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{\u0022basePath\u0022:\u0022\\\/\u0022,\u0022pathPrefix\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022highwire\u0022:{\u0022markup\u0022:[{\u0022requested\u0022:\u0022full-text\u0022,\u0022variant\u0022:\u0022full-text\u0022,\u0022view\u0022:\u0022full\u0022,\u0022pisa\u0022:\u0022spmdc;14\\\/21\\\/6\u0022},{\u0022requested\u0022:\u0022long\u0022,\u0022variant\u0022:\u0022full-text\u0022,\u0022view\u0022:\u0022full\u0022,\u0022pisa\u0022:\u0022spmdc;14\\\/21\\\/6\u0022}],\u0022ac\u0022:{\u0022spmdc;14\\\/21\\\/6\u0022:{\u0022access\u0022:{\u0022reprint\u0022:true,\u0022full\u0022:true},\u0022pisa_id\u0022:\u0022spmdc;14\\\/21\\\/6\u0022,\u0022atom_uri\u0022:\u0022\u0022,\u0022jcode\u0022:\u0022spmdc\u0022}}},\u0022googleanalytics\u0022:{\u0022trackOutbound\u0022:1,\u0022trackMailto\u0022:1,\u0022trackDownload\u0022:1,\u0022trackDownloadExtensions\u0022:\u00227z|aac|arc|arj|asf|asx|avi|bin|csv|doc(x|m)?|dot(x|m)?|exe|flv|gif|gz|gzip|hqx|jar|jpe?g|js|mp(2|3|4|e?g)|mov(ie)?|msi|msp|pdf|phps|png|ppt(x|m)?|pot(x|m)?|pps(x|m)?|ppam|sld(x|m)?|thmx|qtm?|ra(m|r)?|sea|sit|tar|tgz|torrent|txt|wav|wma|wmv|wpd|xls(x|m|b)?|xlt(x|m)|xlam|xml|z|zip\u0022,\u0022trackUrlFragments\u0022:1},\u0022ajaxPageState\u0022:{\u0022js\u0022:{\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/libraries\\\/cluetip\\\/jquery.cluetip.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/libraries\\\/cluetip\\\/lib\\\/jquery.hoverIntent.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/libraries\\\/cluetip\\\/lib\\\/jquery.bgiframe.min.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/modules\\\/highwire\\\/highwire\\\/plugins\\\/highwire_markup_process\\\/js\\\/highwire_at_symbol.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/modules\\\/highwire\\\/highwire\\\/plugins\\\/highwire_markup_process\\\/js\\\/highwire_article_reference_popup.js\u0022:1,\u0022sites\\\/all\\\/modules\\\/contrib\\\/google_analytics\\\/googleanalytics.js\u0022:1,\u00220\u0022:1}}});\n\/\/--\u003E\u003C!]]\u003E\n\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Clink type=\u0022text\/css\u0022 rel=\u0022stylesheet\u0022 href=\u0022\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/sites\/default\/files\/advagg_css\/css__ce2QY63WIanKyr8eSq7eavr1XQRRmFD6ZSmwpyJi8lM__zXwFqpqmxrZOXXcd_TpBQpjuELbmIP9wBR5UuTDWAO4__YJWWMMdfCJuAFm5cUEp88OsodhO3ZA-2lzRfoBsSlk4.css\u0022 media=\u0022all\u0022 \/\u003E\n\u003Clink rel=\u0027stylesheet\u0027 type=\u0027text\/css\u0027 href=\u0027\/sites\/all\/modules\/contrib\/panels\/plugins\/layouts\/onecol\/onecol.css\u0027 \/\u003E\u003C\/head\u003E\u003Cbody\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panels-ajax-tab-panel panels-ajax-tab-panel-sageoa-tab-art\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-display panel-1col clearfix\u0022 \u003E\n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-panel panel-col\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022panel-pane pane-highwire-markup\u0022 \u003E\n  \n      \n  \n  \u003Cdiv class=\u0022pane-content\u0022\u003E\n    \u003Cdiv class=\u0022highwire-markup\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv xmlns=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\u0022 id=\u0022content-block-markup\u0022 xmlns:xhtml=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022article fulltext-view \u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022highwire-journal-article-marker-start\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022section abstract\u0022 id=\u0022abstract-1\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ESummary\u003C\/h2\u003E\n            \u003Cp id=\u0022p-1\u0022\u003EThere have been significant advances in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common irregular heart rhythm. In a special session, data were presented from a series of surveys conducted to enhance the understanding of clinical practice patterns in the management and treatment of AF in the member countries of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the results\u0027 concordance with ESC guidelines.\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022kwd-group\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003EInterventional Techniques \u0026amp; Devices\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ECardiology\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003EArrhythmias\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022kwd-group clinical-trial\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003EInterventional Techniques \u0026amp; Devices\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003ECardiology \u0026amp; Cardiovascular Medicine\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022kwd\u0022\u003EArrhythmias\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp id=\u0022p-2\u0022\u003EThere have been significant advances in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common irregular heart rhythm. In a special session, data were presented from a series of surveys conducted to enhance the understanding of clinical practice patterns in the management and treatment of AF in the member countries of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and the results\u0027 concordance with ESC guidelines.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022section\u0022 id=\u0022sec-1\u0022\u003E\n         \u003Ch2 class=\u0022\u0022\u003EASSESSMENT OF STROKE AND BLEEDING RISK IN PATIENTS WITH AF\u003C\/h2\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-3\u0022\u003ETorben Bjerregaard Larsen, MD, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark, shared the results of the recent European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) survey regarding the assessment of the risk of stroke and bleeding in patients with AF in clinical practice, particularly the use of risk evaluation schemes [Larsen TB et al. \u003Cem\u003EEuropace\u003C\/em\u003E 2014]. A response to the survey was received from 47 centers, of which 74.5% were university hospitals and 17% were private hospitals.\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-4\u0022\u003EAll centers routinely estimated stroke risk in their patients, with 98% using the CHA\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003EDS\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003E-VASc score, as recommended by ESC guidelines (\u003Ca id=\u0022xref-fig-1-1\u0022 class=\u0022xref-fig\u0022 href=\u0022#F1\u0022\u003EFigure 1\u003C\/a\u003E). This risk stratification model has been shown to reliably identify patients at low risk for thromboembolism. While the CHADS\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003E scoring system incorporates the risk factors of congestive heart failure, hypertension, age \u0026gt;75 years, diabetes mellitus, and previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, the CHA\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003EDS\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003E-VASc score incorporates the additional risk factors of age 65 to 74 years, presence of vascular disease, and female sex.\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cdiv id=\u0022F1\u0022 class=\u0022fig pos-float  odd\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022highwire-figure\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img-wrapper\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F1.large.jpg?width=800\u0026amp;height=600\u0026amp;carousel=1\u0022 title=\u0022Routine Use of Stroke Risk Scores in Clinical Practice\u0022 class=\u0022fragment-images colorbox-load\u0022 rel=\u0022gallery-fragment-images-1960660598\u0022 data-figure-caption=\u0022Routine Use of Stroke Risk Scores in Clinical Practice\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022fragment-image\u0022 alt=\u0022Figure 1.\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F1.medium.gif\u0022\/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022highwire-figure-links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00220 first\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F1.large.jpg?download=true\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-download\u0022 title=\u0022Download Figure 1.\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload figure\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00221\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F1.large.jpg\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-newtab\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EOpen in new tab\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00222 last\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/highwire\/powerpoint\/14847\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-ppt\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload powerpoint\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-caption attrib\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022fig-label\u0022\u003EFigure 1.\u003C\/span\u003E \n               \u003Cp id=\u0022p-5\u0022 class=\u0022first-child\u0022\u003ERoutine Use of Stroke Risk Scores in Clinical Practice\u003C\/p\u003E\n            \u003Cq class=\u0022attrib\u0022 id=\u0022attrib-1\u0022\u003EReproduced from Larsen TB et al. Stroke and bleeding risk evaluation in atrial fibrillation: results of the European Heart Rhythm Association survey. \u003Cem\u003EEuropace\u003C\/em\u003E 2014;16:698\u2013702. With permission from the European Society of Cardiology.\u003C\/q\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022sb-div caption-clear\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-6\u0022\u003ENearly 80% of centers routinely estimated bleeding risk using the HAS-BLED score, while the remainder said that they would use any score. The HAS-BLED score incorporates numerous bleeding risk factors, including uncontrolled systolic blood pressure \u0026gt;160 mm Hg, abnormal renal or liver function, previous stroke, prior bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratios, being elderly, and concomitant drugs or excess intake of alcohol. Interestingly, 82.6% of centers indicated that the HAS-BLED score did not affect their decision to initiate or continue anticoagulant therapy, and 70.8% did not take creatinine clearance values into account when initiating oral anticoagulation (OAC) therapy. However, due to the increasing use of novel OAC agents, more attention should be paid to renal function, Prof. Larsen concluded.\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022section\u0022 id=\u0022sec-2\u0022\u003E\n         \u003Ch2 class=\u0022\u0022\u003EANTIARRHYTHMIC DRUGS AND CARDIOVERSION\u003C\/h2\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-7\u0022\u003ELaurent Pison, MD, PhD, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands, noted that the ESC guidelines recommend rhythm control in patients with symptomatic AF (EHRA score \u22652) despite adequate rate control. The guidelines also state that while rhythm control is acceptable for controlling symptoms in patients, antithrombotic therapy for underlying heart disease should also continue [Camm AJ et al. \u003Cem\u003EEur Heart J\u003C\/em\u003E 2012; Camm AJ et al. \u003Cem\u003EEur Heart J\u003C\/em\u003E 2010]. The survey revealed that rhythm control is more widely applied in clinical practice than expected, with \u226570% of responding centers applying this strategy to patients with significant AF-related symptoms despite rate control [Dagres N et al. \u003Cem\u003EEuropace\u003C\/em\u003E 2013; Hern\u00e1ndez-Madrid A et al. \u003Cem\u003EEuropace\u003C\/em\u003E 2013]. Electrical cardioversion seems to be the preferred mode of rhythm control compared with pharmacologic cardioversion (68% vs 19% of respondents).\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-8\u0022\u003E\u03b2-blockers are not typically recommended by the ESC guidelines for long-term antiarrhythmic drug therapy, as they are only moderately effective in preventing recurrent AF with the exception of exercise-induced or thyrotoxicosis-associated cases. Nevertheless, the survey revealed that \u03b2-blockers are frequently used in clinical practice in the context of hypertension and left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy for 43% of centers, coronary artery disease and normal LV ejection fraction for 51%, stable heart failure (HF; New York Heart Association [NYHA] I and II) for 51%, and advanced HF (NYHAIII and IV) for 38%. In contrast, very few centers (11%) use dronedarone for long-term antiarrhythmic drug therapy.\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-9\u0022\u003EWhile \u223c60% of the responding centers use transthoracic echocardiography as part of the diagnostic workup before prescribing class 1c anti-arrhythmic drugs, interestingly, \u223c40% of centers did not perform any diagnostic procedure unless there was clinical evidence of structural heart disease by history, exam, electrocardiogram, or radiograph (\u003Ca id=\u0022xref-fig-2-1\u0022 class=\u0022xref-fig\u0022 href=\u0022#F2\u0022\u003EFigure 2\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cdiv id=\u0022F2\u0022 class=\u0022fig pos-float  odd\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022highwire-figure\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img-wrapper\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F2.large.jpg?width=800\u0026amp;height=600\u0026amp;carousel=1\u0022 title=\u0022Type of Diagnostic Workup Performed Before Prescribing Class 1c Drugs\u0022 class=\u0022fragment-images colorbox-load\u0022 rel=\u0022gallery-fragment-images-1960660598\u0022 data-figure-caption=\u0022Type of Diagnostic Workup Performed Before Prescribing Class 1c Drugs\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022fragment-image\u0022 alt=\u0022Figure 2.\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F2.medium.gif\u0022\/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022highwire-figure-links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00220 first\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F2.large.jpg?download=true\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-download\u0022 title=\u0022Download Figure 2.\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload figure\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00221\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F2.large.jpg\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-newtab\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EOpen in new tab\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00222 last\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/highwire\/powerpoint\/14848\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-ppt\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload powerpoint\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-caption attrib\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022fig-label\u0022\u003EFigure 2.\u003C\/span\u003E \n               \u003Cp id=\u0022p-10\u0022 class=\u0022first-child\u0022\u003EType of Diagnostic Workup Performed Before Prescribing Class 1c Drugs\u003C\/p\u003E\n            \u003Cq class=\u0022attrib\u0022 id=\u0022attrib-2\u0022\u003ECT=computed tomography; ECG=electrocardiography.\u003C\/q\u003E\u003Cq class=\u0022attrib\u0022 id=\u0022attrib-3\u0022\u003EReproduced from Dagres N et al. Current practice of antiarrhythmic drug therapy for prevention of atrial fibrillation in Europe: the European Heart Rhythm Association survey. \u003Cem\u003EEuropace\u003C\/em\u003E 2013;15:478\u2013481. With permission from the European Society of Cardiology.\u003C\/q\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022sb-div caption-clear\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022section\u0022 id=\u0022sec-3\u0022\u003E\n         \u003Ch2 class=\u0022\u0022\u003ECATHETER ABLATION STRATEGY AND PERIPROCEDURAL MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS\u003C\/h2\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-11\u0022\u003EProf. Pison reported that according to the results from several surveys [Chen J et al. \u003Cem\u003EEuropace\u003C\/em\u003E 2014; Pison L et al. \u003Cem\u003EEuropace\u003C\/em\u003E 2013; Lip GY et al. \u003Cem\u003EEuropace\u003C\/em\u003E 2012; Pison L et al. \u003Cem\u003EEuropace\u003C\/em\u003E 2012], most European centers are following the guideline recommendations with regard to catheter ablation strategy and periprocedural management of AF [Calkins H et al. \u003Cem\u003EHeart Rhythm\u003C\/em\u003E 2012; Camm AJ et al. \u003Cem\u003EEur Heart J\u003C\/em\u003E 2012; Camm AJ et al. \u003Cem\u003EEur Heart J\u003C\/em\u003E 2010]. However, he highlighted some interesting survey findings.\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-12\u0022\u003ECurrent guidelines recommend that anticoagulation therapy be continued after ablation in patients who are at high risk of stroke based on the CHADS\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003E or CHA\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003EDS\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003EVAS\u003Csub\u003EC\u003C\/sub\u003E scores. However, some centers reported that OAC therapy was discontinued after successful ablation, even in patients with a CHA\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003EDS\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003EVAS\u003Csub\u003EC\u003C\/sub\u003E score \u22652 (6% of centers at 3 to 6 months; 10% at 6 to 12 months) or a CHADS\u003Csub\u003E2\u003C\/sub\u003E score \u22652 (8% of centers at 3 to 6 months; 6% at 6 to 12 months).\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-13\u0022\u003EDifferences in catheter ablation management of AF were also reported. Ablation for AF was performed more frequently as first-line therapy in patients who had not failed an antiarrhythmic drug in high-volume centers (200 to 399 procedures\/year) compared with extremely high-volume centers (\u0026gt;400 procedures\/year) or medium-volume centers (100\u2013199 procedures\/year; 39.1% vs 30.0% vs 18.8%, respectively).\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-14\u0022\u003EProf. Pison also noted that surgical and hybrid ablation for AF was performed in a minority of centers. Surgical ablation as a stand-alone procedure was used by only 46% of responding centers. The most common indications for surgical or hybrid ablation were a failed catheter ablation (30%) and as a primary intervention for long-standing persistent AF (24%; \u003Ca id=\u0022xref-fig-3-1\u0022 class=\u0022xref-fig\u0022 href=\u0022#F3\u0022\u003EFigure 3\u003C\/a\u003E).\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cdiv id=\u0022F3\u0022 class=\u0022fig pos-float  odd\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022highwire-figure\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img-wrapper\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F3.large.jpg?width=800\u0026amp;height=600\u0026amp;carousel=1\u0022 title=\u0022Survey: Indications Reported for Performing Surgical and Hybrid Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation\u0022 class=\u0022fragment-images colorbox-load\u0022 rel=\u0022gallery-fragment-images-1960660598\u0022 data-figure-caption=\u0022Survey: Indications Reported for Performing Surgical and Hybrid Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022fragment-image\u0022 alt=\u0022Figure 3.\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F3.medium.gif\u0022\/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022highwire-figure-links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00220 first\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F3.large.jpg?download=true\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-download\u0022 title=\u0022Download Figure 3.\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload figure\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00221\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F3.large.jpg\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-newtab\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EOpen in new tab\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00222 last\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/highwire\/powerpoint\/14849\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-ppt\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload powerpoint\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-caption attrib\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022fig-label\u0022\u003EFigure 3.\u003C\/span\u003E \n               \u003Cp id=\u0022p-15\u0022 class=\u0022first-child\u0022\u003ESurvey: Indications Reported for Performing Surgical and Hybrid Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation\u003C\/p\u003E\n            \u003Cq class=\u0022attrib\u0022 id=\u0022attrib-4\u0022\u003EAF=atrial fibrillation; LAA=left atrial appendage.\u003C\/q\u003E\u003Cq class=\u0022attrib\u0022 id=\u0022attrib-5\u0022\u003EReproduced from Pison L et al. Surgical and hybrid atrial fibrillation ablation procedures. \u003Cem\u003EEuropace\u003C\/em\u003E. 2012;14:939\u2013941. With permission from the European Society of Cardiology.\u003C\/q\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022sb-div caption-clear\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022section\u0022 id=\u0022sec-4\u0022\u003E\n         \u003Ch2 class=\u0022\u0022\u003ECARDIAC RESYNCHRONIZATION THERAPY\u003C\/h2\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-16\u0022\u003EThe European Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Survey I [CRT Survey I] was conducted to describe the use of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) implantation in clinical practice [Dickstein K et al. \u003Cem\u003EEur Heart J\u003C\/em\u003E 2009]. Data were collected from 141 centers in 13 European countries, with a total of 2438 patients who were successfully implanted with a CRT device, with or without an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Thirty-one percent of patients were aged \u226575 years, 23% had AF, and 19% had a QRS duration \u0026lt;130 milliseconds. Twenty-six percent of patients with a CRT had a prior pacemaker or ICD. Seventy-three percent of patients received a CRT-with-defibrillation device. The remaining patients who received CRT-with-pacing devices were mostly older. The patients in the CRT Survey I shared similarities with patients in randomized clinical trials of CRT. Notable differences include more elderly patients and more patients with AF, device upgrade, or a narrow QRS.\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-17\u0022\u003ECecilia Linde, MD, PhD, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, said that the objective of the planned CRT Survey II is to assess current clinical practice, capture essential logistical and procedural details, evaluate safety measures, and assess health care resource utilization. The survey will also provide information for hospitals and others to benchmark their practice against national and international practice. The CRT Survey II will collect data similar to those in the first survey but will also focus on the diagnostic workup for CRT implantation.\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-18\u0022\u003EThe CRT Survey II will be conducted by the EHRA and the Heart Failure Association of the ESC during the first 6 months of 2015. The goal is to include 20,000 patients from 45 member countries of the ESC and to report the results in September 2015.\u003C\/p\u003E\n      \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022section\u0022 id=\u0022sec-5\u0022\u003E\n         \u003Ch2 class=\u0022\u0022\u003ESUMMARY\u003C\/h2\u003E\n         \u003Cp id=\u0022p-19\u0022\u003EOverall, current practice in management and treatment of AF in the member countries of the ESC is in line with the ESC guidelines.\u003C\/p\u003E\n         \u003Cdiv id=\u0022F4\u0022 class=\u0022fig pos-float  odd\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022highwire-figure\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img-wrapper\u0022\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-inline-img\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F4.large.jpg?width=800\u0026amp;height=600\u0026amp;carousel=1\u0022 title=\u0022The editors would like to thank the many members of the Cardiostim EHRA Europace 2014 presenting faculty who generously gave their time to ensure the accuracy and quality of the articles in this publication.\u0022 class=\u0022fragment-images colorbox-load\u0022 rel=\u0022gallery-fragment-images-1960660598\u0022 data-figure-caption=\u0022The editors would like to thank the many members of the Cardiostim EHRA Europace 2014 presenting faculty who generously gave their time to ensure the accuracy and quality of the articles in this publication.\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022fragment-image\u0022 alt=\u0022Figure4\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F4.medium.gif\u0022\/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022highwire-figure-links inline\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00220 first\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F4.large.jpg?download=true\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-download\u0022 title=\u0022Download Figure4\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload figure\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00221\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/d282kpwvnogo5m.cloudfront.net\/content\/spmdc\/14\/21\/6\/F4.large.jpg\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-newtab\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EOpen in new tab\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli class=\u00222 last\u0022\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022\/highwire\/powerpoint\/14850\u0022 class=\u0022highwire-figure-link highwire-figure-link-ppt\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EDownload powerpoint\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022fig-caption\u0022 xmlns:xhtml=\u0022http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xhtml\u0022\u003E\n               \u003Cp id=\u0022p-20\u0022 class=\u0022first-child\u0022\u003EThe editors would like to thank the many members of the Cardiostim EHRA Europace 2014 presenting faculty who generously gave their time to ensure the accuracy and quality of the articles in this publication.\u003C\/p\u003E\n            \u003Cdiv class=\u0022sb-div caption-clear\u0022\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n      \u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cul class=\u0022copyright-statement\u0022\u003E\u003Cli class=\u0022fn\u0022 id=\u0022copyright-statement-1\u0022\u003E\u00a9 2014 MD Conference Express\u00ae\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022highwire-journal-article-marker-end\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cspan id=\u0022related-urls\u0022\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/content\/14\/21\/6.abstract\u0022 class=\u0022hw-link hw-link-article-abstract\u0022 data-icon-position=\u0022\u0022 data-hide-link-title=\u00220\u0022\u003EView Summary\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\n  \n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n  \u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_figures.js?nzp05d\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022text\/javascript\u0022 src=\u0022http:\/\/mdc.sagepub.com\/sites\/all\/modules\/highwire\/highwire\/plugins\/highwire_markup_process\/js\/highwire_openurl.js?nzp05d\u0022\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E\n\u003C\/body\u003E\u003C\/html\u003E"}