Samir Saba

Continued rise in rates of cardiovascular implantable electronic device infections in the United States: temporal trends and causative insights.

Background:  Cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infections have been increasing out of proportion to the number of devices implanted, based on data available through 2003. We investigated recent trends and possible causes of the increasing numbers of CIED infections.

Response to cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with heart failure and renal insufficiency.

Background: Renal insufficiency (RI) adversely impacts prognosis in heart failure (HF) patients, partly because renal and cardiac dysfunction are intertwined, yet few cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) studies have examined patients with moderate‐to‐severe RI.

Predicting Hyperresponse Among Pacemaker-Dependent Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy Patients Upgraded to Cardiac Resynchronization

Resynchronizing Pacemaker‐Dependent Patients. Introduction: Right ventricular (RV) pacing engenders left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony and may diminish LV systolic function, promote adverse cardiac remodeling, and foster heart failure (HF). This process may be reversible in some pacemaker‐dependent patients upgraded to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We examined the clinical characteristics of pacemaker‐dependent patients who exhibit hyperresponse (i.e., normalization of LV function) with CRT upgrade.

Effect of end-stage renal failure and hemodialysis on mortality rates in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator recipients.

Background: Most defibrillator (ICD) trials have excluded patients on hemodialysis (HD). It is therefore not known whether the ICD, when indicated, confers the same mortality benefit to HD and non‐HD patients.

Elevated Serum Creatinine at Baseline Predicts Poor Outcome in Patients Receiving Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Background: Renal insufficiency is recognized as a predictor of mortality and poor outcome in heart failure patients. We sought to study the impact of baseline serum creatinine on subsequent outcome in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) recipients.

Efficacy of Cryoballoon Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation.

Cryoballoon PVI has emerged as an alternative to radiofrequency PVI for the treatment of paroxysmal AF. The optimal strategy for patients with persistent AF is unclear as data are limited.

Catheter ablation for ventricular tachycardia in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (CALYPSO) pilot trial.

We conducted this pilot randomized clinical trial to determine the feasibility of a large clinical trial aimed at testing whether early use of catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is superior to antiarrhythmic medications at reducing mortality.

Simultaneous Atrial and Ventricular Anti‐Tachycardia Pacing as a Novel Method of Rhythm Discrimination

Background: Inappropriate shocks remain a problem in patients with defibrillators (ICD).

Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators Confer Survival Benefit in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background:  The prophylactic use of the implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) has been shown to decrease mortality in patients with depressed left ventricular ejection function (LVEF ≤ 35%). Whether this beneficial effect persists in the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not established.

Mechanisms of Inappropriate Defibrillator Therapy in a Modern Cohort of Remotely Monitored Patients

Defibrillator (ICD) technology and monitoring are evolving rapidly. We investigated the mechanisms of inappropriate ICD therapies in a modern cohort of patients followed at our institution via remote monitoring.