Distinct spectral dynamics of implanted cardiac defibrillator signals in spontaneous termination of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation in patients with electrical and structural diseases.

Aims: To determine the spectral dynamics of early spontaneous polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation (PVT/VF) in humans.

Methods And Results: Fifty-eight self-terminated and 173 shock-terminated episodes of spontaneously initiated PVT/VF recorded by Medtronic implanted cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) in 87 patients with various cardiac pathologies were analyzed by short fast Fourier transform of shifting segments to determine the dynamics of dominant frequency (DF) and regularity index (RI). The progression in the intensity of DF and RI accumulations further quantified the time course of spectral characteristics of the episodes.

Panoramic Endocardial Optical Mapping Demonstrates Serial Rotors Acceleration and Increasing Complexity of Activity During Onset of Cholinergic Atrial Fibrillation.

Background Activation during onset of atrial fibrillation is poorly understood. We aimed at developing a panoramic optical mapping system for the atria and test the hypothesis that sequential rotors underlie acceleration of atrial fibrillation during onset. Methods and Results Five sheep hearts were Langendorff perfused in the presence of 0.

NT-proBNP levels in preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction as well as in the prediction on an imminent delivery.

Objectives: Studies of cardiovascular function in pregnancy have shown inconsistent and, in some cases, contradictory results, particularly regarding cardiac output. While some studies report preeclampsia associated with high cardiac output, other studies suggest that preeclampsia should be further subdivided into women with high or low cardiac output. This study was conducted to examine the NT-proBNP levels in preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and hypertensive pregnancies without preeclampsia.

The clinical impact of untreated slow ventricular tachycardia in patients carrying implantable cardiac defibrillators.

Introduction: The clinical impact of slow ventricular tachycardia (VT), occurring in patients carrying implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD), is still under debate.

Methods And Results: From the UMBRELLA registry (multicenter, observational, and prospective study on patients with ICD), 659 episodes of slow VT were observed in 97 patients. Untreated slow VT (n = 93) had longer duration (23.

Congenital long QT syndrome: Should citric fruits be avoided? A case report of a cLQTS type 1 with unusual QTc prolongation with citric juices.

Congenital long QT syndromes (cLQTS) are relatively rare diseases in which QT interval is prolonged due to several mutations on ion channels involved in cardiac cell repolarization. This condition confers higher risk of malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, and it is widely accepted that substances that prolong QT interval should be avoided by these patients. Most of these substances are antibiotics and non-antibiotics drugs, but almost nothing is known about frequently consumed fruits and juices.

Spectral Analysis of the QT Interval Increases the Prediction Accuracy of Clinical Variables in Brugada Syndrome.

(1) Background: The clinical management of Brugada Syndrome (BrS) remains suboptimal. (2) Objective: To explore the role of standard electrocardiogram (ECG) spectral analysis in diagnosis and risk stratification. (3) Methods: We analyzed 337 patients-43 with a spontaneous type I ECG pattern (Spont-BrS), 112 drug induced (Induct-BrS), and 182 with a negative response to the drug challenge (negative responders (NR)).

The QT Interval Dynamic in a Human Experimental Model of Controlled Heart Rate and QRS Widening.

there is increasing interest for computing corrected QT intervals in patients with prolonged depolarization. We aimed to analyze the effect of prolonged QRS in the QT and in the diagnostic accuracy of frequency-correction. in 28 patients admitted for self-expanding aortic valve implantation, sequential pacing was performed in the AAI mode in two different phases: before and immediately after the release of the prosthesis.

Insights for Stratification of Risk in Brugada Syndrome.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited disease with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, testing identifies genetic disorders in only 20-30% of patients analysed, indicating a gap in knowledge of its genetic aetiology. Diagnosis relies on ECG, and risk stratification in BrS patients is challenging, primarily because of the complexity of the issue.

Analysis of early failure of Biotronik Linox Smart implantable cardioverter-defibrillator leads: A comparative study of three defibrillator leads.

Background And Objectives: Early failure of Biotronik Linox and Linox Smart leads (Biotronik, Berlin, Germany) has been reported in numerous recent publications. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of this lead compared with that of two other contemporary leads.

Methods: We conducted an ambispective study of all consecutive first implantations of defibrillator leads carried out in our center: Endotak (model 148, 158, Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA, USA) (n = 173), Sprint Quattro (model 6644, 6947, Medtronic, Dublin, Ireland) (n = 145), and Linox Smart (Biotronik, model SD 65/16) (n = 120).

Analysis of the High-Frequency Content in Human QRS Complexes by the Continuous Wavelet Transform: An Automatized Analysis for the Prediction of Sudden Cardiac Death.

Background: Fragmentation and delayed potentials in the QRS signal of patients have been postulated as risk markers for Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). The analysis of the high-frequency spectral content may be useful for quantification.

Methods: Forty-two consecutive patients with prior history of SCD or malignant arrhythmias (patients) where compared with 120 healthy individuals (controls).

The Prevalence of Patient-Prosthesis Mismatch Can Be Reduced Using the Trifecta Aortic Prosthesis.

Background: Some important studies have shown that patient-prosthesis mismatch is a frequent occurrence after surgical aortic valve replacement that impairs survival. The Trifecta valve (St. Jude Medical Inc, St.

Anomalous right coronary artery origin with interarterial pathway-importance of morphological origin assessment and the role of percutaneous interventionism.

Anomalies in coronary arteries (CA) are an important issue in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery. Specifically the anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) is of special importance because it is the most frequent anomaly. Clinical practice guidelines recommend the revascularization treatment in cases of interarterial pathway and documented myocardial ischemia and when hypoplasia, compression or obstruction is evident.

Response to Survivors of Aortic Dissection: Activity, Mental Health, and Sexual Function; and Exercise and Physical Activity for the Post-Aortic Dissection Patient: The Clinician's Conundrum.

Chaddha A et al. Clin Cardiol. 2015;38:652-659.