Comparison of pharmacological treatment alone vs. treatment combined with implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in patients older than 75 years.

Aims: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) reduces mortality in selected patients. However, its role in patients older than 75 years is not well established.

Methods And Results: We performed a retrospective, non-randomized study using a historical cohort from a single centre.

Corrigendum to "Regional variations in baseline characteristics of cardiac rhythm device recipients: The PANORAMA observational cohort study" [Int. J. Cardiol. Heart Vessels (2014) 90-96].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.ijchv.

Association between ventricular pacing and persistent atrial fibrillation in patients indicated to elective pacemaker replacement: Results of the Prefer for Elective Replacement MVP (PreFER MVP) randomized study.

Background: Pacing in the right ventricle can cause a variety of detrimental effects, including atrial tachyarrhythmias (atrial tachycardia [AT]/atrial fibrillation [AF]).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and predictors of persistent AT/AF in patients with long-term exposure to ventricular pacing.

Methods: In a multicenter international trial, 605 patients (age 75 ± 11 years, 240 women) referred for replacement of an implanted pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), with a history of high-percentage (>40%) ventricular pacing, were randomly allocated to standard dual-chamber pacing or managed ventricular pacing (MVP), a pacing modality that minimizes ventricular pacing.

Comparison of pharmacological treatment alone versus treatment combined with cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients over 75 years.

Background: The role of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients aged ≥75 years is not well established.

Methods: We identified 607 patients aged ≥75 years with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤35 %, of whom 78 met the guidelines for indication of CRT. Based on the decision of the patients or attending cardiologists, 34 patients received a CRT defibrillator (CRT-D).

Regional variations in baseline characteristics of cardiac rhythm device recipients: The PANORAMA observational cohort study.

Background: The PANORAMA study was designed to collect concurrent data on subjects from different worldwide regions implanted with CRM devices.

Methods: In this prospective, multi-center study, we analyzed baseline data on 8586 subjects implanted with CRM devices with no additional selection criteria (66% pacemaker (IPG), 16% implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD), 17% cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and < 1% Internal Loop Recorder) from 156 hospitals across 6 geographical regions between 2005 and 2011.

Results: Regardless of the device implanted, subjects from the Middle East and India often had more diabetes than other regions.

Managed ventricular pacing compared with conventional dual-chamber pacing for elective replacement in chronically paced patients: results of the Prefer for Elective Replacement Managed Ventricular Pacing randomized study.

Background: Several studies have shown that unnecessary right ventricular pacing has detrimental effects.

Objective: To evaluate whether minimization of ventricular pacing as compared with standard dual-chamber pacing (DDD) improves clinical outcomes in patients referred for pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) replacement.

Methods: In an international single-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial, we compared DDD with managed ventricular pacing (MVP), a pacing mode developed to minimize ventricular pacing by promoting intrinsic atrioventricular conduction.

Hypothermia-induced Brugada-like electrocardiogram pattern.

A patient in whom moderate hypothermia developed after prolonged cardiopulmonary resuscitation is described. Hypothermia was manifested by transient electrocardiogram changes, including long QT, precordial J waves, and downsloping ST-segment elevation ending in a negative T wave in leads V(1) and V(2) resembling the Brugada syndrome. The physiopathologic mechanisms of these electrocardiographic findings are discussed.

Transient Brugada-type electrocardiographic abnormalities in renal failure reversed by dialysis.

The Brugada syndrome (BRS) is a hereditary cardiac condition (characteristically with a gene mutation affecting sodium channel function) identified by an elevated terminal portion of the QRS complex (prominent J wave) followed by a descending ST-segment elevation ending in a negative T wave in the right precordial leads, and malignant tachyarrhythmias in patients without demonstrable structural heart disease. We report a patient with a previous history of epilepsy treated with psychotropic drugs (with a sodium channel blocking effect) and chronic renal failure on haemodialysis who developed hyperkalaemia (6.6 mmol/l) and ECG findings resembling BRS.