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This study introduces the pulmonary vein isolation outcome degree (PVIOD) as a new semiquantitative measure for the efficacy of atrial fibrillation (AF) catheter ablation and reports the determination of predictors associated with PVIOD. The median follow-up periods of 117 patients after the first and last ablation were, respectively, 82 (IQR 15) and 72 (IQR 30) months. PVIOD 1 included 32.5% of patients, those with successful single pulmonary vein isolation (PVI); PVIOD 2 included 29.1% of subjects, those with success after multiple procedures; PVIOD 3 comprised 14.5% of patients, those with clinical success; and PVIOD 4 included 23.9% of cases, those with procedural and clinical failure. In the multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis, PVIOD 1–4 were independently associated with longstanding persistent AF with paroxysmal AF as the referent category (odds ratio (OR), 3.5; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.1–10.7 (p = 0.031)), left atrial (LA) diameter (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1–1.3 (p = 0.001)) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (OR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.86–1.0 (p = 0.038)). LA size > 41 mm, LVEF ≤ 50% and longstanding persistent AF are strong predictors of AF recurrence. PVIOD 1–4 offer the most exact long-term prognosis of PVI. The purpose of the present article is to expand the quantitative measure of procedural success in the medical and biological fields.

Background/Aim. Numerous trials have shown a high success of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of the patients with cardiac arrhythmias. We aimed to examine the RFA initial success in treatment of different cardiac arrhythmias and the RFA success after 6 months of followup. Second aim was to evaluate influence of all clinical and echocardiography parameters on initial and 6-month success and failure of RFA. Methods. The present study included 320 consecutive patients with atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in which RFA was performed during 2014 in the Institute for Cardiovascular Diseases ?Dedinje?, Belgrade, Serbia. We evaluated the initial RFA success and success of this procedure after 6-month follow-up. We also investigated the prognostic role of clinical and echocardiography parameters on initial and 6-month success and failure of RFA. Results. The RFA initial success for RFA of atrioventriculas (AV) node and AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) was 100%, RFA of pulmonary veins 99%, RFA of atrial flutter 92%, RFA of premature ventricular complexes (PVC) and the Wolf-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome 87%, RFA of ventricular tachycardia 85% and RFA of atrial tachycardia 78%. The success of RFA after 6 months of follow-up for RFA of the AV node was 100%, RFA of AVNRT 94%, RFA of atrial flutter 90%, RFA of WPW syndrome 86%, RFA of pulmonary veins 79% (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation 88% and persistent atrial fibrillation 63% with a significant difference p < 0.05), RFA of PVC 78%, RFA of ventricular tachycardia 77% and RFA of atrial tachycardia 67%. Conclusion. This study proved a very high RFA initial success in treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and a satisfactory RFA success after 6 months of follow-up. Only the prognostic value had the type of atrial fibrillation in the group with catheter ablated pulmonary veins: after 6-month follow-up, the patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation had a significantly better outcome than those with persistent form.

Introduction: The estimated infection rate after permanent endocardial lead implantation is between 1% and 2%. Pacemaker lead endocarditis is treated with total removal of the infected device and proper antibiotics. In this case report, we present a patient with delayed diagnosis and treatment due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Case Report: An 88-year-old, pacemaker dependent woman with diagnosed pacemaker pocket infection was admitted to the University Cardiovascular institute. The patient had a prolonged follow-up time due to the COVID-19 outbreak. She missed her routine checkup and came to her local hospital when the generator had already protruded completely, to the point where she held it in her own hand. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed possible vegetations on the lead. Transesophageal echocardiography was not performed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the day after the admission the patient underwent transvenous removal of the pacemaker lead using a 9 French gauge rotational extraction sheathe (Cook Medical). The extracted lead was covered in a thin layer of vegetations. Further follow-ups showed good recovery with no complications. Conclusions: A case showing delayed treatment of pacemaker pocket infection, due to delayed follow-up time during the COVID-19 pandemic. This patient underwent successful transvenous removal of the infected pacemaker lead, along with adequate antibiotic therapy, which has proven to be the most effective method of treating cardiac device-related endocarditis.

Introduction. Myxoma is the most common primary benign heart tumor. The most frequent location is the left atrium, the chamber of the heart that receives oxygen- rich blood from the lungs. Myxomas usually develop in women, typically between the ages of 40 and 60. Symptoms may occur at any time, but most often they are asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic for a long period of time. Symptoms usually go along with body position, and are related to compression of the heart cavities, embolization and the appearance of general symptoms. The diagnosis of benign tumors of the heart is based on anamnesis, clinical features and findings of the tumor masses by use of non-invasive and invasive imaging methods. Extensive surgical resection of the myxoma is curative with minimal mortality. Long term clinical and echocardiographic follow-up is mandatory. Case report. We reported a case of a 62-year-old male, presented with 15 days of intermittent shortness of breath, dizziness and feeling of heart palpitations and subsequently diagnosed with right atrial myxoma based on transthoracic echocardiography . The patient was emergently operated in our hospital. Long-term followup did not reveal recurrence. Conclusion. Our case was an atypical localisation of right atrial myxoma. Whether the intracardiac mass is benign or malignant, early surgery is obligatory in order to prevent complications.

Introduction In this study, we sought to determine whether myocardial contractile reserve (CR) assessed by dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) can identify patients who experience nearly complete normalization of left ventricular (LV) function after the implantation of a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacemaker. Material and methods The study group consisted of 55 consecutive patients with non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, LV ejection fraction (LVEF) < 35%, and prolonged QRS complex duration, who were scheduled for CRT pacemaker implantation. The DSE (20 µg/kg/min) was performed in all patients. The CR assessment was based on a change in the wall motion score index (ΔWMSI) and ΔLVEF during DSE. Super-response was defined as an increase in LVEF to > 50% and reduction in left ventricular end-systolic dimension to < 40 mm 12 months following the CRT implantation. Results A total of 7 patients (12.7%) were identified as super-responders to CRT. When compared to non-super-responders, these patients had significantly higher values of the dobutamine-induced change in ΔWMSI (1.031 ±0.120 vs. 0.49 ±0.371, p < 0.01), and ΔEF (17.9 ±2.2 vs. 8.8 ±6.2, p < 0.01). Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that dobutamine-induced changes in ΔWMSI ≥ 0.7 and ≥ 14% for ΔEF are the best discriminators for a super-response. Patients with ΔWMSI ≥ 0.7 and ΔEF ≥ 14% are significantly less often hospitalized (p < 0.01) for worsening of heart failure during 28.5 ±3.0 months of the follow-up. Conclusions Contractile reserve assessed by DSE can identify patients with dilated cardiomyopathy who are likely to experience near normalization of LV function following CRT.

Objective: Rupture of the left ventricle wall (VSD) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) is severe and often life threatening complication. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of early surgical treatment in this group of patients, outcome and long term prognosis using echocardiography and clinical data. Material and methods: Clinical and echocardiographic parameters were analyzed in 14/17 patients operated due to VSD which was confirmed by echocardiography and angiography before the operation (11 men, 3 women, mean age 63.2±7.9). The following clinical parameters were analyzed: NYHA class, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), cardiac rhythm, ECG. The following echocardiographic parameters were measured: left atrium diameter (LA), end-diastolic (EDD), and end-systolic (ESD), left ventricle diameter, ejection fraction (EF), severity of mitral (MR) and tricuspid (TR) regurgitation. The pressure gradient on the site of VSD and systolic pressure of the right ventricle (RVSP) were also measured. Results: All patients were in NYHA III class, in sinus rhythm with average heart rate 86±18/min. LA and LV diameters were normal and average EF assessed by Simpson was decreased (32.9±7.5%). In 6 patients with inferior MI, VSD was located in the basal segment of the inferior LV wall, in 4 patients with anteroseptal MI at the site of interventricular septum and in 4 patients at the posterior wall of the LV. All patients had significant left-toright shunt whereas in 2 patients small right-to-left shunt also existed. Pressure gradient at the site of VSD was 75.25±27 mm Hg. All patients had mild MR and TR. RVSP was moderately increased (48.8±22.1 mm Hg). Dacron patch was placed on the VSD site in the majority of patients (12/14) with additional coronary artery by-pass grafting in 7 patients. In two patients direct suture was done. Haemodinamically insignificant residual shunt was detected immediately after operation in only two patients. One patient died immediately after operation and one 42 months after the operation. Conclusion: Patients with VSD after acute MI could be successfully surgically treated with good early as well as long term prognosis. Although these are high risk patients, in our study group surgical intervention was found to be justified and efficient treatment with good results. Echocardiography as non-invasive technique is a method of choice for early assessment for precise localization of the ruptured site and haemodinamic parameters as well as for early and late postoperative follow up.