Left ventricular endocardial pacing in the real world: Five years of experience at a single center.

BACKGROUND: A left ventricular (LV) endocardial lead implant to achieve cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is feasible when a conventional implant failed due to anatomical or technical issues or when the venous implant was performed but the patient did not respond to the therapy. METHODS: Data about the implantation procedure (age, sex, clinical characteristics, anticoagulant use, and previous devices), patient characteristics (indication, technique used, lead model, complications), and follow-up (clinical and echocardiographic outcome, LV lead electrical measurements) were analyzed for all CRT systems implanted using LV endocardial lead, due to failed conventional implant or nonresponse, between April 2011 and November 2016. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were implanted with an active fixation LV endocardial lead during the study period, without significant complications. There were no dislodgements or severe complications related to the implant procedure in the follow-up period (36 ± 20 months) and a high percentage of patients responded to therapy, as assessed by several indicators. CONCLUSIONS: An LV endocardial lead implant was feasible when the conventional technique had previously failed or was not effective. A high rate of response was achieved without any significant complications.

Transfemoral access when superior venous approach is not feasible equals overall success of permanent pacemaker implantation. Ten-year series.

BACKGROUND: When permanent pacemaker implantation is not possible or advisable via superior venous access (i.e., axillary or subclavian veins), safe and feasible surgical alternatives are required. The femoral approach is relatively unknown and seldom studied. This single-center study analyzed 10-year outcomes of a femoral implantation approach. METHODS: Data about the implantation procedure (indication, approach, lead and pacemaker models, complications), patient characteristics (age, sex, medications, comorbidities), and follow-up were analyzed for all permanent pacemaker implantations using the femoral approach between June 2001 and June 2011. RESULTS: A permanent pacemaker was implanted with the femoral approach in 50 patients (mean age, 76 years [range: 45-96], 31 [61%] men). The most frequent indication was atrioventricular block, associated with sinus rhythm in 30 patients and with atrial fibrillation in eight patients. Overall, 20 patients (40%) were treated with oral anticoagulants postimplantation. Mean implantation time was 64 minutes (range: 20-210) and mean fluoroscopy time was 6.7 minutes (range: 0.2-50). Minimum follow-up window was 1 year (June 2012), with a mean of 50 months [range: 1-113]). No deaths, septic episodes, or severe complications were associated with the procedure, acute or long-term. Follow-up data were available for 46 patients, of who 21 (46%) died during follow-up (mean age, 87 years [range: 73-101]). No cause of death was associated with the femoral technique. CONCLUSION: Permanent pacemaker implantation through femoral access is not difficult for an experienced implant surgeon. Outcomes were comparable to systems implanted by superior venous approach, and no severe complications were observed at 10-year follow-up.

Anatomical Basis for the Cardiac Interventional Electrophysiologist.

The establishment of radiofrequency catheter ablation techniques as the mainstay in the treatment of tachycardia has renewed new interest in cardiac anatomy. The interventional arrhythmologist has drawn attention not only to the gross anatomic details of the heart but also to architectural and histological characteristics of various cardiac regions that are relevant to the development or recurrence of tachyarrhythmias and procedural related complications of catheter ablation. In this review, therefore, we discuss some anatomic landmarks commonly used in catheter ablations including the terminal crest, sinus node region, Koch's triangle, cavotricuspid isthmus, Eustachian ridge and valve, pulmonary venous orifices, venoatrial junctions, and ventricular outflow tracts. We also discuss the anatomical features of important structures in the vicinity of the atria and pulmonary veins, such as the esophagus and phrenic nerves. This paper provides basic anatomic information to improve understanding of the mapping and ablative procedures for cardiac interventional electrophysiologists.

Resultados inmediatos y a más de un año en 35 pacientes consecutivos a los que se realiza cierre de orejuela izquierda con el dispositivo Amplatzer Cardiac Plug / Immediate and one-year results in 35 consecutive patients after closure of left atrial appendage with the amplatzer cardiac plug

Introducción y objetivos. El cierre del apéndice auricular izquierdo puede ser una opción terapéutica atractiva para pacientes con fibrilación auricular no valvular y contraindicación para tomar anticoagulantes orales, siempre que se obtengan buenos resultados durante la implantación y en el seguimiento. Métodos. Se analizó a 35 pacientes consecutivos y no elegibles para los estudios aleatorizados con anticoagulantes orales a los que se implantó el dispositivo oclusor Amplatzer. Tras los primeros 5 casos, se incorporó una técnica de imagen 3D. Se analizaron los resultados de la implantación y de seguimiento durante 1 año. Resultados. La media de edad era 74,65 ± 7,61 años, con un CHADS2 de 2,41 ± 1,53 y un CHA2DS2-VASc de 3,17 ± 1,60. No se pudo implantar el dispositivo en 1 caso y en 5 fue necesario cambiar la medida seleccionada. No hubo ninguna complicación cardiaca durante la implantación ni durante la estancia hospitalaria. Hubo una complicación vascular (fístula arteriovenosa). Se realizó seguimiento con ecocardiografía transesofágica a las 24 h y tras 1, 3, 6 y 12 meses; se documentaron 5 trombos, que se resolvieron con heparina. En el seguimiento de 21,14 ± 10,09 meses, hubo 3 muertes de pacientes mayores de 80 años, ninguna de ellas cardiológica, y un accidente isquémico transitorio sin secuelas. Conclusiones. El cierre del apéndice auricular izquierdo por un operador con cierta experiencia puede ser una opción terapéutica con pocas complicaciones y con resultados a más de 1 año eficaces en la reducción de complicaciones tromboembólicas y hemorrágicas, incluso en poblaciones de muy alto riesgo (AU)

Introduction and objectives. Left atrial appendage closure can be an attractive option for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and a contraindication to oral anticoagulants, provided that satisfactory results can be achieved during implantation and follow-up. Methods. Thirty-five consecutive patients, not eligible for randomized trials with oral anticoagulants, had an Amplatzer occlusion device implanted under general anesthesia. After the first 5 patients, 3-dimensional imaging was incorporated. The results of the implantation and the follow-up were analyzed over a 1-year period. Results. The mean age was 74.65 (7.61) years, with a CHADS2 score of 2.41 (1.53) and a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 3.17 (1.60). Implantation failed in 1 patient and 5 needed a change in the selected plug size. There were no cardiac complications during the implantation or hospital stay. There was 1 vascular complication (arteriovenous fistula). Transesophageal echocardiography monitoring was performed at 24h, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and we found 5 thrombi which were resolved with heparin. In the follow-up period of 21.14 (10.09) months, 3 patients aged>80 years died, none of them due to heart problems, and one transient ischemic stroke without further consequences. Conclusions. Left atrial appendage closure by an experienced operator can be a treatment option with few complications and with efficient results at>1 year in reducing thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications, even in very high-risk groups (AU)

Immediate and one-year results in 35 consecutive patients after closure of left atrial appendage with the Amplatzer cardiac plug.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Left atrial appendage closure can be an attractive option for patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and a contraindication to oral anticoagulants, provided that satisfactory results can be achieved during implantation and follow-up. METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive patients, not eligible for randomized trials with oral anticoagulants, had an Amplatzer occlusion device implanted under general anesthesia. After the first 5 patients, 3-dimensional imaging was incorporated. The results of the implantation and the follow-up were analyzed over a 1-year period. RESULTS: The mean age was 74.65 (7.61) years, with a CHADS2 score of 2.41 (1.53) and a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 3.17 (1.60). Implantation failed in 1 patient and 5 needed a change in the selected plug size. There were no cardiac complications during the implantation or hospital stay. There was 1 vascular complication (arteriovenous fistula). Transesophageal echocardiography monitoring was performed at 24h, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months and we found 5 thrombi which were resolved with heparin. In the follow-up period of 21.14 (10.09) months, 3 patients aged>80 years died, none of them due to heart problems, and one transient ischemic stroke without further consequences. CONCLUSIONS: Left atrial appendage closure by an experienced operator can be a treatment option with few complications and with efficient results at>1 year in reducing thromboembolic and hemorrhagic complications, even in very high-risk groups.