Percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion in patients with a cardiac implantable electronic device.

BACKGROUND: Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) may be a viable option for stroke prevention in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation and a contraindication for oral anticoagulation. No evidence evaluating the safety of this procedure in patients with a cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) exists. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether CIED function is affected by LAAO and to explore LAAO procedural characteristics and complications in patients with a CIED. METHODS: This single-center cohort study included consecutive patients scheduled for percutaneous LAAO. Patients with a CIED prior to LAAO were selected and compared to the patients without CIED, concerning procedural characteristics and peri-procedural complications. In the group of patients with CIEDs, essential pacemaker integrity parameters were compared before and after the procedure to detect possible micro and macro lead displacements. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients with CIED were scheduled for LAAO (age 73.7 ± 5.4 years, 65% males, CHA2DS2-VASc 4.3 ± 1.5, and HAS-BLED 3.3 ± 1.0). The 245 patients without CIED were younger, and HAS-BLED-score was slightly lower (69.4 ± 8.2 years, p < 0.001; 2.8 ± 1.0, p = 0.022). Patients without CIED more frequently underwent LAAO combined with catheter ablation (p = 0.002). All other procedural characteristics were comparable between both groups. No visible lead displacement was observed on chest X-ray after LAAO. Additionally, no differences in impedance, threshold, or intracardiac sensing in various CIED lead locations were found prior versus post LAAO. CONCLUSION: This study supports the feasibility and safety of LAAO in patients with a CIED.

Chloroquine-induced QTc prolongation in COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: In the battle against the SARS-CoV­2 pandemic, chloroquine has emerged as a new potential therapeutic option for the treatment of infected patients. A safety consideration for the application of chloroquine is its QTc-prolonging potential. Thus far, no data are available on the QTc-prolonging potential of chloroquine in COVID-19 patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess the degree of chloroquine-induced QTc prolongation in hospitalised COVID-19 patients. METHODS: A baseline electrocardiogram (ECG) and ECGs recorded during chloroquine treatment were retrospectively collected in patients suspected of having COVID-19. The QTc interval was calculated by computerised and manual interpretation. Baseline and follow-up QTc intervals were compared using the paired samples t-test. RESULTS: A total of 95 patients had a baseline ECG recording and at least one ECG recording during chloroquine therapy. Chloroquine treatment resulted in a mean QTc prolongation of 35 ms (95% CI 28-43 ms) using computerised interpretation and 34 ms (95% CI 25-43 ms) using manual interpretation. No torsade de pointes was observed during chloroquine treatment. After manual review, 22 patients (23%) had a QTc interval exceeding 500 ms during chloroquine treatment. None of these patients had a prolonged QTc interval prior to the initiation of chloroquine treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Chloroquine significantly prolongs the QTc interval in a clinically relevant matter. This highlights the need for ECG monitoring when prescribing chloroquine to COVID-19 patients.