Brugada syndrome: Eligibility for subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator after exercise stress test.

Introduction: Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a channelopathy associated with ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. In patients at high risk of sudden death, an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is indicated. Subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (S-ICDs) are an alternative to transvenous systems, with reduced risk of infection and complications associated with system extraction or explantation.

Importance of cardiac implantable eletronic devices in the diagnosis of Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Introduction: Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) is a prevalent respiratory disease with marked expression in the population with cardiovascular disease. The diagnosis is based on polysomnography. In patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED), the prevalence of SAS may reach 60%.

RIVER: Portuguese registry to monitor unnecessary right ventricular pacing.

The aim of this prospective registry is to evaluate a new algorithm designed to reduce the percentage of unnecessary ventricular pacing (%VP) in patients implanted with a dual-chamber pacemaker, through a dedicated pacing mode (called AAISafeR2) operating in AAI mode with back-up ventricular pacing in DDD mode, and to describe the incidence and distribution of atrioventricular (AV) block in this population. Investigators were free to assign patients to AAISafeR2 mode or to standard DDD (if AAISafeR was contraindicated, mainly due to permanent high-degree AV block). Patients underwent routine follow-up visits at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months after implantation.

Use of an implantable loop recorder: initial experience.

Objective: Retrospective analysis of the initial experience at our department with an implantable loop recorder (ILR) for the evaluation of patients with recurrent syncope, palpitations or dizziness.

Methods: We studied ten patients aged 31-65 (52.3) years referred to our center after an inconclusive evaluation that included ECG, Holter monitoring, events recorder, stress test, echocardiogram and electrophysiological study.