8 October 1958, D Day for the implantable pacemaker

A review of cardiac troponin I detection by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy: Under the spotlight of point-of-care testing

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is a biomarker widely related to acute myocardial infarction (AMI), one of the leading causes of death around the world. Point-of-care testing (POCT) of cTnI not only demands a short turnaround time for its detection but the highest accuracy levels to set expeditious and adequate clinical decisions. The analytical technique Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) possesses several properties that tailor to the POCT format, such as its flexibility to couple with rapid assay platforms like microfluidics and paper-based immunoassays. Here, we analyze the strategies used for the detection of cTnI by SERS considering POCT requirements. From the detection ranges reported in the reviewed literature, we suggest the diseases other than AMI that could be diagnosed with this technique. For this, a section with information about cardiac and non-cardiac diseases with cTnI release, including their release kinetics or cut-off values are presented. Likewise, POCT features, the use of SERS as a POCT technique, and the biochemistry of cTnI are discussed. The information provided in this review allowed the identification of strengths and lacks of the available SERS-based point-of-care tests for cTnI and the disclosing of requirements for future assays design.

The Potential of Electrical Stimulation and Smart Textiles for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most frequent diseases in the general population. Electrical stimulation is a treatment modality based on the transmission of electrical pulses into the body that has been widely used for improving wound healing and for managing acute and chronic pain. Here, we discuss recent advancements in electroceuticals and haptic/smart devices for quality of life and present in which patients and how electrical stimulation may prove to be useful for the treatment of diabetes-related complications.

Remote Monitoring of CIEDs-For Both Safety, Economy and Convenience?

Cardiac implantable electronic devices such as pacemakers and defibrillators are increasingly monitored by systems transmitting information directly from the patient to the hospital. This may increase safety and patient satisfaction and also under certain circumstances represent an economic advantage. The review summarizes some of the recent research in the field of remote monitoring of cardiac devices.

Positive chronotropic effect caused by transthoracic ultrasound in heart of rats

Pulsed ultrasound can produce chronotropic and inotropic effects on the heart with potential therapeutic applications. Fourteen 3-month-old female rats were exposed transthoracically to 3.5-MHz 2.0-MPa peak rarefactional pressure amplitude ultrasonic pulses of increasing 5-s duration pulse repetition frequency (PRF) sequences. An increase in the heart rate was observed following each PRF sequence: an ∼50% increase after the 4-5-6 Hz sequence, an ∼57% increase after the 5-6-7 Hz sequence, and an ∼48% increase after the 6-7-8 Hz sequence. Other cardiac parameters showed a normal or indicated a compensatory decrease at 3 and 15 min post-ultrasound compared to control.

Strategies for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection in Patients With CIED Implantation: A Literature Review

In the last several years a stable increase in cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) implantation has been seen, mainly because of the expanded indications for their usage. An important complication of CIED implantation is possible postprocedural infection (pocket or systemic), which is connected with high morbidity and mortality rates and carries a significant financial cost to the health systems. Although this complication is not that frequent (ranging from 1% to over 5% in different studies), it is associated with a significant burden to patients, clinicians, and the healthcare system and because of that attention should be placed on the prevention of the infection. In this article, we collected and summarized the information and data available, directly related to the problem of prevention of CIED infection. The results of different studies and guidelines, regarding prevention with antibiotics, antiseptics, and the usage of antibacterial envelopes are analyzed. Perspective is put on the new technology of using antibacterial envelopes for prevention of infections. The aim of this paper is to review the various infection prevention techniques and to highlight the most beneficial ones according to guidelines and worldwide studies.

Safety and In-Hospital Outcomes of Transvenous Lead Extraction for Cardiac Implantable Device-Related Infections: Analysis of 13 Years of Inpatient Data in the United States

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and in-hospital outcomes of transcutaneous lead extraction (TLE) associated with device-related infection (DRI) in the United States from 2003 to 2015.

BACKGROUND

DRI remains the most serious complication and the most common indication for lead extraction in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices. The rates of DRI and associated lead extraction have been growing in line with the increasing number of cardiac implantable electronic device implantations worldwide.

METHODS

Data for this study were drawn from the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample. The International Classification of Diseases-9th Revision-Clinical Modification coding system was used to identify hospitalizations with TLE for DRI and to investigate the rates of major adverse events.

RESULTS

From a total of approximately 100 million unweighted hospitalizations over the 13-year study period, 12,257 unweighted observations were identified. This represents 59,082 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 58,982 to 59,182) patients who underwent TLE for DRI during the study period. A large majority of patients (75%) were older than 60 years. Patients were predominantly male (70%) and Caucasian (76%), and 80% had at least 1 comorbidity. The median length of stay was 8 days (interquartile range 5 to 14 days). At least 1 major adverse event occurred in 10.42% of procedures. The all-cause in-hospital mortality rate was 4.11%. Independent predictors of mortality were weight loss (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.02; 95% CI: 3.13 to 5.17), congestive heart failure (aOR: 3.28; 95% CI: 2.48 to 4.34), chronic kidney disease (aOR: 2.09; 95% CI: 1.70 to 2.56), pericardial complications (aOR: 2.87; 95% CI: 1.79 to 4.61), and procedure-related pulmonary injury (aOR: 2.06; 95% CI: 1.25 to 3.40).

CONCLUSIONS

These results reflect the high rate of complications and mortality for TLE due to DRI in real-world experience, highlighting the importance of comorbidities, especially congestive heart failure and chronic kidney disease, as significant predictors of mortality in these patients.

The role of transvenous lead extraction in the management of redundant or malfunctioning pacemaker and defibrillator leads post ELECTRa

Cardiac implantable electronic devices implantation rates have increased over the past decade due to broader indications and an ageing population. Similarly, device and lead complications have also risen. The management of pacemaker/defibrillator leads that are no longer required (redundant) or malfunctioning, can be contentious. There is a need to balance the risk of transvenous lead extraction (TLE) against those of lead abandonment. The recently published European Lead Extraction ConTRolled Registry (ELECTRa) study provides contemporary outcomes for TLE across Europe with important implications for the management of redundant and/or malfunctioning leads. This review article discusses the potential complications for each interventional approach when managing redundant or malfunctioning pacemaker leads.

The challenges surrounding preclinical testing in transcatheter device development and the implications on the clinic

INTRODUCTION

Transcatheter devices have contributed significantly to the advances achieved in treating many cardiovascular conditions over the last few decades. Sophisticated and detailed preclinical testing is not only a regulatory requirement to support an investigational device exemption (IDE) application, but more crucially its success and accuracy is needed to safeguard patients during the subsequent clinical testing stages. Areas covered: This article covers the regulatory background as well as specific considerations related to pre-clinical testing of transcatheter devices. Expert commentary: The lifecycle of a device is complex, but the period of commercialization may be short with little time for manufacturers to recuperate the costs associated with device development and (pre) clinical testing. Regulatory bodies such as the FDA require comprehensive data on pre-clinical testing prior to considering approval of an investigational device exemption to start trials in humans, which should include some data on safety and efficacy of a device. Preclinical testing needs to evaluate a variety of factors, such biocompatibility, material performance, durability, toxicology, particulation, protection against user error and device malfunction, potential hazards, and many more.