Detection of the defibrillation threshold using the upper limit of vulnerability following defibrillator implantation.

Objective: This study was designed to test defibrillation threshold (DFT) with the least number of fibrillation inductions using upper limit of vulnerability (ULV) and to describe the most practical set of ICD during DFT following implantation.

Background: Although the correlation between ULV and DFT has been well described, there has been no uniform DFT testing protocol taking the advantage of ULV after defibrillator (ICD) implantation.

Methods: A total of 26 patients undergoing a new ICD implantation had a DFT induced with scanned T wave shock.

Ebstein's anomaly in siblings: an original observation.

Siblings, a 26-year old male and a 31-year old female, were found do have Ebstein's anomaly. Ebstein's anomaly is characterized by a downward displacement of the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle due to anomalous attachment of the tricuspid leaflets. Echocardiography is the method of choice to diagnose Ebstein's anomaly on its own or in association with other heart defects.

Case of Biatrial Thrombosis.

A 52-year-old woman was admitted with the complaint of dyspnea that was present at rest and lasted a few hours. On bedside echocardiography, multiple small thrombus formations were detected in the right atrium under the tricuspid valve. Similar thrombus formation was detected in the left atrium.