Transcatheter valvular interventions have undergone significant progress over the last years with novel treatment options in even complex conditions. In conjunction this development, innovative technologies emerged to facilitate a comprehensive and precise imaging for optimal procedural guidance. These novelties include fusion imaging, three-dimensional (3D) intracardiac echocardiography, advan...

BACKGROUND Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) has been proven to be very effective for pulmonary vein (PV) isolation (PVI) if complete occlusion is achieved and conventionally assessed by angiographic injection of contrast within PV lumen. The aim of our study was to assess the usefulness of saline contrast intracardiac echocardiography in guiding CBA with respect to PV angiography. METHODS Thirty co...

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Today, the transcatheter treatment of atrial septal defects using an occluding device is a safe and effective therapeutic approach. Recently, intracardiac echocardiography has been developed as an alternative to transesophageal echocardiography for guiding these procedures. We describe our experience with intracardiac echocardiography during the percutaneous closure ...

The effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the electrophysiological properties of intracardiac neurones were investigated in the intracardiac ganglion plexus in situ and in dissociated neurones from neonatal, juvenile and adult rat hearts. Focal application of GABA evoked a depolarizing, excitatory response in both intact and dissociated intracardiac ganglion neurones. Under voltage clamp...

BACKGROUND Non-neoplastic causes such as infections and thrombi account for most intracardiac masses. Primary tumors such as myxomas and metastasis from breast cancer, lung cancer, or melanomas account for many of the remaining cases. Burkitt lymphoma manifesting as an intracardiac mass is a rare entity, with 21 cases reported in the English literature. CASE REPORT We report the case of a man i...

BACKGROUND Intracardiac abscesses are an unusual occurrence in developed countries. With the increase in use of implantable cardiac devices, the increase use of and advancements in antibiotics, and the longevity of patients with cardiac devices, one may expect an increase in such infections; however, case reports are rare. We are presenting a case in which hematogenous dissemination of methicil...

Accurate delineation of the variable left atrial anatomy is of utmost importance during anatomically based ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation targeting the pulmonary veins and possibly other structures of the atria. Intracardiac echocardiography allows real-time visualisation of the left atrium and adjacent structures and thus facilitates precise guidance of catheter-based ablation of ...

Intracardiac fistulas are rare complications of infective endocarditis. We report an unusual case of successful surgical repair of intracardiac fistula between the left ventricle and the left atrium in the course of infective endocarditis in a 20-year-old patient. According to this we conclude that timely diagnosis, proper antibiotic treatment, and early surgical intervention should improve the...

We describe a case of atrial fibrillation in which an intracardiac thrombus that could not be prevented with "low-dose" dabigatran treatment was resolved by switching to apixaban treatment. Thrombolysis using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) could be a therapeutic option for patients with intracardiac thrombi, although the efficacies of different DOACs seem to differ and need further examinat...