Search

Background: Cephalic vein cutdown (CVC) and subclavian vein puncture (SVP) are the most commonly used access sites for transvenous lead placement of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Limited knowledge exists about the long-term patency of the vascular lumen housing the leads. Methods: Among the 2703 patients who underwent CIED procedures between 2005 and 2013, we evaluated the phlebographies of 162 patients scheduled for an elective CIED replacement (median of 6.4 years after the first operation). The phlebographies were divided into four stenosis types: Type I = 0%, Type II = 1–69%, Type III = 70–99%, and Type IV = occlusion. Due to the fact that no standardized stenosis categorization exists, experienced physicians in consensus with the involved team made the applied distribution. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of stenosis Type III or IV in the CVC group and in the SVP group. Results: In total, 162 patients with venography were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of high-degree stenosis was significantly lower in the CVC group (7/89, 7.8%) than in the SVP group (15/73, 20.5%, p = 0.023). In the CVC group, venographies showed a lower median stenosis (33%) than in the SVP group (median 42%). Conclusions: The present study showed that the long-term patency of the subclavian vein is higher after CVC than after SVP for venous access in patients with CIED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Optimization of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is often time‐consuming and therefore underused in a clinical setting. Novel device‐based algorithms aiming to simplify optimization include a dynamic atrioventricular delay (AVD) algorithm (SyncAV, Abbott) and multipoint pacing (MPP, Abbott). This study examines the acute effect of SyncAV and MPP on electrical synchrony in patients with newly and chronically implanted CRT devices. Methods: Patients with SyncAV and MPP enabled devices were prospectively enrolled during implant or scheduled follow‐up. Blinded 12‐lead electrocardiographic acute measurements of QRS duration (QRSd) were performed for intrinsic QRSd (Intrinsic), bi‐ventricular pacing (BiV), MPP, BiV with SyncAV at default offset 50 ms (BiVSyncAVdef), BiV with SyncAV at patient‐specific optimised offset (BiVSyncAVopt), MPP with SyncAV at default offset 50 ms (MPPSyncAVdef), and MPP with SyncAV at patient‐specific optimised offset (MPPSyncAVopt). Results: Thirty‐three patients were enrolled. QRSd for Intrinsic, BiV, MPP, BiVSyncAVdef, BiVSyncAVopt, MPPSyncAVdef, MPPSyncAVopt were 160.4 ± 20.6 ms, 141.0 ± 20.5 ms, 130.2 ± 17.2 ms, 121.7 ± 20.9 ms, 117.0 ± 19.0 ms, 121.2 ± 17.1 ms, 108.7 ± 16.5 ms respectively. MPPSyncAVopt led to greatest reduction of QRSd relative to Intrinsic (−31.6 ± 11.1%; p <.001), showed significantly shorter QRSd compared to all other pacing configurations (p <.001) and shortest QRSd in every patient. Shortening of QRSd was not significantly different between newly and chronically implanted devices (−51.6 ± 14.7 ms vs. −52.7 ± 21.9 ms; p =.99). Conclusion: SyncAV and MPP improved acute electrical synchrony in CRT. Combining both technologies with patient‐specific optimization resulted in greatest improvement, regardless of time since implantation. Whats new Novel device‐based algorithms like a dynamic AVD algorithm (SyncAV, Abbott) and multipoint pacing (MPP, Abbott) aim to simplify CRT optimization. Our data show that a combination of patient tailored SyncAV optimization and MPP results in greatest improvement of electrical synchrony in CRT measured by QRS duration, regardless if programmed in newly or chronically implanted devices. This is the first study to our knowledge to examine a combination of these device‐based algorithms. The results help understanding the ideal ventricular excitation in heart failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, imaging techniques have improved enormously. This leads to a decrease in stress testing indication for diagnosis and management of coronary artery diseases. However, stress testing remains an indispensable diagnostic tool for assessing patients' physical activity and their circulatory behavior during exercise. Using stress testing helps to assess patients' heart rate behavior or even to detect or trigger cardiac arrhythmias, for example, assessment of chronotropic competency, tachycardia-triggering or detection of a sudden heart rate drop with relevant bradycardia. The present review focuses on the assessment of stress testing in rhythmology. Since abnormal findings, which may indicate the presence of coronary heart disease, may occur during exercise testing, relevant ischemic criteria are also briefly addressed., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, ein Teil von Springer Nature.)

Malfunctions in implanted pacemaker and defibrillator systems can affect all components of the device (battery, capacitor, central processing unit (CPU), connector, soldering points, electrodes). The resulting problems can manifest themselves as inadequate therapy, a lack of therapy despite the need for stimulation or shock release in case of ventricular tachyarrhythmia, or as an ineffective delivery of therapy. The high number of implanted pacemaker and defibrillator systems, the increased life expectancy and the technical progress of cardiac "device" therapy mean that the treating physician is confronted with increasingly complex problems in the follow-up. In addition to the knowledge of the basic function of these devices, a structured procedure to detect and treat malfunctions in a timely manner is required. In this review, frequent malfunctions of pacemaker and defibrillators are presented, individual problems are pointed out, and solutions and treatment options are shown.