This study demonstrates successful dissemination and implementation of a CVC SBML curriculum and shows that rigorous medical education is a powerful quality improvement tool.

(PACE 2017; 40:425-433) ablation, arrhythmia, fluoroless

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Purpose Conventional catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation requires fluoroscopy, which has inherent risks of radiation exposure to patients and medical staff. Optimization of fluoroscopy parameters and use of three-dimensional electroanatomic mapping (EAM) and intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) have helped to reduce radiation exposure; however, despite growing evidence, there are still concerns about safety and added procedure time associated with fluoroless procedures, particularly in left-sided ablations, due to the potential risk of complications. Herein, we report our initial experience using a radiofrequency (RF) wire for completely fluoroless radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and cryoballoon ablation (CBA). Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on ablation procedures for various cardiac arrhythmias performed non-fluoroscopically at two centers using the VersaCross RF wire transseptal system under EAM and ICE guidance. Results A total of 72 and 54 patients underwent RFA and CBA, respectively, successfully without any procedural complications. Transseptal access time for RFA was 14.5 ± 6.6 min from procedure start (including sheath and catheter placements ± right-sided ablation) or 2.8 ± 1.0 min from RF wire insertion into the femoral introducer. Transseptal access time for CBA was 19.2 ± 11.7 min from procedure start (including sheath and catheter placements ± right-sided ablation) or 3.5 ± 1.6 min from RF wire insertion into the femoral introducer. Average procedure time was 104.4 ± 38.0 min for RFA and 91.1 ± 22.1 min for CBA. Conclusions A RF wire can be used to achieve completely fluoroless transseptal puncture safely and effectively while improving procedural efficiency in both RFA and CBA.

Lead perforation is one of the serious complications associated with cardiac pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators. Late perforationsoccurring more than one month after placementare exceedingly rare and are usually more associated with actively fixed leads rather than passively fixed tined leads. We present a case of blunt ended tined lead perforation after 4 months of implantation managed by a two-step hybrid minimally invasive approach consisting of mini-thoracotomy and lead tip transection, followed by trans-venous lead extraction.

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A 69-year-old woman presented to an outside hospital with chest pressure radiating to the back and dyspnea. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest with pulmonary embolism protocol for elevated D-dimer was negative ( Figure 1). She had mild Troponin elevation that resolved along with the symptoms, and the patient underwent a stress test to rule out acute coronary syndrome. She developed dyspnea during the test, prompting a chest x-ray, which showed left-sided pleural effusion and mediastinal shift to the right that was not seen on the admission chest x-ray ( Figure 2). A thoracentesis demonstrated hemorrhagic fluid. A CT of the chest without contrast showed an intimal flap in the aorta with a centrally displaced calcified atherosclerotic plaque characteristic of aortic dissection that could not be seen in the previous CT with pulmonary embolism protocol (Figure 3). After this, she was transferred to our hospital, where a transthoracic echocardiogram almost 6 hours later showed a type I aortic dissection with the intimal flap originating 1.5 cm proximal to the aortic valve and extending into left subclavian artery and descending aorta (

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