D Roy

..As of December 2003, 960 patients have been randomized. Enrollment is expected to be completed in September 2004 with a minimum follow-up of 2 years...

..Uncontrolled studies have suggested that amiodarone in low doses may be more effective and safer than other agents in preventing recurrence, but this agent has not been tested in a large, randomized trial...

..CONCLUSION: For patients in whom antiarrhythmic drug therapy is indicated, low dose amiodarone significantly reduces atrial fibrillation-related costs by reducing the number of atrial fibrillation-related procedures...

..Categorization of continuous data, especially dichotomization, is unnecessary for statistical analysis. Continuous explanatory variables should be left alone in statistical models...

..Ablation of the AV node is effective with a double freeze-thaw cycle using a percutaneous catheter cryoablation system. Ice mapping of the area allows for identification of the targeted site...

..The studies also showed that reversible "ice mapping" can be performed before creating permanent lesions. We investigated the feasibility and safety of applying this new technology in man...

..We report the first successful slow pathway ablation using a novel catheter-based cryothermal technology for the elimination of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT)...

..Paralleling the rise in pacemaker and defibrillator implantations, lead extraction procedures are increasingly required. Concerns regarding failure and complications remain...

..A randomized trial comparing endovascular and conservative treatment could have an important impact on the clinical management of intracranial aneurysms...

..The FIAT study provides a scientific and ethical context to care for patients eligible for flow-diversion therapy...

..None of the aneurysms ruptured on follow-up. In this series, parent artery occlusion was effective in treating wide-necked aneurysms arising from the A1 segment in patients with adequate collateral supply...

..018). EPS differ in intrinsic thrombogenicity, a characteristic of the material that could be investigated in pre-clinical studies designed to optimize devices...

..The scientific demonstration of an improved long-term efficacy, without significant compromise regarding safety, is mandatory before considering the widespread use of a new embolic device for the endovascular treatment of aneurysms...

..For a more definitive approach in managing these patients, the authors await further clinical trial data...

..Future directions at the Montreal Heart Institute are also briefly addressed...

..Our first task was to verify that recurrences occurred after satisfactory coiling. A second aim of this preliminary work was to assess if the new model could recreate the technical challenges involved in bifurcation aneurysms...

..During a 6-month follow-up without antiarrhythmic drug treatment, this patient has had an uneventful course. We concluded that encainide can cause severe and life-threatening sinus node dysfunction...

..A special status should be reserved for what we would call 'clinical care trials', if we are to practice in a transparent and prospective fashion a medicine that leads to demonstrably better patient outcomes...

..However, limitations related to the work environment and to the theoretical underpinnings of these two components might impede the respondents' ability to integrate them into their practice...

..The recommendation is to anticoagulate these patients for a minimum of four weeks after cardioversion. Whether warfarin should be maintained for a longer period of time is unknown...

....

....

..We assessed whether AF predicts appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks in patients with left ventricular dysfunction and explored modulators of risk...

....

..This review highlights the various types of brady- and tachyarrhythmias encountered in the more common forms of adult congenital heart disease and explores prognostic implications and therapeutic options...

..Surface areas and volumes may be particularly sensitive to catheter tip-to-tissue contact angles with larger electrodes, as reflected by greater variability with 8 mm tips...

....

..In conclusion, significant advances are being made in the management of patients with AF but much more work remains to be done...

..We sought to assess the safety and feasibility of laser lead extraction in ACHD...

..To evaluate the impact of embolization material on radiation dose, we measured and compared the dose delivered to the center of an AVM model, before and following embolization with various materials in a LINAC...

..However, the benefits and risks of this approach have not been adequately studied...

..Radiofrequency catheter ablation of the right bundle branch was successful, resulting in complete right bundle branch block and cure of her ventricular arrhythmia...

..The Consortium is a realistic endeavour optimally structured to promote excellence through scientific appraisal of our treatments, and to accelerate technical progress while maximizing patients' safety and welfare...

....

..However, optimization of the AV interval with Doppler echocardiography at rest did not further improve exercise capacity...

..Pulmonary vein isolation has emerged as an effective treatment in selected patients. In this paper, the past and present roles of pulmonary vein isolation are described and the future developments of this technique are explored...

..Inhospital mortality is higher when ventricular fibrillation presents in the acute phase but long term prognosis is not adversely affected...

..Cryoablation is increasingly used to treat atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). It is unknown whether larger electrode-tip cryocatheters improve outcomes without compromising safety...

..The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of intravenous RSD1235 in terminating recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF)...

..Thus, tools are now available to identify and treat high-risk patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy...

..In this paper, we will make a review of the anatomical factors associated with poor anatomical results as well as technological developments aiming at improvement of aneurysm healing...

..Thus, combination of a phenotypic measure to CYP2C9-VKORC1 genotypes represents a useful strategy to predict warfarin doses in patients receiving multiple drugs (11+/-4 drugs/day)...

..We sought to better define the morbidity of endovascular Guglielmi detachable coil (GDC) treatment of unruptured cerebral aneurysms and to discuss its role in the prevention of subarachnoid hemorrhage...

..The RV leads used in these systems are different from pacemaker leads: they have a larger diameter and shocking coils, which may affect the occurrence of anodal capture...

..Drugs that are recommended and frequently used to convert AF and maintain sinus rhythm are reviewed, and the toxicity of antiarrhythmic drug toxicity is discussed...

..The present study assessed the efficacy and safety of vernakalant hydrochloride (RSD1235), a novel compound, for the conversion of atrial fibrillation (AF)...

..The goal of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the presence of sinus rhythm and outcomes in patients with a history of congestive heart failure (CHF) and atrial fibrillation (AF)...

..In the absence of a monitoring zone, device therapy would not have been expected. We explore the mechanisms by which monitoring zones could potentially contribute to inappropriate ICD therapy and offer trouble-shooting tips...

..Catheter ablation strategies targeting PVs and the posterior LA may be further refined by incorporating technology beyond standard fluoroscopy...

..persistent dual atrioventricular (AV) nodal physiology with or without echo beats...

..The purpose of this study was to evaluate beta-radiation as a novel energy source for creating linear myocardial lesions...

..Dronedarone is a new antiarrhythmic agent pharmacologically related to amiodarone but developed to reduce the risk of side effects...

..The impact of atrial fibrillation (AF) and its treatment on health-related quality of life (QOL) is not well understood. We assessed QOL in patients with symptomatic AF participating in the Canadian Trial of Atrial Fibrillation...

..PVs without thickening on IVUS did not have these potentials. CONCLUSIONS: IVUS permits visualization of atrial tissue in the PVs, and arrhythmogenic PVs are qualitatively and quantitatively different from nonarrhythmogenic PVs...

....

..The classifications assigned by the committee were used in all MUSTT outcomes reports, thus affecting all reported outcomes and overall interpretations of the MUSTT...

..Quantifying the effect of AF on patient well-being is important but there is no simple, commonly accepted measure of the effect of AF on quality of life (QoL). Current QoL measures are cumbersome and impractical for clinical use...