Adenosine-sensitive decremental conduction over short non-decremental atrioventricular accessory pathways after radiofrequency ablation: case series.

Introduction: Decremental conduction in short anterograde atrioventricular accessory pathways (AV-APs) is rare.

Case Presentation: We report on two cases with radiofrequency (RF) ablation of anterograde fast non-decremental AV-AP conduction. In Case 1, electrophysiological testing revealed fast non-decremental conduction over an anterograde short right posteroseptal AV-AP.

A Retrograde Transaortic/Transmitral Approach for Radiofrequency Ablation of Adenosine-Sensitive Atrial Tachycardia Arising Near the Apex of Koch's Triangle: A Case Study Approach and Review of the Literature.

Atrial tachycardias (ATs) are relatively uncommon and their mechanisms include reentry or may be focal. The characteristics and radiofrequency (RF) ablation of adenosine-sensitive AT arising near the apex of Koch's triangle have been reported. We report a case of successful RF ablation of this tachycardia by using a retrograde transaortic/transmitral approach.

Coronary computed tomography angiography and endocardial leads - Image quality in 320-row CT using iterative reconstruction.

Purpose: To investigate whether the presence of endocardial leads has an impact on image quality in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA), when current technique is employed using a 320-row computed tomography and iterative reconstruction.

Materials And Methods: CCTA was performed in 1641 patients, from these we identified 51 patients (study group) with endocardial leads and 51 matched partners (control group) without endocardial leads. Noise was determined in the ascending aorta and the left ventricle; signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were determined in the left and right coronary artery.

Nonfluoroscopic Imaging as Guidance for Radiofrequency Ablation of Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia after Mustard Repair.

Most tachycardias in the pulmonary venous atrium are inaccessible by direct means and require either a retrograde approach or a transseptal approach for ablation. We present a case in which successful radiofrequency ablation of common atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia was accomplished via a retrograde transaortic approach guided by nonfluoroscopic mapping with use of the NavX mapping system. The patient was a 49-year-old woman who at the age of 4 years had undergone Mustard repair for complete dextrotransposition of the great arteries.

Radiofrequency ablation of a left lateral atrioventricular accessory pathway in a 13-year-old boy with a criss-cross heart guided by nonfluoroscopic imaging.

We present the first description of successful radiofrequency (RF) ablation of a bidirectional atrioventricular accessory pathway (AP) guided by nonfluoroscopic mapping with use of three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging integrated into the Nav-X system (MRI/Nav-X fusion) in a 13-year-old boy with remote surgical palliation for cyanotic criss-cross heart with atrioventricular discordance, double-outlet right ventricle, and a large ventricular septal defect. Due to complex anatomy, a unique finding was that the eliminated left lateral AP electrically connected the left atrium to the antero-superior morphologic right ventricle prior to ablation.

[Vascular complications of percutaneous transradial coronary angiography and coronary intervention].

Background And Purpose: Vascular complications following transradial coronary angiography and coronary intervention could severely compromise perfusion of the hand. Drastic complications after cannulation of the radial artery (ischemia of the hand with occlusion of the digital arteries) are published only in brief reports. This study investigates whether percutaneous transradial artery coronary angiography/intervention results in vascular complications.

Assessment of left atrial volumes in sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation using the biplane area-length method and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging with TrueFISP.

Objectives: To determine whether the biplane area-length method can be used for the evaluation of left atrial volumes and ejection fraction with cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) by TrueFISP in normal subjects and patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia in elderly patients. Left atrial size and volumes play an important role in predicting short and long-term success after cardioversion.

How reliable is electrocardiography in differentiating transmural from non-transmural myocardial infarction? A study with contrast magnetic resonance imaging as gold standard.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) using contrast enhancement allows exact determination of the site and transmural extent of myocardial infarction (MI). We evaluated whether 12-lead electrocardiography can differentiate transmural from non-transmural MI or determine the site of MI by comparing the findings with those of contrast-enhanced CMR. A total of 27 patients (59.

Single and biplane TrueFISP cardiovascular magnetic resonance for rapid evaluation of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction.

Introduction: Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) allows very accurate, but time-consuming, volume assessment by the short-axis slice summation technique. The single and biplane methods of volume assessment are used less, partly because FLASH cine imaging provides poor blood-myocardium contrast in long-axis views. TrueFISP gives excellent blood-myocardium contrast, even in patients with heart failure.

[Perspectives and limitations in the treatment of vagus-induced atrial fibrillation. Insights from cellular pharmacology].

Background And Purpose: Pharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) is limited by induction of malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Developing new drugs, a promising strategy is a more specific treatment of the atria. Muscarinic potassium current (IK[ACh]) is predominantly expressed in supraventricular tissue and mediates the induction of vagus-induced AF.

Arrhythmias in the intensive care patient.

Purpose Of Review: Atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, AV-nodal reentry tachycardia with rapid ventricular response, atrial ectopic tachycardia, and preexcitation syndromes combined with atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachyarrhythmias are typical arrhythmias in intensive care patients. Most frequently, the diagnosis of the underlying arrhythmia is possible from the physical examination, the response to maneuvers or drugs, and the 12-lead surface electrocardiogram. In all patients with unstable hemodynamics, immediate DC-cardioversion is indicated.

KB130015, a new amiodarone derivative with multiple effects on cardiac ion channels.

KB130015 (KB015), a new drug structurally related to amiodarone, has been proposed to have antiarrhythmic properties. In contrast to amiodarone, KB015 markedly slows the kinetics of inactivation of Na(+) channels by enhancing concentration-dependently (K(0.5) asymptotically equal to 2 microM) a slow-inactivating I(Na) component (tau(slow) asymptotically equal to 50 ms) at the expense of the normal, fast-inactivating component (tau(fast) asymptotically equal to 2 to 3 ms).

Is electrical stimulation during administration of catecholamines required for the evaluation of success after ablation of atrioventricular node re-entrant tachycardias?

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to answer the question of whether stimulation after administration of catecholamines is mandatory for identifying unsuccessful ablations of atrioventricular node re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT).

Background: The success of radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation in AVNRT is confirmed in many centers by noninducibility of tachycardias during stimulation after the administration of catecholamines.

Methods: A total of 131 patients (81 women and 50 men; mean age 53.