Publications by authors named "Emily S Ruckdeschel"
Background: Atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) is a devastating complication in children and young adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), particularly in patients with single ventricle physiology. Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) is a rapidly expanding, minimally invasive option for the treatment of AVVR in adults that avoids the morbidity and mortality associated with open heart surgery. However, application of TEER in in CHD and in children is quite novel.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Atrial arrhythmias and atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) are common causes of morbidity among adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). The impact of rhythm control on AVVR in this population is unknown. We sought to determine whether a rhythm control strategy is associated with greater freedom from AV valve surgery than a rate control strategy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is frequently encountered in patients with repaired and unrepaired congenital heart disease (CHD), causing significant morbidity and sudden cardiac death. Data regarding underlying VT mechanisms and optimal ablation strategies in these patients remain limited.
Objective: To describe the electrophysiologic mechanisms, ablation strategies, and long-term outcomes in patients with CHD undergoing VT ablation.
Article Synopsis
- Modern surgical techniques have greatly improved life expectancy for individuals with congenital heart disease.
- Although congenital pulmonary valve stenosis is less complex than tetralogy of Fallot, both conditions share risks for serious heart issues like ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
- Patients who have had surgery for congenital pulmonary stenosis should be closely monitored for symptoms such as palpitations or fainting due to their increased risk for developing ventricular arrhythmias.
Patients with systemic right ventricles are often not able to tolerate frequent, rapid, or incessant atrial arrhythmias without developing significant symptoms and ventricular dysfunction. Atrial arrhythmias are associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Rhythm disturbances must be aggressively addressed in this population with frequent screening, follow-up, and treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA Case of Cough-induced Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient with a Left Ventricular Assist Device.
Card Electrophysiol Clin
March 2016
In this case, the patient's ventricular tachycardia (VT) was specifically induced by coughing, which has not previously been described. Decreasing the rotational speed of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and increasing preload by stopping the patient's nitrates and reducing diuretic dose allowed improved filling of the left ventricle (LV) and increased LV volumes. When coughing recurred, the effects on the LV cavity were less pronounced and thus VT was reduced.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * SVC triggers are particularly common in patients who have a normal-sized left atrium; addressing these triggers successfully stopped the AF without the need for pulmonary vein isolation.
- * The patient has remained free from AF for three years without any medications or further procedures, suggesting that targeting right-side AF triggers before pursuing pulmonary vein isolation could be a safer strategy for similar complex cases.
Objective: The purpose of this study is to review a series of patients with complex congenital heart disease in whom preprocedural imaging was used to assist placement of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) leads.
Background: CRT may be beneficial in patients with a failing systemic ventricle and transposition of the great arteries (TGA). However, complex coronary venous anatomy can be challenging for placement of CRT leads.