European heart journal
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European heart journal · Sep 2007
Pulmonary vein isolation using an occluding cryoballoon for circumferential ablation: feasibility, complications, and short-term outcome.
To assess safety, feasibility and short term outcome of pulmonary vein (PV) isolation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) with a cryoballoon. ⋯ Balloon cryoablation of the pulmonary veins with additional segmental isolation if necessary, is a good approach for patients presenting with paroxysmal AF, showing a significant reduction in AF burden after a single procedure. The major complication seems to be phrenic nerve paralysis after ablation of the right superior PV, but this is potentially reversible over several months.
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European heart journal · Sep 2007
Practice GuidelineGuidelines for cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy: The Task Force for Cardiac Pacing and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy of the European Society of Cardiology. Developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association.
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European heart journal · Sep 2007
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyAn analysis of mortality rates with dual-antiplatelet therapy in the primary prevention population of the CHARISMA trial.
To examine the unanticipated, excess mortality observed in patients randomized to clopidogrel and aspirin vs. aspirin alone in the prespecified 'asymptomatic' subgroup of CHARISMA, we investigated whether dual-antiplatelet therapy may be associated with adverse cardiovascular (CV) events in a primary prevention population. ⋯ These findings do not support the use of dual-antiplatelet therapy with clopidogrel and aspirin in a primary prevention population. In this subgroup analysis, CV death occurred more frequently than anticipated. The cause of this apparent harm is not elucidated, may represent play of chance, but requires further prospective evaluation.