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A 75-year-old man with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy underwent placement of a long-sensing vector implantable loop recorder (ILR) for unexplained syncope. One month later, ILR remote monitoring revealed unstable R-wave amplitudes ranging from very high (>1.9 mV) to very low (<0.2 mV) values. During an in-hospital clinic visit, the only site to establish communication with the ILR was the left posterior axillary area. Chest computed tomography confirmed ILR migration into the anterior costophrenic recess. The device was retrieved with forceps during video thoracoscopy without further complications. This is the first case report of migration of an implantable loop recorder diagnosed by remote monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conduction system pacing (CSP) using His bundle pacing (HBP) or left bundle branch area pacing (LBBAP) has emerged as an alternative to right ventricular pacing (RVP). Comparative data on the risk of complications between CSP and RVP are lacking. This prospective, multicenter, observational study aimed to compare the long-term risk of device-related complications between CSP and RVP. A total of 1029 consecutive patients undergoing pacemaker implantation with CSP (including HBP and LBBAP) or RVP were enrolled. Propensity score matching for baseline characteristics yielded 201 matched pairs. The rate and nature of device-related complications occurring during follow-up were prospectively collected and compared between the 2 groups. During a mean follow-up duration of 18 months, device-related complications were observed in 19 patients: 7 in RVP (3.5%) and 12 in CSP (6.0%) (P =.240). On dividing the matched cohort into 3 groups with similar baseline characteristics according to pacing modality (RVP, n = 201; HBP, n = 128; LBBAP, n = 73), patients with HBP showed a significantly higher rate of device-related complications than did patients with RVP (8.6% vs 3.5%; P =.047) and patients with LBBAP (8.6% vs 1.3%; P =.034). Patients with LBBAP showed a rate of device-related complications similar to that of patients with RVP (1.3% vs 3.5%; P =.358). Most of the complications observed in patients with HBP (63.6%) were lead related. Globally, CSP was associated with a risk of complications similar to that of RVP. Considering HBP and LBBAP separately, HBP showed a significantly higher risk of complications than did both RVP and LBBAP whereas LBBAP showed a risk of complications similar to that of RVP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac involvement is recorded in about 80% of patients affected by myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). The prevalence of cardiac conduction abnormalities and arrhythmias has been well described. Data regarding the prevalence of left ventricle systolic dysfunction (LVSD) and heart failure (HF) are still conflicting. The primary objective of this review was to assess the prevalence of LVSD and HF in DM1. The secondary aim was to examine the association of clinical features with LVSD and to detect predisposing and influencing prognosis factors. A systematic search was developed in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of Science databases to identify original reports between January 1, 2009, and September 30, 2017, assessing the prevalence of LVSD and HF in populations with DM1. Retrospective and prospective cohort studies and case series describing the prevalence of LVSD, as evaluated by echocardiography, and HF in patients with DM1 were included. Case reports, simple reviews, commentaries and editorials were excluded. Seven studies were identified as eligible, of which 1 was a retrospective population-based cohort study, and 6 were retrospective single-center-based cohort studies. Echocardiographic data concerning LV function were available for 647 of the 876 patients with DM1 who were included in the analysis. The prevalence of LVSD in patients with DM1, defined as LVEF < 55%, was 13.8%, 4.5-fold higher than in general population. Patients with DM1 and LVSD were older, were more likely to be male, had longer baseline atrioventricular and intraventricular conduction-time durations, had higher incidences of atrial arrhythmias, and were more likely to have undergone device implantation. Also, symptomatic HF is more prevalent in patients with DM1 despite their limited levels of physical activity. Further studies are needed to evaluate the prevalence of LVSD and HF in patients with DM1 and to investigate electrocardiographic abnormalities and other clinical features associated with this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (S-ICD) does not require the insertion of any leads into the cardiovascular system.Objective: The aims of the study were to describe current practice and to measure outcomes associated with S-ICD or standard single-chamber transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) use after TV-ICD explantation.Methods: We analyzed all consecutive patients who underwent transvenous extraction of an ICD and subsequent implantation of an S-ICD or a single-chamber TV-ICD at 12 Italian centers from 2011 to 2017.Results: A total of 229 patients were extracted and subsequently reimplanted with an S-ICD (90; 39%) or a single-chamber TV-ICD (139; 61%). S-ICD implantation increased from 9% in 2011 to 85% in 2017 (P < .001). Patients reimplanted with an S-ICD were younger (53 ± 13 years vs 60 ± 18 years; P = .011) and more frequently had undergone extraction owing to infection (73% vs 52%; P < .001). The rates of complications at follow-up were comparable between groups (hazard ratio 0.97; 95% confidence interval 0.49-1.92; P = .940). No lead failures, systemic infections, or system-related deaths occurred in the S-ICD group. In the TV-ICD group, 1 lead fracture occurred and 2 systemic infections were reported, resulting in death in 1 case. In the S-ICD group, the rate of complications was lower when the generator was positioned in a sub- or intermuscular pocket (hazard ratio 0.21; 95% confidence interval 0.05-0.87; P = .048).Conclusion: Our results show an increasing use of S-ICD over the years in patients undergoing TV-ICD explantation. An S-ICD is preferably adopted in young patients, mostly in the case of infection. The complication rate was comparable between groups and decreased when a sub- or intermuscular S-ICD generator position was adopted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common finding in the myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) population. Pacemakers (PMs) may facilitate the diagnosis and management of frequent subclinical asymptomatic AF episodes.Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of minimal ventricular pacing on paroxysmal AF incidence in DM1 patients during a 24-month follow-up period.Methods: We enrolled 70 DM1 patients (age 43.4 ± 13.8 years; 39 women) who underwent dual-chamber PM implantation. Patients were randomized to minimizing ventricular pacing features (ON) or not (OFF). Patients crossed over to the opposite pacing programming 12 months later. We counted the number of DM1 patients with at least 1 episode of AF, the AF total duration, and the burden recorded by PM diagnostics during the MVP ON and OFF phases.Results: Twenty-five DM1 patients (41.7%) showed at least 1 AF episode. Seven patients (11.7%) demonstrated AF episodes during MVP ON phase and 25 patients (41.7%) during MVP OFF phase (P <.001). Thirty-five patients had no AF during MVP ON or OFF phase, 3 patients had AF episodes only during MVP ON phase, 21 patients had AF episodes only during MVP OFF phase, and 4 patients had AF episodes during MVP ON and OFF phases. Activation of the MVP algorithm was associated with a 44% reduction in relative risk of developing AF. Furthermore, during the MVP ON phases, the study population showed a shorter total AF duration and a lower AF burden.Conclusion: MVP is an efficacy strategy for reducing the risk of AF in DM1 patients who have undergone PM implantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and bioprosthetic heart valve is still controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the tolerability and effectiveness of treatment with DOACs versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) in patients with AF and a bioprosthetic heart valve in clinical practice. Data for this study were sourced from the multicenter, prospectively maintained AF Research Database (NCT03760874), which includes all patients with AF undergoing follow-up at participating centers through outpatient visits every 3–6 months. The rates of occurrence of thromboembolic events (ischemic stroke, transient ischemic attack, systemic embolism), major bleed, and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) were assessed. These data were used for quantifying the net clinical benefit (NCB) of DOACs versus VKAs, in accordance with the following formula: (Thromboembolic events incidence rate with VKAs – Thromboembolic events incidence rate with DOACs) – Weighting factor × (ICH rate with DOACs – ICH incidence rate with VKAs). The database was retrospectively queried for patients with AF who were prescribed a DOAC or VKA and had a history of bioprosthetic heart valve replacement. A total of 434 patients with AF (DOACs, n = 211; VKAs, n = 223) were identified. Propensity score matching identified 130 patients prescribed DOACs (apixaban, 55.4%; rivaroxaban, 30.0%; dabigatran, 13.1%; edoxaban, 1.4%) and the same number of VKA recipients (warfarin, 89.2%; acenocoumarol, 10.8%). The mean (SD) duration of follow-up was 26.8 (2.3) months. The incidence rates of thromboembolic events were 1.3 per 100 person-years in the DOAC group versus 2.0 per 100 person-years in the VKA group (P = 0.14). The incidence rates of major bleed events were 2.6 per 100 person-years in the DOAC group versus 4.9 per 100 person-years in the VKA group (P = 0.47). The incidence rates of ICH were 0.38 per 100 person-years in the DOAC group versus 1.16 in the VKA group (hazard ratio = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.05–2.34; P = 0.3). A positive NCB of DOACs over VKAs of +1.87 was found. According to these data from clinical practice, DOACs seem to be associated with a greater NCB versus VKAs in patients with AF with a bioprosthetic heart valve, primarily due to lower rates of both major bleeds and thromboembolic events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to compare the efficacy and safety of edoxaban versus vitamin K antagonist (VKA) therapy among a cohort of elderly patients (ie, those aged ≥75 years) with atrial fibrillation (AF) in a real-life setting. A propensity score–matched cohort observational study was performed comparing the safety and efficacy of edoxaban versus VKA therapy among a cohort of elderly (aged ≥75 years) patients with AF in a real-life setting. Follow-up data were obtained through outpatient visits at 1, 3, and every 6 months. The primary safety outcome was major bleeding. The primary efficacy outcome was the composite of stroke, transient ischemic attack, and systemic embolism. A total of 130 patients receiving edoxaban 60 mg (EDO) treatment were compared with the same number of VKA recipients. The mean follow-up was 16 (2.6) months. The cumulative incidence of thromboembolic events in the EDO and VKA groups was 1.5% (2 of 130) and 2.3% (3 of 130), respectively (P < 0.6). The cumulative incidence of major bleeding events was 1.5% (2 of 130) in the EDO group and 3.1% (4 of 130) in the VKA group (P < 0.4). The total anticoagulant therapy discontinuation rate was 2.3% (3 of 130) in the EDO group and 4.6% (6 of 130) in the VKA group (P < 0.3). A nonsignificant trend in improved adherence was observed between the EDO and VKA groups (81% vs 78%; P = 0.6). Edoxaban therapy showed a good real-life performance among elderly patients (aged ≥75 years) with AF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]