Permanent direct his bundle pacing does not induce ventricular dyssynchrony unlike conventional right ventricular apical pacing. An intrapatient acute comparison study.

Background: Benefits of A-V synchrony during right ventricular apical pacing are neutralized by induction of ventricular dyssynchrony. Only a few data are reported about direct His bundle pacing influence on ventricular synchronism.

Aim: Was to assess the capability of direct His bundle pacing to prevent pacing-induced ventricular dyssynchrony comparing DDD- (or VVI- in case of Atrial Fibrillation) right ventricular apical pacing with DDD- (or VVI-) direct His bundle pacing in the same patients cohort.

[Effect of the sympathetic activation and its inhibition on left ventricular mechanics in mitral prolapse. Echocardiographic study in 35 patients].

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is characterized by arrhythmias, atypical anginal chest pain and left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormalities. The role of autonomic nervous system (ANS) as the origin of these disturbances is still debated. The aim of the study was to determine the possible interference between left ventricle (LV) mechanics and ANS.

[Contrast echocardiography in the diagnosis of tricuspid insufficiency. Evaluation before and after cardiosurgical intervention in 24 patients].

26 patients (pts) (8 males and 18 females), mean age 50 +/- 9 years, with rheumatic valve (MV) disease, candidates to MV replacement, were examined by contrast echocardiography (CE) before and after surgery. This was done in order to assess pre and postoperatively the presence of associated tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and to evaluate the short and long-term results of the operation on the TR itself. For assessing TR, the systolic presence, intensity and persistence of the microbubbles of the contrast medium injected into an antecubital vein, were observed within the inferior vena cava (IVC).