Iohexol plasma clearance measurement protocol standardization for adults: a consensus paper of the European Kidney Function Consortium.

International consensus supports the development of standardized protocols for measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) to facilitate the integration of mGFR testing in both clinical and research settings. To this end, the European Kidney Function Consortium convened an international group of experts with relevant experience in mGFR. The working group performed an extensive literature search to inform the development of recommendations for mGFR determination using 1-compartment plasma clearance models and iohexol as the exogenous filtration marker. Iohexol was selected as it is non-radio labeled, inexpensive, and safe, can be assayed at a central laboratory, and the other commonly used non-radio-labeled tracers have been (inulin) or are soon to be (iothalamate) discontinued. A plasma clearance model was selected over urine clearance as it requires no urine collection. A 1 compartment was preferred to 2 compartments as it requires fewer samples. The recommendations are based on published evidence complemented by expert opinion. The consensus paper covers practical advice for patients and health professionals, preparation, administration, and safety aspects of iohexol, laboratory analysis, blood sample collection and sampling times using both multiple and single-sample protocols, description of the mGFR mathematical calculations, as well as implementation strategies. Supplementary materials include patient and provider information sheets, standard operating procedures, a study protocol template, and support for mGFR calculation.

Management of patients with an electrical storm or clustered ventricular arrhythmias: a clinical consensus statement of the European Heart Rhythm Association of the ESC-endorsed by the Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, Heart Rhythm Society, and Latin-American Heart Rhythm Society.

Electrical storm (ES) is a state of electrical instability, manifesting as recurrent ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) over a short period of time (three or more episodes of sustained VA within 24 h, separated by at least 5 min, requiring termination by an intervention). The clinical presentation can vary, but ES is usually a cardiac emergency. Electrical storm mainly affects patients with structural or primary electrical heart disease, often with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Management of ES requires a multi-faceted approach and the involvement of multi-disciplinary teams, but despite advanced treatment and often invasive procedures, it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. With an ageing population, longer survival of heart failure patients, and an increasing number of patients with ICD, the incidence of ES is expected to increase. This European Heart Rhythm Association clinical consensus statement focuses on pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and acute and long-term management of patients presenting with ES or clustered VA.

Global Consensus Recommendations on Improving the Safety of Chronic Total Occlusion Interventions.

Safety is of critical importance to chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This global consensus statement provides guidance on how to optimise the safety of CTO) PCI, addressing the following 12 areas: 1. Set-up for safe CTO PCI; 2. Guide catheter--associated vessel injuries; 3. Hydraulic dissection, extraplaque haematoma expansion, and aortic dissections; 4. Haemodynamic collapse during CTO PCI; 5. Side branch occlusion; 6. Perforations; 7. Equipment entrapment; 8. Vascular access considerations; 9. Contrast-induced acute kidney injury; 10. Radiation injury; 11 When to stop; and, 12. Proctorship. This statement complements the global CTO crossing algorithm; by advising how to prevent and deal with complications, this statement aims to facilitate clinical practice, research, and education relating to CTO PCI.

Guidance for the provision of absorbent products for adult incontinence.

The Association for Continence Professionals first published their guidance for the provision of absorbent products for adult incontinence in 2017. This consensus document is targeted towards commissioning leads, NHS Trust Boards, Bladder and Bowel leads, among others, and has been updated over the years to ensure that all adults who suffer with continence issues undergo a comprehensive assessment and have access to an equitable service. This article provides an overview of the latest guidelines which were published in February 2023.

EHRA expert consensus document on the management of arrhythmias in frailty syndrome, endorsed by the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS), Latin America Heart Rhythm Society (LAHRS), and Cardiac Arrhythmia Society of Southern Africa (CASSA).

There is an increasing proportion of the general population surviving to old age with significant chronic disease, multi-morbidity, and disability. The prevalence of pre-frail state and frailty syndrome increases exponentially with advancing age and is associated with greater morbidity, disability, hospitalization, institutionalization, mortality, and health care resource use. Frailty represents a global problem, making early identification, evaluation, and treatment to prevent the cascade of events leading from functional decline to disability and death, one of the challenges of geriatric and general medicine. Cardiac arrhythmias are common in advancing age, chronic illness, and frailty and include a broad spectrum of rhythm and conduction abnormalities. However, no systematic studies or recommendations on the management of arrhythmias are available specifically for the elderly and frail population, and the uptake of many effective antiarrhythmic therapies in these patients remains the slowest. This European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) consensus document focuses on the biology of frailty, common comorbidities, and methods of assessing frailty, in respect to a specific issue of arrhythmias and conduction disease, provide evidence base advice on the management of arrhythmias in patients with frailty syndrome, and identifies knowledge gaps and directions for future research.

Evolution of Guidelines for the Management of Hereditary Angioedema due to C1 Inhibitor Deficiency.

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a severe and disabling condition characterized by recurrent episodes of subcutaneous or mucosal swelling in the skin and respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. HAE due to C1-esterase inhibitor deficiency (C1-INH-HAE) is the most prevalent subtype. The present Iberian study compared C1-INH-HAE treatment guidelines published between 2010 and 2022 to identify the main differences in therapeutic approaches for on-demand treatment and short- and long-term prophylaxis (LTP). HAE guidelines evolved with the availability of new treatments and with a change in the management paradigm towards an individualized, patient-centered approach, where quality of life (QOL) is central. A parallel trend was observed towards increasingly frequent home-based treatment, which potentially facilitates timely interventions, provides greater flexibility and convenience, and is associated with increased QOL, enabling patients to lead more normal lives. Most innovations over the years were made for LTP, together with the advent of new therapies and awareness of patients' needs. Several prophylactic therapies with a high level of evidence became available, although formal head-to-head comparisons are lacking. The treatment goals became more ambitious, ranging from a reduction in the frequency, severity, and duration of attacks to achieving total disease control and normalization of patients' lives. The document also addresses relevant items such as changes in terminology (eg, the introduction of designations as "first-line") and the introduction of patient-reported outcome measures to assess patients' perceptions of their self-experienced QOL and well-being. Unmet needs in the management of C1-INH-HAE are identified.

Aortoiliac occlusive disease - a novel classification system based on anatomical segments and disease severity for management planning.

AIMS: The aim of this classification system is to provide vascular surgeons with a simple tool that categorises disease severity by anatomical segment in aortoiliac occlusive disease and thus guide decision making and management strategies. Disease of the common femoral arteries is included as the distal extent of disease with respect to access for both open and endovascular intervention is essential to management planning. METHODS: The classification system designates diseased segment letters and numbers to guide treatment planning. The degree of disease other than stenotic or occluded is not required. In a similar manner to the TNM classification, anatomy and disease severity - based on angiography, CTA, and MRA - are categorised using a simple, user-friendly method. Two clinical cases are presented to exemplify the clinical application of this classification system. RESULTS: A simple and useful classification system is presented and ease of use exemplified by two clinical cases. CONCLUSIONS: Management strategies for peripheral artery disease in general, aortoiliac occlusive disease specifically, have evolved rapidly in recent years. Existing classification systems, such as TASC II, steer the clinician towards specific treatment approaches. However, the first step in the management decision-making process is the accurate identification of the arterial segments that require treatment. None of the existing classification systems specifically address anatomy as an entity in itself. This classification system provides an intuitive framework, based on letters and numbers, that provides specific information on arterial segments and disease severity in aortoiliac occlusive disease on which clinicians can base management decisions. It has been developed to bolster this aspect of the vascular surgery armamentarium; to be used as a decision making and management planning tool, in partnership with, not instead of, existing classification systems.

EHRA expert consensus statement and practical guide on optimal implantation technique for conventional pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: endorsed by the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS), the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (APHRS), and the Latin-American Heart Rhythm Society (LAHRS).

With the global increase in device implantations, there is a growing need to train physicians to implant pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. Although there are international recommendations for device indications and programming, there is no consensus to date regarding implantation technique. This document is founded on a systematic literature search and review, and on consensus from an international task force. It aims to fill the gap by setting standards for device implantation.

Comprehensive multicomponent cardiac rehabilitation in cardiac implantable electronic devices recipients: a consensus document from the European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC; Secondary prevention and rehabilitation section) and European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA).

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is a multidisciplinary intervention including patient assessment and medical actions to promote stabilization, management of cardiovascular risk factors, vocational support, psychosocial management, physical activity counselling, and prescription of exercise training. Millions of people with cardiac implantable electronic devices live in Europe and their numbers are progressively increasing, therefore, large subsets of patients admitted in CR facilities have a cardiac implantable electronic device. Patients who are cardiac implantable electronic devices recipients are considered eligible for a CR programme. This is not only related to the underlying heart disease but also to specific issues, such as psychological adaptation to living with an implanted device and, in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients, the risk of arrhythmia, syncope, and sudden cardiac death. Therefore, these patients should receive special attention, as their needs may differ from other patients participating in CR. As evidence from studies of CR in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices is sparse, detailed clinical practice guidelines are lacking. Here, we aim to provide practical recommendations for CR in cardiac implantable electronic devices recipients in order to increase CR implementation, efficacy, and safety in this subset of patients.

Appropriate use criteria for cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR): SIC-SIRM position paper part 1 (ischemic and congenital heart diseases, cardio-oncology, cardiac masses and heart transplant).

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has emerged as new mainstream technique for the evaluation of patients with cardiac diseases, providing unique information to support clinical decision-making. This document has been developed by a joined group of experts of the Italian Society of Cardiology and Italian society of Radiology and aims to produce an updated consensus statement about the current state of technology and clinical applications of CMR. The writing committee consisted of members and experts of both societies who worked jointly to develop a more integrated approach in the field of cardiac radiology. Part 1 of the document will cover ischemic heart disease, congenital heart disease, cardio-oncology, cardiac masses and heart transplant.