A novel cross-sector telemedical approach to detect arrhythmia in primary care patients with palpitations using a patient-activated event recorder

Background: Patient-activated event recorders (ER) can facilitate diagnosis in unclear palpi­tations, however impact of ER screening on further treatment in clinical routine is unknown. We investigated the feasibility and clinical value of a network-based telemetric monitoring using a patient activated ER. Methods: The network consisted of 12 general practitioners (GP) and a department of car­diology (DC). GP-patients sent electrocardiograms (ECGs) twice daily and in case of palpitations. ECGs were transferred by email to GP and DC and analyzed independently by both. The therapeutic strategy was discussed between GP and DC. The monitoring period ended after 4 weeks or in case of detected arrhythmia. Results: A group of 184 consecutive patients were retrospectively analyzed. Mean age was 57.5 ± 14.4 years (range 17–82), 104 (56.5%) were female. Significant arrhythmia occurred in 71 (38.5%) patients: Recurrence of known paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF; n = 27, 14.7%), de novo AF (n = 19, 10.3%), premature complexes/bigeminus (n = 13, 7.1%), sinus tachycar­dia (n = 7, 3.8%), atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (n = 3, 1.6%), and ventricular tachycardia (n = 2, 1.1%). A therapeutic consequence resulted in 63 (88.7%) patients with de­tected arrhythmia: new oral anticoagulation (n = 29, 40.8%), new antiarrhythmic medication (n = 27, 38.0%), behavioral intervention (n = 19, 26.8%), electrophysiology-study/catheter ablation (n = 4, 5.6%), cardioversion (n = 2, 2.8%), implantable cardioverter-defibrillator- -implantation (n = 1, 1.4%), and left atrial appendage occluder (n = 1, 1.4%). Conclusions: The investigated cross-sector telemetric network is a feasible approach to detect arrhythmia in patients with palpitations and may have high impact on further treatment, notably in those at risk for stroke due to AF

Verwendung von Verschlusssystemen (Angio−SealTM)(Angio-Seal^{TM}) in der interventionellen Radiologie bei Patienten mit pAVK

Über die Verwendung des Verschlusssystems $Angio-Seal^{TM}$ bei Patienten mit einer pAVK wurden bisher nur wenige Daten veröffentlicht, da die meisten Studien das Vorhandensein einer pAVK als Ausschlusskriterium werteten. In dieser Arbeit wurde die Sicherheit von $Angio-Seal^{TM}$ an 121 Patienten mit einer pAVK überprüft. Vergleicht man die Ergebnisse ergeben sich keine Hinweise auf eine größere Komplikationsrate nach Anwendung von $Angio-Seal^{TM}$ bei Patienten mit einer pAVK, so dass die zurückhaltende Anwendung nach unseren Ergebnissen nicht gerechtfertigt ist. Es zeigte sich eine tendenzielle, nicht signifikante Zunahme der Komplikationsrate bei steigendem Stadium der pAVK und bei Verwendung größerer Schleusen. Bei Durchführung einer bilateralen Intervention haben sich signifikant mehr Komplikationen ereignet als bei einer unilateralen Intervention. Wir empfehlen deshalb bei der bilateralen Intervention kein $Angio-Seal^{TM}$ zu verwenden, bis dieser Zusammenhang durch weitere Studien geklärt ist

Late in-stent restenosis of a saphenous vein graft treated with high-pressure balloon dilatation and drug eluting balloon dilatation

In the modern interventional treatment of degenerated saphenous vein grafts, the use of both bare metal and drug eluting stents have been described so far. Drug eluting balloons have been increasingly used in cases of in-stent restenosis and to some extent de novo stenosis of native coronary vessels. Based on pure logic approach, the use of drug eluting balloons in in-stent restenosis of the saphenous vein graft may be of great interest. Still, few high-quality data on this subject exist and no general recommendations can be made. This paper illustrates a typical case of a symptomatic late in-stent restenosis of a saphenous vein graft occurred 15 months after a percutaneous coronary intervention with implantation of two drug eluting stents. Intravascular ultrasound revealed a mixture of stent underexpansion and severe neointima. This was treated safely with a prolonged high pressure balloon dilatation followed by dilatation with a drug eluting balloon. The primary result was very good. During the intervention the patient remained asymptomatic and was discharged the next day on dual anti-platelet therapy. During the 10-month follow-up the patient remained asymptomatic. This case demonstrates the usefulness and clinical safety of drug eluting balloons in treating in-stent restenosis in the saphenous vein grafts

Deactivation vs. asynchronous pacing - prospective evaluation of a protocol for rhythm management in patients with magnetic resonance conditional pacemakers undergoing adenosine stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Background Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) imaging with adenosine stress is an important diagnostic tool in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease (CAD). However, the method is not yet established for CAD patients with pacemakers (PM) in clinical practice. A possible reason is that no recommendations exist for PM setting (paused pacing or asynchronous mode) during adenosine stress. We elaborated a protocol for rhythm management in clinical routine for PM patients that considers heart rate changes under adenosine using a test infusion of adenosine in selected patients. Methods 47 consecutive patients (mean age 72.3 ± 10,0 years) with MR conditional PM and known or suspected CAD who underwent CMR in clinical routine were studied in this prospective observational study. PM indications were sinus node dysfunction (SND, n = 19; 40,4%), atrioventricular (AV) block (n = 26; 55.3%) and bradyarrhythmia in permanent atrial fibrillation (AF, n = 2; 4.3%). In patients with SND, normal AV-conduction and resting HR >45 bpm at the time of CMR and in AF the PM was deactivated for the scan. In intermittent AV-block a test infusion of adenosine was given prior to the scan. All patients with permanent higher degree sinuatrial or AV-block or deterioration of AV-conduction in the adenosine test were paced asynchronously during CMR, in patients with preserved AV-conduction under adenosine the pacemaker was deactivated. CMR protocol included cine imaging, adenosine stress perfusion and late gadolinium enhancement. Results The adenosine test was able to differentiate between mandatory PM stimulation during CMR and safe deactivation of the device. In patients with permanent sinuatrial or AV-block (n = 11; 23.4%) or deterioration of AV conduction in the adenosine test (n = 5, 10.6%) asynchronous pacing above resting heart rate did not interfere with intrinsic rhythm, no competitive stimulation was seen during the scan. 10 of 15 (66,7%) patients with intermittent AV-block showed preserved AV-conduction under adenosine. As in SND and AF deactivation of the PM showed to be safe during CMR, no bradycardia was observed. Conclusion Our protocol for rhythm management during adenosine stress CMR showed to be feasible and safe and may be recommended for pacemaker patients undergoing routine CMR

Outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement in older patients

Background!#!The prevalence of aortic valve stenosis is increasing due to the continuously growing geriatric population. Data on procedural success and mortality of very old patients are sparse, raising the question of when this population may be deemed as 'too old even for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).' We, therefore, sought to evaluate the influence of age on outcome after TAVR and the impact of direct implantation.!##!Methods!#!The data of 394 consecutive patients undergoing TF-TAVR were analyzed. Patients were divided into four age groups: ≤75 (group 1, n = 28), 76-80 (group 2, n = 107), 81-85 (group 3, n = 148), and >85 (group 4, n = 111) years. Direct implantation was performed when possible according to current recommendations. Survival was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.!##!Results!#!Mortality at 30 days and 1 year was not significantly different between the four age groups (3.6 vs. 6.7 vs. 5.4 vs. 2.7% and 7.6 vs. 17 vs. 14.5 vs. 13%m respectively, log-rank p = 0.59). Direct implantation without balloon aortic valvuloplasty was more frequently performed on patients aged >85 vs. ≤85 years (33.3 vs. 14.1%, p < 0.001). the incidence of procedural complications frequently associated with advanced age (stroke, vascular complications) was not significantly increased in group 4.!##!Conclusion!#!Outcome after TF-TAVR is comparable among different age cohorts, even in very old patients. Direct implantation simplifies the procedure and could therefore play a role in reducing the incidence of peri-interventional complications in patients of advanced age