Heart : official journal of the British Cardiac Society
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To prevent atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation, pulmonary venous isolation (PVI) at an antral level is more effective than segmental ostial ablation. Cryoablation around the pulmonary venous (PV) ostia for AF therapy is potentially safer compared to radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a strategy using a large cryoablation balloon to perform antral cryoablation with 'touch-up' ostial cryoablation for PVI in patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF. ⋯ PV isolation can be achieved in less than 2 h by a simple cryoablation protocol with excellent results after a single intervention, particularly for paroxysmal AF.
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We sought to evaluate prognostic markers of clinical outcome in asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe aortic stenosis (AS). ⋯ In asymptomatic patients with moderate to severe AS, measurements that integrate the ventricular, vascular and valvular components of the disease improve risk stratification.
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Vasoreactivity testing is recommended in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but its clinical relevance in congenital heart disease (CHD)-associated PAH has not been established. ⋯ Pulmonary vasoreactivity is a significant predictor of clinical worsening in patients with CHD-PAH.
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To evaluate the predictors of pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) in organic mitral regurgitation (MR) and its prognostic value after surgery. ⋯ In organic MR, mitral deceleration time, mitral E/E' and left atrial volume correlate with PASP. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure > or = 50 mmHg is an independent predictor of overall and cardiovascular mortality after surgery in organic MR.