Predictors of improved quality of life 1 year after pacemaker implantation.

Background: Patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of pacemaker (PM) patients has increasingly become an important issue of health care evaluation. Currently, knowledge of pacing performance and technology is more or less outlined. However, determinants of poor or good HRQoL of paced patients require further elucidation.

Poor health-related quality of life of patients with indication for chronic cardiac pacemaker therapy.

Background: Studies on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients awaiting pacemaker (PM) implantation are scarce, or executed in specific patient subgroups (regarding age or specific cardiac rhythm disorders). The purpose of this study was to systematically assess the HRQoL in a large unselected cohort of patients with a conventional indication for PM therapy.

Methods: Pre-PM implantation HRQoL (measured with the SF-36 questionnaire, completed at hospital admission) of 818 consecutive Dutch patients included in the FOLLOWPACE study was compared with the HRQoL in a sample of the general Dutch population, and with several cohorts of patients with other conditions.

No evidence of automatic atrial overdrive pacing efficacy on reduction of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Aims: Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is frequently encountered in pacemaker patients, most commonly in sick sinus syndrome. The combination of site-specific pacing in conjunction with an overdrive algorithm combined with antiarrhythmic drugs on the incidence of PAF in patients with a conventional indication for pacing is unknown.

Methods And Results: Patients with pacemaker indication and PAF received a DDDR-pacemaker, which included an automatic atrial overdrive (AO) algorithm.

A technique of lead insertion for low atrial septal pacing.

Background: Pacing in the low right atrial septum (LAS) appears superior to right atrial appendage or free wall stimulation for the prevention of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. However, insertion of active fixation lead in the low right atrial septal position is difficult and time consuming, inhibiting application of this pacing method in daily practice.

Methods: The technique of handling and positioning of a new "over the wire" lead system is presented with emphasis on electrocardiographic P wave pattern and fluoroscopic landmarks.

Electrical characteristics of low atrial septum pacing compared with right atrial appendage pacing.

Aim: The study was designed to compare the electrical characteristics of atrial leads placed in the low atrial septum (LAS) with those placed in the right atrial appendage (RAA) associated with dual chamber pacing.

Methods: In 86 patients an active-fixation (St. Jude Medical's Tendril DX model 1388T) atrial lead was positioned in RAA and in 86 patients the same model atrial lead was placed in the LAS.

Clinical and angiographic safety and efficacy trial with a new coronary stent: the RESTOR study of the R Stent.

The RESTOR trial (R Stent Efficacy and Safety Trial by ORBUS) is an efficacy and safety evaluation of the R Stent for treatment of patients with a single de novo coronary lesion < 25 mm in length in a coronary artery of 2.75-4.0 mm diameter.