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Background: Atrial tachycardia (AT) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are common in pacemaker patients and are associated with bad prognoses., Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate atrial antitachycardia pacing impact on AT/AF-induced atrial remodeling, measured by early recurrence of AT/AF (ERAF) and by change in left atrial diameter (LAD), and to evaluate the impact of AT/AF duration on ERAF incidence., Methods: Pacemaker patients were randomized to dual-chamber pacing (Control DDDR: 385 patients), managed ventricular pacing (MVP: 398 patients), or atrial antitachycardia pacing plus MVP (DDDRP+MVP: 383 patients). LAD change, estimated by echocardiography, was considered significant if the relative difference between baseline and 24-month measurements was >10%., Results: At median follow-up of 34 months, ERAF incidence was significantly lower in the DDDRP+MVP arm for all AT/AF durations, in particular, ERAF followed AT/AF longer than 3 hours in 53% cases in Control DDDR, in 51% cases in MVP, and in 39% cases in DDDRP+MVP (P <.001 vs other groups). ERAF incidence showed a U-shaped pattern when evaluated as a function of previous AT/AF duration, decreasing for durations from 5 minutes to 12 hours and increasing for longer durations. Among patients with significant LAD change, the proportion of patients with a reduction in LAD was 35% in Control DDDR, 37% in MVP, and 70% in DDDRP+MVP (P <.05 vs other groups)., Conclusion: Our data suggest that atrial electrical remodeling becomes important after about 12 hours of continuous arrhythmia. Compared to DDDR or MVP, DDDRP+MVP reduces ERAF and favors LAD reduction, suggesting that atrial antitachycardia pacing may reverse electrical and mechanical remodeling., (Copyright © 2017 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent comorbidity in patients with pacemaker and is a recognized cause of mortality, morbidity, and quality-of-life impairment. The international MINimizE Right Ventricular pacing to prevent Atrial fibrillation and heart failure trial established that atrial preventive pacing and atrial antitachycardia pacing (DDDRP) in combination with managed ventricular pacing (MVP) reduce permanent AF occurrence in comparison with standard dual-chamber pacing (DDDR)., Objective: We aimed to determine the role of new-generation atrial antitachycardia pacing (Reactive ATP) in preventing AF disease progression., Methods: Patients with dual-chamber pacemaker and with previous atrial tachyarrhythmias were randomly assigned to DDDR (n = 385 (33%)), MVP (n = 398 (34%)), or DDDRP+MVP (n = 383 (33%)) group. The incidence of permanent AF, as defined by the study investigator, or persistent AF, defined as ≥7 consecutive days with AF, was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, while its association with patients' characteristics was evaluated via multivariable Cox regression., Results: At 2 years, the incidence of permanent or persistent AF was 26% (95% confidence interval [CI] 22%-31%) in the DDDR group, 25% (95% CI 21%-30%) in the MVP group, and 15% (95% CI 12%-20%) in the DDDRP+MVP group (P < .001 vs. DDDR; P = .002 vs. MVP). Generalized estimating equation-adjusted Reactive ATP efficacy was 44.4% (95% CI 41.3%-47.6%). Multivariate modeling identified high Reactive ATP efficacy (>44.4%) as a significant predictor of reduced permanent or persistent AF risk (hazard ratio 0.32; 95% CI 0.13-0.781; P = .012) and episodes' characteristics, such as long atrial arrhythmia cycle length, regularity, and the number of rhythm transitions, as predictors of high ATP efficacy., Conclusion: In patients with bradycardia, DDDRP+MVP delays AF disease progression, with Reactive ATP efficacy being an independent predictor of permanent or persistent AF reduction., (Copyright © 2015 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Many patients who suffer from bradycardia and need cardiac pacing also have atrial fibrillation (AF). New pacemaker algorithms, such as atrial preventive pacing and atrial antitachycardia pacing (DDDRP) and managed ventricular pacing (MVP), have been specifically designed to reduce AF occurrence and duration and to minimize the detrimental effects of right ventricular pacing. The randomized MINimizE Right Ventricular pacing to prevent Atrial fibrillation and heart failure trial established that DDDRP + MVP pacing modality reduced permanent AF in bradycardia patients as compared with standard dual-chamber pacing (DDDR)., Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the cost savings due to lower AF-related health care utilization events based on health care costs from the United States and the European Union., Methods: Dual-chamber pacemaker patients with a history of paroxysmal or persistent AF were randomly assigned to receive DDDR (n = 385) or the advanced features (DDDRP + MVP; n = 383). We used published health care costs from the United States and the European Union (Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) to estimate the costs associated with AF-related hospitalizations and emergency visits., Results: The rate of AF-related hospitalizations was significantly lower in the DDDRP + MVP group than in the conventional pacemaker group (DDDR group; 42% reduction; incidence rate ratio 0.58). Similarly, a significant reduction of 68% was observed for AF-related emergency department visits (incidence rate ratio 0.32; P < .001). As a consequence, DDDRP + MVP could potentially reduce health care costs by 40%-44%. Over a ten-year period, the cost savings per 100 patients ranged from $35,702 in the United Kingdom to $121,831 in the United States., Conclusion: New pacing algorithms such as DDDRP + MVP used in the MINimizE Right Ventricular pacing to prevent Atrial fibrillation and heart failure trial successfully reduced AF-related health care utilization, resulting in significant cost savings to payers., (Copyright © 2015 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: CO2 and holmium:yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) transmyocardial laser revascularization (TMLR) are used to treat patients with refractory angina. A randomized trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of XeCl excimer TMLR was performed., Methods: Thirty patients with refractory angina were randomized in pairs to excimer TMLR or maximal medication. We assessed angina, quality of life (QOL), exercise time, myocardial perfusion, and ventricular wall motion at base line and at 3, 6, and 12 months after TMLR., Results: TMLR patients manifested a significantly better outcome with respect to angina class and quality of life. One TMLR patient died perioperatively versus none in the control group. After TMLR angina decreased from class 3.8 +/- 0.4 at base line to 1.9 +/- 0.9 at 12 months versus 3.9 +/- 0.3 to 3.7 +/- 0.6 in the control group, respectively (p = 0.000001). At 12 months a decrease of greater than or equal to two angina classes was indicated in 11 out of 14 TMLR patients versus none in the control group (p = 0.00001). Improved myocardial perfusion or exercise time was not indicated despite a small decrease in reversible wall motion abnormality score., Conclusions: Excimer TMLR significantly relieves angina and improves QOL without evidence of improved cardiac perfusion or function.

In the past 35 years many experimental studies have been performed to investigate the revascularization potential of transmyocardial revascularization and the possible working mechanisms underlying the observed clinical improvement in angina pectoris after this treatment. In this review of the experimental literature, the various methods that have been used to create transmyocardial channels and the most supported hypotheses on the working mechanism (channel patency, angiogenesis and myocardial denervation) are discussed and evaluated.

Chest wall defects resulting from oncological operations often require prosthetic repair. The objectives of prosthetic repair are to provide a cosmetically acceptable substitute, prevent paradoxical chest wall movement, and protect vital organs. Of the many materials that have been used in these repairs, none have proved to be ideal. The aim of our study was to investigate the application of a biodegradable material--processed sheep dermal collagen--as a chest wall prosthesis. A full-thickness chest wall defect of 10 x 10 cm was created in 12 dogs; 10 had repair with a processed sheep dermal collagen prosthesis and 2, the controls, with polypropylene mesh. In this study, the biomaterial fulfilled its function as a chest wall prosthesis at 24 weeks' follow-up. No respiratory problems were seen, the chest wall remained stable with minimal and decreasing respiratory paradoxical movement, and the processed sheep dermal collagen slowly degraded and was replaced by the host collagen. Processed sheep dermal collagen offers long-term advantages because it is degradable. Late complications from a nonabsorbable prosthesis, ie, infection or disintegration of the material possibly causing extrusion or fistula formation, are avoided.