Relationship between ICD implantation volume and treatment parameters of patients receiving an ICD with remote monitoring.

BACKGROUND: Both highly specialized heart centres and less specialized hospitals care for patients with implantable ICDs/CRT-Ds with remote monitoring. OBJECTIVE: To investigate potential differences in patient treatment according to centre's ICD implantation volume. METHODS: Based on their 2012 ICD/CRT-D implantation volume, centres enrolled in the NORDIC ICD trial in Germany were assigned to one of three groups: high- (HV, n= 345), medium- (MV, n= 340) or low-volume (LV, n= 189). RESULTS: The HV-centres had a significant higher CRT-D proportion (41.7%; LV: 36.5%; MV: 23.2%; P𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙< 0.001), significant shorter median procedure duration (49 min; MV: 58 min; LV: 60 min; P𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙< 0.001) but significant longer median hospital stay (4 days; MV and LV: 3 days; P𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙< 0.001) compared to MV- and LV-centres. The X-ray exposure was shorter in MV/HV-centres (MV: 3.4 min; HV: 3.6 min; LV: 5.5 min; P𝑔𝑙𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑙< 0.001). Only 3.5% (LV: 2.6%; HV: 3.5%; MV: 4.1%) patients received at least one delivered inappropriate shock and 2.5% (HV: 2.0%; LV: 2.6%; MV: 2.9%) patients had withheld inappropriate ICD shocks without subsequent inappropriate shock delivery within 24.5 months of median follow-up. CONCLUSION: Implantation volume-dependent differences were observed in the device selection, procedure duration and x-ray exposure duration. Remote monitoring in combination with adequate response pattern prevented imminent inappropriate shocks in all three groups.

REACT DX registry: Real world REACTion to atrial high rate episodes detected in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator recipients with a DX lead.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with significant morbidity and is predicted by atrial high rate events. The early detection of AF is paramount to timely interventions to reduce the morbidity of AF. The DX ICD system combined with Home Monitoring® allows for continuous atrial rhythm monitoring without the need for a dedicated atrial lead. OBJECTIVE: To establish the reaction to and timing of reactions to the detection of atrial high rate episodes (AHRE). METHODS: A prospective cohort of DX ICD systems was followed up and the response to AHREs was collected and evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 234 patients were enrolled; an AHRE ⩾ 6 min was detected in 13.7% of patients (n= 32) within a mean follow-up duration of 16 months. A high rate of oral anticoagulation (OAC) prescription was seen with the detection of AHREs in patients with a not-low risk CHA2DS2-VASc score. There was a delay in this prescription highlighting the potential to improve the timeliness of patient care in this group of patients. CONCLUSIONS: The DX ICD system provides rapid and ongoing atrial rhythm monitoring such that physicians are rapidly aware of AHRE without the need for a dedicated atrial lead, but local protocols are needed to improve the response time of anti-coagulation prescription.

Atrial Fibrillation Burden and Clinical Outcomes in Heart Failure: The CASTLE-AF Trial.

OBJECTIVES: This subanalysis of the CASTLE-AF (Catheter Ablation vs. Standard Conventional Treatment in Patients With LV Dysfunction and AF) trial aimed to address the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence, AF burden, and hard clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF) patients with AF. BACKGROUND: The CASTLE-AF trial demonstrated the benefit of CA compared to pharmacological treatment in decreasing mortality and CV hospitalizations in patients with AF and HFrEF. However, the impact of AF recurrence and AF burden after ablation on long-term treatment benefit remains unknown. METHODS: The CASTLE-AF protocol randomized 363 patients with coexisting HF and AF in a multicenter prospective controlled fashion to catheter ablation (n = 179) versus pharmacological therapy (n = 184). Two hundred eighty patients were included in this subanalysis (as-treated), 128 of them underwent ablation and 152 received pharmacological treatment. All patients had implanted dual chamber or biventricular implantable defibrillators with activated home monitoring capabilities. The individual AF burden was calculated as the percentage of the atrial arrhythmia time per day. RESULTS: AF burden at baseline was not predictive of the primary endpoint (p = 0.473) or all-cause mortality (p = 0.446). AF recurrence (defined as any episode >30 s) did not show any relationship with the primary endpoints of mortality and occurrence of HF, irrespective of the treatment arm. An AF burden below 50% after 6 months of catheter ablation, was associated with a significant decrease in primary composite outcome (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.15 to 0.71; p = 0.014) and all-cause mortality (HR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.71; p = 0.031). The risk of the primary endpoint or mortality was directly related to a low (<50%) or high (≥50%) AF burden at 6 months post-ablation. CONCLUSIONS: AF burden at 6 months was predictive of hard clinical outcomes in HF patients with AF. The first recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmia episode >30 s after ablation was not associated with improvement in mortality and hospitalization for HF. (Catheter Ablation vs. Standard Conventional Treatment in Patients With LV Dysfunction and AF [CASTLE-AF]; NCT00643188).

Impact of Left Ventricular Function and Heart Failure Symptoms on Outcomes Post Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation in Heart Failure: CASTLE-AF Trial.

BACKGROUND: Recent data demonstrate promising effects on left ventricular dysfunction and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) improvement following ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure. We sought to study the relationship between LVEF, New York Heart Association class on presentation, and the end points of mortality and heart failure admissions in the CASTLE-AF study (Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation With Heart Failure) population. Furthermore, predictors for LVEF improvement were examined. METHODS: The CASTLE-AF patients with coexisting heart failure and AF (n=363) were randomized in a multicenter prospective controlled fashion to ablation (n=179) versus pharmacological therapy (n=184). Left ventricular function and New York Heart Association class were assessed at baseline (after randomization) and at each follow-up visit. RESULTS: In the ablation arm, a significantly higher number of patients experienced an improvement in their LVEF to >35% at the end of the study (odds ratio, 2.17; P<0.001). Compared with the pharmacological therapy arm, both ablation patient groups with severe (<20%) or moderate/severe (≥20% and <35%) baseline LVEF had a significantly lower number of composite end points (hazard ratio [HR], 0.60; P=0.006), all-cause mortality (HR, 0.54; P=0.019), and cardiovascular hospitalizations (HR, 0.66; P=0.017). In the ablation group, New York Heart Association I/II patients at the time of treatment had the strongest improvement in clinical outcomes (primary end point: HR, 0.43; P<0.001; mortality: HR, 0.30; P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with pharmacological treatment, AF ablation was associated with a significant improvement in LVEF, independent from the severity of left ventricular dysfunction. AF ablation should be performed at early stages of the patient's heart failure symptoms.

Effects of ajmaline on contraction patterns of isolated rat gastric antrum and portal vein smooth muscle strips and on neurogenic relaxations of gastric fundus.

Class-I-antiarrhythmics like ajmaline are known to alter smooth muscle function, which may cause alterations in gastrointestinal motility. The effects of ajmaline on isolated gastric and portal vein smooth muscle and the underlying mechanisms are unknown. We studied the effects of ajmaline on the contractile patterns of isolated preparations of gastric antrum and portal vein from Wistar rats. The organ bath technique was used to measure spontaneous or pharmacologically induced isometric contractions. Changes in force observed after application of ajmaline or under control conditions are reported as % of the amplitude of an initial K+-induced contraction. Electric field stimulation was used to study neurogenic relaxations of gastric fundus smooth muscle. Ajmaline increased the amplitude of spontaneous contractions of muscle strips (portal vein: control 31.1 ± 15.2%, with 100 µM ajmaline 76.6 ± 32.3%, n = 9, p < 0.01; gastric antrum: control 9.5 ± 1.6%, with 100 µM ajmaline 63.9 ± 9.96%, n = 14, p < 0.01). The frequency of spontaneous activity was reduced in portal vein, but not in gastric antrum strips. The effects of ajmaline were not blocked by tetrodotoxin, L-nitroarginine methyl ester, or atropine. Ajmaline abolished coordinated neurogenic relaxations triggered by electric field stimulation and partly reversed the inhibition of GA spontaneous activity caused by the gap junction blocker carbenoxolone. Ajmaline enhances the amplitude of spontaneous contractions in rat gastric and portal vein smooth muscle. This effect may be accompanied, but not caused by an inhibition of enteric neurotransmission. Enhanced syncytial coupling as indicated by its ability to antagonize the effects of carbenoxolone is likely to underlie the enhancement of contractility.

Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation with Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Mortality and morbidity are higher among patients with atrial fibrillation and heart failure than among those with heart failure alone. Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation has been proposed as a means of improving outcomes among patients with heart failure who are otherwise receiving appropriate treatment. METHODS: We randomly assigned patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation who did not have a response to antiarrhythmic drugs, had unacceptable side effects, or were unwilling to take these drugs to undergo either catheter ablation (179 patients) or medical therapy (rate or rhythm control) (184 patients) for atrial fibrillation in addition to guidelines-based therapy for heart failure. All the patients had New York Heart Association class II, III, or IV heart failure, a left ventricular ejection fraction of 35% or less, and an implanted defibrillator. The primary end point was a composite of death from any cause or hospitalization for worsening heart failure. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 37.8 months, the primary composite end point occurred in significantly fewer patients in the ablation group than in the medical-therapy group (51 patients [28.5%] vs. 82 patients [44.6%]; hazard ratio, 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43 to 0.87; P=0.007). Significantly fewer patients in the ablation group died from any cause (24 [13.4%] vs. 46 [25.0%]; hazard ratio, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.32 to 0.86; P=0.01), were hospitalized for worsening heart failure (37 [20.7%] vs. 66 [35.9%]; hazard ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.83; P=0.004), or died from cardiovascular causes (20 [11.2%] vs. 41 [22.3%]; hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.84; P=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure was associated with a significantly lower rate of a composite end point of death from any cause or hospitalization for worsening heart failure than was medical therapy. (Funded by Biotronik; CASTLE-AF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00643188 .).

Shock efficacy of single and dual coil electrodes-new insights from the NORDIC ICD Trial.

Aims: Dual coil (DC) electrodes are preferred to single coil (SC) electrodes because of an assumed higher shock efficacy. However, DC-electrodes may be associated with an increased difficulty and risk of lead extraction. We aimed to compare SC- and DC-electrodes with respect to the first shock efficacy (FSE) after implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. Methods and results: One thousand and seventy-seven patients of the NORDIC ICD trial were randomly assigned to first time ICD implantation with or without defibrillation (DF) testing. The electrode configuration was determined before randomization. One thousand and sixty-seven patients eventually received an ICD, 516 (48.4%) with a SC- and 551 (51.6%) with a DC-electrode. DC-electrodes were preferentially selected in older patients, renal failure, atrial fibrillation, dual chamber, Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) devices, angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors/angiotensin (AT) receptor blockers and without Sotalol. However, the preference of the investigational site was dominant over clinical parameters. The DF energy at the final electrode position was higher in SC-electrodes (adjusted difference +1.15 J; P = 0.005; only patients tested). Less patients with DC-electrodes required intra-operative system reconfiguration (adjusted difference -3.9; P = 0.046; only patients tested). Using mixed logistic regression, the FSE was 92.6% in SC- and 97.8% in DC-electrodes (adjusted odds ratio 4.3 (95% confidence interval [1.9, 9.8]; P < 0.001)). Conclusion: Dual coil-electrode selection mainly depends on the preference of the investigational site and seems to be preferred in older patients, renal failure, atrial fibrillation, dual chamber, and CRT devices. Patients with DC-electrodes required less intraoperative system reconfigurations. Dual coil-electrodes provided a substantially higher FSE during follow-up. Mortality rates were not significantly different in patients with DC- and SC-electrodes.

Neointimal fibrotic lead encapsulation - Clinical challenges and demands for implantable cardiac electronic devices.

Every tenth patient with a cardiac pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implanted is expected to have at least one lead problem in his lifetime. However, transvenous leads are often difficult to remove due to thrombotic obstruction or extensive neointimal fibrotic ingrowth. Despite its clinical significance, knowledge on lead-induced vascular fibrosis and neointimal lead encapsulation is sparse. Although leadless pacemakers are already available, their clinical operating range is limited. Therefore, lead/tissue interactions must be further improved in order to improve lead removals in particular. The published data on the coherences and issues related to lead associated vascular fibrosis and neointimal lead encapsulation are reviewed and discussed in this paper.

MR Imaging in Patients with Cardiac Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators.

This joint consensus paper of the German Roentgen Society and the German Cardiac Society provides physical and electrophysiological background information and specific recommendations for the procedural management of patients with cardiac pacemakers (PM) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) undergoing magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The paper outlines the responsibilities of radiologists and cardiologists regarding patient education, indications, and monitoring with modification of MR sequences and PM/ICD reprogramming strategies being discussed in particular. The aim is to optimize patient safety and to improve legal clarity in order to facilitate the access of SM/ICD patients to MR imaging. Key Points: · Conventional PM and ICD systems are no longer an absolute but rather a relative contraindication for performing an MR examination. Procedural management includes the assessment of the individual risk/benefit ratio, comprehensive patient informed consent about specific risks and "off label" use, extensive PM/ICD-related and MR-related safety precautions to reduce these risks to the greatest extent possible, as well as adequate monitoring techniques.. · MR conditional pacemaker and ICD systems have been tested and approved for MR examination under specific conditions ("in-label" use). Precise understanding of and compliance with the terms of use for the specific pacemaker system are essential for patient safety.. · The risk for an ICD patient during MR examinations is to be considered significantly higher compared to PM patients due to the higher vulnerability of the structurally damaged myocardium and the higher risk of irreversible damage to conventional ICD systems. The indication for a MR examination of an ICD patient should therefore be determined on a stricter basis and the expected risk/benefit ratio should be critically reviewed.. · This complex subject requires close collaboration between radiology and cardiology.. Citation Format · Sommer T, Bauer W, Fischbach K et al. MR Imaging in Patients with Cardiac Pacemakers and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2017; 189: 204 - 217.

[Consensus statement: Management of oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation]. / Konsensuspapier: Schlaganfallprophylaxe bei Patienten mit nichtvalvulärem Vorhofflimmern.

With the introduction of edoxaban last year in Germany, four nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants are now available for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. These novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) represent an attractive new option compared to vitamin K antagonists (e.g., warfarin or phenprocoumon) due to simple use and fewer interactions with other drugs or food. Therefore, no INR monitoring and dosage adjustments are required for NOAC. The compelling clinical advantage of NOAC is the dramatic risk reduction of hemorhagic stroke and intracranial bleeding compared to current standard. In addition, total mortality is significantly reduced by 10 %. These effects are demonstrated for all four NOAC (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban and edoxaban). Therefore, current national and international guidelines recommend NOAC as the preferred option or at least as an attractive alternative compared to the former standard of vitamin K antagonists. The economic impact and reimbursement by Statutory Health Insurance (GKV) is of major importance for treatment in an outpatient setting. For apixaban and edoxaban, an additional benefit was granted by the institution of G­BA and IQWiG in this clinical setting, whereas dabigatran and rivaroxaban were not assessed due to market entrance prior to 2011 before the AMNOG procedure was initiated. The members of this consensus paper recommend NOAC as the preferred option for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation who are currently not treated with anticoagulant drugs in spite of clear indication for anticoagulation. For new patients with nonvalvular fibrillation, it should be decided on an individual basis which treatment option is adequate for the patient with their respective comorbidities.

Rationale and design of the ODIn-AF Trial: randomized evaluation of the prevention of silent cerebral thromboembolism by oral anticoagulation with dabigatran after pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation.

Oral anticoagulation treatment following clinically successful catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation is controversial. Recent guidelines recommend continuation of oral anticoagulation in all patients with CHA2DS2VASc score ≥ 2 even if there is no evidence of recurrent atrial fibrillation. Due to lack of prospective data, the net clinical benefit of oral anticoagulation after successful ablation in these patients is unclear. As oral anticoagulation bears the risk of severe bleeding events, the ODIn-AF study aims to evaluate the effect of oral anticoagulation on the incidence of silent cerebral embolic events in patients with a high risk for embolic events, but free from symptomatic atrial fibrillation after successful pulmonary vein ablation.

Adjunctive surgical atrial fibrillation ablation during cardiac surgery: real life experiences.

AIM: Several tools have been invented for surgical atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. In this study, we investigated the real world efficacy of intraoperative AF ablation (AFA) with radiofrequency-energy or cryo-ablation and performed an electro-anatomical remap in some patients with recurrences. METHODS: Seventy-three consecutive patients (53 male, median age of 69 ± 7 years) with history of AF underwent cardiac surgery for valve repair (74 % mitral defects, 60 % aortic defects) and/or coronary artery bypass graft procedures (56 %). During a follow-up of 23 ± 11 months after AFA we performed intensified holter-monitoring (4-7 days). Patients with symptomatic relapse of atrial arrhythmias (AA) were offered the opportunity for additional electrophysiological examination (EPE). RESULTS: During 23 ± 11 months after AFA, 45 patients (62 %) had recurrent AA. In eight patients we performed EPE. In all 8 cases, septal circumferential lesions could be demonstrated during mapping with discrete gaps. All lateral veins were isolated however, posteriorly deep inside the vein leaving the antral region completely untreated. Neither roof lines nor mitral isthmus lines were complete. Performing catheter ablation, all veins could be isolated and seven patients were free of any arrhythmias during follow up (9 ± 5 months) without taking antiarrhythmic drugs. CONCLUSION: Surgical AF ablation may often be incomplete rendering sobering results in unselected patients. Completion of the ablation is feasible with catheter ablation with good clinical outcome.

Intra-operative defibrillation testing and clinical shock efficacy in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: the NORDIC ICD randomized clinical trial.

AIMS: This trial was designed to test the hypothesis that shock efficacy during follow-up is not impaired in patients implanted without defibrillation (DF) testing during first implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between February 2011 and July 2013, 1077 patients were randomly assigned (1 : 1) to first time ICD implantation with (n = 540) or without (n = 537) DF testing. The intra-operative DF testing was standardized across all participating centres, and all ICD shocks were programmed to 40 J irrespective of DF test results. The primary end point was the average first shock efficacy (FSE) for all true ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VT/VF) episodes during follow-up. The secondary end points included procedural data, serious adverse events, and mortality. During a median follow-up of 22.8 months, the model-based FSE was found to be non-inferior in patients with an ICD implanted without a DF test, with a difference in FSE of 3.0% in favour of the no DF test [confidence interval (CI) -3.0 to 9.0%, Pnon-inferiority <0.001 for the pre-defined non-inferiority margin of -10%). A total of 112 procedure-related serious adverse events occurred within 30 days in 94 patients (17.6%) tested compared with 89 events in 74 patients (13.9%) not tested (P = 0.095). CONCLUSION: Defibrillation efficacy during follow-up is not inferior in patients with a 40 J ICD implanted without DF testing. Defibrillation testing during first time ICD implantation should no longer be recommended for routine left-sided ICD implantation.

Exclusion of thrombocytopenia as a contraindication for invasive radiofrequency ablation in a patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation by using magnesium anticoagulation instead of EDTA: another case of anticoagulant-induced pseudo-thrombocytopenia.

Thrombocytopenia might be an exclusion criterion for invasive radiofrequency catheter ablation; therefore it is necessary to differentiate between pseudo-thrombocytopenia and a low platelet count due to other etiologies.A 69-year-old female presented to the cardiology department with recurrent atrial fibrillation that was resistant to conventional drug treatment. The initial laboratory findings were within the normal ranges, except for low platelet counts that occurred without a specific bleeding history. The reason for thrombocytopenia was anticoagulant-induced in vitro aggregation of platelets in the presence of EDTA as well as in citrated blood samples. As recently communicated, magnesium anticoagulated blood samples prevent platelet aggregation in individuals with anticoagulant-associated pseudo-thrombocytopenia. Although its aggregation-inhibiting effect is known from previous clinical observations, magnesium sulphate has not been introduced as an anticoagulant in analytical medicine.Based on our observations, blood anticoagulated with magnesium sulphate is recommended to verify low routine platelet counts before final clinical decisions are made.

Reduction of radiation exposure during ablation of atrial fibrillation.

AIMS: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) during ablation of atrial fibrillation (Afib) may be associated with long fluoroscopy duration. Although most current publications report on fluoroscopy time (FT), the dose-area product (DAP) may be a more valuable parameter for depicting radiation exposure. The aim of our study was to describe a method to reduce DAP by simple means during ablation of Afib. METHODS: Patients undergoing Afib ablation using a three-dimensional (3D) mapping system were assigned to two fluoroscopy protocols: (1) standard settings with 7.5 pictures/s and collimation to the heart, fluoroscopy as needed for the convenience of the operator (standard group, SG); and (2) strict collimation to the left atrium, a frame rate of 4 pictures/s, shortened pulmonary vein angiography sequences, and maximal orientation by the 3D mapping system (redDAP group). The primary endpoint was DAP. RESULTS: The study comprised 206 patients, who were assigned to the SG (n = 101, 49 %) or to the redDAP group (n = 105, 51 %). Mean FT was significantly reduced from 29.9 ± 11.3 min (SG) to 13.3 ± 8.3 min (redDAP group); mean DAP was reduced by approximately 90 % from 8,690 ± 5,727 to 837 ± 647 cGycm(2). The groups did not differ significantly in body mass index (28.8 ± 4.1 vs. 29.0 ± 5.0). PVI could be achieved in 98 of 101 patients (97 %) from the SG group and in all patients (100 %) from the redDAP group. Procedure time was significantly longer in the redDAP group (160.9 ± 35.7 vs. 138.1 ± 34.3 min). CONCLUSION: Radiation exposure during Afib ablation procedures can be reduced with simple means by strict collimation to the left atrium, a frame rate of 4 pictures/s, shortened pulmonary vein angiography sequences, and maximal 3D orientation.

Electrophysiological studies in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias but no electrocardiogram documentation: findings from a prospective registry.

AIMS: A significant proportion of patients presenting with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) has no electrocardiogram (ECG) documentation. In these patients an electrophysiological study (EPS) may be performed to facilitate the diagnosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a prospective registry we compared the prevalence of inducible arrhythmias and the clinical outcome in 525 patients with and without ECG documentation. Compared with patients with a documented PSVT a smaller but substantial proportion of patients (63.7%) without ECG documentation had inducible supraventricular tachycardias (SVT). Atrio-ventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia was the most common type in both groups. Patients with an inducible SVT and no documentation were significantly younger, had a shorter episode duration and a lower hospitalization rate, which may be the cause for the lacking documentation. Similar to patients with documented PSVTs most of these patients (90.0%) were asymptomatic or clinically improved after the EPS. Even 43% of patients without an inducible tachycardia improved clinically, probably due to a placebo effect of the EPS. In particular, patients between 31 and 60 years of age seemed to benefit from an EPS because they were more likely to have inducible SVTs that could be cured by radiofrequency ablation. CONCLUSION: Our data show that a substantial proportion of patients with suspected paroxysmal tachycardia, but without ECG documentation, have inducible SVTs and obtain a clear clinical benefit from an EPS. Thus, our data provide justification for using EPS for patients in this category. To the best of our knowledge, ours is the first prospective registry that supports this approach.

Prevalence of atrial fibrillation and the HATCH score: Intensified monitoring of patients with high HATCH score.

AIM: The HATCH score [hypertension, age > 75 years, previous transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke (doubled), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure (doubled)] has been established to identify patients who are at risk of developing persistent forms of AF. We investigated whether this score is associated with the prevalence of AF in order to guide diagnostic efforts and therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The data of 150,408 consecutive patients who were hospitalized at the University Hospital of Rostock between 2007 and 2012 were analyzed. Factors constituting the HATCH score and the presence of AF were prospectively documented using ICD-10 admission codes. RESULTS: Patients were 67.6 ± 13.6 years of age with a mean HATCH score of 1.48 ± 1.02; 16 % had a history of AF and 4 % suffered a TIA or stroke. The prevalence of AF increased significantly with the HATCH score up to 60.0 % (p < 0.001). In all, 63 % of the patients had a HATCH score of 0 and 1 without any history of stroke. CONCLUSION: The HATCH score correlates with the occurrence of AF, since the prevalence of AF rises with rising score values. Therefore, the HATCH score may be used to select patients for intensified ECG monitoring. Moreover, the score may also be used for stroke risk assessment, as none of the patients with a low HATCH score suffered a stroke.

[Risk stratification of sudden cardiac death in dilated cardiomyopathy. Programmed ventricular stimulation]. / Risikostratifikation des plötzlichen Herztodes bei dilatativer Kardiomyopathie. Programmierte Ventrikelstimulation.

There is a strong correlation between clinical presentation and results of the electrophysiological study (EPS) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Patients with spontaneous ventricular tachycardia (VT) or syncope often have inducible VT in contrast to patients who have no history of arrhythmias or syncope. Therefore, the EPS is rather not useful for risk stratification but for planning of an adjuvant antiarrhythmic or ablation therapy. This is also true for patients with frequent ventricular extrasystole or nonsustained VT in whom VT may aggravate heart failure. An EP study may still be useful to differentiate between syncope of bradycardic or tachycardic origin.