Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cause of mortality among adults worldwide. In the prognostic risk stratification of these patients, crucial determinants are lumen stenosis, total volume and composition of the plaque. Considering that most of the myocardial infarctions are due to non-obstructive plaques or are associated with high-risk features, plaque composition can serve as an independent predictor of cardiac outcomes. Conversely, although a tight relationship stands between ischemia and CAD severity, the assessment of the degree of ischemia, as a surrogate marker of the coronary plaque burden, remains a controversial issue. Thus, aim of this narrative review is to discuss the usefulness of the imaging methodologies to differentiate the ischemia vs the plaque burden in clinical practice. New diagnostic tools to evaluate the extent of the atheromatous coronary artery could help tailoring a personalized therapeutic approach.

Antecubital access for right heart catheterization (RHC) is a widespread technique, even though there is a need to clarify if there are differences and significant advantages compared to proximal vein access. To pursue this issue, we retrospectively identified patients who underwent RHC in our clinic over a 7 year period (between January 2015 and December 2022). We revised demographic, anthropometric, and procedural data, including the fluoroscopy time, the radiation exposure, and the use of guidewires. The presence of any complications was also assessed. In patients with antecubital access, the fluoroscopy time and the radiation exposure were lower compared to proximal vein access (6 vs. 3 min, mean difference of 2 min, CI 95% 1–4 min, p < 0.001 and 61 vs. 30 cGy/m², mean difference 64 cGy/m², CI 95% 50–77, p < 0.001). The number of patients requiring the use of at least one guidewire was lower in the group undergoing RHC through antecubital access compared to proximal vein access (55% vs. 43%, p = 0.01). The feasibility was optimal, as just 0.9% of procedures switched from antecubital to femoral access, with a negligible rate of complications. The choice of the antecubital site exhibits advantages, e.g., a shorter fluoroscopy time, a reduced radiation dose, and a lower average number of guidewires used compared to proximal vein access.

Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) is an early precursor to heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and it is currently diagnosed using echocardiography, a resource-intensive and operator-dependent modality that limits large-scale screening. The 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is widely available but lacks sufficient diagnostic accuracy for LVDD. Artificial intelligence (AI)–enhanced ECG analysis has emerged as a potential scalable alternative, although its overall diagnostic performance remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of AI-based algorithms for detecting LVDD in a systematic review and meta-analysis. We systematically searched eight major databases through August 2025, complemented by forward and backward citation chasing. Studies reporting sensitivity and specificity of AI-ECG models, using echocardiography as the reference standard, were included. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were estimated using a bivariate random-effects model. Five studies including 105 554 participants were analysed. AI-ECG demonstrated a pooled sensitivity of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.81–0.83) and specificity of 0.77 (95% CI: 0.70–0.82), with an AUC of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.81–0.87). Substantial heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 98.5% for sensitivity and 99.8% for specificity), although results were robust in sensitivity analyses. Predictive values were prevalence-dependent. Negative predictive value was 98.8% at 5% prevalence and 93.7% at 22.2%, but declined to 81.1% at 50% prevalence and 64.7% at 70%. Artificial intelligence–enhanced electrocardiography demonstrated good diagnostic performance for detecting LVDD and may support future rule-out or risk-enrichment strategies in selected populations. However, current evidence remains insufficient to support routine clinical implementation.

Background and Aims: Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) therapy is well-established therapy for the prevention of sudden cardiac death. Although general anesthesia (GA) was initially advocated for implantation, non-GA has emerged as a feasible alternative in clinical practice. This study evaluated the early and long-term outcomes associated with anesthetic modality during S-ICD implantation procedures. Methods: The HONEST study nationwide, single-arm, observational cohort included all patients implanted with an S-ICD (EMBLEM™, Boston Scientific) in France between 2012 and 2019. GA was characterized by controlled unconsciousness with airway management, while non-GA included all alternative techniques. Results: Among 4,924 patients, 1,041 (21.1%) underwent non-GA. The proportion of non-GA use increased from 2.5% to 26.9% between 2012 and 2019 (p<0.001). Patients implanted with non-GA modality tended to be older (51 ± 14 vs. 50 ± 15 years), had lower left ventricular ejection fraction (41±16 vs. 43±17%), and fewer secondary prevention indications (33 vs. 38%) (all p0.1). Conclusion: Anesthesia strategy used for S-ICD implantation was not associated with poorer short- or long-term clinical outcomes, supporting non–general anesthesia as a feasible alternative in appropriately selected patients.