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Background: Infections of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Despite many preventive measures, this condition is associated with significant costs for the health care system., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed all infection cases referred for lead extraction at a single university hospital over 1 year (2015-2016). We then calculated all costs related to the infection episode per patient using hospital databases and charts review., Results: Thirty-eight patients with CIED infections (29% women-mean age 71 ± 14 years) were referred for lead extraction (27 pocket infections, 11 endocarditis). Devices were mainly pacemakers (60%). When the pathogen was identified, Staphylococcus aureus methicillin sensitive was the main cause. Extraction was performed in all but 3 cases (92%). One death occurred in the nonextracted group. Respective durations of hospitalization and intravenous and antibiotic administration for patients undergoing extraction were 21 and 36 days. The calculated mean total cost for CIED infection management was CAD$29,907 (median: 26,879; range: CAD$4,827-$62,585). Mean hospital charges were CAD$12,291, accounting for 41% of the total costs., Conclusions: This study represents the first analysis of the direct costs associated with lead extraction in Canada. Device infections are associated with significant costs and increased morbidity. Any preventive measure will have a significant impact on the economic burden of the health care system and patient outcome after lead extraction., (Copyright © 2018 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Riata(TM) defibrillation leads are susceptible to conductor externalization. The point prevalence of insulation defect in Riata(TM) leads is up to 33 %, but prospective data concerning incidence of new lead abnormalities are lacking. The purpose of our study was to determine the annual incidence of new conductor externalizations and electrical lead failure., Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted at a single tertiary center. One hundred forty-one patients were followed over 12 months. A posterior-anterior (PA)/lateral chest x-ray (CXR) with zooming was performed at baseline and at 12 months to screen for conductor externalization. Electrical abnormalities and clinical outcome were also assessed., Results: The overall incidence of new insulation defects was 8.5 % at 12 months. High-risk leads for new conductor externalization were lead models 1580, 1582, and 1590 with an annual rate of 11.9, 11.1, and 10 %, respectively. New conductor externalizations were three times more common in 8 Fr leads compared to 7 Fr leads. The overall incidence of new electrical dysfunction was 6.4 % at 12 months. Electrical dysfunction was significantly higher in abnormal leads (25 % [3/12], 4.7 % [6/129]; p = 0.03) and mostly driven by high ventricular pacing thresholds. There was no difference in inappropriate shock or failure of high-voltage therapy., Conclusion: The annual incidence of new insulation defects in Riata(TM) leads is much higher than previously reported. Lead models 1580, 1582, and 1590 are at highest risk for new conductor externalization. Electrical dysfunction in Riata(TM) leads is also much higher than reported and is associated with conductor externalization.

Aims: Insulation breaches with externalization of conductor cables have been described for St-Jude Medical Riata™ defibrillation leads. Published data on the incidence of Riata lead abnormalities are quite heterogeneous. The objective of this study was to estimate systematically the prevalence of lead abnormalities using a postero-anterior (PA) and lateral chest X-ray (CXR)., Methods and Results: From 2002 to 2008, 552 Riata defibrillation leads were implanted at our centre. We evaluated patients for potential insulation breaches. A PA and lateral CXR was obtained. Chest X-rays were reviewed by two electrophysiologists using a zooming function with magnification up to factor 7.5 and were classified as normal or abnormal for the presence of conductor externalization. A total of 284 patients were included. Riata lead models were 1570, 1580, 1582, 1590, 1592, 7000, 7002, and 7022. The total frequency of radiological lead defects was 24.3%. Insulation breaches occurred at zones of major lead curvature. Mean maximal spacing between extruding lead components was 3.6 ± 1.9 mm (range 2.0-12.4). Abnormal CXRs were more frequent in 8F leads (31.4% vs. 6.3%; P < 0.001). Most defects occurred with lead models 1582 (41.2%) and 1580 (31.4%). Mean time since implantation was longer in abnormal leads (6.7 vs. 5.9 years; P < 0.001). Abnormal leads had higher pacing thresholds (1.1 ± 0.8 V vs. 0.9 ± 0.4 V; P = 0.02)., Conclusion: The incidence of insulation breach in Riata leads is much higher than quoted by the manufacturer or reported by most of the literature. A PA and lateral CXR with zooming appears adequate to identify lead breaches when reviewed by an electrophysiologist. Riata lead breaches without electrical abnormalities present a management dilemma and will require further studies.

Unlabelled: The Brugada syndrome (BS) is a clinical entity involving cardiac sodium channelopathy, typical electrocardiogram (ECG) changes and predisposition to ventricular arrhythmia. This syndrome is mainly recognized by specialized cardiologists and electrophysiologists. Data regarding BS largely come from multicentre registries or Asian countries. The present report describes the Quebec Heart Institute experience, including the clinical characteristics and prognosis of native French-Canadian subjects with the Brugada-type ECG pattern., Methods and Results: BS has been diagnosed in 35 patients (mean age 51 +/- 12 years) at the Quebec Heart Institute since 2001. Patients were referred from primary care physicians for ECG abnormalities, syncope or ventricular arrhythmia, or were diagnosed incidentally on an ECG obtained for other purposes. The abnormal ECG was recognized after a syncopal spell in four patients and during family screening in four patients. All of the others were incidental findings following a routine ECG. No patient had a family history of sudden cardiac death at younger than 45 years of age. In this population, right bundle branch block pattern with more than 2 mm ST segment elevation in leads V1 to V3 was recorded spontaneously in 25 patients and was induced by sodium blockers in 10 patients. The sodium channel blocker test was performed in 21 patients and was positive in 18 patients (86%). An electrophysiological study was performed in 20 of 35 patients, during which ventricular fibrillation was induced in five patients; three of the five patients were previously asymptomatic. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was implanted in six of 35 patients (17%), including three of four patients with a history of syncope. A loop recorder was implanted in three patients. After a mean follow-up of 36 +/- 18 months, one patient died from a noncardiac cause and one patient (with a history of syncope) received an appropriate shock from his implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. No event occurred in the asymptomatic population., Conclusions: BS is present in the French-Canadian population and is probably under-recognized. Long-term prognosis of individuals with BS, especially in sporadic, asymptomatic cases, needs to be clarified.

Background: Catheter ablation is a curative treatment with excellent success and minimal complication rates for patients with supraventricular or ventricular arrhythmias., Methods: The acute outcomes and complications of all catheter ablation procedures for supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias performed at the Quebec Heart Institute (Sainte-Foy, Quebec) during a 14-year period from January 1, 1993, to December 31, 2006, were prospectively assessed. The ablation procedures were classified according to the arrhythmias induced using standard electrophysiological techniques and definitions. Immediate success and complication rates were prospectively included in the database., Results: A total of 5330 patients had catheter ablation performed at the Institute during the period assessed. The mean (+/- SD) age of patients was 50 +/- 18 years (range four to 97 years), and 2340 patients (44%) were men. Most of the patients were younger than 75 years (group 1), and 487 (9%) were 75 years of age and older (group 2). Indications for ablations were as follows: atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT) in 2263 patients, accessory pathways in 1147 patients, atrioventricular node ablation in 803 patients, typical atrial flutter in 377 patients and atrial tachycardia in 160 patients; 580 patients had other ablation procedures. The overall success rates were 81% for atrial tachycardia, 92% for accessory pathways or flutter, and 99% for AVNRT or atrioventricular node ablation. There was no difference in the success rates of the younger (group 1) and older (group 2) patients. Seventy-seven patients (1.4%) had complications, including 11 major events (myocardial infarction in one patient, pulmonary embolism in three patients and permanent pacemaker in seven patients). In patients undergoing AVNRT ablation, two had a permanent pacemaker implanted immediately after the procedure and three had a permanent pacemaker implanted at follow-up., Conclusions: The results confirm that radiofrequency ablation is safe and effective, supporting ablation therapy as a first-line therapy for the majority of patients with cardiac arrhythmias.

Non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the KCNA5/hKv1.5 gene, which encodes for a voltage-gated K+ channel responsible for the I (Kur) current in the human atria, have been recently reported. To gain further knowledge on potential influence of hKv1.5 SNPs, we searched for their presence in a specific population of 96 French-Canadians and characterized electrophysiological properties of the variants in two cell lines. The presumed promoter (-83 bp) and coding regions were sequenced. We found three heterozygous SNPs: R87Q, A251T, and P307S. Functional analysis of SNPs transfected in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells showed that both R87Q and P307S diminished the inactivation amplitude (e.g., at +60 mV, amplitudes were 89+/-26, 23+/-4, and 22+/-7 pA/pF for the wild type, R87Q and P307S, respectively; n=8, 6, and 8, respectively). Inactivation was slowed with these variants (e.g., tau (fast) at +50 mV were 270+/-48, 490+/-66, and 340+/-45 ms for the wild type, R87Q, and P307S, respectively) while R87Q additionally accelerated the rate of hKv1.5 channel opening. A dominant-negative effect was observed for R87Q but not for P307S. SNPs properties were not reproduced when expressed in the HEK293 cell line, suggesting that the regulatory beta-subunit present in CHO cells (and the human heart) is essential for the SNPs effects that we have observed.