On the basis of our prospective multicentre study, the new hand-powered bidirectional rotational mechanical LE sheath is an effective and safe tool for the extraction of chronically implanted leads without major complications and lead wrapping or lead damage.

Background Northern Italy is one of the epicenters of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV 2) pandemic in Europe. The impact of the pandemic and the consequent lockdown on medical emergencies other than those SARS‐CoV 2 pandemic related is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiologic impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on hospital admission for severe emergent cardiovascular diseases ( SECD s) in a single Northern Italy large tertiary referral center. Methods and Results We quantified SECD s admissions to the Cardiology Division of Udine University Hospital between March 1, 2020 and March 31, 2020 and compared them with those of the same time frame during 2019. Compared with March 2019, we observed a significant reduction in all SECD s admissions: −30% for ST ‐segment–elevation acute coronary syndromes, −66% for non‐ ST ‐segment–elevation acute coronary syndromes and −50% for severe bradyarrhythmia. Conclusions A significant decrease in all SECD s admissions has been observed during the SARS‐CoV 2. pandemic and was unlikely caused by a reduction in the incidence of cardiovascular diseases. Fear of contagion may have contributed to the unpredictable drop of SECD s. Social education about early recognition of symptoms of life‐threatening cardiac conditions requiring appropriate care in a timely fashion may help to reduce this counterproductive phenomenon.

Background: The traditional technique for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) implantation, which involves three incisions and a subcutaneous pocket (PACE 2017; 40:278-285) implantable cardioverter defibrillator complications, subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD), two-incision technique

Background-Routine diagnostic work-up occasionally does not identify any abnormality among patients with monomorphic ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) of left ventricular (LV) origin. Aim of this study was to investigate the value of cardiac MRI (cMRI) for the diagnostic work-up and prognostication of these patients. Methods and Results-Forty-six consecutive patients (65% males; mean age, 44±15 years) with monomorphic VAs of LV origin and negative routine diagnostic work-up were included. Seventy-four consecutive patients (60% males; mean age, 40±17 years) with apparently idiopathic monomorphic VAs of right ventricular origin served as control group. Both groups underwent comprehensive cMRI study and were followed-up for a median of 14 months (25th-75th percentiles, 7-37 months). The outcome event was an arrhythmic composite end point of sudden cardiac death or nonfatal episode of ventricular fibrillation or sustained ventricular tachycardia requiring external cardioversion or appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy. The 2 groups of patients did not differ in age (P=0.14) and sex (P=0.57). No significant difference was observed between patients with VAs of LV origin and VAs of right ventricular origin about biventricular volumes and systolic function. cMRI demonstrated myocardial structural abnormalities in 19 (41%) patients with VAs of LV origin versus 4 (5%) patients with VAs of right ventricular origin (P<0.001). The outcome event occurred in 9 patients; myocardial structural abnormalities on cMRI were significantly related to the outcome event (hazard ratio, 41.6; 95% confidence interval, 5.2-225.0; P<0.001). identification of concealed cardiac abnormalities in patients with apparently idiopathic LV arrhythmias. Moreover, scarce data are available about the prognostic value of concealed structural abnormalities detected by cMRI in these patients. Accordingly, the aim of this study was 2-fold: (1) to investigate the value of comprehensive cardiac magnetic resonance tissue characterization imaging, including T1-weighted imaging, T2-weighted imaging, and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) imaging, for the detection of structural changes in patients with monomorphic VAs of LV versus RV origin and negative routine diagnostic work-up; and (2) to determine the prognostic value of concealed structural abnormalities detected by cMRI in these patients. Conclusions-Myocardial Methods Patient PopulationA total of 46 consecutive patients with monomorphic VAs of LV origin (ie, frequent premature ventricular beats [PVBs] >1000/24 hours, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia [NSVT], or sustained ventricular tachycardia [SVT] with right bundle branch block [RBBB] morphology) and negative routine diagnostic work-up were included in the study. Negative routine diagnostic work-up was defined on the basis of (1) absence of systemic diseases, arterial hypertension, and diabetes mellitus; (2) absence of plasma electrolyte abnormalities; (3) normal 12-lead ECG; (4) normal 2-dimensional echocardiography; and (5) absenc...