Background: Pulmonary vein (PV) reverse remodeling has been recognized following atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. However, the extent of physiologic reverse remodeling after AF ablation and the potential impact of reverse remodeling on the radiographic diagnosis of PV stenosis have not been well characterized. Methods: From January 2004 to February 201 186 patients underwent paired cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to delineate PV orifice dimensions before and after (mean 109 ± 61 days) an initial AF ablation. Results: Negative remodeling of the PV orifice cross sectional area occurred in 67.8% of veins with a mean reduction in area of 21.0 ± 14.1%, and positive remodeling was seen in the remaining PVs with an increase in area of 22.1 ± 23.4% compared to baseline. No PVs demonstrated a reduction in cross-sectional area of < 75% (maximum reduction observed was 58%). Negative remodeling of the PV long axis dimension was observed in 55.2% of veins with a mean reduction of 14.6 ± 9.2% compared to pre-ablation and positive remodeling was observed in 25.3% of PVs with a mean increase in diameter of 14.7 ± 12.6%. Only 1 PV demonstrated a reduction in orifice diameter of < 50%. There were no clinically evident or suspected cases of PV stenosis in this cohort. Conclusions: Negative remodeling of the PV orifice area was noted in the majority of PVs following AF ablation. However, in almost all cases, the extent of negative remodeling was well below commonly used thresholds for the radiographic diagnosis of PV stenosis.

© 2015 Hartlage et al. Background: Despite marked benefits in many heart failure patients, a considerable proportion of patients treated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) fail to respond appropriately. Recently, a "U-shaped" (type II) wall motion pattern identified by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) has been associated with improved CRT response compared to a homogenous (type I) wall motion pattern. There is also evidence that a left ventricular (LV) lead localized to the latest contracting LV site predicts superior response, compared to an LV lead localized remotely from the latest contracting LV site. Methods: We prospectively evaluated patients undergoing CRT with pre-procedural CMR to determine the presence of type I and type II wall motion patterns and pre-procedural echocardiography to determine end systolic volume (ESV). We assessed the final LV lead position on post-procedural fluoroscopic images to determine whether the lead was positioned concordant to or remote from the latest contracting LV site. CRT response was defined as ≥15 % reduction in ESV on a 6 month follow-up echocardiogram. Results: The study included 33 patients meeting conventional indications for CRT with a mean New York Heart Association class of 2.8 ± 0.4 and mean LV ejection fraction of 28 ± 9 %. Overall, 55 % of patients were echocardiographic responders by ESV criteria. Patients with both a type II pattern and an LV lead concordant to the latest contracting site (T2CL) had a response rate of 92 %, compared to a response rate of 33 % for those without T2CL (p = 0.003). T2CL was the only independent predictor of response on multivariate analysis (odds ratio 18, 95 % confidence interval 1.6-206; p = 0.018). T2CL resulted in significant incremental improvement in prediction of echocardiographic response (increase in the area under the receiver operator curve from 0.69 to 0.84; p = 0.038). Conclusions: The presence of a type II wall motion pattern on CMR and a concordant LV lead predicts superior CRT response. Improving patient selection by evaluating wall motion pattern and targeting LV lead placement may ultimately improve the response rate to CRT.

Aims: The subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) was introduced to overcome complications related to transvenous leads. Adoption of the S-ICD requires implanters to learn a new implantation technique. The aim of this study was to assess the learning curve for S-ICD implanters with respect to implant-related complications, procedure time, and inappropriate shocks (IASs). Methods and results: In a pooled cohort from two clinical S-ICD databases, the IDE Trial and the EFFORTLESS Registry, complications, IASs at 180 days follow-up and implant procedure duration were assessed. Patients were grouped in quartiles based on experience of the implanter and Kaplan-Meier estimates of complication and IAS rates were calculated. A total of 882 patients implanted in 61 centres by 107 implanters with a median of 4 implants (IQR 1,8) were analysed. There were a total of 59 patients with complications and 48 patients with IAS. The complication rate decreased significantly from 9.8% in Quartile 1 (least experience) to 5.4% in Quartile 4 (most experience) (P = 0.02) and non-significantly for IAS from 7.9 to 4.8% (P = 0.10). Multivariable analysis demonstrated a hazard ratio of 0.78 (P = 0.045) for complications and 1.01 (P = 0.958) for IAS. Dual-zone programming increased with experience of the individual implanter (P < 0.001), which reduced IAS significantly in the multivariable model (HR 0.44, P = 0.01). Procedure time decreased from 75 to 65 min (P < 0.001). The complication rate and procedure time stabilized after Quartile 2 ( > 13 implants). Conclusion: There is a short and significant learning curve associated with physicians adopting the S-ICD. Performance stabilizes after 13 implants.

Background: Left ventricular dyssynchrony is often diagnosed by comparing velocity curves from Doppler tissue images of two or more myocardial regions. Velocity curves are generated by placing sample volumes or regions of interest (ROIs) within the myocardium. ROIs need to be manually relocated to maintain a midmyocardial location as the heart moves, but are frequently left in a stationary position. The error caused by use of a stationary ROI may affect the diagnosis of dyssynchrony, but this has not been quantified. Objective: We hypothesized that using a stationary ROI to quantify dyssynchrony from Doppler tissue images would affect the diagnosis of dyssynchrony in patients with heart failure. Methods: We quantified dyssynchrony in 18 patients with heart failure using 4 published dyssynchrony parameters: septal-to-lateral delay, maximum difference in the basal 2- or 4-chamber times to peak, SD of the 12 basal and midwall times to peak, and cross-correlation delay (XCD). Each dyssynchrony parameter was measured using both tracked and stationary ROIs. Results: Use of a stationary ROI did not change the diagnosis of dyssynchrony when using XCD. However, ROI tracking changed the diagnosis of dyssynchrony in 17%, 11%, and 17% of patients when using septal-to-lateral delay, maximum difference in the basal 2- or 4-chamber times to peak, and SD of the 12 basal and midwall times to peak, respectively. XCD showed the lowest percent difference between tracked and stationary ROIs (4 ± 9% vs 22 ± 53%, 50 ± 167%, and 12 ± 30%, respectively, for septal-to-lateral delay, maximum difference in the basal 2- or 4-chamber times to peak, and SD of the 12 basal and midwall times to peak). Conclusion: Manual ROI tracking is required when using conventional time-to-peak parameters to diagnose dyssynchrony. XCD diagnosis of dyssynchrony can be performed accurately with a stationary ROI.

Background: QRSduration (QRSd) is associated with higher mortality and morbidity in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The association between QRSd and atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been studied in this patient population. Objectives: To investigate the association between QRSd and AF in patients with LV dysfunction. Methods: Data were obtained from the National Registry to Advance Heart Health (ADVANCENT) registry, a prospective multicenter registry of patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤40%. A total of 25 268 patients from106 centers in the United States, were enrolled between June 2003 and November 2004. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patientswere collected from interviews and medical records. Results: Mean age was 66.3 ± 13 years, 71.5% were males, and 81.9% were white. A total of 14 452 (57.8%) patients had a QRSd <120 ms, 5304 (21.2%) had a QRSd between 120 and 150 ms, and 5269 (21%) had a QRSd >150 ms. Atrial fibrillation occurred in 20.9%, 27.5%, and 35.5% of patients in the QRS groups, respectively (P < 0.0001). After adjusting for potential AF risk factors (age, gender, race, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, renal failure, cancer, lung disease, New York Heart Association [NYHA] class, ejection fraction, etiology of cardiomyopathy) and the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, β-blockers, and lipid lowering drugs, QRS duration remained independently associated with AF (odds ratio: 1.20, 95% confidence interval: 1.14-1.25). Conclusion: In this large cohort of patients, QRSd was strongly associated with AF and thereforemay predict the occurrence of this arrhythmia in patients with LV dysfunction. This association persisted after adjusting for disease severity, comorbid conditions, and the use of medications known to be protective against AF.

Background-—The incidence of cancer treatment–induced arrhythmia (CTIA) associated with novel, targeted chemotherapeutic agents (TCAs) has not been well described. Methods and Results-—We identified all patients treated at our institution from January 2010 to December 2015 with selected TCAs. We defined CTIA as any new arrhythmia diagnosis code within 6 months after treatment initiation. As a comparison, we also identified patients treated with anthracycline chemotherapy during the same period. We identified 5026 patients, of whom 2951 (58.7%) received TCAs and 2075 (41.3%) received anthracycline chemotherapy. In the overall cohort, 601 patients (12.0%) developed CTIA. Patients with CTIA were significantly older and more likely to have hypertension, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, coronary disease, and sleep apnea. The incidence of CTIA at 6 months was significantly lower in the TCA group (9.3% versus 15.8%; P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, a history of hypertension (hazard ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.34–1.98), congestive heart failure (hazard ratio, 2.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.78–2.68), and male sex (hazard ratio, 1.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.47) were associated with a significantly increased risk of CTIA, whereas treatment with TCAs, compared with anthracycline chemotherapy, was associated with a significantly lower risk (hazard ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.51– 0.71). Conclusions-—Compared with anthracyclines, treatment with TCAs was associated with an ≈40% reduced risk of new-onset arrhythmia diagnoses during the first 6 months of treatment.

Background: T wave oversensing (TWOS) is a major drawback of the subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD). Data on predictors of TWOS in S-ICD recipients are limited. We sought to investigate predictors of TWOS in a cohort of patients receiving an S-ICD at our institution. Methods: S-ICD recipients at our center were identified retrospectively and stratified based on the presence or absence of TWOS. Clinical and electrocardiographic parameters were collected and compared between the 2 groups. Results: Ninety-two patients underwent an S-ICD implantation at our institution between April 2010 and January 2015. Six (6.5%) patients had TWOS. These patients were younger (38.1±13.7 vs. 52.3±16.1 years, p=0.04) and had higher left ventricle ejection fractions (48.5±14.9% vs. 28.4±12.2%, p<0.01) than patients without a history of TWOS. Baseline 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters were not different between the 2 groups. Leads I, II, and avF (which mimic the sensing vectors of the S-ICD) were further inspected to identify ECG characteristics that could predict TWOS. The QRS amplitude in ECG lead I was significantly smaller in the TWOS group than in the non-TWOS group (3.7 vs. 7.4 mV, p=0.02). Conclusion: In this study, younger age, higher ejection fraction, and lower QRS amplitude were associated with TWOS. These findings could help identify patients referred for S-ICD at high-risk of TWOS.

Purpose: To apply cross-correlation delay (XCD) analysis to myocardial phase contrast magnetic resonance (PCMR) tissue velocity data and to compare XCD to three established "time-to-peak" dyssynchrony parameters. Materials and Methods: Myocardial tissue velocity was acquired using PCMR in 10 healthy volunteers (negative controls) and 10 heart failure patients who met criteria for cardiac resynchronization therapy (positive controls). All dyssynchrony parameters were computed from PCMR velocity curves. Sensitivity, specificity, and receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis for separating positive and negative controls were computed for each dyssynchrony parameter. Results: XCD had higher sensitivity (90%) and specificity (100%) for discriminating between normal and patient groups than any of the time-to-peak dyssynchrony parameters. ROC analysis showed that XCD was the best parameter for separating the positive and negative control groups. Conclusion:XCD is superior to time-to-peak dyssynchrony parameters for discriminating between subjects with and without dyssynchrony and may aid in the selection of patients for cardiac resynchronization therapy.

The efficacy of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) has not been studied in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and left ventricular dysfunction. We sought to identify predictors of long-term survival among ICD recipients with and without ESRD. Methods Patients implanted with an ICD at our institution from January 2006 to March 2014 were retrospectively identified. Clinical and demographic characteristics were collected. Patients were stratified by the presence of ESRD at the time of ICD implant. Mortality data were collected from the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). Results A total of 3453 patients received an ICD at our institution in the pre-specified time period, 184 (5.3%) of whom had ESRD. In general, ESRD patients were sicker and had more comorbidities. Kaplan Meier survival curve showed that ESRD patients had worse survival as compared with non-dialysis patients (p < 0.001). Following adjustment for differences in baseline characteristics, patients with ESRD remained at increased long-term mortality in the Cox model. The one-year mortality in the ESRD patients was 18.1%, as compared with 7.7% in the non-dialysis cohort (p < 0.001). The three-year mortality in ESRD patients was 43%, as compared with 21% in the non-dialysis cohort (p < 0.001). Conclusion ESRD patients are at significantly increased risk of mortality as compared with a non-dialysis cohort. While the majority of these patients survive more than one year post-diagnosis, the three-year mortality is high (43%). Randomized studies addressing the benefits of ICDs in ESRD patients are needed to better define their value for primary prevention of SCD.