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This review examines the relationship between the physiological demands of diving and premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) in divers. In the general population, some individuals have a greater tendency to experience PVCs, often without awareness or a clear understanding of the triggering factors. With the increasing availability and popularity of both scuba and apnoea diving, more people, including those with a predisposition to PVCs, are engaging in these activities. The underwater environment, with its unique stressors, may increase the risk of arrhythmogenic events, particularly PVCs. Here, we review the prevalence, pathophysiology, and aggravating factors of PVCs in divers, emphasising the need for a comprehensive cardiovascular assessment. Evidence suggests a higher prevalence of PVCs in divers compared with the general population, influenced by factors such as age, dive depth, gas bubbles, cold water immersion, pre-existing cardiovascular diseases, and lifestyle factors. The change in environment during diving could potentially trigger an increased frequency of PVCs, especially in individuals with a pre-existing tendency. We discuss diagnostic strategies, management approaches, and preventive measures for divers with PVCs, noting that although guidelines for athletes can be adapted, individual assessment is crucial. Significant knowledge gaps are identified, highlighting the need for future research to develop evidence-based guidelines and understand the long-term significance of PVCs in divers. This work aims to evaluate potential contributing factors to PVCs in divers and identify individuals who may be at higher risk of experiencing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). This work aims to improve diver safety by promoting collaboration between cardiologists and diving medicine specialists and by identifying key areas for future investigation in this field. This work aims to improve the safety and well-being of divers by understanding the cardiovascular challenges they face, including pressure changes, cold water immersion, and hypoxia. We seek to elucidate the relationship between these challenges and the occurrence of PVCs. By synthesising current evidence, identifying knowledge gaps, and proposing preliminary recommendations, we aim to encourage collaboration between cardiologists and diving medicine specialists to optimise the screening, management, and risk stratification of PVCs in the diving population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Premature ventricular complex (PVC) induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-CMP) and exacerbated left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) are common in clinical scenarios. However, their precise risk factors are currently unclear. Methods: We performed a systematic review of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Chinese-based literature database (CBM) to identify observational studies describing the factors associated with PVC-CMP and post-ablation LVSD reversibility. A total of 25 and 12 studies, involving 4863 and 884 subjects, respectively, were eligible. We calculated pooled multifactorial odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each parameter using random-effects and fixed-effects models. Results: The results showed that 3 independent risk factors were associated with PVC-CMP: being asymptomatic (OR and 95% CI: 3.04 [2.13, 4.34]), interpolation (OR and 95% CI: 2.47 [1.25, 4.92]), and epicardial origin (epi-origin) (OR and 95% CI: 3.04 [2.13, 4.34]). Additionally, 2 factors were significantly correlated with postablation LVSD reversibility: sinus QRS wave duration (QRSd) (OR and 95% CI: 0.95 [0.93, 0.97]) and PVC burden (OR and 95% CI: 1.09 [0.97, 1.23]). Conclusions: the relatively consistent independent risk factors for PVC-CMP and post-ablation LVSD reversibility are asymptomatic status, interpolation, epicardial origin, PVC burden, and sinus QRS duration, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Short-term ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring is often used to assess premature atrial complex (PAC) and premature ventricular complex (PVC) frequency, but the diagnostic reliability is unknown. The objective of this study was to study the day-to-day variability of PAC and PVC frequency. Methods and results We used 14-day full-disclosure mobile cardiac telemetry recordings without atrial fibrillation in 8245 US patients aged 17–103 years to calculate the diagnostic reliability of shorter ambulatory ECG recordings compared with 14-day averages. Over 14 days, 1853 patients had ≥500 PACs/day, 410 patients had ≥5000 PACs/day, and 197 patients had ≥10 000 PACs/day; 1640 patients had ≥500 PVCs/day, 354 patients had ≥5000 PVCs/day, and 175 patients had ≥10 000 PVCs/day. After 3 days, the estimated daily PAC frequency differed by ≥50% from the 14-day mean in 25% of patients; for PVCs, the corresponding duration was 7 days. Ten days of monitoring were needed to estimate PAC and PVC frequency within ±20% of the overall 14-day frequency in 80% of patients. For daily PAC and PVC frequencies ≥10 000, single-day estimation had a specificity of 99.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 99.1–99.5] at a sensitivity of 76.6 (95% CI 70.1–80.4%) for PACs and a 99.6% (95% CI 99.4–99.7%) specificity at 79.4 (95% CI 72.7–85.2) sensitivity for PVCs. After 7 days, the sensitivity increased to 88.8% (95% CI 83.6–92.9) for PACs and 86.9% (95% CI 80.9–91.5%) for PVCs. Conclusion While there is substantial daily variability across most PAC and PVC levels, findings of ≥10 000 PACs or PVCs are highly specific and do not need to be confirmed with longer recordings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The increasing use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in the ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) has raised questions about its true efficacy and safety. Methods This retrospective study collected the periprocedural complications and PVC burden post ablation. The risk factors of PVC recurrence was further explored. Results The study included patients treated without ICE (control group, n = 451) and with ICE (ICE group, n = 155) from May 2019 to July 2022. The ICE group demonstrated significantly lower fluoroscopy times and X-ray doses. There were no major complications in the ICE group, and the difference in the occurrence of periprocedural complications between the groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.072). The long-term success rates were similar for the control and ICE groups (89.6% and 87.1%, respectively). The origin of PVCs was identified as the independent factor for ablation success. Conclusions The use of ICE did not confer an advantage with regard to long-term success in PVCs ablation. To thoroughly evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ICE in PVCs ablation, a prospective, multicenter, randomized study is warranted.

Background: The increasing use of intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) in the ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) has raised questions about its true efficacy and safety. Methods: This retrospective study collected the periprocedural complications and PVC burden post ablation. The risk factors of PVC recurrence was further explored. Results: The study included patients treated without ICE (control group, n = 451) and with ICE (ICE group, n = 155) from May 2019 to July 2022. The ICE group demonstrated significantly lower fluoroscopy times and X-ray doses. There were no major complications in the ICE group, and the difference in the occurrence of periprocedural complications between the groups was not statistically significant (p = 0.072). The long-term success rates were similar for the control and ICE groups (89.6% and 87.1%, respectively). The origin of PVCs was identified as the independent factor for ablation success. Conclusions: The use of ICE did not confer an advantage with regard to long-term success in PVCs ablation. To thoroughly evaluate the safety and effectiveness of ICE in PVCs ablation, a prospective, multicenter, randomized study is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Ablation failures are common in case of intramural location of the arrhythmogenic substrate. Case summary We report the case of a patient with cardiomyopathy contributed by frequent monomorphic ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) from intramural basal interventricular septum treated with double-balloon venous ethanol ablation (VEA) after a previous failed endocardial radiofrequency (RF) ablation. Discussion Double-balloon VEA represents a safe and effective therapeutic option in case of intramural VAs also in the absence of venous collaterals joining selectively an intramural arrhythmic substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Prior studies have indicated that the frequency of premature ventricular complexes (PVC) increases after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, these studies have primarily focused on patients whose PVC burden increased rather than including the full spectrum of outcomes. Methods and Results: We performed a single‐center retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent first‐time AF ablation from 1/2018 to 12/2022 for paroxysmal or persistent AF and had both preablation and postablation rhythm monitoring within 6 months of the procedure. Patients were excluded if they had prior AF or PVC ablation or were prescribed a class I or III antiarrhythmic medication. Among 2945 patients who underwent AF ablation during the study period, 130 patients underwent first‐time AF ablation and received both pre and post ambulatory monitoring. The median PVC burden before ablation was <1%. Most patients (63%) had no change in PVC burden after AF ablation compared with preablation, and patients who had an increase in PVC burden were offset by those with reductions in PVCs. A paired analysis pre‐ and post‐AF ablation showed no significant change in PVC burden (p =.495). Conclusion: Although an elevated PVC burden after AF ablation may be seen clinically, the majority of patients have no change in burden. Studies that suggest an increase in PVC burden after AF ablation may suffer from incomplete sample selection and thus omit the important effect of regression to the mean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature ventricular complexes (PVC) is one of the most common arrhythmias in daily clinical practice. In the vast majority of cases, PVC has a good prognosis, but in some cases it can cause serious, including lifethreatening complications. On the other hand, asymptomatic, frequent PVC can lead to the development of left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, which can be reversible with effective therapy. Medications remain the mainstay of therapy for PVC. However, the effectiveness of some drugs is quite low, while other drugs have significant side and proarrhythmic effects. Technological advances in the field of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation in recent years have opened up tremendous prospects in the radical correction of PVC and put forward this approach in selective cases as the method of choice. However, this invasive technology may at the same time carry the risks of serious complications, which can occur in up to 5% of individuals undergoing this procedure. The potential risks of RF catheter ablation largely depend on the accessibility of the ectopic focus. In this regard, differential diagnosis of the source of ectopia is of great importance for a balanced assessment of the possible risks and effectiveness of this invasive method. Standard diagnostic methods, such as 12-lead electrocardiography, Holter monitoring and echocardiography, allow in many cases to make the best decision regarding further management tactics. Frequent, asymptomatic PVC needs in annual monitoring to prevent LV systolic dysfunction development in cases high potential RF catheter ablation risks and drugs ineffectiveness. Traditional echocardiography and novel ultrasound technologies can help in this difficult of choice cases.

Background Previously, ablation at the outflow tract was considered to be safe and rarely affected the His–Purkinje system due to their spatial distance. However, we have reported a case of right bundle branch block (RBBB) and junctional beats that were recorded during radiofrequency catheter ablation in a patient who had a history of peri-membranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD) closure and the implantation of a metallic occluder. Case summary A 16-year-old girl with a metallic occluder for peri-membranous ventricular septum defect underwent an ablation procedure for premature ventricular complexes. During the ablation at the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), RBBB and junctional beats were recorded. His bundle potentials and the high-frequency potential generated by electrical interference were observed when mapping the margin of the occluder. To ensure safety, we attempted ablation at the right coronary cusp in the left ventricular outflow tract, which eventually proved to be successful, presenting an alternative ablation strategy. Conclusion This is a rare report of RBBB and junctional beats observed during ablation at RVOT in a patient with pmVSD and a metallic occluder. The observed damage to the His–Purkinje system may be attributed to uncontrolled radiofrequency energy heating up caused by the metallic device. This case emphasizes the importance of thorough electroanatomic and activation mapping prior to starting the ablation procedure, especially in complicated cases. Furthermore, it suggests that ablation at a relatively remote position is both feasible and relatively safe for patients with occluder devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are common arrhythmias and catheter ablation (CA) is the major treatment in patients with PVCs. In this study, we aimed to share our experience on PVCs patients who had undergone CA. Patients and Methods: We investigated consecutive patients who had undergone CA because of PVCs between January 2015 and March 2021 in a single centre arrhythmia unit. Patients' characteristics, rhythm Holter recordings, echocardiography results and CA outcomes were noted. Patients were followed up for 22.3±3.7 months. Descriptive statistics were used to demonstrate features of study patients. Results: Study population consisted of 645 patients; mean age was 51 ± 4.14 and 372 (57.7%) were male. Arrhythmia originated from the right ventricular outflow tract in 279 (46.6 %) patients, coronary cusps in 161 (26.9 %) patients, left ventricle summit in 50 (8.3%) patients and inside of the right or left ventricle in remaining patients. Sustained procedural success was achieved in 526 (88.1 %) patients. Recurrence was observed in 46 (6.7%) patients during follow-up. Major complication occurred in two patients (one procedural mortality due to coronary artery injury and one tamponade). Conclusion: Premature ventricular contraction ablation can be utilized safely with high success rate. Most PVCs originate from the right or left ventricular outflow tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background or Purpose: To assess effectiveness of dofetilide in reducing the burden of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). Background: Prior small sample studies show that dofetilide has benefit in reducing VA. However, large sample investigations with long-term follow-up are lacking. Methods: Two hundred seventeen consecutive patients admitted between January 2015 and December 2021 for dofetilide initiation for control of VA were assessed. Dofetilide was successfully started in 176 patients (81%) and had to be discontinued in the remaining 41 patients (19%). Dofetilide was initiated for control of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 136 patients (77%), whereas 40 (23%) patients were initiated on dofetilide for reducing the burden of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). Results: The mean follow-up was 24 ± 7 months. In total, among the 136 VT patients, 33 (24%) died, 11 (8%) received a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), and 3 (2%) received a heart transplant during follow-up. Dofetilide was discontinued in 117 (86%) patients due to lack of sustained effectiveness during follow-up. Dofetilide use was associated with similar odds of the composite outcome of all-cause mortality/LVAD/heart transplant (OR: 0.97, 0.55–4.23) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) compared to those with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM). Dofetilide did not reduce PVC burden during follow-up in the 40 patients with PVCs (mean baseline PVC burden: 15%, at 1-year follow-up: 14%). Conclusions: Dofetilide use was less effective in reducing VA burden in our cohort of patients. Randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac dysfunction induced by premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) is relatively controversial and challenging to detect in the early stage. In this observational study, we retrospectively analyzed the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) data of 94 patients with frequent premature ventricular beats (47 males, 49.83 ± 13.63 years) and 98 participants (55 males, 50.84 ± 9.41 years) whose age and gender were matched with the patient with PVCs. The baseline information and routine echocardiography detection were recorded on admission. PVCs were diagnosed by 24 h Holter monitoring, and cardiorespiratory capacity was assessed using peak oxygen uptake (V'O2peak), anaerobic threshold (AT), and other CPET parameters with an individualized bicycle ramp protocol according to the predicted workload and exercise situation of each participant. There were no statistically significant differences in most baseline characteristics between the two groups. Indicators that reflect cardiopulmonary capacity, such as V'O2peak, AT, and ΔO2 pulse/Δwork rate(ΔV'O2/ΔWR), were all significantly lower in the PVC group (p = 0.031, 0.021, and 0.013, respectively) despite normal and nondiscriminatory left ventricular ejection fractions between the two groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference among subgroups based on the frequency of PVCs, which was <10,000 beats/24 h, 10,000–20,000 beats/24 h, and >20,000 beats/24 h. The cardiorespiratory capacity was lower in patients with frequent PVCs, indicating that CPET could detect early signs of impaired cardiac function induced by PVCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The autonomic nervous system can be responsible for the initiation and maintenance of arrhythmias. Low-level tragus stimulation (LLTS), a noninvasive form of autonomic neuromodulation, has been shown to be effective in treating atrial fibrillation. We intended to treat frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) with LLTS. Methods and design The present study will be a prospective multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial to assess the antiarrhythmic effects of LLTS on frequent PVCs in patients without structured heart disease (SHD). A total of 100 patients with PVC burden > 10% will be randomly assigned to the active or sham LLTS in 1:1 fashion and receive the proposed intervention for 6 months. The primary outcome is PVC burden at 6 months as assessed by 10 days of continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. Secondary outcomes include heart rate variability (HRV), quality of life, skin sympathetic nerve activity, and inflammatory markers. Adverse events will also be recorded. Discussion The present trial will be the first to evaluate the effect of LLTS on frequent PVCs on patients without SHD. LLTS may serve as a low-cost, minimal-risk, and non-invasive alternative to conventional antiarrhythmic therapy. Trial registration ClinicalTrial.gov NCT04909528. Registered on 17 June 2021. World health organization trial registration data set was shown in Supplementary Table 1.

Background: The autonomic nervous system can be responsible for the initiation and maintenance of arrhythmias. Low-level tragus stimulation (LLTS), a noninvasive form of autonomic neuromodulation, has been shown to be effective in treating atrial fibrillation. We intended to treat frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) with LLTS. Methods and design: The present study will be a prospective multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled trial to assess the antiarrhythmic effects of LLTS on frequent PVCs in patients without structured heart disease (SHD). A total of 100 patients with PVC burden > 10% will be randomly assigned to the active or sham LLTS in 1:1 fashion and receive the proposed intervention for 6 months. The primary outcome is PVC burden at 6 months as assessed by 10 days of continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring. Secondary outcomes include heart rate variability (HRV), quality of life, skin sympathetic nerve activity, and inflammatory markers. Adverse events will also be recorded. Discussion: The present trial will be the first to evaluate the effect of LLTS on frequent PVCs on patients without SHD. LLTS may serve as a low-cost, minimal-risk, and non-invasive alternative to conventional antiarrhythmic therapy. Trial registration: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT04909528. Registered on 17 June 2021. World health organization trial registration data set was shown in Supplementary Table 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods: This observational study retrospectively recruited consecutive patients who had consultation between 2019 and 2021 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Frequent PVC patients (n = 402) and control patients (n = 402) undergoing non-contrast computed tomography (CT) were enrolled. We selected evaluation criteria for the conduct of a 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM) analysis. Multivariable logistic analysis was used to investigate factors related to frequent PVCs. Furthermore, the determinants of EAT volume and the burden levels of PVCs were evaluated. Results: Patients with PVCs had a significantly larger EAT volume than control patients. EAT volume was significantly larger in male PVC patients with BMI ≥24 kg/m², diabetes mellitus, and E/A ratio <1. EAT volume was independently associated with PVCs. Moreover, the larger EAT volume was an independent predictor for the high burden level of PVCs. We revealed that the risk of high PVC burden level was increased with the rising of EAT volume by restricted cubic splines. Conclusions: EAT volume was larger in frequent PVC patients than in control patients, regardless of other confounding factors. A large EAT volume was independently associated with high burden levels of PVCs. EAT volume may be a new mechanism to explain the pathogenesis of PVCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Beta‐blockers (BB) or dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are still the first choices in the treatment of idiopathic premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), with low‐modest efficacy. Antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) of Ic class are moderate to highly efficient but the evidence on their benefits is still limited. Aim: To compare effectiveness and safety of flecainide, propafenone, and sotalol in the treatment of symptomatic idiopathic PVCs. Methods: Our single‐center retrospective study analyzed 104 consecutive patients with 130 medication episodes of frequent idiopathic PVCs treated with AADs flecainide, propafenone (Ic class) or sotalol (III class). The primary outcome was complete/near complete reduction of PVCs after medication episode (PVCs burden reduction >99%), and the secondary outcome was significant PVC burden reduction (≥80%). Results: The complete/near complete PVCs burden reduction occurred in 31% and was significant in 43% of treated patients. A reduction of PVC burden for >99% was achieved in 56% of patients on flecainide, in 11% of patients on propafenone (p =.002), and in 21% of patients receiving sotalol (p =.031). There was no difference between propafenone and sotalol (p =.174). A reduction of PVC burden for ≥80% was achieved in 64% of patients on flecainide, in 30% of patients on propafenone (p =.009), and 33% of patients on sotalol (p =.020). There was no difference between propafenone and sotalol (p =.661). Conclusions: The efficacy of AADs class Ic and III in the treatment of idiopathic PVCs was modest. Flecainide was the most effective AAD in the achievement of complete/near complete or significant PVC burden reduction, compared to propafenone and sotalol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Current inferences about the site of origin (SOO) of premature ventricular complexes (PVC) from the surface ECG have not been subjected to newer data analytic techniques that identify signals that are not recognized by visual inspection. Aims: The objective of this study was to apply data analytics to PVC characteristics. Methods: PVCs from 12-lead ECGs of a consecutive series of 338 individuals were examined by unsupervised machine learning cluster analysis, and indexes were compared to a composite criterion for SOO. Results: Data analytics found that V1S plus V2S ≤ 9.25 of the PVC had a LVOT origin (sensitivity 95.4%; specificity 97.5%). V1R + V2R + V3R > 15.0 (a RBBB configuration) likely had a LVOT origin. PVCs with V1S plus V2S > 12.75 (LBBB configuration) likely had a RVOT origin. PVC with V1S plus V2S > 14.25 (LBBB configuration) and all inferior leads positive likely had a RVOT origin. Conclusion: Newer data analytic techniques provide a non-invasive approach to identifying PVC SOO, which should be useful for the clinician evaluating a 12-lead ECG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) are known to be associated with reduced left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction and adverse outcomes in patients with structural heart disease. The relationship between subclinical LV dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias in the general population is not established. Methods and Results Participants in the SAFARIS (Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation and Risk of Ischemic Stroke) study with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (n=503; mean age 77 years, 63% women) underwent 14‐day electrocardiographic monitoring and 2‐dimensional echocardiography. Frequent PVCs were defined as PVCs >500 per 24 hours and NSVT as ≥4 consecutive ventricular ectopic beats. Reduced LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was used as an indicator of subclinical LV dysfunction. Seventy‐six participants (15.1%) had PVCs >500/d, 117 (23.3%) had NSVT episodes. LV GLS was significantly reduced in both frequent PVCs and NSVT groups (P−15.8%) carried a 2‐fold increase in risk of ventricular arrhythmias (aOR, 2.18, P=0.029 for PVCs; aOR, 2.09, P=0.026 for NSVT). Conclusions PVCs and NSVT episodes were frequent in this community‐based elderly cohort with normal left ventricular ejection fraction and were independently associated with lower LV GLS. The association between LV dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias is present at an early, subclinical stage, an observation that carries possible preventative implications.

Background: Premature ventricular complex (PVC) is seen in most individuals. It has been shown that the kinetics‐tracking index or Kawasaki‐Tanaka index (KT index) strongly predicts pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) by noninvasively. KT index was defined as log10 (active LAEF/minimum LAV index). We goaled to assess PCWP non‐invasively in patients with frequent PVCs with normal left ventricular systolic functions and to evaluate whether there is an increase in PCWP before systolic and diastolic functions are impaired. Methods: About 55 patients with frequent PVCs as a patient group and 54 healthy volunteers as a control group were involved to the study. After the conventional echocardiographic examination, the vendor‐independent software system (EchoPAC version 202) was used to obtain the time‐left atrial volume (LAV) curve. total left atrial emptying function (LAEF), passive LAEF, and active LAEF were calculated to evaluate phasic left atrial (LA) function. In this study, ePCWP was calculated using the KT index, and KT index results and other echocardiographic parameters were compared between study groups. Results: LA anterior‐posterior dimension, LA maximum volume index, and LA minimum volume index were significantly larger in the patient group (all p values <.001). Total LAEF were significantly reduced in patients with frequent PVC (p <.001). Estimated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (ePCWP) by KT index was significantly higher in patients with frequent PVCs (p <.001). Conclusions: : Patients with frequent PVC had increased ePCWP as assessed by KT index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study aims to explore the association between the features of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in different zones and premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) originating from different sites by computed tomography (CT). Methods and results A total of 136 patients who underwent radiofrequency ablation for PVCs were incorporated in this study. One hundred and thirty-six matched controls were included in this study using the case-control method (1:1 matching). PVCs were classified into four subgroups: (1) right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT-PVCs), (2) non-RVOT of the right ventricle (RV-PVCs), (3) left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT-PVCs), and (4) non-LVOT of the left ventricle (LV-PVCs). The volume and density of EAT were quantified by CT. Patients with PVCs had a significantly higher volume and lower density of EAT than the controls (P < 0.001). The LVOT-PVCs and LV-PVCs had a higher left ventricle periventricular EAT volume (LV-EATv) proportion (P < 0.05). The right ventricle periventricular EAT volume (RV-EATv) proportion was higher in ROVT-PVCs and LVOT-PVCs (P < 0.05). RVOT-PVC patients had a higher volume ratio and a smaller density differential (P < 0.05). Patients with LVOT-PVCs had a lower volume ratio and the LV-PVCs showed a greater density differential (P < 0.05). Conclusion Higher volume and lower density of EAT were significantly associated with frequent PVCs. The RVOT-PVC patients had a higher volume ratio and a smaller density differential. The LVOT-PVCs had a lower volume ratio and the LV-PVCs showed a greater density differential. These suggest a link between EAT structural properties and PVCs and a potential role for regional EAT in the development of PVCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) can cause PVC-induced cardiomyopathy. The value of PVC ablation in patients with preserved left ventricular function in the low–normal range (ejection fraction: 50–55%) is not established. Strain analysis has been used to estimate changes in left ventricular function beyond assessment of the ejection fraction (EF). Longitudinal strain has been proposed as a method to detect changes over time in the setting of frequent asymptomatic premature ventricular complexes and preserved left ventricular (LV) function. A decrease in strain may be evidence of PVC-induced cardiomyopathy. Objective: In this study, we assessed the role of PVC ablation in patients with low–normal EF and the effect on EF and myocardial strain before and after PVC ablation. Methods: A total of 70 consecutive patients with either low–normal EF (0.5–<0.55, n = 35) or high–normal EF (≥0.55; n = 35), using available imaging and Holter data, were referred for ablation due to frequent PVCs. EF and longitudinal strain were assessed pre- and post-ablation. Results: There was a significant increase in EF (53.2 ± 0.4% to 58.3 ± 0.5%, p < 0.001) and improvement in longitudinal strain (−15.2 ± 3.3 to −16.6 ± 3, p = 0.007) post-ablation in patients with low–normal EF and successful ablation. There was no change in EF or longitudinal strain in patients with high–normal EF and a successful ablation pre- vs. post-ablation. Conclusions: Patients with frequent PVCs and low–normal LV EF compared to patients with frequent PVCs and high–normal LV EF have evidence of PVC-induced cardiomyopathy and may benefit from ablation despite a preserved left ventricular EF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predictors for increased stroke mortality identify those who may need closer monitoring and better hospital care. While the link between premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and incident ischemic stroke has been reported, studies on the association with fatal stroke are non-existent. We examined the association of PVCs with stroke mortality in 8047 participants (56.5 ± 0.39 years, 53% women, 80.9% Non-Hispanic Whites) without prior history of stroke from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. National Death Index was used to identify the date and cause of death. PVCs were detected from 12‑lead standard electrocardiograms. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to examine the association between any PVC with stroke mortality. Approximately 2.1% (n = 134) participants had PVCs at baseline. Over a median follow-up of 22 years, 337 fatal strokes occurred. More strokes occurred in participants with baseline PVCs compared to those without (unadjusted cumulative incidence of stroke 9.5% vs. 2.5% respectively, p -value 0.001). In a multivariable-adjusted model, the presence of PVC was associated with an increased risk of stroke mortality (HR (95%CI): 2.50 (1.15–5.43). This association was stronger in participants with coronary heart disease (CHD) than those without it (HR (95%CI): 5.98 (2.2–16.2) vs. 1.97 (0.75–5.1) respectively; interaction- p = 0.008). PVCs are associated with an increased risk of stroke mortality, especially among individuals with CHD. Whether improved hospital care or modifying PVCs could change outcomes should be examined in prospective studies. • Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are linked with incident stroke. • The association of PVCs with fatal stroke is unknown. • Presence of PVCs on routine electrocardiogram (ECG) was associated with fatal stroke, especially in those with coronary heart disease (CHD). • PVCs may identify participants who can benefit from close monitoring and better hospital care to reduce the risk of stroke mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To characterize ventricular bigeminy from 24-h Holter recordings of Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS) patients, a first comparison with a large database of post-myocardial infarction (post-MI) patients with frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVC) was performed. Baseline Holter recordings from 6 ATS1 patients and 618 post-MI patients were analyzed to assess total number of PVC, quantification of coupling intervals (CI), total number of bigeminy episodes, and percentage of PVC in bigeminy. A non-significant difference in total number of PVCs, mean CI and CI standard deviation was found. The median number of episodes of bigeminy (1038 vs 1; p = 0.004) and of PVC in bigeminy (51.1 vs 0.1%; p = 0.002) was significantly higher in ATS1 patients. Having ≥42 episodes of bigeminy or ≥ 36.1% of PVC in bigeminy distinguish PVC from ATS from post-MI patients with a sensitivity and specificity >80%. In this first approach, patients with ATS had a characteristic burden of episodes of ventricular bigeminy, compared with post-MI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiac dysfunction induced by premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) is relatively controversial and challenging to detect in the early stage. In this observational study, we retrospectively analyzed the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) data of 94 patients with frequent premature ventricular beats (47 males, 49.83 ± 13.63 years) and 98 participants (55 males, 50.84 ± 9.41 years) whose age and gender were matched with the patient with PVCs. The baseline information and routine echocardiography detection were recorded on admission. PVCs were diagnosed by 24 h Holter monitoring, and cardiorespiratory capacity was assessed using peak oxygen uptake (V’O2peak), anaerobic threshold (AT), and other CPET parameters with an individualized bicycle ramp protocol according to the predicted workload and exercise situation of each participant. There were no statistically significant differences in most baseline characteristics between the two groups. Indicators that reflect cardiopulmonary capacity, such as V’O2peak, AT, and ΔO2 pulse/Δwork rate(ΔV’O2/ΔWR), were all significantly lower in the PVC group (p = 0.031, 0.021, and 0.013, respectively) despite normal and nondiscriminatory left ventricular ejection fractions between the two groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference among subgroups based on the frequency of PVCs, which was 20,000 beats/24 h. The cardiorespiratory capacity was lower in patients with frequent PVCs, indicating that CPET could detect early signs of impaired cardiac function induced by PVCs.

Background: Large-scale studies evaluating long-term recurrence rates in both idiopathic and non-idiopathic PVC catheter ablation (CA) patients have not been reported. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of idiopathic and non-idiopathic PVC CA, investigating the predictors of acute and long-term efficacy. Methods: This retrospective multicentric study included 439 patients who underwent PVC CA at three institutions from April-2015 to December-2021. Clinical success at 6 months' follow-up, defined as a reduction of at least 80% of the pre-procedural PVC burden, was deemed the primary outcome. The secondary aims of the study were: clinical success at the last available follow-up, predictors of arrhythmic recurrences at long-term follow-up, and safety outcomes. Results: The median age was 51 years, with 24.9% patients being affected suffering from structural heart disease. The median pre-procedural PVC burden was 20.1%. PVCs originating from the RVOT were the most common index PVC observed (29.1%), followed by coronary cusp (CC) and non-outflow tract (OT) LV PVCs (23.1% and 19.0%). The primary outcome at 6 months was reached in 85.1% cases, with a significant reduction in the 24 h% PVC burden (−91.4% [−83.4; −96.7], p < 0.001); long-term efficacy was observed in 82.1% of cases at almost 3-year follow-up. The presence of underlying structural heart disease and non-OT LV region origin (aHR 1.77 [1.07–2.93], p = 0.027 and aHR = 1.96 [1.22–3.14], p = 0.005) was independently associated with recurrences. Conclusion: CA of both idiopathic and non-idiopathic PVCs showed a very good acute and long-term procedural success rate, with an overall low complication. Predictors of arrhythmic recurrence at follow-up were underlying structural heart disease and non-OT LV origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: His-refractory premature ventricular complexes perturbing a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) establish the presence of an accessory pathway (AP). Earlier premature ventricular complexes (ErPVCs) may perturb SVTs but are considered nondiagnostic.Objective: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that an ErPVC will always show a difference >35 ms in its advancement of the next atrial activation during atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). During atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT), a PVC delivered close to the circuit can result in greater advancement of atrial activation due to retrograde conduction via an AP. Thus, an AP response, defined as ErPVC (H1S2) advancing the subsequent atrial activation (A1-A2) more than this minimum difference (A1A2 ≤ H1S2+35 ms), establishes the presence of an AP.Methods: Sixty-five consecutive patients with SVT were retrospectively evaluated. ErPVCs were defined when the ventricular pacing stimulus was >35 ms ahead of the His during tachycardia.Results: Among the 65 cases, 43 were AVNRT and 22 AVRT. Fourteen AVRT cases had an AP response with a mean H1S2+35 ms of 336 ± 58 ms and A1A2 of 309 ± 51ms. No AVNRT cases had an AP response. The specificity of an AP response to ErPVC in predicting AVRT was 100%.Conclusion: An AP response to PVCs (A1A2 ≤ H1S2+35 ms) is 100% specific for the presence of an AP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an extremely rare case of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) cardiomyopathy sparing the anterior ventricular wall in an interesting “necklace” pattern in parasternal short axis view in a 76-year-old female with frequent palpitation and shortness of breath for the last 6 months. Interestingly, the patient had a plethora of basal septal premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) both from the anterior and posterior aspects of the paradoxically thinned-out basal septum and they were not from the segment of noncompacted (NC) myocardium. Our case is unique and the first to describe the LVNC in an interesting shape of “necklace” sparing the left ventricular anterior, anteroseptal, and anterolateral wall and paradoxically arising plethora of septal PVCs from the thinned-out basal septum deteriorating the left ventricular function rapidly in an elderly female in her seventh decade of life. Although commonly in LVNC, the PVCs arise from the NC segment, in this unique case plethora of PVCs paradoxically arising from the basal septum were contributing toward rapid deterioration of left ventricular systolic function in an elderly patient in her seventh decade of life without the presence of conventional risk factors.

We report a rare case of dense mitral annular calcification in a 26-year-old male presenting with recurrent palpitation for the last year with a plethora of mitral annular premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). PVCs had right bundle branch block morphology, were notched in inferior leads with negative QRS complexes in aVL suggestive of likely origin from the lateral mitral annulus. Patients with PVCs from mitral annulus are usually advised to undergo cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to localize the site of subtle mitral annular calcification and plan subsequent delivery of radiofrequency lesions at the same site during radiofrequency ablation. Dense calcification of the lateral mitral annulus is extremely rare to encounter in such a young age of below 30 years without the presence of any predisposing risk factors for calcification. Our case is the first illustration of dense mitral annular calcification secondary to the plethora of mitral annular PVCs in a symptomatic young person below the age of 30 years. PVCs-induced excessive local excursion with wear and tear phenomenon and secondary dystrophic calcification may be the plausible explanation behind this interesting presentation.

Comparative data are virtually missing about the performance of different electro-anatomical mapping (EAM) system platforms on outflow tract (OT) premature ventricular complex (PVC) ablation outcomes with manual ablation catheters. We aimed to compare the acute success-, complication-, and long-term recurrence rates of impedance-based (IMP) and magnetic field-based (MAG) EAM platforms in manual OT PVC ablation. Single-centre, propensity score matched data of 39–39 patients ablated for OT PVCs in 2015–17 with IMP or MAG platforms were analysed. Acute success rate, peri-procedural complications, post-ablation daily PVC burden, and long-term recurrence rates were compared on intention-to-treat basis. Acute success rate was similar in the IMP and MAG group (77 vs. 82%, p = 0.78). There was a single case of femoral pseudo-aneurysm and no cardiac tamponade occurred. PVC burden fell significantly from baseline 24.0% [15.0–30.0%] to 3.3% [0.25–10.5%] (p < 0.001) post-ablation, with no difference between EAM platforms (IMP: 2.6% [0.5–12.0%] vs. MAG: 4.0% [2.0–6.5%]; p = 0.60). There was no significant difference in recurrence-free survival of the intention-to-treat cohort of the IMP and MAG groups (54 vs. 60%, p = 0.82, respectively) during 12 months of follow-up. Ablation with the aid of both impedance- and magnetic field-based EAM platforms can considerably reduce OT PVC burden and give similar acute- and long-term freedom from arrhythmia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To compare the effect of C-type natriuretic peptide and amiodarone in Chinese patients with arrhythmia. Method: Chinese men and women aged 18 to 65 years with premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), were administered C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) - test group or amiodarone (study group) in ratio of 1:1 for 96 h. Patients in CNP group received infusion of synthetic human CNP (10 pmol/kg/min) for an initial 2 h, and then for 30 min every day until discharge. Patients in amiodarone group received initial dose of 1000 mg over the first 24 h. Change in PVCs from baseline was the primary efficacy endpoint. Secondary efficacy endpoint includes: change in PVCs-related symptom scores from baseline, change in ejection fraction of left ventricle (LV), end-diastolic diameter of LV, and cardiac events as composite outcome (CCE). The effect of both treatments on hemodynamic and electrocardiography parameters, and safety were evaluated. Data from 200 patients were analyzed. Results: The CNP showed significantly greater decrease in the number of PVCs when compared to amiodarone (p < 0.005). Moreover, CNP was superior in alleviating PVCs-related symptoms when compared to amiodarone (p < 0.005). A similar trend of favorable effect of CNP was observed for other endpoints. Conclusion: The C-type natriuretic peptide offers significantly greater benefits of suppressing PVCs and related symptoms, and demonstrates significantly greater improvement of cardiac function and clinical outcome. Thus, CNP can be considered for further investigation as a suitable alternative in the management of ventricular arrhythmia with PVC among Chinese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an extremely rare case of left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) cardiomyopathy sparing the anterior ventricular wall in an interesting "necklace" pattern in parasternal short axis view in a 76-year-old female with frequent palpitation and shortness of breath for the last 6 months. Interestingly, the patient had a plethora of basal septal premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) both from the anterior and posterior aspects of the paradoxically thinned-out basal septum and they were not from the segment of noncompacted (NC) myocardium. Our case is unique and the first to describe the LVNC in an interesting shape of "necklace" sparing the left ventricular anterior, anteroseptal, and anterolateral wall and paradoxically arising plethora of septal PVCs from the thinned-out basal septum deteriorating the left ventricular function rapidly in an elderly female in her seventh decade of life. Although commonly in LVNC, the PVCs arise from the NC segment, in this unique case plethora of PVCs paradoxically arising from the basal septum were contributing toward rapid deterioration of left ventricular systolic function in an elderly patient in her seventh decade of life without the presence of conventional risk factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of glucose and fructose supplementation on acute cardiac effects during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is a topic that is rarely investigated. The aim of the presented secondary outcome analysis of a double-blind, randomized crossover-controlled trial was to investigate the impact of glucose (Glu), fructose (Fru), glucose and fructose (GluFru), and sucralose on electrocardiogram (ECG), heart rate variability (HRV), premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), and heart rate turn points (HRTP) during CPET. Fourteen healthy individuals (age 25.4 ± 2.5 years, body mass index (BMI) 23.7 ± 1.7 kg/m2, body mass (BM) of 76.3 ± 12.3 kg) participated in this study, of which 12 were included for analysis. Participants received 1 g/kg BM of Glu, 1 g/kg BM of Fru, 0.5 g/kg BM of GluFru (each), and 0.2 g sucralose dissolved in 300 mL 30 min prior to each exercise session. No relevant clinical pathology or significant inter-individual differences between our participants could be revealed for baseline ECG parameters, such as heart rate (HR) (mean HR 70 ± 16 bpm), PQ interval (146 ± 20 ms), QRS interval (87 ± 16 ms) and the QT (405 ± 39 ms), and QTc interval (431 ± 15 ms). We found preserved cardiac autonomic function by analyzing the acute effects of different Glu, Fru, GluFru, or sucralose supplementation on cardiac autonomic function by Schellong-1 testing. SDNN and RMSSD revealed normal sympathetic and parasympathetic activities displaying a balanced system of cardiac autonomic regulation across our participating subjects with no impact on the metabolism. During CPET performance analyses, HRV values did not indicate significant changes between the ingested drinks within the different time points. Comparing the HRTP of the CPET with endurance testing by variable metabolic conditions, no significant differences were found between the HRTP of the CPET data (170 ± 12 bpm), Glu (171 ± 10 bpm), Fru (171 ± 9 bpm), GluFru (172 ± 9 bpm), and sucralose (170 ± 8 bpm) (p = 0.83). Additionally, the obtained time to reach HRTP did not significantly differ between Glu (202 ± 75 s), Fru (190 ± 88 s), GluFru (210 ± 89 s), and sucralose (190 ± 34 s) (p = 0.59). The significance of this study lies in evaluating the varying metabolic conditions on cardiac autonomic modulation in young healthy individuals. In contrast, our participants showed comparable cardiac autonomic responses determined by ECG and CPET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Premature‐ventricular‐complexes (template/fixation beat) guided left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) was recently described as a novel method of successful lead deployment by rapid rotations. Methods: We aimed at analyzing the incidence of a unique morphology template beat, which we labelled as 'M‐beat' in patients undergoing PVC‐guided LBBP, its ability to predict selective LBB‐capture and clinical significance. Results: Overall 210 out of 217 attempted‐patients (96.7%) underwent successful LBBP. Template beat was noted in 90.4% patients (n = 190) and M‐beat in 32.8%(n = 69). Non‐selective to selective capture transition demonstrated in 55.2%(n = 116). The QRS duration of the M‐beat was 129.3 ± 13.1ms. Patients were divided into two groups: Group‐I with M‐beat (n = 69;32.8%) and Group‐II without M‐beat (n = 141; 67.2%). The mean fluoroscopy‐time was significantly less in group‐I as compared to group‐II (13.1 ± 11.1 vs 16.8 ± 12.04 minutes; p‒0.03). Patients in group‐II required more attempts as compared to group‐I for successful lead deployment (2.8 ± 1.09 vs 2.2 ± 1.04; p ‒ 0.01). Six patients showed loss of R‐wave in lead‐V1 and 2 showed rise in LBB capture threshold by >1V during follow‐up in group‐II. M‐beat had a specificity of 96.77% and sensitivity of 58.62% (positive‐predictive‐value‐98.55%) to predict selective‐LBB capture. Myocardial excitability would not modify the occurrence of M‐beat as opposed to capture transition response since it could be demonstrated without pacing protocols. When confirmation of LBB‐capture itself would be difficult in patients with baseline LBBB‐morphology, M‐beat with 42.8% incidence predicted selective capture with 96.7% specificity and 66.04% sensitivity(positive‐predictive‐value‐97.22%). Conclusion: M‐beat is a marker of transient‐selective LBB‐capture, independent of the local myocardial excitability with high specificity and positive predictive value irrespective of the baseline QRS morphology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Conventional unipolar catheter ablation (UA) is generally effective for the treatment of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias (OT‐VAs). However, deep foci refractory to UA remains a clinical challenge. The present study evaluated the efficacy and safety of bipolar ablation (BA) in the treatment of OT‐VAs refractory to UA. Methods: A total of 1022 consecutive patients with antiarrhythmic drugs resistant OT‐VAs were screened for inclusion in this study, from 1643 VAs cases who underwent catheter ablation in two centers from October 2014 to May 2019. BA was performed after failed sequential UA. The pair of catheters used for BA was positioned on opposing surfaces of the earliest activation (EA) sites or on adjacent anatomical structures. Results: Twelve patients (seven males, mean age 33.3 ± 16.2 years) who met the inclusion criteria were recruited: one patient suffered sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT), six patients had frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), and nonsustained VT (NSVT), and five patients had PVCs only. The 24‐hPVC/NSVT burden was 36.9 ± 21.7%. The mean distance between two ablation catheters during BA was 11.1 ± 4.3 mm (range 6.5–23.9 mm). The "rS" morphology of the unipolar electrogram was recorded simultaneously in both EA regions in seven cases (58.3%). Acute eradication of VAs was obtained in 10 (83.3%) cases. At a median follow‐up of 58 months, 10 patients (83.3%) remained free from VAs. Conclusion: BA was highly effective and safe for the treatment of OT‐VAs refractory to UA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Advanced ablation strategies are needed to treat ventricular tachycardia (VT) and premature ventricular complexes (PVC) refractory to standard unipolar radiofrequency ablation (Uni-RFA). Bipolar radiofrequency catheter ablation (Bi-RFA) has emerged as a treatment option for refractory VT and PVC. Multicentre registry data on the use of Bi-RFA in the setting of refractory VT and PVC are lacking. The aim of this Bi-RFA registry is to determine its real-world safety, feasibility, and efficacy in patients with refractory VT/PVC., Methods and Results: Consecutive patients undergoing Bi-RFA at 16 European centres for recurring VT/PVC after at least one standard Uni-RFA were included. Second ablation catheter was used instead of a dispersive patch and was positioned at the opposite site of the ablation target. Between March 2021 and August 2024, 91 patients underwent 94 Bi-RFA procedures (74 males, age 62 ± 13, and prior Uni-RFA range 1-8). Indications were recurrence of PVC (n = 56), VT (n = 20), electrical storm (n = 13), or PVC-triggered ventricular fibrillation (n = 2). Procedural time was 160 ± 73 min, Bi-RFA time 426 ± 286 s, and mean Uni-RFA time 819 ± 697 s. Elimination of clinical VT/PVC was achieved in 67 (74%) patients and suppression of VT/PVC in a further 10 (11%) patients. In the remaining 14 patients (15%), no effect on VT/PVC was observed. Three major complications occurred: coronary artery occlusion, atrioventricular block, and arteriovenous fistula. Follow-up lasted 7 ± 8 months. Nineteen patients (61%) remained VT free. ≥80% PVC burden reduction was achieved in 45 (78%)., Conclusion: These real-world registry data indicate that Bi-RFA appears safe, is feasible, and is effective in the majority of patients with VT/PVC., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: P.F. reports patents related to high-voltage and bipolar ablation and has equity in CorSystem. J.K. reports personal fees from Biosense Webster, Boston Scientific, GE Healthcare, Medtronic, and St. Jude Medical (Abbott) for participation in scientific advisory boards and has received speaker honoraria from Biosense Webster, Biotronik, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, ProMed CS, St. Jude Medical (Abbott), and Viatris. All remaining authors have declared no conflicts of interest., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

Background: Ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) originating from the parahisian area is challenging. Late gadolinium-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (LGE-CMR) scar may influence procedural outcomes; the impact of cardiac scar on parahisian PVCs has not been described., Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the incidence and significance of LGE-CMR scarring in patients undergoing ablation for parahisian PVCs., Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent preprocedure LGE-CMR imaging and ablation of parahisian PVCs were included. Acute and long-term outcomes were examined., Results: Forty-eight patients were included (male, n = 37; age, 66 ± 10 years; ejection fraction, 50% ± 12%; preprocedure PVC burden, 21% ± 12%). Intramural LGE-CMR scar was present in 33 of 48 (69%) patients. Cryoablation was used in 9 patients; ablation in multiple chambers was required in 28 (58%) patients. The PVC site of origin (SOO) was intramural (n = 25 patients), left ventricular (n = 5), and right ventricular (n = 18). Patients with LGE-CMR scar were more likely to have intramural PVCs (64% vs 27%; P < .04) and to require ablation in multiple cardiac chambers (58% vs 13%; P < .02). Patients with intramural scar required longer duration of ablation delivery (31 ± 20 minutes vs 17 ± 8 minutes; P < .02). Acute procedural success was 69%; PVC burden on follow-up was 6% ± 9% and similar for those with and without scar., Conclusion: Ablation of parahisian PVCs often requires mapping and ablation of multiple cardiac chambers, with an intramural SOO identified in most patients. An intramural scar was associated with an intramural SOO of the PVCs requiring more extensive ablation procedures, with similar long-term outcomes compared with those without scar., Competing Interests: Disclosures The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 Heart Rhythm Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Premature ventricular complex (PVC) induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-CMP) and exacerbated left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) are common in clinical scenarios. However, their precise risk factors are currently unclear., Methods: We performed a systematic review of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Chinese-based literature database (CBM) to identify observational studies describing the factors associated with PVC-CMP and post-ablation LVSD reversibility. A total of 25 and 12 studies, involving 4863 and 884 subjects, respectively, were eligible. We calculated pooled multifactorial odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each parameter using random-effects and fixed-effects models., Results: The results showed that 3 independent risk factors were associated with PVC-CMP: being asymptomatic (OR and 95% CI: 3.04 [2.13, 4.34]), interpolation (OR and 95% CI: 2.47 [1.25, 4.92]), and epicardial origin (epi-origin) (OR and 95% CI: 3.04 [2.13, 4.34]). Additionally, 2 factors were significantly correlated with post-ablation LVSD reversibility: sinus QRS wave duration (QRSd) (OR and 95% CI: 0.95 [0.93, 0.97]) and PVC burden (OR and 95% CI: 1.09 [0.97, 1.23])., Conclusions: the relatively consistent independent risk factors for PVC-CMP and post-ablation LVSD reversibility are asymptomatic status, interpolation, epicardial origin, PVC burden, and sinus QRS duration, respectively., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

Aims: Short-term ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring is often used to assess premature atrial complex (PAC) and premature ventricular complex (PVC) frequency, but the diagnostic reliability is unknown. The objective of this study was to study the day-to-day variability of PAC and PVC frequency., Methods and Results: We used 14-day full-disclosure mobile cardiac telemetry recordings without atrial fibrillation in 8245 US patients aged 17-103 years to calculate the diagnostic reliability of shorter ambulatory ECG recordings compared with 14-day averages. Over 14 days, 1853 patients had ≥500 PACs/day, 410 patients had ≥5000 PACs/day, and 197 patients had ≥10 000 PACs/day; 1640 patients had ≥500 PVCs/day, 354 patients had ≥5000 PVCs/day, and 175 patients had ≥10 000 PVCs/day. After 3 days, the estimated daily PAC frequency differed by ≥50% from the 14-day mean in 25% of patients; for PVCs, the corresponding duration was 7 days. Ten days of monitoring were needed to estimate PAC and PVC frequency within ±20% of the overall 14-day frequency in 80% of patients. For daily PAC and PVC frequencies ≥10 000, single-day estimation had a specificity of 99.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) 99.1-99.5] at a sensitivity of 76.6 (95% CI 70.1-80.4%) for PACs and a 99.6% (95% CI 99.4-99.7%) specificity at 79.4 (95% CI 72.7-85.2) sensitivity for PVCs. After 7 days, the sensitivity increased to 88.8% (95% CI 83.6-92.9) for PACs and 86.9% (95% CI 80.9-91.5%) for PVCs., Conclusion: While there is substantial daily variability across most PAC and PVC levels, findings of ≥10 000 PACs or PVCs are highly specific and do not need to be confirmed with longer recordings., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: L.S.J. receives consulting fees from MEDICALgorithmics., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.)

BackgroundRecent investigations suggest that premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) during an exercise test are associated with an elevated risk of mortality in asymptomatic individuals. However, given the small number of studies included, the association between these two entities in the asymptomatic population remains obscure. Our aim was to evaluate this matter.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted utilizing several online databases up to April 2022. The study comprised cohort studies examining the relationship between exercise-induced premature ventricular complexes (EI-PVCs) and all-cause mortality (ACM) as well as cardiovascular mortality (CVM) in asymptomatic populations. To provide diagnostic values across the statistically significant parameters, we additionally calculated sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve (AUC).ResultsA total of 13 studies consisting of 82,161 patients with a mean age of 49.3 years were included. EI-PVCs were linked to an increased risk of ACM (risk ratio (RR) = 1.30 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18–1.42); p < 0.001; I2 = 59.6%, p-heterogeneity < 0.001) and CVM (RR = 1.67 (95% CI = 1.40–1.99); p < 0.001; I2 = 7.5%, p-heterogeneity = 0.373). Subgroup analysis based on the frequency of PVCs revealed that frequent PVCs were similarly related to a higher risk of ACM and CVM, but not infrequent PVCs. Moreover, diagnostic test accuracy meta-analysis showed that recovery phase EI-PVCs have a higher overall specificity than exercise phase EI-PVCs regarding our outcomes of interest.ConclusionEI-PVCs are correlated with a higher risk of ACM and CVM. When compared to the exercise phase, the specificity of PVCs generated during the recovery period in predicting interest outcomes is higher. As a result, we propose that the exercise ECG be utilized on a regular basis in middle-aged asymptomatic individuals to measure the frequency of PVCs and stratify the risk of mortality.Systematic review registration[https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=328852], identifier [CRD42022328852].

OBJECTIVE: The diagnosis of premature ventricular complex-induced cardiomyopathy (PVC-CMP) is based on the presence of common PVCs associated with cardiomyopathy without a reasonable etiology for the cardiomyopathy. The treatment strategies for PVCs include radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) and drug therapy. In addition to physiological symptoms, PVCs also cause psychological symptoms. Impaired quality of life and sleep quality parameters have been observed in these patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of RFCA treatment on cardiac function and psychiatric health parameters. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 60 consecutive patients undergoing catheter ablation for cardiomyopathy-associated idiopathic PVCs were included in this study. Each patient underwent a three-lead ECG recording over a 24-hour period during normal daily ambulatory activities at a screening visit before and 3 months after RFCA. The Beck Depression Inventory Index (BDI-I), Beck Anxiety Inventory Index (BAI-I), and Global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (GPSQI) were assessed before and after RFCA. RESULTS: PVC frequency decreased from 21.99±6.10 to 1.2% after RFCA. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased from 0.41±0.05 to 0.50±0.06 after RFCA (p<0.001). GPSQI (4.90±1.99 to 3.80±1.75, p <0.001), BDI-I (14.12±7.05 to 8.67±5.13, p<0.001), BAI-I (15.12±6.89 to 9.40±5.11, p<0.001) values decreased after RFCA. We found a moderate negative correlation between GPSQI, BDI-I, BAI-I and LVEF (rs=-0.56; p <0.001, rs=-0.55; p<0.001 and rs=-0.62; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to the recovery of systolic and diastolic cardiac functions, mental and psychiatric health parameters also showed great improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionCatheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias emerging from the ventricular outflow tracts and adjacent structures is very effective and considered almost curative in patients without structural heart disease (SHD). Outcomes of patients with SHD undergoing ablation of outflow tract arrhythmias are not known.MethodsConsecutive patients (2019–2021) undergoing catheter ablation of ventricular arrhythmias in a single high-volume center were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with ablation of outflow tract arrhythmias were identified and divided in individuals with and without SHD. Procedural parameters and acute outcome were compared.ResultsWe identified 215 patients with outflow tract arrhythmias (35.3% female, mean age 58.3 ± 16.0 years). Of those, 93 (43.3%) had SHD. Patients with SHD and outflow tract arrhythmias were older (65.0 ± 12.8 vs. 53.3 ± 16.3 years; p < 0.001), more often male (82.8 vs. 50.0%; p < 0.001) and had more comorbidities than patients without SHD (arterial hypertension: 62.4 vs. 34.4%, p < 0.001; diabetes: 22.6 vs. 8.2%, p = 0.005; chronic lung disease: 20.4 vs. 7.4%, p = 0.007). Outflow tract arrhythmias in patients with SHD had their origin more often in the left ventricle (68.8 vs. 53.3%, p = 0.025). The acute success rate was similar in both patient groups (93.4 vs. 94.2%, p = 0.781). Patients with SHD were discharged later {median length of hospital stay with SHD 5 [6 (interquartile range)] days, without SHD 2 [4] days, p < 0.001}. Periprocedural complications were numerically more frequent in patients with SHD [with SHD 12 (12.9%), without SHD 8 (6.6%), p = 0.154].ConclusionOutflow tract arrhythmia ablation has a high success rate irrespective of the presence of SHD. Longer hospital stay and potentially a higher risk of periprocedural complications should be considered when discussing this treatment option with patients.

Background: Patients undergoing ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) can have cardiac scar. Risk factors for the presence of scar are not well defined. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of scarring detected by delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (DE-CMR) in patients undergoing ablation of PVCs, to create a risk score predictive of scar, and to explore correlations between the scoring system and long-term outcomes. Methods: DE-CMR imaging was performed in consecutive patients with frequent PVCs referred for ablation. The full sample was used to develop a prediction model for cardiac scar based on demographic and clinical characteristics, and internal validation of the prediction model was done using bootstrap samples. Results: The study consisted of 333 patients (52% male, aged 53.2 ± 14.5 years, preablation ejection fraction 50.9% ± 12.2%, PVC burden 20.7 ± 13.14), of whom 112 (34%) had DE-CMR scarring. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed age (odds ratio [OR] 1.02 [1.01–1.04]/year, P = .019) and preablation ejection fraction (OR 0.92 [0.89–0.94]/%, P < .001) to be predictive of scar. A weighted risk score incorporating age and ejection fraction was used to stratify patients into low-, medium-, and high-risk groups. Scar prevalence was around 86% in the high-risk group and 12% in the low-risk group; high-risk patients had worse survival free of arrhythmia. Conclusions: Cardiac scar was present in one-third of patients referred for PVC ablation. A weighted risk score based simply on patient age and preprocedural ejection fraction can help discriminate between patients at high and low risk for the presence of cardiac scar and worse arrhythmia outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are early depolarizations of the myocardium which originate from the ventricle. PVCs have previously been considered a benign condition. The clinical significance of PVCs in patients without structural heart disease is controversial. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patients with a palpitation complaint who underwent electrocardiography (ECG) Holter recording for 48 hours were analyzed. Patients with frequent PVCs (more than ten times in 1 hour) were identified and enrolled in the study. 26 patients were in the PVC group, and 26 patients were in the control group without PVC. The identified patients underwent an echocardiographic examination with strain modality. RESULTS: There were 15 women (57.7%) in the PVC group and 17 women (65.4%) in the control group (P = 0.57). Two patients in the PVC group and three patients in the control group were hypertensive (P > 0.99). There was only one patient with diabetes in PVC and control group (P > 0.99). There were two smokers in the PVC group, whereas there was no smoker in the control group (P = 0.49). In comparison between two groups, patients with frequent PVCs had significantly larger left ventricular end-diastolic volume index (LVEDVI) (P = 0.048) along with lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (P = 0.011), lower (more positive) left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) (P = 0.001), and lower peak systolic mitral annular velocity (S') (P = 0.045). The left atrial volume index (LAVI) was significantly larger in the PVC group (P = 0.001). In speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) parameters, global peak atrial longitudinal strain (PALS) (P = 0.001) and peak atrial contraction strain (PACS) (P = 0.001) were significantly lower and time to peak longitudinal strain (TPLS) (P = 0.002) was significantly higher in the PVC group. CONCLUSION: In this study, left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) function and geometry were adversely affected by frequent PVCs. Early diagnosis of these effects is possible with echocardiography along with strain analysis. It can guide the timely treatment of PVC to avoid the harmful effects of frequent PVCs on the heart. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a rare case of dense mitral annular calcification in a 26-year-old male presenting with recurrent palpitation for the last year with a plethora of mitral annular premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). PVCs had right bundle branch block morphology, were notched in inferior leads with negative QRS complexes in aVL suggestive of likely origin from the lateral mitral annulus. Patients with PVCs from mitral annulus are usually advised to undergo cardiac magnetic resonance imaging to localize the site of subtle mitral annular calcification and plan subsequent delivery of radiofrequency lesions at the same site during radiofrequency ablation. Dense calcification of the lateral mitral annulus is extremely rare to encounter in such a young age of below 30 years without the presence of any predisposing risk factors for calcification. Our case is the first illustration of dense mitral annular calcification secondary to the plethora of mitral annular PVCs in a symptomatic young person below the age of 30 years. PVCs-induced excessive local excursion with wear and tear phenomenon and secondary dystrophic calcification may be the plausible explanation behind this interesting presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Accelerated ventricular response is frequently observed during radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). We hypothesized that acceleration indicates an appropriate site and adequate injury to the arrhythmogenic tissue, and sought to investigate its value in predicting the outcome. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed RFA procedures performed for PVCs in our institution from 2011 to 2019. Results: Fifty-eight patients (29 male; age 42.7 ± 15.6 years) underwent 62 RFA procedures. The most common site was the right ventricular outflow tract (67.7%). Acute success was seen in 88.7%. Accelerated ventricular response was observed in 60.0% of the successful procedures. After a median follow-up of 14.0 months (IQR: 6.0–26.6 months), 16 patients had a recurrence. Recurrence was significantly lower in the group with acceleration than in the group without acceleration (12.5% vs. 57.1%; log-rank P

Background: Myxomatous mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and mitral‐annular disjunction (Barlow disease) are at‐risk for ventricular arrhythmias (VA). Fibrosis involving the papillary muscles and/or the infero‐basal left ventricular (LV) wall was reported at autopsy in sudden cardiac death (SCD) patients with MVP. Objectives: We investigated the electrophysiological substrate subtending VA in MVP patients with Barlow disease phenotype. Methods: Twenty‐three patients with VA were enrolled, including five with syncope and four with a history of SCD. Unipolar (Uni < 8.3 mV) and bipolar (Bi < 1.5 mV) low‐voltage areas were analyzed with electro‐anatomical mapping (EAM), and VA inducibility was evaluated with programmed ventricular stimulation (PES). Electrophysiological parameters were correlated with VA patterns, electrocardiogram (ECG) inferior negative T wave (nTW), and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance. Results: Premature ventricular complex (PVC) burden was 12 061.9 ± 12 994.6/24 h with a papillary‐muscle type (PM‐PVC) in 18 patients (68%). Twelve‐lead ECG showed nTW in 12 patients (43.5%). A large Uni less than 8.3 mV area (62.4 ± 45.5 cm2) was detected in the basal infero‐lateral LV region in 12 (73%) patients, and in the papillary muscles (2.2 ± 2.9 cm2) in 5 (30%) of 15 patients undergoing EAM. A concomitant Bi less than 1.5 mV area (5.0 ± 1.0 cm2) was identified in two patients. A history of SCD, and the presence of nTW, and LGE were associated with a greater Uni less than 8.3 mV extension: (32.8 ± 3.1 cm2 vs. 9.2 ± 8.7 cm2), nTW (20.1 ± 11.0 vs. 4.1 ± 3.8 cm2), and LGE (19.2 ± 11.7 cm2 vs. 1.0 ± 2.0 cm2, p =.013), respectively. All patients with PM‐PVC had a Uni less than 8.3 mV area. Sustained VA (ventricular tachycardia 2 and VF 2) were induced by PES only in four patients (one with resuscitated SCD). Conclusions: Low unipolar low voltage areas can be identified with EAM in the basal inferolateral LV region and in the papillary muscles as a potential electrophysiological substrate for VA and SCD in patients with MVP and Barlow disease phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Previous studies on radiofrequency catheter ablation of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) arising from the left ventricle (LV) papillary muscles (PM) show a modest procedural success rate with higher recurrence rate. Our study sought to explore the utility of using a multipolar mapping with a steerable linear duodecapolar catheter for ablating the PM PVCs. Methods Detailed endocardial multipolar mapping was performed using a steerable linear duodecapolar catheter in 6 consecutive PM PVCs patients with structurally normal heart. The clinical features and procedural data as well as success rate were analysed. Results LV endocardial electroanatomic mapping was performed in all patients via a retrograde aortic approach using a duodecapolar mapping catheter. All patients displayed a PVC burden with 16.2 ± 5.4%. Duodecapolar catheter mapping demonstrated highly efficiency with an average procedure time (95.8 ± 7.4 min) and fluoroscopy time (14.2 ± 1.5 min). The mean number of ablation applications points was 6.8 ± 1.9 with an average overall ablation duration of 6.1 ± 3.0 min. The values of earliest activation time during mapping using duodecapolar catheter were 37.8 ± 7.2 ms. All patients demonstrated acute successful ablation, and the PVC burden in all patients after an average follow-up of 8.5 ± 2.0 months was only 0.7%. There were no complications during the procedures and after follow-up. Conclusions Mapping and ablation of PM PVCs using a duodecapolar catheter facilitated the identification of earliest activation potentials and pace mapping, and demonstrated a high success rate during follow-up.