EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ARRHYTHMIA & ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY – VOLUME 4 ISSUE 2 – WINTER 2018

  This edition of European Journal of Arrhythmia & Electrophysiology features a selection of reviews in atrial fibrillation that examine and expand the knowledge base on the mechanisms of disease and its effective management. In addition, there is a timely practical guide suited to reinforcing the core skills for implanting electronic devices. Martin Borggrefe sheds […]

Over the past decade, there has been a marked increase in the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in the treatment of patients with venous thrombosis and atrial fibrillation.1 There is compelling evidence of improved patient outcomes with NOACs versus vitamin-K antagonists.2,3 Accurate prescription, appropriate initiation and confident use are essential in management […]

In recent years, there has been increasing realisation that electronic health (e-health) – an umbrella term for multiple approaches to using information and communication technologies in health care – can encourage optimised and personalised delivery of care.1 Effective e-health initiatives may have benefits for both patient outcomes – through better education, information and self-management – […]

The clinical introduction of cardiac electrophysiology (EP) studies in the 1980s was a cornerstone in how to understand, diagnose and treat specific arrhythmias. Anatomic orientation and positioning of catheters was achieved by fluoroscopic guidance. Signals were derived from intracardiac EP-catheters and interpretation of these, in combination with specific stimulation manoeuvres, led to successful therapies. Increasing […]

The ketogenic diet is experiencing a resurgence in endocrine and metabolic circles, and its use has become popular in recent years.1 This encouraging trend stems from two reasons: the ever-increasing burden of the obesity and diabetes pandemics, as well as the lack of results with existing, conventional weight-loss therapy. Both obesity and diabetes are associated […]

The left atrial appendage (LAA) is now recognised as a key site of thromboembolic origin in atrial fibrillation (AF), acting as the primary source of around 90% of embolic strokes in non-valvular AF patients.1–4 An important therapeutic strategy for stroke prevention in AF targets the LAA and simultaneously offers the opportunity to circumvent long-term oral […]

  Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most frequent arrhythmias worldwide, and, despite progress in the management of patients with AF, remains one of the major causes of stroke, heart failure, sudden death, and cardiovascular morbidity.1 The incidence and prevalence of AF is still increasing with higher numbers in developed countries, which is probably […]

  Implantation of cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) remains one of the core skills of cardiologists; most cardiology trainees will require at least basic skills in permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation.1 The aim of this article is to provide a guide to the techniques of venous access – the first and important part of the implantation […]

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a genetic arrhythmia syndrome with increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Unmasking a type I BrS electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern after administration of sodium channel blockers may be associated with an increase in epicardial substrate abnormalities. We hypothesised that high-density endocardial unipolar voltage mapping of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), before […]