No substantial excess all-cause mortality among cardiac implantable electronic device patients during the first COVID­19 lockdown in the Leiden area.

In the Netherlands, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID­19) pandemic has resulted in excess mortality nationwide. Chronic heart disease patients are at risk for a complicated COVID­19 course. The current study investigates all-cause mortality among cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) patients during the first peak of the pandemic and compares the data to the statistics for the corresponding period in the two previous years. Data of adult CIED patients undergoing follow-up at the Leiden University Medical Centre were analysed. All-cause mortality between 1 March and 31 May 2020 was evaluated and compared to the data for the same period in 2019 and 2018. At the beginning of the first peak of the pandemic, 3,171 CIED patients (median age 70 years; 68% male; 41% ischaemic aetiology) were alive. Baseline characteristics of the 2019 (n = 3,216) and 2018 (n = 3,169) cohorts were comparable. All-cause mortality during the peak of the pandemic was 1.4% compared to 1.6% and 1.4% in the same period in 2019 and 2018, respectively (p = 0.84). During the first peak of the COVID­19 pandemic, there was no substantial excess mortality among CIED patients in the Leiden area, despite the fact that this is group at high risk for a complicated course of a COVID­19 infection. Strict adherence to the preventive measures may have prevented substantial excess mortality in these vulnerable patients.

Emergency Heart failure Mortality Risk Grade may help to reduce heart failure admissions.

INTRODUCTION: Hospital admissions for heart failure (HF) are frequent and pose a heavy burden on health care resources. Currently, the decision to hospitalise is based on clinical judgement rather than on prognostic risk stratification. The Emergency Heart failure Mortality Risk Grade (EHMRG) was recently developed to identify high-risk HF patients in the emergency department (ED). OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of the EHMRG to predict 30-day mortality in Dutch HF patients visiting the ED and to evaluate whether the EHMRG could help to reduce the number of hospital admissions for decompensated HF. METHODS: Patients visiting the ED for decompensated HF were included. The decision to hospitalise or discharge was based on clinical judgement. The EHMRG was calculated retrospectively. Based on their EHMRG, patients were stratified as very low risk, low risk, intermediate risk, high risk and very high risk. RESULTS: In 227 patients (age 73 ± 12 years, 69% male) 30-day mortality was 11%. Mortality differed significantly among the EHMRG risk groups at 7­day (p = 0.012) and 30-day follow-up (p < 0.01). Based on clinical judgement, 76% of patients were hospitalised. If decision-making had been based on EHMRG, the hospitalisation rate could have been reduced to 66% (p < 0.01), particularly by reducing hospitalisations in patients at low risk of death. Mortality in discharged patients, whether the decision was based on EHMRG or clinical judgement, was 0%. CONCLUSION: The EHMRG accurately differentiates between high- and low-risk decompensated HF patients visiting the ED, making it a promising tool to safely reduce the number of HF admissions.

Emergency medical services evaluations for chest pain during first COVID-19 lockdown in Hollands-Midden, the Netherlands.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 had negative indirect health effects, as people seem to have been reluctant to seek medical care. METHODS: All emergency medical services (EMS) transports for chest pain or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in the Dutch region Hollands-Midden (population served > 800,000) were evaluated during the initial 6 weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown and during the same time period in 2019. The primary endpoint was the number of evaluated chest pain patients in both cohorts. In addition, the number of EMS evaluations of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and OHCA were assessed. RESULTS: During the COVID-19 lockdown period, the EMS evaluated 927 chest pain patients (49% male, age 62 ± 17 years) compared with 1041 patients (51% male, 63 ± 17 years) in the same period in 2019, which corresponded with a significant relative risk (RR) reduction of 0.88 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81-0.96). Similarly, there was a significant reduction in the number of STEMI patients (RR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32-0.85), the incidence of OHCA remained unchanged (RR 1.23, 95% CI 0.83-1.83). CONCLUSION: During the first COVID-19 lockdown, there was a significant reduction in the number of patients with chest pain or STEMI evaluated by the EMS, while the incidence of OHCA remained similar. Although the reason for the decrease in chest pain and STEMI consultations is not entirely clear, more attention should be paid to the importance of contacting the EMS in case of suspected cardiac symptoms in possible future lockdowns.

Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction in the Netherlands: room for improvement!

AIM: To analyse non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) care in the Netherlands and to identify modifiable factors to improve NSTEMI healthcare. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study analysed hospital and pharmacy claims data of all NSTEMI patients in the Netherlands in 2015. The effect of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) during hospitalisation on 1­year mortality was investigated in the subcohort alive 4 days after NSTEMI. The effect of medical treatment on 1­year mortality was assessed in the subcohort alive 30 days after NSTEMI. The effect of age, gender and co-morbidities was evaluated. PCI during hospitalisation was defined as PCI within 72 h after NSTEMI and optimal medical treatment was defined as the combined use of an aspirin species, P2Y12 inhibitor, statin, beta-blocker and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker, started within 30 days after NSTEMI. RESULTS: Data from 17,997 NSTEMI patients (age 69.6 (SD = 12.8) years, 64% male) were analysed. Of the patients alive 4 days after NSTEMI, 43% had a PCI during hospitalisation and 1­year mortality was 10%. In the subcohort alive 30 days after NSTEMI, 47% of patients were receiving optimal medical treatment at 30 days and 1­year mortality was 7%. PCI during hospitalisation (odds ratio (OR) 0.42; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.37-0.48) and optimal medical treatment (OR 0.59; 95% CI 0.51-0.67) were associated with a lower 1­year mortality. CONCLUSION: In Dutch NSTEMI patients, use of PCI during hospitalisation and prescription of optimal medical treatment are modest. As both are independently associated with a lower 1­year mortality, this study provides direction on how to improve the quality of NSTEMI healthcare in the Netherlands.

Prognostic Importance of Increased Right Ventricular Afterload in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation Recipients With Endstage Cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND: Severely increased right ventricular (RV) afterload is considered a contra-indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). This study assesses the effects of mildly increased RV afterload on long-term outcome after OLT in relation to RV function. METHODS: 139 OLT recipients (53±12years, 76% male) were included. Preoperative RV afterload was assessed invasively or, if not available, echocardiographically and categorised as normal, high-normal (mean pulmonary artery pressure [PAP] 20-25mmHg or echocardiographic systolic PAP 35-40mmHg) or mildly elevated (mean PAP 25-35mmHg or systolic PAP 40-50mmHg). The association between level of RV afterload, echocardiographic RV function and postoperative outcome was assessed. RESULTS: Right ventricular afterload was high-normal in 17% and mildly elevated in 12% of patients. Patients with elevated RV afterload had higher echocardiographic RV dimensions and left ventricular filling pressures. RV functional parameters were within normal range and not associated with RV afterload. Increased RV afterload was associated with a higher incidence of postoperative haemodynamic complications (8%, 17%, and 29% for normal, high-normal and mildly elevated RV afterload, respectively, p=0.03) and worse survival (8-year survival 74%, 41% and 37% respectively, p=0.01). Preoperative RV function was not associated with outcome after OLT. CONCLUSIONS: Increased RV afterload was associated with increased haemodynamic complications and worse long-term survival in OLT recipients. Right ventricular function in patients with increased RV afterload was within normal range and not associated with postoperative outcome.

Expectations and perceived barriers to widespread implementation of e­Health in cardiology practice: Results from a national survey in the Netherlands.

INTRODUCTION: Expectations of physicians concerning e­Health and perceived barriers to implementation in clinical practice are scarcely reported in the literature. The purpose of this study was to assess these aspects of cardiovascular e­Health. METHODS: A survey was sent to members of the Netherlands Society of Cardiology. In total, the questionnaire contained 30 questions about five topics: personal use of smartphones, digital communication between respondents and patients, current e­Health implementation in clinical practice, expectations about e­Health and perceived barriers for e­Health implementation. Age, personal use of smartphones and professional environment were noted as baseline characteristics. RESULTS: In total, 255 respondents filled out the questionnaire (response rate 25%); 89.4% of respondents indicated that they considered e­Health to be clinically beneficial, improving patient satisfaction (90.2%), but also that it will increase the workload (83.9%). Age was a negative predictor and personal use of smartphones was a positive predictor of having high expectations. Lack of reimbursement was identified by 66.7% of respondents as a barrier to e­Health implementation, as well as a lack of reliable devices (52.9%) and a lack of data integration with electronic medical records (EMRs) (69.4%). CONCLUSION: Cardiologists are in general positive about the possibilities of e­Health implementation in routine clinical care; however, they identify deficient data integration into the EMR, reimbursement issues and lack of reliable devices as major barriers. Age and personal use of smartphones are predictors of expectations of e­Health, but the professional working environment is not.

Myocardial infarction patients referred to the primary care physician after 1­year treatment according to a guideline-based protocol have a good prognosis.

INTRODUCTION: Identifying ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who can be referred back to the general practitioner (GP) can improve patient-tailored care. However, the long-term prognosis of patients who are returned to the care of their GP is unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the long-term prognosis of patients referred back to the GP after treatment in accordance with a 1-year institutional guideline-based protocol. METHODS: All consecutive patients treated between February 2004 up to May 2013 who completed the 1­year institutional MISSION! Myocardial Infarction (MI) follow-up and who were referred to the GP were evaluated. After 1 year of protocolised monitoring, asymptomatic patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction >45% on echocardiography were referred to the GP. Long-term prognosis was assessed with Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards analysis was used to identify independent predictors for 5­year all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). RESULTS: In total, 922 STEMI patients were included in this study. Mean age was 61.6 ± 11.7 years and 74.4% were male. Median follow-up duration after the 1­year MISSION! MI follow-up was 4.55 years (interquartile range [IQR] 2.28-5.00). The event-free survival was 93.2%. After multivariable analysis, age, not using an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor/angiotensin-II (AT2) antagonist and impaired left ventricular function remained statistically significant predictors for 5­year all-cause mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves revealed that 80.3% remained event-free for MACE after 5 years. Multivariable predictors for MACE were current smoking and a mitral regurgitation grade ≥2. CONCLUSION: STEMI patients who are referred back to their GP have an excellent prognosis after being treated according to the 1­year institutional MISSION! MI protocol.

Frailty score for elderly patients is associated with short-term clinical outcomes in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVE: Consistent with the aging population in the Western world, there is a growing number of elderly patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the recommended reperfusion strategy in elderly patients; risk models to determine which of these patients are prone to have poor clinical outcomes are, however, essential. The purpose of this study was to assess the association between frailty and short-term mortality and PCI-related serious adverse events (SAE) in elderly patients. METHODS: All STEMI patients (aged ≥70 years) treated with primary PCI in 2013-2015 at the Leiden University Medical Centre were assessed. The Safety Management Programme (VMS) score was used to identify frail elderly patients. The primary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality; the secondary endpoint included 30-day clinical death, target vessel failure, major bleeding, contrast induced kidney insufficiency and stroke. RESULTS: A total of 206 patients were included (79 ± 6.4 years, 119 [58%] male). The VMS score was ≥1 in 28% of all cases. Primary and secondary endpoint rates were 5 and 23% respectively. VMS score ≥1 was an independent predictor for both 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR] 9.6 [95% confidence interval, CI 1.6-56.9] p-value = 0.013) and 30-day SAE (OR 2.9 [95% CI 1.1-7.9] p-value = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: VMS score for frailty is independently associated with short-term mortality and PCI-related SAE in elderly patients with STEMI treated with primary PCI. These results suggest that frailty in elderly patients is an important feature to measure and to be taken into account when developing risk models.

Ventricular assist device implantation in patients with a failing systemic right ventricle: a call to expand current practice.

Ventricular assist device (VAD) implantation is an established treatment modality for patients with end-stage heart failure, and improves symptoms and survival. In the Netherlands, it is not yet routinely considered in patients with congenital heart disease and failing systemic right ventricle (SRV). Recently, a VAD was implanted in 2 SRV patients, one who underwent a Mustard procedure during infancy for transposition of the great arteries (male, 47 years old) and one with a congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (male, 54 years old). The first patient is doing well >1 year after implantation; the second patient will be discharged home soon. These examples and other reports demonstrate the feasibility of adopting VAD implantation into routine care for SRV failure. In conclusion, patients with SRV failure may be suitable candidates for VAD implantation: they are relatively young, usually have a preserved subpulmonary left ventricular function, and their specific anatomical and physiological characteristics often make them unsuitable for cardiac transplantation. Therefore it is important to recognise the possibility of VAD implantation early in the process of SRV failure, and to timely refer these patients to a heart failure clinic with experience in VAD implantation in this group of patients for optimisation, screening, and implantation.

Intramyocardial bone marrow cell injection does not lead to functional improvement in patients with chronic ischaemic heart failure without considerable ischaemia.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that bone marrow cell injection may have beneficial effects in patients with chronic ischaemic heart disease. However, previous trials have led to discrepant results of cell-based therapy in patients with chronic heart failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of intramyocardial injection of mononuclear bone marrow cells in patients with chronic ischaemic heart failure with limited stress-inducible myocardial ischaemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: This multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial included 39 patients with no-option chronic ischaemic heart failure with a follow-up of 12 months. A total of 19 patients were randomised to autologous intramyocardial bone marrow cell injection (cell group) and 20 patients received a placebo injection (placebo group). The primary endpoint was the group difference in change of left ventricular ejection fraction, as determined by single-photon emission tomography. On follow-up at 3 and 12 months, change of left ventricular ejection fraction in the cell group was comparable with change in the placebo group (P = 0.47 and P = 0.08, respectively). Also secondary endpoints, including left ventricle volumes, myocardial perfusion, functional and clinical parameters did not significantly change in the cell group as compared to placebo. Neither improvement was demonstrated in a subgroup of patients with stress-inducible ischaemia (P = 0.54 at 3­month and P = 0.15 at 12-month follow-up). CONCLUSION: Intramyocardial bone marrow cell injection does not improve cardiac function, nor functional and clinical parameters in patients with severe chronic ischaemic heart failure with limited stress-inducible ischaemia. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR2516.

Nationwide claims data validated for quality assessments in acute myocardial infarction in the Netherlands.

INTRODUCTION: Since health insurance is compulsory in the Netherlands, the centrally registered medical claims data might pose a unique opportunity to evaluate quality of (cardiac) care on a national level without additional collection of data. However, validation of these claims data has not yet been assessed. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: National claims data ('national registry') were compared with data collected by patient records reviews in four representative hospitals ('validation registry'). In both registries, we extracted the national diagnosis codes for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction of 2012 and 2013. Additionally, data on medication use at one year after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was extracted from the Dutch pharmacy information systems and also validated by local patient records reviews. The data were compared at three stages: 1) validation of diagnosis and treatment coding; 2) validation of the hospital where follow-up has taken place; 3) validation of follow-up medical treatment after 365 days. RESULTS: In total, 3,980 patients ('national registry') and 4,014 patients ('validation registry') were compared at baseline. After one-year follow-up, 2,776 and 2,701 patients, respectively, were evaluated. Baseline characteristics, diagnosis and individual medication were comparable between the two registries. Of all 52,672 AMI patients in the Netherlands in 2012 and 2013, 81% used aspirin, 76% used P2Y12 inhibitors, 85% used statins, 82% used beta-blockers and 74% angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II antagonists. Optimal medical treatment was achieved in 49% of the patients with AMI. CONCLUSION: Nationwide routinely collected claims data in patients with an acute myocardial infarction are highly accurate. This offers an opportunity for use in quality assessments of cardiac care.

Abdominal aortic calcification on a plain X-ray and the relation with significant coronary artery disease in asymptomatic chronic dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is common in asymptomatic chronic dialysis patients and plays an important role in their poor survival. Early identification of these high-risk patients could improve treatment and reduce mortality. Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) has previously been associated with CAD in autopsy studies. Since the AAC can be quantified easily using a lateral lumbar X-ray we hypothesized that the extent of AAC as assessed on a lateral lumbar X-ray might be predictive of the presence of significant CAD in dialysis patients. METHODS: All patients currently enrolled in the ICD2 trial without a history of CABG or a PCI with stent implantation were included in this study. All patients underwent CT-angiography (CTA) and a lateral X-ray of the abdomen. AAC on X-ray was quantified using a previously validated scoring system whereupon the association between AAC and the presence of significant CAD was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients were included in this study (71% male, 67 ± 7 years old). Forty-six patients were found to have significant CAD. AAC-score was significantly higher in patients with CAD (10.1 ± 4.9 vs 6.3 ± 4.6 (p < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that AAC score is an independent predictor for the presence of CAD with a 1,2 fold higher risk per point increase (p < 0.01). The AAC score has a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 57% for the presence of significant CAD. CONCLUSION: This study shows that abdominal aortic calcification as assessed on a lateral lumbar X-ray is predictive for the presence of significant coronary artery disease in asymptomatic dialysis patients. This simple, non-invasive and cheap screening method could contribute to early identification of patients eligible for further screening of CAD. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NTR948 , registered 10-4-2007 ; ISRCTN20479861 , registered 2-5-2007.

Combined leadless pacemaker and subcutaneous implantable defibrillator therapy: feasibility, safety, and performance.

AIMS: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) and leadless pacemaker (LP) are evolving technologies that do not require intracardiac leads. However, interactions between these two devices are unexplored. We investigated the feasibility, safety, and performance of combined LP and S-ICD therapy, considering (i) simultaneous device-programmer communication, (ii) S-ICD rhythm discrimination during LP communication and pacing, and (iii) post-shock LP performance. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study consists of two parts. Animal experiments: Two sheep were implanted with both an S-ICD and LP (Nanostim, SJM), and the objectives above were tested. Human experience: Follow-up of one S-ICD patient with bilateral subclavian occlusion who received an LP and two LP (all Nanostim, SJM) patients (without S-ICD) who received electrical cardioversion (ECV) are presented. Animal experiments : Simultaneous device-programmer communication was successful, but LP-programmer communication telemetry was temporarily lost (2 ± 2 s) during ventricular fibrillation (VF) induction and 4/54 shocks. Leadless pacemaker communication and pacing did not interfere with S-ICD rhythm discrimination. Additionally, all VF episodes (n = 12/12), including during simultaneous LP pacing, were detected and treated by the S-ICD. Post-shock LP performance was unaltered, and no post-shock device resets or dislodgements were observed (24 S-ICD and 30 external shocks). Human experience : The S-ICD/LP patient showed adequate S-ICD sensing during intrinsic rhythm, nominal, and high-output LP pacing. Two LP patients (without S-ICD) received ECV during follow-up. No impact on performance or LP dislodgements were observed. CONCLUSION: Combined LP and S-ICD therapy appears feasible in all animal experiments (n = 2) and in one human subject. No interference in sensing and pacing during intrinsic and paced rhythm was noted in both animal and human subjects. However, induced arrhythmia testing was not performed in the patient. Defibrillation therapy did not seem to affect LP function. More data on safety and performance are needed.

Electrocardiographic detection of pulmonary hypertension in patients with systemic sclerosis using the ventricular gradient.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. The current study assessed the ability of the ECG-derived ventricular gradient (VG-RVPO) to detect PH and predict all-cause mortality in PH patients with subtypes of SSc differing in the extent of multi-organ involvement. METHODS: ECGs were obtained from 196 patients with limited and 77 patients with diffuse SSc included from our screening programme on cardiac complications. The association of the VG-RVPO with (1) the presence of PH, (2) conventional screening parameters and (3) survival in PH patients was assessed. RESULTS: In limited SSc patients an elevated VG-RVPO corresponded with the presence of PH (-5±12 mV.ms vs -22±16 mV.ms, P<0.01), correlated significantly with conventional screening parameters and had a better diagnostic performance than the presence of a right heart axis (AUC 0.81 vs 0.60; P=0.04). These differences were not observed in patients with diffuse SSc. An elevated VG-RVPO was associated with decreased survival in all SSc patients with PH (3 year survival 30% vs 64%, P=0.02). CONCLUSION: An elevated VG-RVPO is associated with PH in limited SSc patients and with decreased survival in all SSc patients with PH.

Redesigning healthcare: The 2.4 billion euro question? : Connecting smart technology to improve outcome of patients.

Although it has been possible to transfer electrocardiograms via a phone line for more than 100 years, use of internet-based patient monitoring and communication systems in daily care is uncommon. Despite the introduction of numerous health-monitoring devices, and despite most patients having internet access, the implementation of individualised healthcare services is still limited. On the other hand, hospitals have invested heavily in massive information systems offering limited value for money and connectivity. However, the consumer market for personal healthcare devices is developing rapidly and with the current healthcare-related investments by tech companies it can be expected that the way healthcare is provided will change dramatically. Although a variety of initiatives under the banner of 'e-Health' are deployed, most are characterised by either industry-driven developments without proven clinical effectiveness or individual initiatives lacking the embedding within the traditional organisations. However, the introduction of numerous smart devices and internet-based technologies facilitates the fundamental redesign of healthcare based on the principle of achieving the best possible care for the individual patient at the lowest possible cost. Conclusion The way healthcare is delivered will change, but to what degree healthcare professionals together with patients will be able to redesign healthcare in a structured manner is still a question.

Tailored circulatory intervention in adults with pulmonary hypertension due to congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Adults with pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease (PH-CHD) often have residual shunts. Invasive interventions aim to optimise pulmonary flow and prevent right ventricular failure. However, eligibility for procedures strongly depends on the adaptation potential of the pulmonary vasculature and right ventricle to resultant circulatory changes. Current guidelines are not sufficiently applicable to individual patients, who exhibit great diversity and complexity in cardiac anomalies. METHODS AND RESULTS: We present four complex adult PH-CHD patients with impaired pulmonary flow, including detailed graphics of the cardiopulmonary circulation. All these patients had an ambiguous indication for shunt intervention. Our local multidisciplinary Grown-Ups with Congenital Heart Disease team reached consensus regarding a patient-tailored invasive treatment strategy, adjacent to relevant guidelines. Interventions improved pulmonary haemodynamics and short-term clinical functioning in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Individual evaluation of disease characteristics is mandatory for tailored interventional treatment in PH-CHD patients, adjacent to relevant guidelines. Both strict registration of cases and multidisciplinary and multicentre collaboration are essential in the quest for optimal therapy in this patient population.

Outcome of stand-alone thoracoscopic epicardial left atrial posterior box isolation with bipolar radiofrequency energy for longstanding persistent atrial fibrillation.

INTRODUCTION: Catheter ablation of longstanding (> 1 year) persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with poor outcome. This might be due to remodelling and fibrosis formation, mainly located in the posterior left atrial (LA) wall. Therefore, we adopted a thoracoscopic epicardial box isolation of the posterior left atrium using bipolar RF energy with intraoperative testing of conduction block. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bilateral thoracoscopic box isolation was performed with a bipolar RF clamp. Entrance block was defined as absence of a conducted electrogram within the box, while exit block was confirmed by pacing at 10.0 V/2 ms. Ablation outcome was evaluated after 3, 6, 12 and 24 months with 12-lead ECGs and 24-hour Holter recordings. Twenty-five consecutive patients were included (58 ± 7 years, persistent AF duration 1.8 ± 0.9 years). Entrance block was achieved in all patients and exit block confirmed if sinus rhythm was achieved. After 17 ± 7 months, 76 % of the patients (n = 19) were free of AF recurrence. One patient died within 1 month and was considered an ablation failure. Four patients with AF recurrences regained sinus rhythm with additional catheter ablation or antiarrhythmic drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of longstanding persistent AF with thoracoscopic epicardial LA posterior box isolation using bipolar RF energy with intraoperative testing of conduction block is feasible and highly effective.

The extent of the raphe in bicuspid aortic valves is associated with aortic regurgitation and aortic root dilatation.

BACKGROUND: The clinical course of bicuspid aortic valves (BAVs) is variable. Data on predictors of aortopathy and valvular dysfunction mainly focus on valve morphology. AIM: To determine whether the presence and extent of the raphe (fusion site of valve leaflets) is associated with the degree of aortopathy and valvular dysfunction in patients with isolated BAV and associated aortic coarctation (CoA). METHODS: Valve morphology and aortic dimensions of 255 BAV patients were evaluated retrospectively by echocardiography. RESULTS: BAVs with a complete raphe had a significantly higher prevalence of valve dysfunction (especially aortic regurgitation) than BAVs with incomplete raphes (82.9 vs. 66.7 %, p = 0.01). Type 1A BAVs (fusion of right and left coronary leaflets) and complete raphe had larger aortic sinus diameters compared with the rest of the population (37.74 vs. 36.01, p = 0.031). Patients with CoA and type 1A BAV had significantly less valve regurgitation (13.6 vs. 55.8 %, p < 0.001) and smaller diameters of the ascending aorta (33.7 vs. 37.8 mm, p < 0.001) and aortic arch (25.8 vs. 30.2 mm, p < 0.001) than patients with isolated BAV. CONCLUSIONS: Type 1A BAV with complete raphe is associated with more aortic regurgitation and root dilatation. The majority of CoA patients have incomplete raphes, associated with smaller aortic root diameters and less valve regurgitation.

High survival rate of 43% in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients in an optimised chain of survival.

AIMS: Survival to hospital discharge after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) varies widely. This study describes short-term survival after OHCA in a region with an extensive care path and a follow-up of 1 year. METHODS: Consecutive patients ≥16 years admitted to the emergency department between April 2011 and December 2012 were included. In July 2014 a follow-up took place. Socio-demographic data, characteristics of the OHCA and interventions were described and associations with survival were determined. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-two patients were included (73 % male, median age 65 years). In 76 % the cardiac arrest was of cardiac origin and 52 % had a shockable rhythm. In 74 % the cardiac arrest was witnessed, 76 % received bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation and in 39 % an automatic external defibrillator (AED) was used. Of the 168 hospitalised patients, 144 underwent therapeutic procedures. A total of 105 patients survived until hospital discharge. Younger age, cardiac arrest in public area, witnessed cardiac arrest, cardiac origin with a shockable rhythm, the use of an AED, shorter time until return of spontaneous circulation, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) ≥13 during transport and longer length of hospital stay were associated with survival. Of the 105 survivors 72 survived for at least 1 year after cardiac arrest and 6 patients died. CONCLUSION: A survival rate of 43 % after OHCA is achievable. Witnessed cardiac arrest, cardiac cause of arrest, initial cardiac rhythm and GCS ≥13 were associated with higher survival.