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Background: Bayés syndrome is a recently identified condition that is defined by the presence of an interatrial block on a surface electrocardiogram, in addition to atrial arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, or left atrial flutter. This syndrome is linked to an increased risk of stroke, morbidity, and mortality. An interatrial block is a conduction delay between the right atrium and left atrium and can be recognized by a P wave duration >120 ms. It is known that P wave duration can estimate the size of the left atrium measured via echocardiography, which is a marker for stratifying cardiovascular risk. Our study aims to verify whether the duration of the P wave can estimate the volume of the left atrium measured by computed tomography in patients with an interatrial block. Methods: We included 105 patients with a sinus rhythm and a partial or advanced interatrial block (IAB) who underwent contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography (CT). The mean age was 62.2 ± 10.1 years, and 38% of the patients were women. Results: The mean P wave duration was 122.6 ± 11.4 ms in the partial IAB group and 150 ± 8.4 ms in the advanced IAB group (p < 0.01). The mean left atrial volume was 115 ± 39 mL in the partial IAB group and 142 ± 34 mL in the advanced IAB group (p = 0.001). P wave duration was longer in patients with an advanced as opposed to partial interatrial block. Left atrial volume and LAVI were higher in patients with an advanced as opposed to partial interatrial block. Conclusions: All the patients (100%) with an advanced IAB had a dilated left atrium. P wave duration can accurately estimate LA volume in patients with an IAB using the formula: LA volume = 0.6 × P wave + 46 mL.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most frequent hereditary cardiovascular disease and the leading cause of sudden cardiac death in young individuals. Advancements in CMR imaging have allowed for earlier identification and more accurate prognosis of HCM. Interventions aimed at slowing or stopping the disease’s natural course may be developed in the future. CMR has been validated as a technique with high sensitivity and specificity, very few contraindications, a low risk of side effects, and is overall a good tool to be employed in the management of HCM patients. The goal of this review is to evaluate the magnetic resonance features of HCM, starting with distinct phenotypic variants of the disease and progressing to differential diagnoses of athlete’s heart, hypertension, and infiltrative cardiomyopathies. HCM in children has its own section in this review, with possible risk factors that are distinct from those in adults; delayed enhancement in children may play a role in risk stratification in HCM. Finally, a number of teaching points for general cardiologists who recommend CMR for patients with HCM will be presented.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) remains a challenging issue. This study aims to explore the left atrial appendage function by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and assess its value in predicting AF recurrence following RFCA in paroxysmal AF patients. Eighty-one patients with paroxysmal AF that underwent RFCA were recruited. TEE was performed before ablation with the assessment of left atrial appendage emptying flow velocity (LAAeV). AF recurrence occurred in 24 patients (29.6%) within 12 months after RFCA. The left atrium diameter (LAD) and left atrium volume index (LAVI) were both significantly higher in the recurrence group compared to the non-recurrence group, while the LAAeV was significantly lower in the recurrence group. LAD, LAVi and LAAeV were univariately significant risk factors for AF recurrence after ablation. Based on receiver operating curve (ROC), LAAeV < 40.5 cm/s, LAVi > 40.5 mL and LAD > 41 mm were identified as cut-off values for predicting AF recurrence. In multivariate regression analysis LAAeV < 40.5 cm/s (HR 8.194, 95% CI 2.980–22.530, p < 0.001) was identified as the only statistically significant independent predictor of AF recurrence, as the statistical significance threshold was not achieved for LAVI > 40.5 mL and LAD > 41 mm (p = 0.319; p = 0.507, respectively). A low LAAeV was the only important independent predictor of AF recurrence within 1 year after first RFCA.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a rare disease in which the right ventricular myocardium is replaced by islands of fibro-adipose tissue. Therefore, ventricular re-entry circuits can occur, predisposing the patient to ventricular tachyarrhythmias, as well as dilation of the right ventricle that eventually leads to heart failure. Although it is a rare disease with low prevalence in Europe and the United States, many patients are addressed disproportionately for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The most severe consequence of this condition is sudden cardiac death at a young age due to untreated cardiac arrhythmias. The purpose of this paper is to revise the magnetic resonance characteristics of ARVC, including the segmental contraction abnormalities, fatty tissue replacement, decrease of the ejection fraction, and the global RV dilation. Herein, we also present several recent improvements of the 2010 Task Force criteria that are not included within the ARVC diagnosis guidelines. In our opinion, these features will be considered in a future Task Force Consensus.