Venous obstruction in permanent pacemaker patients: an isotopic study.

Isotope venography was used to study the venous circulation proximal to the superior vena cava in two groups of pacemaker patients, one with a single endocavitary electrode and the other with multiple pacing catheters. A control group of patients without pacemakers was also studied. Numerous abnormalities were found, especially in the group with multiple electrodes.

Superior vena cava stenosis at site of intersection of two pacing electrodes.

Superior vena cava obstruction is described in a patient with two endocardial pacing electrodes. At necropsy a severe stenosis of the venous lumen was found at the site of intersection of the two catheters. There was no evidence of thrombus formation.

[Kinetics of the biliary system (author's transl)].

A dynamic study of the hepato-biliary system was carried out by means of HIDA-99mTc and of a gamma-camera. The study was performed in basal conditions and after administration of a fatty meal. Normal subjects and patients suffering from various diseases of the biliary system were examined.

[Use of a standard radioactive paste in the study of esophago-gastric kinesis (author's transl)].

The behaviour of esophago-gastric kinesis has been studied comparatively by administering BaSO4 and normal food respectively, labelled with 1 mCi of 99mTc-DTPA. The results are discussed and the differences observed are stressed. These confirm the non-physiological nature of the conventional opaque paste employed in X-ray diagnosis.

[Stenosis of superior vena cava at the crossing site of two catheters (author's transl)].

A case of superior vena cava syndrome is described in a patient with two endocardial pacing electrodes. At autopsy a severe stenosis of the venous lumen was found at the crossing site of the two catheters. There was no evidence of thrombus formation.

[The diagnosis of myocardial infarction in the presence of disorders of ventricular activation for right endoventricular pacing and left bundle branch block (author's transl)].

The Authors have studied the vectocardiogram in left bundle branch block, right endoventricular pacing, myocardial infarction and right endoventricular pacing, myocardial infarction and left bundle branch block. Vectocardiographic loop analysis allows the diagnosis of myocardial infarction both in the presence of endoventricular pacing and in the presence of left bundle branch block.

[Measurement of the myocardial stimulation threshold in chronic and acute patients with pacemaker implanted (author's transl)].

Eighty-two patients, with electrodes implanted for varying periods of time, have been divided into three groups: acute (at implantation); intermediate (3 to 36 months) and chronic (37 to 124 months). In these groups, respectively 28, 26 and 28 myocardial stimulation threshold measurements have been performed. Measurements have been performed with MEEMR (Myocardial Excitation Energy Meter), an instrument deviced and built by the Institute of Elaboration of Information, CNR and University of Pisa.

[The Italian experience in permanent pacing. A casuistry for more of 10 years: a policentric study (author's transl)].

According to a recent national survey, 387 patients were treated by permanent pacing in 10 Italian centers, between 1961 and 1966. Of these patients 205 have died; 131 (77 males and 54 females) are still alive and no informations could be obtained for the remaining 51 (13%). The overall survival of patients treated during this period of time is therefore not less than 34% which is comparable to that of general population of the same age group.