Patient perspective and safety of remote monitoring of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in the Polish Nationwide Multicenter Registry: the Medtronic CareLink network evaluation.

Background: Remote monitoring of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices allows the assessment of system effectiveness, arrhythmia occurrence, and indirectly, clinical changes. Medical interventions can be performed earlier because of a faster transfer of information to the monitoring site, even in the case of asymptomatic arrhythmias or abnormalities in the operation of the system.

Aims: The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of remote monitoring of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators and evaluation in an outpatient setting during 12-month follow -up.

Heart rate variability in the course of ST--segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in elderly and younger patients.

Background: The aim of the study was to appraise time domain heart rate variability (HRV) parameters in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in different age groups.

Material And Methods: Retrospective analysis included 357 consecutive patients in sinus rhythm without diabetes, aged 27-87 years (mean age--63.0 +/- 11.

Effects of biventricular pacing on right ventricular function assessed by standard echocardiography.

Background And Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the short term effect of cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) on right ventricular (RV) function assessed by standard echocardiography.

Methods: Data from 57 patients (54 men, 95%; three women, 5%), aged 66.4 ± 8.

Baseline tissue Doppler imaging-derived echocardiographic parameters and left ventricle reverse remodelling following cardiac resynchronization therapy introduction.

Introduction: The aim of the study was to assess the relation of baseline mechanical dyssynchrony with the left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) decrease following cardiac resynchronization (CRT) therapy introduction.

Material And Methods: Sixty consecutive patients (aged 66.3 ± 8.

[Cryoablation of ventricular arrhythmias originating from septal aspects of mitral and tricuspid annulus].

Two cases of frequent ventricular ectopy are described. Case one: a 49 year-old woman with post myocarditis extrasytoles (34 000/24 h). The ectopic focus was located on the tricuspid annulus - directly in the area of largest and sharpest His bundle potential and where direct His bundle capture was observed during all pace mapping attempts.

Clinical and classic echocardiographic features of patients with, and without, left ventricle reverse remodeling following the introduction of cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: The aim of the study was to assess clinical and classic echocardiographic data in patients with different cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) outcomes.

Methods: Sixty consecutive patients (aged 66.3 ± 8.

Left ventricular lead implantation at a phrenic stimulation site is safe and effective.

Aims: Phrenic stimulation (PS) is a major limiting factor for both left ventricular (LV) lead placement and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) delivery. We have developed a protocol allowing for LV lead implantation at a PS site based on specific criteria regarding phrenic and LV acute capture thresholds. The present study examined long-term outcomes in patients treated using this protocol.

[Inappropriate sinus tachycardia - non-contact mapping and ablation].

Two cases of inappropriate sinus tachycardia refractory to combined pharmacotherapy (beta-blocker, ivabradine) are described. Both were female patients (28 and 45 years-old) and underwent sinus node modification/ablation using non-contact mapping (EnSite Array). Since ablation had to be performed in both cases very close to the phrenic nerve (captured during 10V pacing at ablation spots) its function was monitored during ablation with constant phrenic nerve pacing from the superior vena cava.

Effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy on sleep apnea, quality of sleep and daytime sleepiness in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Sleep-related breathing disorders are common in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and contribute to exacerbation of CHF. The effects of biventricular stimulation (CRT) seem to exceed the improvement of mechanical heart performance and are likely to affect other aspects of CHF pathophysiology. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of CRT on subjective and objective sleep features.

Prospective evaluation of diagnostic work-up in syncope patients: results of the PL-US registry.

Aims: Syncope is a common problem. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients admitted to different types of centres may vary, physician's adherence to the guidelines has been examined only in a few studies, and the requirements for implantable loop recorders (ILR) have not been well defined. The aim of this study was to (i) compare demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with syncope diagnosed and treated in tertiary electrophysiology cardiac centres and those attending syncope units or general hospitals, (ii) assess how physicians adhere to the published guidelines, and (iii) calculate the requirement for ILR insertion.

Different response rates to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) according to the applied definition.

Background: Solid evidence shows that cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves prognosis, physical capacity and quality of life in selected groups of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Nonetheless, marked percentage of patients seem not to benefit from CRT.

Material And Methods: Sixty consecutive patients (aged 66.

Repetitive monomorphic ventricular tachycardia originating from the inferior tricuspid annulus.

We report a case of an otherwise healthy 63-year-old male with incessant, highly symptomatic ventricular arrhythmia that displayed over 60,000 premature ventricular contractions and 499 runs of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) during 24 hours of ECG monitoring. The ventricular ectopy had a QRS morphology of the left bundle branch block (LBBB), however, with a superior axis. Structural heart disease was absent and the history was negative.

[Variant Brugada syndrome--mild ST segment elevation in inferior leads and aborted sudden cardiac death].

We describe a case of an otherwise healthy 48-year-old man who survived aborted sudden cardiac death (SCD). His ECG showed ST segment elevation in inferior leads, therefore an acute coronary syndrome was suspected. However, serial troponin T and CPK-MB were negative, echocardiogram was unremarkable and exercise test was negative.

[Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia triggering atrial fibrillation--a case report].

We describe a case of an otherwise healthy 50-year-old man with frequent attacks of heart palpitations. During electrophysiological study two episodes of atrial fibrillation (AF) were induced. In both cases AF was preceded by a few seconds of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT).

Physical training in patients with chronic heart failure of ischemic origin: effect on exercise capacity and left ventricular remodeling.

Background: Physical training is a well-known complementary treatment for chronic heart failure (CHF); however, many aspects require further studies. One of them is the impact on remodeling of the left ventricle (LV). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 6 months of training on LV, exercise capacity and safety issues in patients with ischemic CHF.

Electrophysiological study in a patient with Fabry disease and a short PQ interval.

A short PQ interval is a common finding in patients with Fabry disease. However, there have been few electrophysiological studies in Fabry disease, and it is not clear whether the short PQ interval that is present in this disease results from preexcitation or enhanced atrioventricular nodal conduction. We present a case of a 43-year-old man with syncope, sick sinus syndrome, a PQ interval of 80 ms, and palpitations.

[Massive myocardial hypertrophy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a risk factor for sudden death and high defibrillation threshold during cardioverter-defibrillator implantation].

Two cases of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with massive hypertrophy and high defibrillation threshold (DFT) are described. A 14-year-old boy, whose single risk factor for sudden death was extreme hypertrophy with maximum interventricular septum (IVS) thickness of 43 mm, survived an episode of ventricular fibrillation. During ICD implantation DFT testing showed energy requirements >30 J and the procedure was aborted.

Effect of physical training on quality of life and oxygen consumption in patients with congestive heart failure.

Aim: To assess changes in quality of life (QoL) and oxygen consumption produced by two different patterns of physical training in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).

Material And Methods: 42 men (mean age 55.9+/-8.

[Heart rate variability and blood pressure variability in patients with heart failure undergoing cardiac rehabilitation].

Background: Autonomic nervous system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic heart failure (CHF). Increasing sympathetic nervous activity and decreasing parasymphatetic activity has been observed in the course of CHF. Physical training modulates the activity of the autonomic nervous system and restores the sympathovagal balance, hence it may improve the prognosis in CHF.

[Radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia and preexcitation syndrome].

Radiofrequency ablation is a standard tool for treatment of cardiac arrhythmias. It is most frequently performed in patients with nodal tachycardia, atrial flutter, and accessory atrioventricular pathway. The site for effective ablation is selected using an anatomical or electrophysiological method or both.

[Cardiopulmonary exercise test and heart rate variability in patients with congestive heart failure who underwent physical rehabilitation].

Physical rehabilitation of patients with heart diseases is a well-known therapeutical method used in patients with heart failure. However there is no consensus regarding rehabilitation program for these patients. The aim of this study was to assess tolerance of physical exercise and parameters of heart rate variability in patients with chronic heart failure who were exercised using different models of training.

Comparison of dual-chamber pacing with nonsurgical septal reduction effect in patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to compare the influence of dual-chamber pacing vs. nonsurgical septal reduction on hemodynamic and morphological parameters in patients with obstructive form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Methods: Nineteen patients with dual-chamber pacing (group I) and 9 patients who underwent nonsurgical septal reduction (group II) were studied at baseline and after a 6-month follow-up.

Early and late changes in myocardial function and heart rate variability in patients after myocardial revascularisation.

Background: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of myocardial revascularisation and associated improvement of left ventricular systolic function on heart rate variability in patients after myocardial infarction.

Material And Methods: The study population consisted of 35 patients, who within the previous 6 months had suffered from myocardial infarction and in whom low dose dobutamine ventriculography revealed hibernating myocardium, whereas coronary angiography provided indications to revascularisation. CABG was performed in 22 patients, PTCA of the infarct-related artery in 13 patients.