Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic that is wreaking havoc on the health and economy of much of human civilization. Electrophysiologists have been impacted personally and ...professionally by this global catastrophe. In this joint article from representatives of the Heart Rhythm Society, the American College of Cardiology, and the American Heart Association, we identify the potential risks of exposure to patients, allied healthcare staff, industry representatives, and hospital administrators. We also describe the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac arrhythmias and methods of triage based on acuity and patient comorbidities. We provide guidance for managing invasive and noninvasive electrophysiology procedures, clinic visits, and cardiac device interrogations. In addition, we discuss resource conservation and the role of telemedicine in remote patient care along with management strategies for affected patients.
Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are an increasingly used strategy for the management of patients with advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Although these devices effectively ...improve survival, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias are common, predispose these patients to additional risk, and complicate patient management. However, there is no consensus on best practices for the medical management of these arrhythmias or on the optimal timing for procedural interventions in patients with refractory arrhythmias. Although the vast majority of these patients have preexisting cardiovascular implantable electronic devices or cardiac resynchronization therapy, given the natural history of heart failure, it is common practice to maintain cardiovascular implantable electronic device detection and therapies after LVAD implantation. Available data, however, are conflicting on the efficacy of and optimal device programming after LVAD implantation. Therefore, the primary objective of this scientific statement is to review the available evidence and to provide guidance on the management of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in this unique patient population, as well as procedural interventions and cardiovascular implantable electronic device and cardiac resynchronization therapy programming strategies, on the basis of a comprehensive literature review by electrophysiologists, heart failure cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and cardiovascular nurse specialists with expertise in managing these patients. The structure and design of commercially available LVADs are briefly reviewed, as well as clinical indications for device implantation. The relevant physiological effects of long-term exposure to continuous-flow circulatory support are highlighted, as well as the mechanisms and clinical significance of arrhythmias in the setting of LVAD support.
The "2023 ACC/AHA/ACCP/HRS Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Atrial Fibrillation" provides recommendations to guide clinicians in the treatment of patients with atrial fibrillation.
A ...comprehensive literature search was conducted from May 12, 2022, to November 3, 2022, encompassing studies, reviews, and other evidence conducted on human subjects that were published in English from PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and other selected databases relevant to this guideline. Additional relevant studies, published through November 2022, during the guideline writing process, were also considered by the writing committee and added to the evidence tables, where appropriate.
Atrial fibrillation is the most sustained common arrhythmia, and its incidence and prevalence are increasing in the United States and globally. Recommendations from the "2014 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation" and the "2019 AHA/ACC/HRS Focused Update of the 2014 AHA/ACC/HRS Guideline for the Management of Patients With Atrial Fibrillation" have been updated with new evidence to guide clinicians. In addition, new recommendations addressing atrial fibrillation and thromboembolic risk assessment, anticoagulation, left atrial appendage occlusion, atrial fibrillation catheter or surgical ablation, and risk factor modification and atrial fibrillation prevention have been developed.
ACC/AHA Task Force Members Glenn N. Levine, MD, FACC, FAHA, Chair Patrick T. O’Gara, MD, MACC, FAHA, Chair-Elect Jonathan L. Halperin, MD, FACC, FAHA, Immediate Past Chair‡‡ Sana M. Al-Khatib, MD, ...MHS, FACC, FAHA Joshua A. Beckman, MD, MS, FAHA Kim K. Birtcher, PharmD, MS, AACC Biykem Bozkurt, MD, PhD, FACC, FAHA‡‡ Ralph G. Brindis, MD, MPH, MACC‡‡ Joaquin E. Cigarroa, MD, FACC Lesley H. Curtis, PhD, FAHA‡‡ Anita Deswal, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA Lee A. Fleisher, MD, FACC, FAHA Federico Gentile, MD, FACC Samuel Gidding, MD, FAHA‡‡ Zachary D. Goldberger, MD, MSc, FACC, FAHA Mark A. Hlatky, MD, FACC, FAHA John Ikonomidis, MD, PhD, FAHA‡‡ José A. Joglar, MD, FACC, FAHA Laura Mauri, MD, MSc, FAHA‡‡ Mariann R. Piano, RN, PhD, FAHA Susan J. Pressler, PhD, RN, FAHA‡‡ Barbara Riegel, PhD, RN, FAHA‡‡ Duminda N. Wijeysundera, MD, PhD‡‡Former Task Force member; current member during the writing effort.Table of Contents Top 10 Take-Home Messages For the Management of Bradycardia and Cardiac Conduction Delaye53 Preamblee54 Introductione55 1.1.Methodology and Evidence Reviewe55 1.2.Organization of the Writing Committeee55 1.3.Document Review and Approvale55 1.4.Scope of the Guidelinee56 1.5.Class of Recommendation and Level of Evidencee56 1.6.Abbreviationse56 2. General Evaluation of Patients With Documented or Suspected Bradycardia or Conduction Disorderse61 4.1.History and Physical Examination of Patients With Documented or Suspected Bradycardia or Conduction Disorderse61 4.2.Noninvasive Evaluatione66 4.2.1.Resting ECG in Patients With Documented or Suspected Bradycardia or Conduction Disorderse66 4.2.2.Exercise Electrocardiographic Testing in Patients With Documented or Suspected Bradycardia or Conduction Disorderse66 4.2.3.Ambulatory Electrocardiography in Patients With Documented or Suspected Bradycardia or Conduction Disorderse67 4.2.4.Imaging in Patients With Documented or Suspected Bradycardia or Conduction Disorderse69 4.2.5.Laboratory Testing in Patients With Documented or Suspected Bradycardia or Conduction Disorderse70 4.2.6.Genetic Testing in Patients With Documented or Suspected Bradycardia or Conduction Disorderse71 4.2.7.Sleep Apnea Evaluation and Treatment in Patients With Documented or Suspected Bradycardia or Conduction Disorderse72 4.3. In patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction between 36% to 50% and atrioventricular block, who have an indication for permanent pacing and are expected to require ventricular pacing >40% of the time, techniques that provide more physiologic ventricular activation (e.g., cardiac resynchronization therapy, His bundle pacing) are preferred to right ventricular pacing to prevent heart failure. Because conduction system abnormalities are common after transcatheter aortic valve replacement, recommendations on postprocedure surveillance and pacemaker implantation are made in this guideline. Using the principles of shared decision-making and informed consent/refusal, patients with decision-making capacity or his/her legally defined surrogate has the right to refuse or request withdrawal of pacemaker therapy, even if the patient is pacemaker dependent, which should be considered palliative, end-of-life care, and not physician-assisted suicide.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic that is wreaking havoc on the health and economy of much of human civilization. Electrophysiologists have been impacted personally and ...professionally by this global catastrophe. In this joint article from representatives of the Heart Rhythm Society, the American College of Cardiology, and the American Heart Association, we identify the potential risks of exposure to patients, allied healthcare staff, industry representatives, and hospital administrators. We also describe the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac arrhythmias and methods of triage based on acuity and patient comorbidities. We provide guidance for managing invasive and noninvasive electrophysiology procedures, clinic visits, and cardiac device interrogations. In addition, we discuss resource conservation and the role of telemedicine in remote patient care along with management strategies for affected patients.
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