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The article discusses the importance of imaging techniques in the field of electrophysiology, specifically in the context of treating patients through ablation procedures. Advanced imaging techniques such as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), cardiac computed tomography (CT), and intracardiac echocardiography have allowed electrophysiologists to gain a comprehensive understanding of the anatomical aspects of the heart. These imaging techniques help in visualizing and characterizing scar tissue, identifying pathways for ventricular tachycardias, and guiding catheter placement during procedures. The integration of imaging data into 3D mapping systems used in the electrophysiology lab has shown improvements in procedural efficacy and safety. However, the timing of imaging data acquisition and precise alignment with the electroanatomic map are crucial for the success of this approach. [Extracted from the article]

Background The coronary sinus (CS) Reducer can be considered for the treatment of refractory angina in patients unsuitable for coronary revascularization, but its effect can be influenced by the significant heterogeneity in the anatomy of the cardiac venous system. Case summary We report the case of a 70-year-old woman with recurrent episodes of rest angina refractory to optimal medical therapy [Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) Class IV] and inducible ischaemia in a large myocardial territory. Given the diffuse and peripheral nature of the coronary disease, the patient was considered ineligible for percutaneous or surgical revascularization and she was regarded as a good candidate for a CS occluder. Since coronary venous angiography showed the middle cardiac vein (MCV) to be at least as relevant as the CS, successful implantation of two devices, one in the CS and the second in the MCV, was performed. At 6-month follow-up, the patient reported a significant improvement in angina, resulting in a reduction of the CCS class from Grades IV to III. Discussion In patients affected by refractory angina and regarded as good candidates for Reducer implantation, a thorough comprehension of the cardiac venous pathway drainage is of pivotal importance to guarantee the therapeutic success of the procedure. In this patient, since the CS and the MCV seemed to contribute equally to coronary venous drainage, Reducer implantation in both vessels allowed to obtain a significant improvement of symptoms. The clinical effectiveness of this strategy needs to be validated in randomized clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Left atrial appendage (LAA) membranes are rare congenital anomalies. Those involving the appendage orifice may obstruct its emptying flows, thus promoting blood stasis and clot formation. However, the epidemiology of LAA membranes has never been studied and a correlation with appendage thrombosis has never been proved. Very few case reports described LAA membranes, therefore, their frequency and clinical significance are not known. Moreover, their presence and degree are of crucial importance in planning LAA percutaneous closure, a procedure whose indication is evolving, and whether their presence can represent technical issues during the device implantation is not known. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and the clinical significance of LAA membranes. Methods and results A population of 6030 consecutive transoesophageal echo (TOE) studies has been retrospectively reviewed in order to find those patients in whom an LAA membrane has been found. A literature research has been performed to review previous described cases. Among 6030 TOE cases, an LAA membrane has been described in 6 (prevalence of 1/1000). In one case, the membrane was associated to a severe LAA hypoplasia and in another case to an LAA thrombus (these represent the first cases ever described). All patients had an atrial fibrillation (AF) history and two were in AF during the TOE exam. Conclusion LAA membranes are rare congenital abnormalities occasionally discovered during a TOE exam, frequently in patients affected by AF. In half of the cases, they obstruct the LAA flow, thus theoretically pre-disposing to clot formation. They may be rarely associated to an appendage hypoplasia. During a TOE exam, cardiac imagers should always rule out their presence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To compare prolonged bivalirudin infusion vs. an intra-procedural only bivalirudin infusion administration in subjects with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) regarding residual stent strut thrombosis. Methods and results Multivessel STEMI patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) and scheduled for a staged percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) before hospital discharge were selected among those allocated to either prolonged bivalirudin or intra-procedural only bivalirudin infusion in the MATRIX (Minimizing Adverse Haemorrhagic Events by TRansradial Access Site and angioX) Treatment-Duration study. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the infarct-related artery was performed at the end of PPCI and 4–5 days thereafter during staged intervention. The predefined endpoint was the percentage difference in the number of stent cross-sections with a thrombotic area >5% at the end of PPCI and at the time of staged PCI (ΔThCS). Between September 2013 and November 2015, 137 were randomized to either intra-procedural only bivalirudin infusion (N  = 64) or prolonged bivalirudin (N  = 73) at 16 European sites. Mean stent area, minimum lumen area, percentage of malapposed struts, and mean percent thrombotic area were comparable after index or staged PCI. The difference in the proportion of frames with percent thrombotic area >5% (ΔTh > 5%) were −7.7 (−22.1 to 5.1) in the intra-procedural bivalirudin infusion group and −8.8 (−23.1 to 2.6) in the prolonged infusion group (P  = 0.994). Time from index to follow-up OCT imaging and the infarct vessel artery did not affect this OCT-based endpoint. Conclusion A strategy of prolonged bivalirudin infusion after PPCI did not reduce residual stent strut thrombosis when compared with intra-procedural only bivalirudin infusion administration (funded by The Medicines Company and Terumo; MATRIX ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01433627). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this review is to formulate practical recommendations for the management of antithrombotic therapy in patients undergoing cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) surgery by providing indications for a systematic approach to the problem integrating general technical considerations with patient-specific elements based on a careful evaluation of the balance between haemorrhagic and thromboembolic risk. Hundreds of thousands patients undergo implantation or replacement of CIEDs annually in Europe, and up to 50% of these subjects receive antiplatelet agents or oral anticoagulants. The rate of CIED-related complications, mainly infective, has also significantly increased so that transvenous lead extraction procedures are, consequently, often required. Cardiac implantable electronic device surgery is peculiar and portends specific intrinsic risks of developing potentially fatal haemorrhagic complications; on the other hand, the periprocedural suspension of antithrombotic therapy in patients with high thromboembolic risk cardiac conditions may have catastrophic consequences. Accordingly, the management of the candidate to CIED surgery receiving concomitant antithrombotic therapy is a topic of great clinical relevance yet controversial and only partially, if at all, adequately addressed in evidence-based current guidelines. In spite of the fact that in many procedures it seems reasonably safe to proceed with aspirin only or without interruption of anticoagulants, restricting to selected cases the use of bridging therapy with parenteral heparins, there are lots of variables that may make the therapeutic choices challenging. The decision-making process applied in this document relies on the development of a stratification of the procedural haemorrhagic risk and of the risk deriving from the suspension of antiplatelet or anticoagulant therapy combined to generate different clinical scenarios with specific indications for optimal management of periprocedural antithrombotic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent trials of routine use of embolic protection devices for primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) (the EMERALD, PROMISE, and AIMI trials) have demonstrated neutral or even negative effects of these devices on myocardial reperfusion and final infarct size. Despite these results, there is still ground to believe that PCI-induced embolization may be clinically relevant in specific subsets of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Significant clinical consequences may be expected when embolization is quantitatively relevant and/or is qualitatively characterized by lipid-rich athero-embolism (as is the case of lipid core embolization through the ruptured cap of a fibro-atheroma). Future trials on embolic protection devices in primary PCI should adopt a selective, rather than a routine strategy, through the identification, by angiographic or intravascular imaging parameters, of patients at highest risk of clinically relevant embolization. Such trials should also adopt specific endpoints able to evaluate the effect of micro-embolization, which is currently far from optimally assessed by the standard markers of myocardial reperfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Background: Invasive coronary procedures are increasing in number and complexity over time. This trend translates in an increased need for economical and human resources, among which is nurse staffing the most affected. Aims: To identify possible predictors of nurse workload, during and after diagnostic and interventional procedures. Methods: Two hundred and sixty consecutive patients were included: 52 and 208 patients underwent femoral and radial access, respectively. Nurse workload was calculated with a self-developed model. Results: Cathlab nurse workload was 103 [63–156] min. Independent predictors of increased Cathlab nurse workload were: femoral access, failed radial access and cross-over, interventional procedures, procedural time, urgent procedures. Cathlab nurse workload was 174 [134–218] and 86 [58–126] min, for femoral and radial access, respectively (p <0.001). Among the overall population, 174/260 patients (44 females, mean age 66±11 years) were hospitalised at our Center after the procedure. Fifty-six and 118 patients had femoral and radial access, respectively. Ward nurse workload was 457 [226–954] min. Independent predictors of increased Ward nurse workload were: access-site complication, length of in-hospital stay, admission to CCU, interventional procedures. Ward nurse workload was 386 [226–652] and 720 [314–1375] min, respectively for radial and femoral access (p <0.001). Conclusions: A systematic radial access is an effective strategy for reducing nurse workload, both during, by simplifying nurse tasks in the CathLab, and after coronary invasive procedures, by preventing access-site complications, shortening in-hospital stays, and reducing admissions to CCU. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Study objective – The aim of the study was to assess the contribution of adenine nucleotide depletion to postischaemic myocardial dysfunction (“stunned” myocardium).Design – Isolated perfused hearts release purine catabolites even in the absence of ischaemia, and undergo spontaneous reduction of adenine nucleotide pool. A comparison was therefore made between mechanical function, purine release and tissue adenine nucleotides in working rat hearts reperfused after short term ischaemia or subjected to prolonged perfusion (up to 180 min).Experimental material – 49 Sprague-Dawley rats of 250-300 g body weight were used. The animals were anaesthetised and the hearts quickly excised and perfused with the working heart technique.Measurements and main results – Reperfusion after 10 min ischaemia provided a good model of “stunned” myocardium: aortic flow and minute work decreased by 15(SEM 2)% and 20(3)%, no enzyme leakage was observed, and the adenine nucleotide pool decreased by 3.5(0.4) μmol·g−1. During prolonged perfusion no change was observed in any haemodynamic variable until the adenine nucleotide pool was depleted by over 8.5 μmol·g−1. Adenylate energy charge and the phospho-creatine-creatine pool were unchanged in all cases.Conclusions – Depletion of adenine nucleotides does not account for contractile dysfunction in our model of “stunned” myocardium. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We evaluated the adenosine hypothesis through a new approach, based on the study of the relationship between coronary flow or resistance and purine release, which is an accurate index of myocardial adenosine release. Isolated rat hearts were perfused at different work loads, in hypoxic conditions and after a short period of global ischaemia.When the results of all experiments were considered together, purine release was significantly but weakly related to coronary flow and coronary resistance (r=0.416 v coronary flow, r=0.378 v the reciprocal of coronary resistance, (p<0.01). Closer relationships were obtained within the three subgroups: the correlation coefficients increased to 0.819 and 0.835 (p<0.001) in the hearts perfused at different work loads with normal oxygen supply, to 0.701 and 0.757 (p<0.02 and p<0.01) in the hypoxic hearts, and to 0.897 and 0.978 (p<0.02 and p<0.01) in the hearts recovering from ischaemia. The relationships between purine release and coronary flow or resistance were significantly different in the three subgroups (p<0.001): at any value of purine release coronary resistance was highest during hypoxia and lowest after ischaemia, while the opposite was true for coronary flow.We suggest that the adenosine hypothesis is converted into a “weaker” statement: adenosine is involved in the adjustment between heart performance and coronary resistance but other factors contribute to the regulation of coronary flow, and/or affect the response to adenosine. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]