Prediction of atrial fibrillation in patients with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias treated with catheter ablation or not. Classical scores are not useful.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and other supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVTA) [atrial flutter (AFL), atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) and preexcitation syndrome (PS)] are frequently associated. We assessed the AF occurrence frequency and predictors according to the nature of SVTA and completion of SVTA ablation.

Methods And Results: 4169 patients were referred for SVTA (typical AVNRT: 1338, AVRT over a concealed accessory pathway: 329, atypical AVNRT: 205, AFL: 1321; PS: 976); mean age was 50±20years; electrophysiological study (EPS) was systematic; patients were followed for a mean duration of 3±4.

Risk of atrial fibrillation after atrial flutter ablation: impact of AF history, gender, and antiarrhythmic drug medication.

Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and flutter (AFL) are frequently associated. We assessed the frequency and identified the predictors of AF occurrence after AFL ablation.

Methods And Results: A total of 1,121 patients referred for AFL ablation were followed for a mean duration of 2.

Incidence and prognostic significance of spontaneous and inducible antidromic tachycardia.

Aims: Orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (ORT) is the most common arrhythmia at electrophysiological study (EPS) in patients with pre-excitation. The purpose of the study was to determine the clinical significance and the electrophysiological characteristics of patients with inducible antidromic tachycardia (ADT).

Methods And Results: Electrophysiological study was performed in 807 patients with a pre-excitation syndrome in control state and after isoproterenol.

Missing diagnosis of preexcitation syndrome on ECG: clinical and electrophysiological significance.

Unlabelled: Electrocardiographic criteria of preexcitation syndrome are sometimes not visible on ECG in sinus rhythm (SR). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the significance of unapparent preexcitation syndrome in SR, when overt conduction through accessory pathway (AP) was noted at atrial pacing.

Methods: Anterograde conduction through atrioventricular AP was identified at electrophysiological study (EPS) in 712 patients, studied for tachycardia (n=316), syncope (n=89) or life-threatening arrhythmia (n=55) or asymptomatic preexcitation syndrome (n=252).

Risk of atrial fibrillation according to the initial presentation of a preexcitation syndrome.

Background: Atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) is frequent in Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). Atrial fibrillation (AF) is rare. The purpose of the study was to determine the factors of spontaneous AF in WPW according to the initial presentation.

Factors likely to affect the long-term results of ventricular stimulation after myocardial infarction.

Background: The results of programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) may change after myocardial infarction (MI). The objective was to study the factors that could predict the results of a second PVS.

Methods: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and QRS duration were determined and PVS performed within 3 to 14 years of one another (mean 7.

Complete atrioventricular block during ablation of atrial flutter.

We report the case of a 51-year-old patient who developed a complete atrioventricular (AV) block during the isthmic radiofrequency catheter ablation of a typical atrial flutter. The cause was an acute occlusion of the segment three of the right coronary artery. His recanalization was associated with the immediate restoration of a normal AV conduction.

Rapid and low-cost method to prove the nature of no documented tachycardia in children and teenagers without pre-excitation syndrome.

Aims Symptoms in children are often difficult to interpret. The purpose of this study was to report the results of transoesophageal electrophysiological study (EPS) performed in children complaining of sudden onset tachycardia with normal non-invasive studies. Methods and results Eighty-two children and teenagers (mean age 15 +/- 3 years) presented with suspected but no documented paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

Are the results of electrophysiological study different in patients with a pre-excitation syndrome, with and without syncope?

Aims: Syncope in Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome may reveal an arrhythmic event or is not WPW syndrome related. The aim of the study is to evaluate the results of electrophysiological study in WPW syndrome according to the presence or not of syncope and the possible causes of syncope.

Methods And Results: Among 518 consecutive patients with diagnosis of WPW syndrome, 71 patients, mean age 34.

Increased sensitivity of electrophysiological study by isoproterenol infusion in unexplained syncope.

Unlabelled: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the interests of electrophysiologic study (EPS) after infusion of isoproterenol in patients with syncope and negative EPS in control state.

Methods: 1350 patients were consecutively admitted for syncope and EPS. Patients were included if they had no history of tachycardia, a normal Holter monitoring, a negative EPS in control state.

Electrophysiologic characteristics of atria in patients without heart disease.

Background: The significance of atrial fibrillation or tachycardia (AF) induction remains debatable. Some believe that the presence of heart disease (HD) increases the sensitivity and decreases the specificity of programmed atrial stimulation (PAS). There are few data in patients without HD.

Paradoxical effect of isoprenaline infusion.

Background: Isoprenaline (isoproterenol) is a beta-adrenergic drug, used to increase the heart rate and, during electrophysiological study, to facilitate the induction of supraventricular (SVT) and ventricular tachycardias (VT). Decrease in heart rate during isoprenaline infusion is a rare phenomenon. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the incidence, the possible mechanisms, and the significance of a paradoxical bradycardia induced by isoprenaline infusion.

Significance of inducible ventricular flutter-fibrillation after myocardial infarction.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with the induction of ventricular flutter/fibrillation (VFl/VF)and its prognostic significance in post-myocardial infarction.

Methods: Programmed ventricular stimulation was performed after myocardial infarction (MI) for syncope (n = 232) or systematically (n = 755); 230 patients had an induced VFl/VF and were followed during 4 +/- 2 years.

Results: VFl/VF was induced in 49/232 patients (21%) with syncope versus 181/755 asymptomatic patients (24%) (NS) and 94/410 patients (23%) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% versus 136/577 patients (22.

Differences in mechanisms and outcomes of syncope in patients with coronary disease or idiopathic left ventricular dysfunction as assessed by electrophysiologic testing.

Objectives: This study evaluated the causes of syncope and the significance and differences in left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, coronary disease, and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Background: Risk stratification of and indications for an automated defibrillator could differ according to the cause of LV dysfunction.

Methods: Electrophysiologic study, including atrial and ventricular programmed stimulation, was performed in 119 patients with coronary disease (group I) and 61 patients with DCM (group II) with an left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% and syncope.

Utility of transesophageal atrial pacing in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with unexplained syncope associated or not with palpitations.

Background: Noninvasive studies are often negative in patients with syncope, normal surface ECG and without heart disease. The purpose of the study was to determine the diagnostic impact of an esophageal electrophysiological study performed during a consultation.

Methods: A total of 154 patients aged from 16 to 87 years were consecutively recruited for unexplained syncope; they had a normal ECG in sinus rhythm, no documented arrhythmia and no patent heart disease.

Influence of age on atrial fibrillation inducibility.

The prevalence of AF is known to increase in the elderly. Some electrophysiological changes were reported in these patients, but the effects of age on AF inducibility and other electrophysiological signs associated with atrial vulnerability are unknown. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of age on atrial vulnerability and AF induction.

Significance of external cardioversion induced atrial tachyarrhythmias.

External cardioversion is used to stop VT or VF in emergency. Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias are sometimes noted after cardioversion in patients known to be previously in sinus rhythm. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the significance of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias induced by external cardioversion.

Causes and prognosis of cardiac arrest in a population admitted to a general hospital; a diagnostic and therapeutic problem.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the causes and the prognosis of consecutive patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest occurring in a general hospital. We assessed 28 females and 94 males (aged 13-82 years) who were resuscitated from cardiac arrest not attributable to acute myocardial infarction. Ventricular fibrillation (VF) was documented in 97.