Systemic Octreotide Therapy in Prevention of Gastrointestinal Bleeds Related to Arteriovenous Malformations and Obscure Etiology in Atrial Fibrillation.

OBJECTIVES: The present study describes the use of octreotide (OCT) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) receiving oral anticoagulation (OAC) who have gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding related to arteriovenous malformations (AVMs), as well as its effect on OAC tolerance and subsequent rebleeding. BACKGROUND: AVMs cause significant GI bleeding, especially in patients with AF who are receiving OAC for stroke prevention. OCT has been shown to minimize recurrent GI bleeds related to AVMs. METHODS: In a multicenter, observational study, 38 AF patients with contraindications to OAC because of AVM-related GI bleeding were started on 100 µg of subcutaneous OCT twice daily. OAC was resumed in all patients within 48 h. Incidence of recurrent GI bleeds was calculated, and hemoglobin levels were recorded at enrollment and at 3 and 6 months' follow-up. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 8 months, 36 patients (mean age 69 ± 8.0 years; mean CHA2DS2-VASc score 3 ± 1 and mean HAS-BLED score 3 ± 1) were available for analysis. All were able to successfully resume OAC, and 28 of 36 (78%) remained on OAC at the conclusion of the study, whereas 8 underwent left atrial appendage closure with subsequent OAC discontinuation. No systemic thromboembolic events occurred in follow-up. Of the 28 patients who continued receiving OAC, 19 (68%) were free of recurrent GI bleed, 4 had minor GI bleeds, 4 required transfusion, and 1 required colectomy for GI bleeding. Mean hemoglobin levels in all patients receiving OAC were significantly higher at 3- and 6-month follow-up than at baseline (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Subcutaneous OCT therapy is an attractive option in AF patients receiving OAC who have AVM-related GI bleeds. It allows successful reinitiation of OAC as a bridge to left atrial appendage exclusion or short-term relief from bleeding.

Safety and Efficacy of Inpatient Initiation of Dofetilide versus Sotalol for atrial fibrillation.

BACKGROUND: We sought to investigate and compare the safety and efficacy of two commonly used antiarrhythmic drugs, Dofetilide (DF) and Sotalol (SL), during inpatient drug initiation in patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: We performed a single center retrospective study of consecutive patients, admitted for initiation of either DF or SL, for AF between 2012 and 2015. Rates of successful cardioversion, QT interval prolongation, adverse events and drug discontinuations were calculated and compared. A two-tailed p value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Of 378 patients, 298 (78.8%) received DF and 80 (21.2%) SL, mean age was 64 ± 11 years, 90% were Caucasians and 66% were males. Among the patients who remained in AF upon admission (DF: 215/298 (72%) vs. SL: 48/80 (60%)), no significant differences were noted in pharmacological cardioversion rates (DF: 125/215(58%) vs. SL: 30/48 (62.5%); p = 0.58). Baseline QTc was similar between the groups, with higher dose dependent QTc prolongation with DF (472.25± 31.3 vs. 458± 27.03; p = 0.008). There were no significant differences in the rates of adverse events such as bradycardia (7.4% vs. 11.3%; p = 0.26), Torsades de pointes (1.3% vs. 1.2%; p = 1.00), and drug discontinuation (9.0% vs. 5.0%; p = 0.47) between the two groups.

Impact of haematoma after pacemaker and CRT device implantation on hospitalization costs, length of stay, and mortality: a population-based study.

AIMS: Pocket haematoma is a common complication following pacemaker implantation. Impact of this complication on post-procedural outcomes has previously not been systematically studied. We sought to identify the incidence of pocket haematoma after a de novo pacemaker and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device implantation and evaluate its impact on the hospital outcomes using a large all-payer national inpatient database. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data from Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2010 was queried to identify all primary implantations of single chamber, dual chamber pacemakers, and biventricular devices during the year 2010 using the appropriate ICD-9 codes. Patients who experienced a procedure-related haematoma during the hospital stay were identified. Of a total of 78,751 primary pacemaker implantations in the year 2010, 1677 (2.1%) of the implantations were complicated by a pocket haematoma. Higher age groups, more complex pacemaker types (BiV > dual chamber > single chamber), and comorbidities such as congestive heart failure and coagulopathy were associated with an increased risk of pocket haematoma formation post-pacemaker implantation. Patients who developed a pocket haematoma had a longer length of stay (8.7 vs. 4.8 days, P < 0.001), higher hospitalization costs ($48,815 vs. $34,324, P < 0.001) and higher in-hospital mortality (2.0 vs. 0.7%, P < 0.001) compared with patients who did not develop a haematoma. CONCLUSIONS: Haematoma is a relatively common complication associated with pacemaker implantation; however, it adversely impacts in-hospital outcomes.

State Of The Art In Left Atrial Appendage Ligation - The Lariat.

Percutaneous left atrial appendage ligation (LAA) techniques have come to the forefront of management of atrial fibrillation (AF) patients who are at high risk of stroke and are unsuitable for oral anticoagulation therapy. LARIAT is a novel percutaneous endo-epicardial ligation technique for LAA exclusion. This technique is increasingly becoming popular for LAA exclusion in AF patients. A few studies have validated the efficacy of LARIAT in mitigating stroke risk in AF patients with contraindications to anticoagulation. Additionally a few studies have suggested that AF burden decreases after the LARIAT procedure. In this review paper we discuss the indications, technique and the latest advances in the LAA exclusion using the LARIAT system.