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We evaluated the incidence of conduction abnormalities and requirement for permanent pacemaker in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with the Edwards Sapien prosthesis. In 2009, >8,000 patients were treated with TAVI using 1 of the 2 commercialized models of bioprosthesis (Edwards Sapien, Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California; and CoreValve, Medtronic, Irvine, California). Occurrence of conduction abnormalities including complete atrioventricular block requiring permanent pacemaker has been reported after TAVI with the 2 models of valve, more frequently with the CoreValve. We analyzed standard 12-lead electrocardiograms of 69 consecutive patients in whom an Edwards Sapien prosthesis was successfully implanted. Electrocardiograms were examined before treatment, at day 1, and at 1-month follow-up. Heart rate, PR and QT intervals and QRS duration were measured and the presence of a first-, second-, or third-degree atrioventricular block was documented. There was a slight increase in heart rate and a discrete decrease in QT interval at day 1. These values had returned to baseline values at 1 month. There was no change in PR interval but a transitory increase in QRS duration was noted. Frequency of left bundle branch block increased from 14.5% at baseline to 27.5% at day 1 with a decreased incidence at day 30 (21.3%). Permanent pacemaker was required in only 3 patients (4.3%). In conclusion, in our experience, conductive disorders and requirement of a definitive pacemaker after implantation of an Edwards Sapien aortic bioprosthesis are infrequent. The physical properties of this prosthesis may explain this observation.

Balloon mitral valvuloplasty has been reported to give equal or less positive results after previous commissurotomy than after a first procedure. Percutaneous mechanical mitral commissurotomy (PMMC) is a new technique that has not yet been evaluated in this subset of patients. Of 1,175 PMMC procedures (1,175 patients), 173 patients (14.7%) had previous commissurotomy; patients were older (40 vs 35 years of age, p

There is currently no consensus on the duration of hospitalization required after transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We report the feasibility and safety of early discharge after TAVI with the Edwards SAPIEN-XT prosthesis. From 2009 to 2013, 337 patients underwent transfemoral TAVI with the Edwards SAPIEN-XT prosthesis using local anesthesia and were discharged home either early (≤3 days, Early Discharge group, n = 121) or after 3 days (Late Discharge group, n = 216). The primary end point of the study combined death and rehospitalization from discharge to 30-day follow-up. Patients in the Early Discharge group were less symptomatic (New York Heart Association class ≥III: 64.5% vs 75.5%, p = 0.01) and had less renal failure (creatinine: 102.1 ± 41.0 vs 113.3 ± 58.9 μmol/L, p = 0.04), atrial fibrillation (33.1% vs 46.3%, p = 0.02), and previous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (11.6% vs 23.1%, p = 0.01) and were more likely to have a pacemaker before TAVI (16.5% vs 8.3%, p = 0.02). Pre-existing pacemaker (p = 0.05) and the absence of acute kidney injury (p = 0.02) were independent predictors of an early discharge, whereas previous balloon aortic valvuloplasty (p = 0.03) and post-TAVI blood transfusions (p = 0.002) were independent predictors of late discharge. The primary end point occurred in 4 patients (3.3%) in the Early Discharge group and in 11 patients (5.1%) in the Late Discharge group (p = 0.58). In conclusion, the results of our study suggest that early discharge after transfemoral TAVI using the Edwards SAPIEN-XT prosthesis is feasible and safe in selected patients.

An 8-mm catheter does not appear superior to 4-mm tip electrode for atrial flutter ablation. The potential advantage of allowing higher energy delivery on a larger surface is compensated by the lack of consistent contact with the endocardial surface.

Typical atrial flutter ablation has become anatomically guided to 2 separate sites within the isthmus at the inferior right atrium: (1) between the inferior vena cava and the tricuspid annulus (anterior side of the isthmus [A]), (2) between the eustachian crest, the coronary sinus ostium and tricuspid annulus (posterior side of the isthmus [P]). We prospectively compared ablation results at these sites in 72 consecutive patients. Patients were randomized in group P or A according to the initial target site. If ablation failed at 1 site after 15 radiofrequency (RF) pulses, the other side of the isthmus was targeted. Before 15 RF pulses, complete bidirectional isthmus block was achieved in 30 of 36 group A patients and in 25 of 36 group P patients, with similar mean RF pulses number, procedure time, and fluoroscopy time. After shifting to the other target, success was finally obtained at P in 2 of 6 group A patients, and at A in 8 of 11 group P patients before a maximum of 30 RF pulses. Among successful patients, number of RF pulses, procedure time, and fluoroscopy time were significantly lower in group A (7.2 +/- 5.4 vs 11.0 +/- 8.1 pulses, p = 0.03; 131 +/- 44 vs 163 +/- 66 minutes, p = 0.03; 31 +/- 19 vs 46 +/- 24 minutes, p = 0.01, respectively). Impairment of atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction occurred in 5 patients only during ablation at P. AV block was transient in 4 patients and permanent in 1. Although atrial flutter ablation is equally effective at P and A, success seems easier to obtain when A is first targeted. Ablation at P is associated with a significant risk of AV block.

The concept of the “smart” pacemaker has been continuously changing during 40 years of progress in technology. When we talk today about smart pacemakers, it means optimal treatment, diagnosis, and follow-up for patients fitting the current indications for pacemakers. So what is smart today becomes accepted as “state of the art” tomorrow. Originally, implantable pacemakers were developed to save lives from prolonged episodes of bradycardia and/or complete heart block. Now, in addition, they improve quality of life via numerous different functions acting under specific conditions, thanks to the introduction of microprocessors. The devices have become smaller, with the miniaturization of the electrical components, without compromising longevity. Nevertheless, there are still some unmatched objectives for these devices, for example, the optimization of cardiac output and the management of atrial arrhythmias in dual-chamber devices. Furthermore, indications continue to evolve, which in turn require new, additional functions. These functions are often very complex, necessitating computerized programming to simplify application. In addition, the follow-up of these devices is time-consuming, as appropriate system performance has to be regularly monitored. A great many of these functions could be automatically performed and documented, thus enabling physicians and paramedical staff to avoid losing time with routine control procedures. In addition, modern pacemakers offer extensive diagnostic functions to help diagnose patient symptoms and pacemaker system problems. Different types of data are available, and their presentation differs from one company to the other. This huge amount of data can only be managed with automatic diagnostic functions. Thus, the smart pacemaker of the near future should offer high flexibility to permit easy programming of available therapies and follow-up, and extensive, easily comprehensible diagnostic functions.

In percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), prolonged balloon inflations using perfusion balloon catheters have shown a higher procedural success rate and fewer in-hospital complications than short balloon inflations. However, perfusion balloons have well-recognized limits for routine use. This study assessed the effects of a prolonged cumulative occlusion time obtained with sequential balloon inflations using a routine balloon catheter, applicable to all lesions, and compared these results with those obtained with standard short balloon inflations. Three hundred ten lesions (in 289 patients) were randomized to either standard (3 to 5 inflationsor = 1 minute each; n = 161) or prolonged (3 to 5 inflations of 3 to 5 minutes each; n = 149) balloon inflations. Angiographic success (residual stenosis50% and no dissectionor = D1) was assessed at the end of this "protocol" phase. Further dilatation was performed if required ("adjunctive" phase). Systematic repeat catheterization was scheduled 4 to 6 months later. Cumulative inflation time was 198 +/- 58 seconds in the "standard" group versus 782 +/- 303 seconds in the "prolonged" group. At the end of the protocol phase, the success rate was higher after prolonged than after standard dilatation (92% vs 80%; p0.002), with less frequent dissections (14% vs 30%; p = 0.0009). At the end of the adjunctive phase, required for 12 patients in the prolonged group and 32 patients in the standard group (p = 0.003), results were comparable in the 2 groups and the restenosis rate was similar at 6 months. The prolonged cumulative occlusion time achieved with sequential balloon inflations using a routine balloon catheter improves the immediate results of PTCA. Repeat catheterization shows no effect of prolonged sequential inflations on the restenosis rate.

Between January 1996 and May 2000, we retrospectively identified 66 patients (61 +/- 11 years) with in-stent restenosis who did not undergo percutaneous coronary intervention and/or bypass surgery and were maintained on medical treatment alone. In-stent restenosis was diffuse or proliferative in 86% of these patients. At 33 +/- 11 months, 2 patients died, none developed myocardial infarction, and 6 (9%) had target lesion revascularization only (repeat percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty). Medical treatment alone was associated with a good long-term clinical follow-up in selected patients with significant documented in-stent restenosis.

The results of balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) in 218 adult patients with valvular aortic stenosis (AS) are reported. In most cases, 3 transcutaneously introduced balloons of successively increasing size were used. Tolerance was excellent in 64%, whereas a decrease in blood pressure below 60 mm Hg during inflation was observed in 36%. The left ventricular-aortic peak to peak gradient decreased from 72 +/- 25 to 29 +/- 14 mm Hg (p less than 0.001) and the aortic valve area increased from 0.52 +/- 0.18 to 0.93 +/- 0.33 cm2 (p less than 0.001). The final aortic valve area was greater than or equal to 1 cm2 in 69 patients (32%). In only 6 cases (3%) the aortic valve area did not change or increased by less than 10%. A clear improvement in the results was observed with gained experience and better catheters. There was 1 death and 1 stroke in the procedure room, and 3 strokes after BAV. Nine patients died shortly after the procedure. There were local complications (hematoma or thrombosis) at the femoral puncture site in 28 (13%) patients. Clinical follow-up was obtained for 144 patients (mean 8 months). There were 24 deaths. In the 120 remaining cases, symptomatic improvement was good in 84%, with decrease or disappearance of dyspnea, angina or both. This study demonstrates that BAV is feasible in adult AS at a low risk and is able to produce marked clinical improvement in most cases.