Persistent Left Superior Vena Cava in Patients Undergoing Cardiac Device Implantation: Clinical and Long-Term Data.

Background: Persistent left superior vena cava (LSVC) is a rare congenital venous anomaly that may be found at the time of cardiac device lead insertion.

Methods: In this case series, we present clinical and long-term data of five patients with LSVC who underwent pacemaker (PM) or cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation during the period of 10 years.

Results: Left-sided venous approach was used for device implantation in 3 patients with standard PM indications, whereas a right-sided venous approach and an epicardial approach had to be used in 2 patients who needed an ICD and biventricular PM, respectively.

Electrophysiological predictors of propafenone efficacy in prevention of atrioventricular nodal re-entrant and atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia.

Aim: To assess the efficacy of propafenone in prevention of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and orthodromic atrioventricular tachycardia (AVRT) based on the clinical results of arrhythmia recurrence and find the electrophysiological predictor of propafenone effectiveness.

Methods: This retrospective study included 44 participants in a 12-month period, who were divided in two groups: group A - in which propafenone caused complete ventriculo-atrial block and group B - in which propafenone did not cause complete ventriculo-atrial block.

Results: Group A had significantly lower incidence of tachycardia than group B (95% vs 70.

Persistent atrial fibrillation is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with atrioventricular block and dual-chamber pacemaker.

Background: The prognostic significance of development of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with atrioventricular (AV) block and dual chamber (DDD) pacemakers has not been separately investigated. We sought to determine whether persistent AF influences clinical outcome in these patients.

Methods: Three hundred-eight consecutive patients with second- or third-degree AV block and implanted a DDD pacemaker were followed for 36 ± 20 months and retrospectively divided into two groups.

Incidence and predictors of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation in patients older than 70 years with complete atrioventricular block and dual chamber pacemaker implantation.

Aim: To evaluate predictors of asymptomatic atrial fibrillation in patients older than 70 years with complete atrioventricular (AV) block, normal left ventricular systolic function, and implanted dual chamber (DDD) pacemaker.

Methods: Hundred and eighty six patients with complete AV block were admitted over one year to the Sisters of Mercy University Hospital. The study recruited patients older than 70 years, with no history of atrial fibrillation, heart failure, or reduced left ventricular systolic function.

Differential relationship of recent self-reported stress and acute anxiety with divided attention performance.

There have been relatively few studies on the relationship between recent perceived environmental stress and cognitive performance, and the existing studies do not control for state anxiety during the cognitive testing. The current study addressed this need by examining recent self-reported environmental stress and divided attention performance, while controlling for state anxiety. Fifty-four university undergraduates who self-reported a wide range of perceived recent stress (10-item perceived stress scale) completed both single and dual (simultaneous auditory and visual stimuli) continuous performance tests.