Right ventricular endomyocardial fibrosis. Diagnosis and management.

The clinical course, noninvasive and invasive diagnostic findings in 4 patients (pt) with endomyocardial fibrosis are reported. All patients (16-50 years) were in functional class III-IV (NYHA). Central venous pressure with large a- and v-waves was elevated in all; liver enlargement and peripheral edema were also noticed in all pts, and ascites in 3.

Constrictive endocarditis. Report of a case with successful surgery.

An 18-year old white youth presented with severe right heart failure and was found to have an obliterated and funnel-shaped right ventricle, massive tricuspid regurgitation, and mitral regurgitation. The haemodynamic findings were those of cardiomyopathy with obliteration on the right side. He underwent surgery consisting of decortication and peeling off of a thickened right ventricular endocardium, tricuspid valve replacement, and mitral valve repair.

Electrophysiologic effects of lidocaine in children.

The effects of intravenous lidocaine on the refractory periods of the atrium, AV node and right ventricular myocardium were studied using His bundle recordings and the extrastimulus technique with and without atrial and ventricular pacing. The drug was administered in an intravenous bolus dose of 1 mg/Kg followed by an infusion of 100 micrograms/Kg/min. The AH, HV intervals and resting sinus cycle length as well as functional and effective refractory periods of atrium, AV node and right ventricle were measured before and 5 min afrer bolus injection of lidocaine.