The POTTER AF registry looked at oesophageal fistula formation following atrial fibrillation ablation, with focus on the real world incidence, characteristics, optimal management and patient outcomes. In this touchCARDIO interview, we speak with Professor Roland Tilz (University Heart Center Lübeck, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany) to discuss the results of the POTTER AF registry and […]

CEASE-AF is a trial comparing the efficacy and safety of hybrid total thoracoscopic ablation therapy to standard catheter ablation in patients with long standing persistent atrial fibrillation. In this touchCARDIO interview, we speak with Dr Nicolas Doll (Schuechtermann-Clinic, Bad Rothenfelde, Germany) to discuss the CEASE AF trial and the potential clinical significance.  The abstract entitled […]

The AdaptResponse trial was designed to assess two methods of restoring resynchronization to the heart in patients with heart failure with left bundle branch block. In this touchCARDIO interview, we speak with Dr Bruce Wilkoff (Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA) to discuss the design of the AdaptResponse trial, the outcomes as well as the clinical […]

Recently it has been shown that NT-proBNP may be a useful tool for finding people with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke. In this touchCARDIO interview, we speak with Dr Søren Zöga Diederichsen (Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark) to discuss the post hoc analysis of the LOOP study. The abstract entitled ‘Atrial […]

Mitral valve (MV) disease includes either mitral regurgitation or mitral stenosis or both. The incidence and prevalence of valvular heart disease is increasing with the increasing population age. Degenerative MV disease poses a global burden with a prevalence of 18.1 million cases in 2017. Further, its global prevalence increased by 94% from 1990 to 2017.1 Surgery is the gold standard of […]

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), along with its more common subgroup, hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM), is the most common monogenic cardiovascular disorder, with a prevalence of about 1 in 500,1 and a dominant inheritance pattern, thus clustering in affected families. Patients with HCM often have significant limitations to their exercise capacity, and while there are several underlying pathomechanisms for […]

The global prevalence of aortic stenosis (AS) has steadily increased over the past several decades.1 In high-income countries, degenerative calcific aortic valve disease is the primary aetiology for AS, whereas chronic rheumatic valve disease and infective endocarditis remain more common causes worldwide.2 Population-wide trends in developed countries suggest a strong relationship between advanced age and incidence of […]

Heart failure (HF) is a common clinical diagnosis often requiring hospitalization secondary to patient decompensation associated with clinically determined ‘dry’ or ‘wet’ volume states. However, fluid overload is the more common basis for clinical deterioration accounting for the majority of hospitalizations.1–4 There is often a cycle of decompensation, compensation following intervention and then a recurrence of volume overload […]