Heart Rhythm O2Pub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.hroo.2026.08.032
Gene Hu, Deena Sukhon, Ilyas K. Colombowala, Shanti Bansal, Jorge A. Irizarry-Caro, Kamala P. Tamirisa
{"title":"ID: 4567291 DEVICE-DETECTED VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIA AND ICD THERAPY ACROSS THE FEMALE LIFE COURSE: A MULTI-VENDOR, REAL-WORLD ANALYSIS OF 35,515 DEFIBRILLATOR PATIENTS","authors":"Gene Hu, Deena Sukhon, Ilyas K. Colombowala, Shanti Bansal, Jorge A. Irizarry-Caro, Kamala P. Tamirisa","doi":"10.1016/j.hroo.2026.08.032","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hroo.2026.08.032","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":29772,"journal":{"name":"Heart Rhythm O2","volume":"7 9","pages":"Page S19"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148997670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Heart Rhythm O2Pub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-06-09DOI: 10.1016/j.hroo.2026.04.031
Brynn E. Dechert MSN, CPNP, FHRS, Martin J. LaPage MD, MS, FHRS
{"title":"Nurse practitioner-led CIED monitoring during MRI in pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease","authors":"Brynn E. Dechert MSN, CPNP, FHRS, Martin J. LaPage MD, MS, FHRS","doi":"10.1016/j.hroo.2026.04.031","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hroo.2026.04.031","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Recent evidence shows minimal risk to patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), even those with MRI non-conditional devices or epicardial and/or abandoned leads.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>We report our experience with peri-MRI device care for pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) provided by pediatric electrophysiology (EP) nurse practitioner(s) (NP).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Retrospective study of pediatric and adult patients with CHD with CIEDs undergoing MRI between November 2022 and February 2025. An International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners device certified NP led the service, determined CIED MRI compatibility and risk, determined programming for scan and provided patient rhythm monitoring for non-conditional devices. EP NPs provided pre and post-MRI evaluation and programming conditional devices. Full interrogation was completed prior and immediately after MRI.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>There were 28 patients who underwent MRI with CIED; median age 21.7 (interquartile range [IQR] 18–23; range 0.5–37) years. Epicardial pacemakers (PM) in 15 (53%), transvenous PM or ICD in 11 (40%), and S-ICD in 2 (7%). 7 patients (25%) had abandoned leads. 18 CIEDs (65%) were MRI non-conditional. No patient had clinically significant change in lead parameters, concerning arrhythmia or patient reported symptoms during MRI scan. The median NP time provided in MRI for a patient requiring continuous monitoring, n = 22 (79%), was 100 minutes (IQR 80–129).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>EP NP provided peri-MRI device management can be a successful and physician adjacent service. There were no adverse outcomes including lead measurement changes, patient reported symptoms or arrhythmia for patients which was consistent with prior studies. Time spent in MRI does not include time for preliminary assessment and determination of risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29772,"journal":{"name":"Heart Rhythm O2","volume":"7 9","pages":"Pages 1786-1790"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148981058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Left ventricular wall thickness and functional recovery after atrial fibrillation ablation in patients with systolic dysfunction","authors":"Masato Okada MD, Nobuaki Tanaka MD, Yasushi Koyama MD, PhD, Koji Tanaka MD, Yuko Hirao MD, Naoko Miyazaki MD, Kohei Iwasa MD, Heitaro Watanabe MD, Yoshitaka Iwanaga MD, PhD, Atsunori Okamura MD, PhD, Katsuomi Iwakura MD, PhD, Koichi Inoue MD, PhD, Yasushi Sakata MD, PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.hroo.2026.06.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hroo.2026.06.009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Left ventricular functional recovery after atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation varies widely in patients with systolic dysfunction.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate whether baseline left ventricular wall thickness (LVWT) and its regional heterogeneity predict recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after AF ablation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Of 5535 consecutive patients undergoing first-time AF ablation (2012–2024), 342 with a baseline LVEF of <50% (median age 64 years; 86% male; 19% with previous myocardial infarction) were retrospectively analyzed. Multidetector computed tomography was performed before ablation, and LVWT was quantified using a 16-segment model at end-diastole. Mean LVWT and its standard deviation (SD) across segments were calculated. The primary endpoint was the 6-month change in LVEF (ΔLVEF) on echocardiography.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Median mean LVWT and SD of LVWT were 7.03 mm (6.19–8.00) and 1.20 mm (0.95–1.50), respectively. LVEF improved from 38.7% (32.0%–44.4%) to 56.0% (44.3%–62.0%) at 6 months (<em>P</em> < .001). In multivariable linear regression, higher mean LVWT was independently associated with greater ΔLVEF (1.72% per 1 mm; 95% confidence interval, 0.83–2.61; <em>P</em> < .001), whereas greater LVWT heterogeneity (SD) was associated with less ΔLVEF (−4.02% per 1 mm; 95% confidence interval, −6.64 to −1.40; <em>P</em> = .003). Patients with reduced thickness and high heterogeneity (mean LVWT <7.0 mm; SD of LVWT >1.2 mm) had the highest incidence of heart failure hospitalization or cardiovascular death.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Baseline LVWT and its regional heterogeneity were independently associated with postablation functional recovery in patients with a baseline LVEF of <50%. Preprocedural LVWT assessment may help estimate myocardial reserve and expected functional recovery after AF ablation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29772,"journal":{"name":"Heart Rhythm O2","volume":"7 9","pages":"Pages 1656-1666"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148981074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation for ventricular tachycardia: Mechanisms, workflow, outcomes, and future directions","authors":"Sai Kumar Samala MD, MBBS, Khashayar Hematpour MD, FHRS, Ramesh Hariharan MD, FHRS, Danai Kitkungvan MD, Sriram Nathan MD, Biswajit Kar MD, Jagat Narula MD, PhD, Prapannajeet Biswal MBBS, Khashayar Fattah MD, Xander H.T. Wehrens MD, PhD, FHRS, Sotirios Nedios MD, PhD, FHRS, Felix Hohendanner MD, PhD, Joanne Alfieri MD, Martin L. Bernier MD, Kenneth W. Merrell MD, Konstantinos C. Siontis MD, FHRS, Alejandro Vidal Margenat MD, FHRS, Sunil Krishnan MD","doi":"10.1016/j.hroo.2026.06.011","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hroo.2026.06.011","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stereotactic arrhythmia radioablation (STAR) is a novel and emerging treatment approach for managing treatment-refractory ventricular arrhythmias (VAs), particularly in patients deemed ineligible for or failing antiarrhythmic medications and catheter ablation. Preclinical studies suggest that STAR generates reactive oxygen species and causes rapid ultrastructural changes in cardiomyocytes, with ion channel modulation and gap junction remodeling that result in electrophysiological reprogramming. Several clinical studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of STAR, showing a significant reduction in arrhythmia burden with a low risk of severe treatment-related complications. Despite these promising results, the recurrence rate reported is still high, especially in patients with advanced heart failure. The convergence of advancements and refinements in procedural workflows, such as noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging, respiratory and cardiac motion management strategies, and the seamless integration of multiple radiographic imaging modalities for radiation treatment planning, promises to enhance treatment delivery accuracy and precision. However, questions remain regarding the optimal dose regimens, patient selection criteria, and potential long-term toxicities. Ongoing clinical trials and preclinical studies will provide further insights that can help improve the current practice. STAR is currently considered investigational pending randomized controlled trials comparing it with standard therapies. This review critically appraises STAR’s readiness for broader clinical adoption, examining molecular mechanisms, treatment planning and delivery strategies, clinical outcomes and their heterogeneity, safety concerns, emerging beam technologies, and practical considerations for multidisciplinary teams establishing new STAR programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29772,"journal":{"name":"Heart Rhythm O2","volume":"7 9","pages":"Pages 1809-1829"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148981079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Heart Rhythm O2Pub Date : 2026-09-01Epub Date: 2026-06-16DOI: 10.1016/j.hroo.2026.06.005
Alfonso Aranda Hernández PhD, Mathias Meine MD, PhD, Marc Vos PhD
{"title":"Automatic measurement of short-term variability of repolarization on human intracardiac electrograms predicts VT/VF events","authors":"Alfonso Aranda Hernández PhD, Mathias Meine MD, PhD, Marc Vos PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.hroo.2026.06.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.hroo.2026.06.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) have proven highly effective in reducing sudden cardiac death by terminating life-threatening arrhythmias. However, their reactive nature underscores the need for preventive strategies to further improve patient outcomes. Short-term variability (STV) of repolarization has emerged as a promising predictive marker for ventricular arrhythmias. Despite its potential, the feasibility of implementing STV monitoring in real-world ICD settings remains uncertain owing to challenges such as noise, abnormal depolarizations, and device-specific constraints.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of STV monitoring in clinical practice using anonymized electrogram recordings from Medtronic Cobalt/Crome ICD and cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator devices.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The dataset includes 636 monomorphic ventricular tachycardia episodes, 107 ventricular fibrillation events, and 6000 baseline recordings. Cardiac beats with abnormal repolarization patterns or noise were excluded to ensure reliable STV estimation. STV values were then compared within individuals (baseline vs arrhythmic events) and across groups (patients with and without arrhythmic events).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>STV values were significantly elevated before arrhythmic events compared with baseline 5.8 ms (interquartile range, 3.3–7.6) vs 4.3 ms (interquartile range, 2.8–7.6) (<em>P</em> < .0001). These findings support STV’s potential as a predictor of ventricular arrhythmias. However, the precise timing of STV elevation relative to arrhythmic onset remains unclear.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study supports the role of STV as a marker for arrhythmic risk, evidenced by significant elevations in STV preceding arrhythmic events. It also emphasizes the importance of signal preprocessing to mitigate confounding factors and enhance the predictive accuracy of the STV parameter.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":29772,"journal":{"name":"Heart Rhythm O2","volume":"7 9","pages":"Pages 1762-1774"},"PeriodicalIF":2.8,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148981124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}