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Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a well-established treatment of patients with advanced heart failure and electrical dyssynchrony. Implantation of those devices is in some cases associated with intervention on a formerly implanted system. The aim of this analysis was to compare the rate and type of complications of de novo implants and upgrades to CRT-D., Methods: Retrospective data were collected from medical records, including 326 patients treated with CRT-D between 2015 and 2020. The following data were analyzed: procedure data including complications, demographics, co-morbidities, pharmacotherapy, and laboratory tests. The primary endpoint of the study was all-cause mortality., Results: A total of 326 procedure were included, of which 53% (n = 172) were de novo implants and 47% (n = 154) were upgrades. The groups did not differ in the incidence of complications: in the de novo group: 25.5% (n = 44); in the upgrade group: 30.5% (n = 47), p = 0.78. The incidence of complications was also similar in respect of the following: early (p = 0.98) and late (p = 0.45), infectious (p = 0.38) and non-infectious (p = 0.82), surgical (p = 0.38) and device or lead related (p = 0.6). The most common complication in the upgrade group was pocket hematoma (n = 9, 5.8%) and in the de novo group pneumothorax (n = 8, 4.7%)., Conclusions: Upgrade procedures of are not associated with a higher percentage of complications than de novo implantations of CRT-D. Previously implanted cardiac implantable electronic device should not limit the implantation of CRT-Ds.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) and pacemaker (CRT-P) are treatment options for patients with advanced heart failure and electrical dyssynchrony. Current guidelines provide only factors favoring, not specific recommendations as to implant CRT-D or CRT-P. This analysis aimed to compare and contrast populations of CRT-D and CRT-P recipients., Methods: Retrospective data were collected from medical records, including 231 patients treated with either CRT-D or CRT-P between 2015 and 2019. Following data were analyzed demographics, co-morbidities, pharmacotherapy, laboratory tests, and data related to the procedure of implantation. The primary endpoint of the study was all-cause mortality., Results: A total of 231 patients were included (mean age [standard deviation, SD], 64.1 [12.3] years, 76% male), of these, 13.6% (n = 32) with CRT-P and 86.4% (n = 199) with CRT-D. Mean New York Heart Association (NYHA) class did not differ between the groups: 2.23 (0.9) in CRT-P and 2.35 (0.6) in CRT-D group (P = 0.42). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was lower in patients eligible for CRT-D: 27.1% vs. 38% (P < 0.001). Patients were followed for a median (interquartile range [IQR]) of 29 (13-44) months and survival in the CRT-P group was 84%, in CRT-D - 82% (P = 0.74). Patients in the CRT-P group were older, and more often after atrioventricular node ablation. The CRT-P group had tendency towards higher Charlton Comorbidity Index, reaching a mean of 4.66 (1.5) points vs. 3.96 (1.5) points in CRT-D (P = 0.06)., Conclusions: Populations with CRT-P and CRT-D differ in terms of comorbidities; however, they have similar survival. Further studies are required to identify a group of patients, who derive a benefit from adding a defibrillator.

Background: Cardiac implantable electronic device-related infections (CDI) are of increasing importance and involve substantial healthcare resources. This study aimed to evaluate potential CDI risk factors and the utility of the novel PADIT and PACE DRAP scores to predict CDI., Methods and results: The study group included 1,000 consecutive patients undergoing implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) surgery. Patients' and procedural characteristics were collected. CDI occurrence was assessed during 1-year follow-up. Moreover, if periprocedural significant pocket hematoma (SPH) occurred, the maximal volume was calculated based on ultrasonographic measurements and ABC/2 formula. The overall incidence of CDI was 1.8%. In the multivariable regression analysis independent CDI risk factors were: age >75 years (odds ratio [OR]: 5.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.77-19.84), system upgrade procedure (OR: 6.46; CI: 1.94-21.44), procedure duration >1 h (OR: 13.96; CI: 4.40-44.25), presence of SPH (OR: 4.95; CI: 1.62-15.13) and reintervention within 1 month (OR: 16.29; CI: 3.14-84.50). The PACE DRAP score had higher discrimination of CDI incidence (area under curve [AUC] 0.72) as compared with the PADIT score (AUC 0.63)., Conclusions: We identified 5 independent risk factors of CDI development. Our study also showed that the PACE DRAP score was better able to identify patients at high risk of CDI than the PADIT score.

We describe a 39-year-old man with premature atrial contractions at rest, in whom tachycardia was exacerbated by exercise into long-lasting atrial tachycardia of 150 beats/min with changeable grade of AV conduction. The feeling of irregular heart beating was the only symptom of arrhythmia and was well tolerated for many years. However, the signs of tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy with heart failure developed over several years. Successful RF ablation of focal atrial tachycardia using the CARTO system was performed. After 5 months of follow-up the patient is free from arrhythmia with a significant improvement of the HF.