Hellenic journal of cardiology : HJC = Hellēnikē kardiologikē epitheōrēsē
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Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a documented treatment for patients with symptomatic aortic stenosis who are at very high or prohibitive operative risk. We sought to investigate the outcomes of transfemoral procedures with the newer generation valves in four TAVR centres in Athens, Greece. ⋯ TAVR outcomes with both the newer generation transfemoral valves in the ATHENS Registry were excellent. We observed a greater need for a new permanent pacemaker and a greater degree of aortic valve insufficiency after CoreValve implantation.
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Comparative Study
Circadian variation of blood pressure and heart rate in normotensives, white-coat, masked, treated and untreated hypertensives.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) forms the basis for the diagnosis of masked hypertension, a condition associated with increased target organ damage, and of white-coat hypertension, a common condition among subjects referred to hypertensive centers. The aim of this study was to compare the circadian blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) profiles in 1676 Greek subjects in order to identify the circadian patterns in these two categories of patient. ⋯ The circadian profiles of BP and HR in white-coat and masked hypertension show the same pattern as in normotensive and hypertensive patients (treated and untreated). These findings indicate that factors other than disturbances in BP and HR circadian pattern are likely to be responsible for the pathogenesis of white-coat and masked hypertension. A direct influence of autonomic nervous system activity on the circadian pattern of BP and HR could explain the persistence of a basic circadian profile in normotension, white-coat, masked, and sustained hypertension, independently of 24-hour BP and HR levels.
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Recent guidelines from the European Society of Cardiology suggest that surgical ablation should be considered in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) who present for concomitant surgically correctable disease. This is a case-matched study of radiofrequency ablation during concomitant cardiac surgery versus lone surgery on patients with persistent and long-standing permanent AF. ⋯ Epicardial radiofrequency ablation in patients with persistent and long lasting permanent AF, who are being operated for concomitant cardiac surgical disease, is a safe, reproducible method with acceptable sustainability of sinus rhythm at medium-term follow up.