Implantable cardioverter defibrillator in maintenance hemodialysis patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias: a single-center experience.

Patients with hemodialysis (HD) are at risk of death due to cardiac arrhythmias, worsening congestive heart failure (CHF), and noncardiac causes. This study reviews our experience with the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) in patients with ventricular tachycardia who are under maintenance HD. We retrospectively reviewed 71 consecutive patients who underwent an ICD implantation in our hospital.

Right atrial abnormalities in a patient with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy without ventricular tachycardia.

We describe a 59-year-old woman with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). Diagnosis of SSS was made because she had frequent episodes of sinus arrest with prolonged ventricular asystole. Cardiac images showed a dilated right atrium (RA) and a right ventricle (RV).

Delayed pericarditis associated with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation using an active-fixation atrial lead.

A 57-year-old man with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and ventricular tachycardia underwent routine dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. An active-fixation atrial lead was positioned at the lateral wall of the right atrium. He subsequently developed chronic severe pericarditis.

Significance and utility of plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentrations in patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias.

Background: Secretion of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) appears to be regulated mainly by wall tension, and an increase in the plasma BNP concentration is considered to reflect ventricular structural and functional abnormalities. The aim of this study was to clarify the significance and utility of the measurement of the plasma BNP in the setting of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias (I-VT/PVCs).

Methods: This study included 135 patients with symptomatic, monomorphic I-VT/PVCs (73 women; 53 +/- 17 years; 50 ventricular tachycardias [VTs], 85 premature ventricular contractions) who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation.

[Comparison of clinical and angiographic outcomes between S670 and NIR stents].

Objectives: This study evaluated the long-term outcomes of successfully implanted S670 and NIR stents.

Methods: Stents were successfully implanted in 143 patients (148 lesions) aged 65 +/- 9 years from January 1999 to April 2001. Sixty-eight lesions were treated with S670 stents and 80 with NIR stents.