Ultra-early continuous cardiac monitoring improves atrial fibrillation detection and prognosis of patients with cryptogenic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) is known to underlie a number of cases of cryptogenic stroke (CrS). However, there is need to define the most effective strategy for AF detection. The diagnostic usefulness was analysed of a strategy based on ultra-early continuous monitoring in patients with CrS in terms of AF detection, oral anticoagulation treatment and stroke recurrence, in comparison to a standard outpatient strategy. METHODS: Patients with ischaemic stroke of undetermined origin and confirmed to be cryptogenic after extensive work-up were searched for AF with (i) a conventional strategy (historical cohort, n = 101) with serial electrocardiograms and 24-h Holter monitoring or (ii) an ultra-early monitoring strategy with insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) implanted before discharge (prospective cohort, n = 90). AF episodes lasting >1 min, anticoagulant treatment and stroke recurrence were recorded. RESULTS: During admission, AF was similarly detected in both cohorts (24% of patients). After discharge (mean follow-up 30 ± 10 months), AF detection rates were 17/80 (21.3%) and 38/65 (58.5%) for patients in the conventional versus the ultra-early ICM group (P < 0.001). Up to 41% of AF cases in the ICM cohort were detected within the first month. Oral anticoagulation was initiated in 37.6% versus 65.5% (P < 0.001) and stroke recurrence was recorded in 10.9% versus 3.3% (P 0.04) in the conventional versus the ICM cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Pre-discharge ICM implant allows detection of AF during follow-up in up to 58% of selected patients with CrS. Compared to a conventional strategy, ultra-early ICM implant results in higher anticoagulation rates and a decrease in stroke recurrence.

In-hospital prognosis and long-term mortality of STEMI in a reperfusion network. "Head to head" analisys: invasive reperfusion vs optimal medical therapy.

BACKGROUND: ST Segment Elevation Acute myocardial infarction (STEMI) preferred treatment is culprit artery reperfusion with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). We ought to analyze the benefit of early reperfusion vs. optimal medical therapy in STEMI before and after the set-up of a regional STEMI network that prioritizes PPCI. METHODS: Between January 2002 and December 2013, 1268 STEMI patients were consecutively admitted in a University Hospital. Patients were classified in two groups: pre-STEMI Network (January 2002-June 2009; n = 670) and post-STEMI network (July 2009-December 2013; n = 598). Vital status was available at 2-year follow-up. RESULTS: The STEMI network increased reperfusion (89.2% vs 64.4%, p < 0.001) mainly using PCI (99.0% vs 43.9%, p < 0.001). In univariate analysis, in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the post-STEMI network period (2.51% vs. 7.16%, p < 0.001). After multivariate adjustment, including age, sex, comorbidities, severity and reperfusion therapy, a trend to a lower in-hospital mortality was observed (post-Network OR: 0.50, 95% CI:0.16-1.59, p = 0.24); this trend disappeared when optimal medical therapy was included in the model (post-Network OR: 1.14, 95% CI:0.32-4.08, p = 0.840). No differences in 2-year mortality were observed (post-Network HR: 0.83; CI 95%: 0.55-1.25, p = 0.37). CONCLUSION: A STEMI network with PPCI 24/7 improved reperfusion therapy, resulting in an increase on PPCI. Despite in-hospital mortality decreased with a STEMI network, 2-year mortality remained similar in both periods, pre- and post-Network. Optimal medical therapy could be as important as reperfusion therapy in a STEMI reperfusion network.

[Atypical sinus node dysfunction. Usefulness of implantable Holter. A case report]. / Disfunción sinusal atípica. Utilidad del Holter implantable. A propósito de un caso.

We present an 84 year-old female patient with repeated syncopes/presyncopes in the last nine years. All diagnosis tests were negative, including ECG, 24-hour Holter, tilt table test and EP study. Therefore, a subcutaneous insertable loop recorder was implanted (Reveal). The recording of three episodes showed the association of presyncope with the onset of atrial fibrilation and, in two syncopes, with an atrial pause between AF episodes. Probably an abnormal prolonged sinus node recovery time (more than 6 s) allowed AF to restart before the sinus rhythm.

[Transient atrioventricular conduction 1:1 in a patient with common atrial flutter following the administration of adenosine triphosphate]. / Conducción auriculoventricular 1:1 transitoria en un paciente con flutter auricular común tras la administración de trifosfato de adenosina.

A patient with atrial flutter and 2:1 atrioventricular conduction and acceleration to 1:1 conduction after administration of a single i.v. dose of 10 mg adenosin triphosphate (ATP) is presented. Despite the fact that ATP is a very useful drug for the treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. Its use as a diagnostic tool in atrial flutter must be carefully considered and the possibility of transient acceleration of AV conduction must be taken into account.