Clinical and Experimental Evidence for a Strain-Based Classification of Left Bundle Branch Block-Induced Cardiac Remodeling.

BACKGROUND: Septal strain patterns measured by echocardiography reflect the severity of left bundle branch block (LBBB)-induced left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. We investigated whether these LBBB strain stages predicted the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in an observational study and developed a sheep model of LBBB-induced cardiomyopathy. METHODS: The clinical study enrolled cardiac resynchronization therapy patients who underwent echocardiographic examination with speckle-tracking strain analysis before cardiac resynchronization therapy implant. In an experimental sheep model with pacing-induced dyssynchrony, LV remodeling and strain were assessed at baseline, at 8 and 16 weeks. Septal strain curves were classified into 5 patterns (LBBB-0 to LBBB-4). RESULTS: The clinical study involved 250 patients (age 65 [58; 72] years; 79% men; 89% LBBB) with a median LV ejection fraction of 25 [21; 30]%. Across the stages, cardiac resynchronization therapy resulted in a gradual volumetric response, ranging from no response in LBBB-0 patients (ΔLV end-systolic volume 0 [-12; 15]%) to super-response in LBBB-4 patients (ΔLV end-systolic volume -44 [-64; -18]%) (P<0.001). LBBB-0 patients had a less favorable long-term outcome compared with those in stage LBBB≥1 (log-rank P=0.003). In 13 sheep, acute right ventricular pacing resulted in LBBB-1 (23%) and LBBB-2 (77%) patterns. Over the course of 8-16 weeks, continued pacing resulted in progressive LBBB-induced dysfunction, coincident with a transition to advanced strain patterns (92% LBBB-2 and 8% LBBB-3 at week 8; 75% LBBB-3 and 25% LBBB-4 at week 16) (P=0.023). CONCLUSIONS: The strain-based LBBB classification reflects a pathophysiological continuum of LBBB-induced remodeling over time and is associated with the extent of reverse remodeling in observational cardiac resynchronization therapy-eligible patients.

An Electrocardiographic Characterization of Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing-Induced Right Ventricular Activation Delay: A Comparison With Native Right Bundle Branch Block.

Background: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) induces delayed RV activation and is thought to be harmless, since the electrocardiographic signature is reminiscent to native RBBB. However, to what extent the delayed RV activation during LBBAP truly resembles that of native RBBB remains unexplored. Methods: This study included patients with incomplete RBBB (iRBBB), complete RBBB (cRBBB) and patients who underwent LBBAP. Global and right ventricular activation times were estimated by QRS duration and R wave peak time in lead V1 (V1RWPT) respectively. Delayed RV activation was further characterized by duration, amplitude and area of the terminal R wave in V1. Results: In patients with LBBAP (n = 86), QRS duration [120 ms (116, 132)] was longer compared to iRBBB patients (n = 422): 104 ms (98, 110), p < 0.001, but shorter compared to cRBBB (n = 223): 138 ms (130, 152), p < 0.001. V1RWPT during LBBAP [84 ms (72, 92)] was longer compared to iRBBB [74 ms (68, 80), p < 0.001], but shorter than cRBBB [96 ms (86, 108), p < 0.001]. LBBAP resulted in V1 R' durations [42 ms (28, 55)] comparable to iRBBB [42 ms (35, 49), p = 0.49] but shorter than in cRBBB [81 ms (68, 91), p < 0.001]. During LBBAP, the amplitude and area of the V1 R' wave were more comparable with iRBBB than cRBBB. V1RWPT during LBBAP was determined by baseline conduction disease, but not by LBBAP capture type. Conclusion: LBBAP-induced delayed RV activation electrocardiographically most closely mirrors the delayed RV activation as seen with incomplete rather than complete RBBB.

Initial experience of left bundle branch area pacing using stylet-driven pacing leads: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has been performed exclusively using lumen-less pacing leads (LLL) with fixed helix design. This registry study explores the safety and feasibility of LBBAP using stylet-driven leads (SDL) with extendable helix design in a multicenter patient population. METHODS: This study prospectively enrolled consecutive patients who underwent LBBAP for bradycardia pacing or heart failure indications at eight Belgian hospitals. LBBAP was attempted using SDL (Solia S60; Biotronik) delivered through dedicated delivery sheath (Selectra3D). Implant success, complications, procedural, and pacing characteristics were recorded at implant and follow-up. RESULTS: The study enrolled 353 patients (mean age 76 ± 39 years, 43% female). The mean number of implants per center was 25 (range: 5-162). Overall, LBBAP with SDL was successful in 334/353 (94%), varying from 93% to 100% among centers. Pacing response was labeled as left bundle branch pacing in 73%, whereas 27% were labeled as myocardial capture. Mean paced QRS duration and stimulus to left ventricular activation time measured 126 ± 21 ms and 74 ± 17. SDL-LBBAP resulted in low pacing thresholds (0.6 ± 0.4 V at 0.4 ms), which remained stable at 12 months follow-up (0.7 ± 0.3, p = .291). Lead revisions for SDL-LBBAP occurred in 5 (1.4%) patients occurred during a mean follow up of 9 ± 5 months. Five (1.4%) septal coronary artery fistulas and 8 (2%) septal perforations occurred, none of them causing persistent ventricular septal defects. CONCLUSION: The use of SDL to achieve LBBAP is safe and feasible, characterized by high implant success in low and high volume centers, low complication rates, and stable low pacing thresholds.

Color Doppler Splay in Mitral Regurgitation: Hemodynamic Correlates and Outcomes in a Clinical Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Recently, an artifactual horizontal extension of the color Doppler signal was described in patients with mitral regurgitation (MR), called color Doppler splay (CDS). This side-lobe artifact was shown to be associated with concealed and significant MR. In the present study, the authors assessed the prognostic significance of CDS and its hemodynamic correlates. METHODS: Consecutive patients with primary and secondary MR underwent comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography. Machine settings were fixed for all patients. MR severity was assessed using an integrated approach, as advocated in current international guidelines. The presence of CDS and CDS width and duration were assessed. The outcome measures included the incidence of major adverse cardiac events (a composite of cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization for decompensated heart failure, mitral valve surgery, or percutaneous mitral intervention). RESULTS: One hundred twenty-seven of 469 patients (27%) with MR demonstrated CDS. The presence of CDS was associated with worse MR, and CDS width correlated with effective regurgitant orifice area, regurgitant volume, and vena contracta width. Mitral annular or leaflet calcification was inversely associated with the presence of CDS. Patients with CDS experienced worse event-free survival. For CDS width, a cutoff of >29 mm was identified as optimal regarding outcome prediction in our cohort and termed "severe CDS." In multivariate Cox regression, the presence of severe CDS was associated with adverse outcome, independent of MR etiology or severity and other clinical and echocardiographic predictors of outcome, and provided incremental prognostic value on top of these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with MR, the presence of CDS is associated with more severe MR and worse outcomes. Severe CDS provides incremental prognostic value on top of traditional MR metrics and should alert the echocardiographer that MR severity may be underestimated.

Clinical validation of a 13-lead electrocardiogram derived from a self-applicable 3-lead recording for diagnosis of myocardial supply ischaemia and common non-ischaemic electrocardiogram abnormalities at rest.

Aims: In this study, we compare the diagnostic accuracy of a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) with a novel 13-lead ECG derived from a self-applicable 3-lead ECG recorded with the right exploratory left foot (RELF) device. The 13th lead is a novel age and sex orthonormalized computed ST (ASO-ST) lead to increase the sensitivity for detecting ischaemia during acute coronary artery occlusion. Methods and results: A database of simultaneously recorded 12-lead ECGs and RELF recordings from 110 patients undergoing coronary angioplasty and 30 healthy subjects was used. Five cardiologists scored the learning data set and five other cardiologists scored the validation data set. In addition, the presence of non-ischaemic ECG abnormalities was compared. The accuracy for detection of myocardial supply ischaemia with the derived 12 leads was comparable with that of the standard 12-lead ECG (P = 0.126). By adding the ASO-ST lead, the accuracy increased to 77.4% [95% confidence interval (CI): 72.4-82.3; P < 0.001], which was attributed to a higher sensitivity of 81.9% (95% CI: 74.8-89.1) for the RELF 13-lead ECG compared with a sensitivity of 76.8% (95% CI: 71.9-81.7; P < 0.001) for the 12-lead ECG. There was no significant difference in the diagnosis of non-ischaemic ECG abnormalities, except for Q-waves that were more frequently detected on the standard ECG compared with the derived ECG (25.9 vs. 13.8%; P < 0.001). Conclusion: A self-applicable and easy-to-use 3-lead RELF device can compute a 12-lead ECG plus an ischaemia-specific 13th lead that is, compared with the standard 12-lead ECG, more accurate for the visual diagnosis of myocardial supply ischaemia by cardiologists.

Prognostic value of myocardial work and global longitudinal strain in patients with heart failure and functional mitral regurgitation.

In patients with heart failure and functional mitral regurgitation (FMR), the assessment of left ventricular (LV) function is important for risk stratification and decision making. As LV ejection fraction (LVEF) might not be an optimal metric for LV systolic performance in this population, alternatives such as global longitudinal strain (GLS) and global myocardial work index (GWI) have been proposed. In the present study, we investigated the prognostic value of GLS and GWI and compared these measures to other LV systolic performance parameters. A prospective and consecutive cohort of 181 patients (median age 72 years, 76% male) with LVEF < 50% and FMR underwent comprehensive echocardiographic examination including speckle tracking echocardiography and grading of FMR severity. During a median follow-up of 42 months, 72 cardiovascular (CV) events occurred. In univariate analysis, LVEF, GLS, GWI, mitral S', LV outflow tract time velocity integral, forward LVEF and LV ejection time were associated with CV events. After multivariate adjustment only GLS (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.884, p = 0.015) and GWI (HR = 0.927, p = 0.034) remained independently associated with CV events. There was no difference in the incremental prognostic value of GWI compared to GLS (delta -2 log likelihood = 0.8; p = 0.37). In this cohort of heart failure patients with FMR, GLS and GWI were independently associated with cardiovascular events, whereas other systolic performance parameters were not. However, GWI did not outperform GLS, and further research is required to determine the value of these strain-based measures in clinical practice.

A Strain-Based Staging Classification of Left Bundle Branch Block-Induced Cardiac Remodeling.

OBJECTIVES: This study speculated that longitudinal strain curves in left bundle branch block (LBBB) could be shaped by the degree of LBBB-induced cardiac remodeling. BACKGROUND: LBBB independently affects left ventricular (LV) structure and function, but large individual variability may exist in LBBB-induced adverse remodeling. METHODS: Consecutive patients with LBBB with septal flash (LBBB-SF) underwent thorough echocardiographic assessment, including speckle tracking-based strain analysis. Four major septal longitudinal strain patterns (LBBB-1 through LBBB-4) were discerned and staged on the basis of: 1) correlation analysis with echocardiographic indexes of cardiac remodeling, including the extent of SF; 2) strain pattern analysis in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) super-responders; and 3) strain pattern analysis in patients with acute procedural-induced LBBB. RESULTS: The study enrolled 237 patients with LBBB-SF (mean age: 67 ± 13 years; 57% men). LBBB-1 was observed in 60 (26%), LBBB-2 in 118 (50%), LBBB-3 in 29 (12%), and LBBB-4 in 26 (11%) patients. Patients at higher LBBB stages had larger end-diastolic volumes, lower LV ejection fractions, longer QRS duration, increased mechanical dyssynchrony, and more prominent SF compared with less advanced stages (p < 0.001 for all). Among CRT super-responders (n = 30; mean age: 63 ± 10 years), an inverse transition from stages LBBB-3 and -4 (pre-implant) to stages LBBB-1 and -2 (pace-off, median follow-up of 66 months [interquartile range: 32 to 78 months]) was observed (p < 0.001). Patients with acute LBBB (n = 27; mean age: 83 ± 5.1 years) only presented with a stage LBBB-1 (72%) or -2 pattern (24%). CONCLUSIONS: The proposed classification suggests a pathophysiological continuum of LBBB-induced LV remodeling and may be valuable to assess the attribution of LBBB to the extent of LV remodeling and dysfunction.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Several Color Doppler Jet Grading Methods in Patients With Mitral Regurgitation.

Color Doppler is a widely used ultrasound imaging method for assessing mitral regurgitation (MR) in clinical practice. Nevertheless, color Doppler-based grading of the MR jet has been rarely considered in clinical studies. We investigated the diagnostic and prognostic value of several color Doppler MR jet grading methods and compared them with quantitative grading of MR. The MR color Doppler jet was assessed in 476 MR patients using an 'integrated' eyeballing approach by quantifying the color Doppler jet area, jet area/left atrium area and jet length and using quantitative methods. Clinical endpoints were scored as major adverse clinical events, including cardiovascular death, heart failure hospitalization and mitral valve intervention. When assessed by three echocardiographers, there was a moderate inter-observer agreement for eyeballing color Doppler grade of MR (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.69, p < 0.001). The intra-observer agreement was good for all color Doppler approaches. In primary MR, eyeballing color Doppler correlated well with (in)direct measures of MR severity, with a negative predictive value of 91% when using a grade 2 color Doppler as cut-off. In secondary MR, eyeballing color Doppler grade and jet length were predictors of clinical outcome in Cox proportional hazards analysis (p = 0.003), independent of pulmonary pressures, atrial and ventricular volumes. Overall, the integrated eyeballing approach performed better than color Doppler quantification of the MR jet area and length. In conclusion, this study shows that color Doppler grading of the distal MR jet performs well in predicting events in primary and secondary MR, compared to quantitative grading methods.

Left bundle branch area pacing using stylet-driven pacing leads with a new delivery sheath: A comparison with lumen-less leads.

INTRODUCTION: Left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) aims to achieve physiological pacing by capturing the conduction system in the area of the left bundle branch. LBBAP has exclusively been performed using lumen-less pacing leads (LLLs) with fixed helix design. This study explores the feasibility, safety, and pacing characteristics of LBBAP using stylet-driven leads (SDLs) with an extendable helix design. METHODS: Patients, in which LBBAP was attempted for bradycardia or heart failure pacing indications, were prospectively enrolled at the Ghent University Hospital. LBBAP was attempted with two different systems: 1/LLL with fixed helix (SelectSecure 3830, Medtronic Inc.) delivered through a preshaped sheath (C315His Medtronic Inc.) and 2/SDL with extendable helix (Solia S60, Biotronik, SE & CO) delivered through a new delivery sheath (Selectra 3D, Biotronik). RESULTS: The study enrolled 50 patients (mean age: 70 ± 14 years, 44% females). LBBAP with SDL was successful in 20/23 (87%) patients compared with 24/27 (89%) of patients in the LLL group (p = 0.834). Screw attempts, screw implant depth, procedural, and fluoroscopy times were comparable among both groups. Acute LBBAP thresholds were low and comparable between SDL and LLL (0.5 ± 0.15 V vs. 0.4 ± 0.17 V, p = 0.251). Pacing thresholds remained low at 3 ± 2.1 months of follow up in both groups and no lead revisions were necessary. Postprocedural echocardiography revealed a septal coronary artery fistula in one patient with SDLLBBAP. CONCLUSION: LBBAP using stylet-driven pacing leads is feasible and yields comparable implant success to LBBAP with LLLs. LBBAP thresholds are low and comparable with both types of leads.

Proportionate or disproportionate secondary mitral regurgitation: how to untangle the Gordian knot?

Recent randomised percutaneous mitral intervention trials in patients with heart failure with secondary mitral regurgitation (SMR) have yielded contrasting results. A 'relative load' or 'proportionality' conceptual framework for SMR has been proposed to partly explain the disparate results. The rationale behind the framework is that SMR depends on the left ventricular dimension and not vice versa. In this review, we provide an in-depth analysis of the proportionality parameters used in this framework and also discuss the regurgitant fraction. We also consider haemodynamic observations in SMR that may affect the interpretation and comparisons among proportionality parameters. The conclusion is that the proportionality concept remains hypothetical and requires prospective validation before envisaging its use at individual patient level for risk stratification or therapeutic decision-making.

Perimembranous ventricular septal defect following His bundle lead implantation.

His bundle pacing (HBP) offers physiologic pacing by placing the pacing lead directly to the His bundle. We present a case in which a HBP lead, implanted at the fragile membranous septum, resulted in a persistent restrictive perimembranous ventricular septal defect (VSD). This complication of HBP has not been reported before but brings new insights in the discussion regarding the optimal position of a pacing lead in the ventricular septum. The fragility of the membranous septum and low rate of spontaneous closure of membranous VSD, might favor lead placement in the muscular septum when aiming for physiologic pacing.

His bundle pacing for newly acquired pacing needs in patients implanted with a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator: A feasibility study based on the automated screening score and clinical cases.

INTRODUCTION: Management of subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) patients with newly acquired pacing needs remains problematic. His bundle pacing (HBP) allows for cardiac pacing without significant changes in the QRS morphology. We hypothesized that HBP does not alter S-ICD sensing and functions. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients were implanted with a HB pacemaker. Among them, 17 demonstrated successful His recruitment and were prospectively screened with the automated screening tool (AST). Results of screenings performed immediately after implant and during follow-up, during intrinsic rhythm and while pacing from all available pacing configurations, were compared using the AST score. Positive-screening tests were defined by greater than or equal to 1 positive vector. RESULTS: Among the 17 patients successfully implanted (male: 41%; mean age: 73), 13 presented an indication of ventricular pacing and four of cardiac resynchronization. Absolute AST scores during both HBP (all configurations) and intrinsic rhythm were similar (p: NS). Due to left bundle branch block correction, HBP resulted in higher number of positive vectors (AST ≥ 100). AST scores were higher during HBP when compared with right ventricular pacing (RVP) (primary vector: 272 [16; 648] vs 4.6 [0.8; 16.2]; P = .003; secondary vector: 569 [183; 1186] vs 1.5 [0.7; 8.3]; P < .0001; alternate vector: 44 [2;125] vs 4.8 [0.9; 9.3]; P = .02) and resulted in a much higher number of positive vectors. Up to 90% of the patients had a positive-screening test during HBP. This passing rate was higher when compared RVP (17%; P < .0001). CONCLUSION: HBP restores normal intrinsic conduction and minimally modifies the surface electrocardiograph and subcutaneous electrograms. When ventricular pacing is needed, HBP might represent an ideal pacing option for patients implanted with a S-ICD.

Septal flash is a prevalent and early dyssynchrony marker in transcatheter aortic valve replacement-induced left bundle branch block.

New-onset left bundle branch block (LBBB) is a frequent complication after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and provides an opportunity to study dyssynchrony immediately following acute LBBB. This study aims to (1) assess echocardiographic dyssynchrony in acute TAVR-induced LBBB (TAVR-LBBB), and (2) compare dyssynchrony parameters among different patient groups with LBBB. The study enrolled all TAVR-LBBB patients at Ghent University Hospital between 2013 and 2019. First, acute TAVR-LBBB dyssynchrony was assessed by: (1) septal flash (SF); (2) interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD; cut-off ≥ 40 ms) and (3) presence of 'classical dyssynchronous strain pattern' assessed with speckle tracking. Secondly, acute TAVR-LBBB patients with SF (LBBBTAVR+SF) were compared to randomly selected LBBB-SF patients with preserved (LBBBSF+PEF) ànd reduced ejection fraction (LBBBSF+REF). In TAVR-LBBB patients (n = 25), SF was detected in 72% of patients, whereas only 5% of TAVR-LBBB patients showed a classical dyssynchronous strain pattern. IVMD in these TAVR-LBBB patients was 39 ms. In 90% of LBBBTAVR+SF patients, SF was observed within 24 h after LBBB onset. Among LBBB-SF patients, a classical strain pattern was more prevalent in LBBBSF+REF patients compared to LBBBTAVR+SF patients (80% vs. 7%; p < 0.001). IVMD was significantly longer in LBBBSF+PEF patients (52 ms; p = 0.002) and LBBBSF+REF patients (57 ms; p = 0.009) compared to LBBBTAVR+SF patients (37 ms). SF is an early and prevalent marker of LV dyssynchrony in acute TAVR-LBBB, whereas strain-based measures and IVMD do not appear to capture dyssynchrony at this early stage. Our findings from the comparative analysis generate the hypothesis that progressive LBBB-induced LV remodeling may be required for a 'classical dyssynchrony strain pattern' or significant IVMD to occur in TAVR-LBBB patients.

Different dynamics of new-onset electrocardiographic changes after balloon- and self-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement: Implications for prolonged heart rhythm monitoring.

BACKGROUND: New onset electrocardiographic (ECG) changes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) are used to assess the risk for late atrioventricular block. However, the time of ECG evaluation remains controversial. We aimed to compare the time course and dynamics of new onset ECG changes according to valve design in balloon- (BEV) and self-expandable (SEV) TAVR. METHODS AND RESULTS: This single center study enrolled 133 consecutive TAVR patients (28.6% SEV, 71.4% BEV). Patients with pre-existent permanent pacemaker implant (PPMI), procedural death or incomplete ECG registration were excluded. Standard 12­lead ECG was performed before the procedure, at 1, 24, 48 and 120 h and 1 month. In BEV patients, no significant PR prolongation occurred, whereas in SEV patients the PR interval prolonged significantly with 33.7 ± 22.0 ms (p < 0.001, compared to pre-TAVR) but only after 48 h after TAVR. Widening of QRS duration was comparable among both BEV and SEV patients (6.7 ± 21.5 versus 17.0 ± 26.9 ms, p = 0.061) and occurred immediately after TAVR. New-onset left bundle branch block was seen in 18.5% of BEV and 30.8% of SEV patients (p = 0.120) and occurred within 24 h after TAVR in both groups. Late PPMI (>24 h after TAVR) was higher in SEV compared to BEV patients (15.3% versus 1.5%, p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Self-expandable valves cause more impairment in atrioventricular conduction with a delayed time course compared to balloon expandable valves. This might explain the higher pacemaker need beyond 24 h after TAVR. Our findings suggest that patients with self-expandable valves require at least 48 h ECG monitoring post TAVR.

Feasibility of His-bundle pacing in patients with conduction disorders following transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

BACKGROUND: Conduction disorders requiring permanent pacemaker implantation occur frequently after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). This multicenter study explored the feasibility and safety of His bundle pacing (HBP) in TAVR patients with a pacemaker indication to correct a TAVR-induced left bundle branch block (LBBB). METHODS: Patients qualifying for a permanent pacemaker implant after TAVR were planned for HBP implant. HBP was performed using the Select Secure (3830; Medtronic) pacing lead, delivered through a fixed curve or deflectable sheath (C315HIS or C304; Medtronic). Successful HBP was defined as selective or nonselective HBP, irrespective of LBB recruitment. Successful LBBB correction was defined as selective or nonselective HBP resulting in paced QRS morphology similar to pre-TAVR QRS and paced QRS duration (QRSd) less than 120 milliseconds with thresholds less than 3.0 V at 1.0-millisecond pulse width. RESULTS: The study enrolled 16 patients requiring a permanent pacemaker after TAVR (age 85 ± 4 years, 31% female, all LBBB; QRSd: 161 ± 14 milliseconds). Capture of the His bundle was achieved in 13 of 16 (81%) patients. HBP with LBBB correction was achieved in 11 of 16 (69%) and QRSd narrowed from 162 ± 14 to 99 ± 13 milliseconds and 134 ± 7 milliseconds during S-HBP and NS-HBP, respectively (P = .005). At implantation, mean threshold for LBBB correction was 1.9 ± 1.1 V at 1.0 millisecond. Thresholds remained stable at 11 ± 4 months follow-up (1.8 ± 0.9 V at 1.0 millisecond, P = .231 for comparison with implant thresholds). During HBP implant, one temporary complete atrioventricular block occurred. CONCLUSION: Permanent HBP is feasible in the majority of patients with TAVR requiring a permanent pacemaker with the potential to correct a TAVR-induced LBBB with acceptable pacing thresholds.

Septal flash: At the heart of cardiac dyssynchrony.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been a major step in the treatment of heart failure patients and intraventricular conduction delay. As a considerable number of patients do not respond adequately to CRT, echocardiographic dyssynchrony selection criteria have been proposed to improve CRT response, but these parameters eventually failed to provide superior selection of CRT candidates. In the last decade, an echo-dyssynchrony parameter called "septal flash" was been reported by several investigators and opinion leaders in the field of CRT. This parameter has a strong pathophysiological rationale and was shown to be a robust and predominant predictor of CRT response in recent observational and retrospective studies. We here provide a comprehensive and balanced overview of septal flash and address several important aspects, questions and potential future implications of septal flash in cardiomyopathy and CRT.

Progression of incomplete toward complete left bundle branch block: A clinical and electrocardiographic analysis.

BACKGROUND: Complete left bundle branch block (cLBBB) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and heart failure. On the contrary, the clinical relevance of incomplete left bundle branch block (iLBBB) is less known. This study investigated the profile and outcome of iLBBB patients and assessed the risk of progression to cLBBB. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with iLBBB between July 2013 and April 2018 were retrospectively included. Subsequently, echo- and electrocardiographic examinations at time of iLBBB diagnosis and during follow-up, as well as progression to non-strict cLBBB and strict cLBBB, were evaluated. RESULTS: The study enrolled 321 patients (33% female, age 74 ± 11 years). During the follow-up of 21 (8;34) months, 33% of iLBBB patients evolved to non-strict cLBBB and 27% to strict cLBBB. iLBBB patients who evolved to non-strict or strict cLBBB were older, had more frequently reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and had more often QRS notching/slurring in the lateral leads and inferior leads, compared to patients without progression to cLBBB. In multivariate analysis, only QRS notching/slurring in the lateral leads was independently associated with progression to non-strict cLBBB (odds ratio 4.64, p < .001) and strict cLBBB (odds ratio 9.6, p < .001). iLBBB patients with QRS notching/slurring had a progression rate to non-strict cLBBB of 52% and 49% to strict cLBBB. CONCLUSION: Among patients with iLBBB, up to one third of the patients progress to cLBBB within a period of 2 years. The presence of QRS notching/slurring in the lateral leads during iLBBB was the strongest predictor for progression toward cLBBB.

Alcohol-related emergency department admissions in an elderly population.

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol abuse remains a major health concern. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of alcohol-related emergency department (ED) admissions in an elderly population. METHODS: Between 1 September 2013 and 31 August 2014, we retrospectively analyzed patient charts of patients admitted with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of at least 0.5 g/L to the EDs of all five hospitals in two distinct areas. We focused on the population ≥65 years, divided in three subgroups (65-74, 75-84 and ≥85, respectively) and compared them to the 55-64 year group. RESULTS: Of the 3918 included patients 645 (16.5%) were between 55 and 64, and 406 (10.4%) were ≥65 years (65-74: 267, 6.8%; 75-84: 128, 3.3%; ≥85: 11, 0.3%). The male-to-female ratio ranged between 2.1:1 and 2.7:1. BACs decreased with increasing age. In all age groups the majority of patients (71.0-77.8%) were transported by emergency medical services. The chief presenting complaint was trauma and its relative importance increased with age. Contextual factors consisted mostly of chronic abuse (43.1-57.8%). Most frequently patients could be discharged within 24 h, although hospital admission rates increased with age. CONCLUSION: Our study shows that alcohol-related ED admissions in the elderly are common, but less frequent than in younger age groups. More (preferentially prospective) studies are needed to give more insight in the living environment, prescription medication, socioeconomic cost, etc. Nonetheless, it is clear that a national action plan should be developed to tackle the alcohol abuse problem in all age groups.