NHYA class 1 and the systemic right ventricular function appears to be well preserved as assessed by MRI. The exercise tolerance is reduced, with the majority of patients achieving around 60% of the estimated VO2max . Regular specialist follow-up and assessment with advanced imaging at regular intervals remain important for this group.

Usefulness of body surface maps to demonstrate ventricular activation patterns during left ventricular pacing and reentrant activation during ventricular tachycardia in men with coronary heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction.

Epicardial electrical events were reconstructed using an inverse model for left ventricular (LV) pacing and during ventricular tachycardia (VT) induced during implantation of a biventricular pacemaker and/or internal defibrillator. The electrocardiographic position of the pacing lead, determined from the region of most negative potential 30 ms after the pacing spike, was compared with the radiographic position. Activation characterized by isochronal maps was correlated with the echocardiographic/myocardial scintigraphic data. Reconstructed epicardial isopotential/isochronal maps during VT were used to determine the presence of reentry. In 7 patients during LV pacing, epicardial isopotential maps located the maximum negative potentials anterolaterally (n = 3), posterolaterally (n = 2), and posteriorly (n = 2). Isochronal maps demonstrated activation patterns including regions of delayed activation that, in 5 patients, correlated with areas of akinesia/hypokinesia or fixed defects on echocardiography/myocardial scintigraphy. The mean difference between the radiographically measured right ventricular to LV pacing lead distance and calculated electrocardiographic right ventricular to LV pacing site distance was 1.7 cm. During VT, induced in 5 patients, single-loop reentry was observed in 3 and figure-of-8 reentry in 2. Exit site and regions of fast/slow conduction and conduction block that correlated with anatomic areas of infarction defined by echocardiography/myocardial scintigraphy were demonstrated. In conclusion, epicardial maps reconstructed from the body surface map can identify LV pacing sites and demonstrate reentry during VT. The body surface map could thus identify optimal pacing sites for LV pacing and targets for VT ablation.

Electrocardiographic diagnosis of non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes: current concepts for the physician.

With several myocardial infarction (MI) registries reporting a decline in the incidence of ST-elevation MI (STEMI) and an increase in non-ST-elevation MI (NSTEMI) and unstable angina (UA), it is important that future healthcare resources are directed towards this increased volume of patients, ECG technology, core to the early diagnosis of these patients, has lagged behind relative to other techniques and little progress has been as far as acute coronary syndrome triage is concerned beyond ST-segment deviation. We present a review of the literature on current electrocardiographic changes which will allow admitting physicians to better risk stratify those patients with "non-diagnostic ECGs." These ECGs may become diagnostic with careful evaluation, use of serial ECGs and when additional lead sets are used.

Did the use of the Guideliner V2(TM) guide catheter extension increase complications? A review of the incidence of complications related to the use of the V2 catheter, the influence of right brachiocephalic arterial anatomy and the redesign of the V3(TM) Guideliner and clinical outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate the incidence of complications associated with V2 Guideliner, understand the mechanisms and evaluate the impact of alterations made to the V3 Guideliner. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of consecutive cases employing V2 Guideliner from two university teaching hospitals. Complications were identified, analysed and classified into major versus minor ones. To understand the potential anatomical mechanism of these complications, analysis of normal great vessel anatomy was undertaken in separate cohort of patients undergoing cardiac catheterisation via right radial approach. Further analysis of consecutive cases employing V3 Gudieliner took place and the incidence of complications were compared between V2 and V3 groups. RESULTS: Total of 188 cases of V2 Guideliner use were identified. One major complication was reported (coronary dissection). Proximal collar interaction and stent damage occurred in 19 cases (10%). Anatomical data suggest that extending the V2 Guideliner tubing sited the proximal collar of the device in the brachiocephalic/subclavian artery, a potential site of tortuosity and potential cause of the Guideliner proximal collar-stent interaction. Further analysis of 124 cases of V3 Guideliner use demonstrated no cases with proximal collar-stent interactions, one case of longitudinal stent deformation and two incidents of stent interaction with the distal edge of the V3 Guideliner. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated a higher incidence of V2 Guideliner complications compared to previous series. The change in design of the V2 Guideliner was a likely contributor but the modifications with V3 Guideliner appear to have ameliorated this issue.