Variations of heart rate variability parameters prior to the onset of ventricular tachyarrhythmia and sinus tachycardia in ICD patients. Results from the heart rate variability analysis with automated ICDs (HAWAI) registry.

The HAWAI registry evaluated the role of heart rate variability in predicting the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VT/VF) and sinus tachycardia in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (45 patients with 155 RR recordings). A significant decrease of the mean value of all RR intervals (MeanNN) was observed in the period starting 20 and 40 min prior to VT/VF and sinus tachycardia, respectively. The standard deviation of RR intervals (SDNN) and the power at low frequency (LF) were the only parameters with significant changes prior to VT/VF.

Causes of death and heart pathology in pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-def ibrillator patients who died in hospital.

Unlabelled: 83 pacemaker (PM)/14 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) autopsied patients, predominantly males, deceased 4.0±3.0/2.

Histological findings around electrodes in pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients: comparison of steroid-eluting and non-steroid-eluting electrodes.

Aims: To analyse histological findings surrounding the electrodes in pacemaker/implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (PM/ICD) patients. To compare histology around steroid-eluting and non-steroid ventricular pacing electrodes.

Methods And Results: In autopsied PM/ICD patients histopathological findings around the electrodes were determined.

Autopsy and clinical context in deceased patients with implanted pacemakers and defibrillators: intracardiac findings near their leads and electrodes.

Aims: To evaluate intracardiac findings near leads and causes of death in pacemaker/defibrillator patients.

Methods And Results: Special autopsy was performed on 78 patients deceased in a hospital. Age at death was 77.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy. Midterm follow-up of 128 patients.

Objective: Cardiac resynchronization therapy has been used in the treatment of advanced heart failure with inter- and intraventricular dyssynchrony for more than ten years.

Aim Of The Study: A retrospective study was conducted to assess midterm results of biventricular (BiV) pacing in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Methods: 128 consecutive patients (age 61.

Contribution to the V-V interval optimization in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy.

The present study proposed procedure for predicting an optimal left and right ventricular pacing interval delay (V-V interval). In 16 patients (heart failure, left bundle branch block, biventricular pacing) two methods (A and B) identifying optimal V-V interval were tested. Method A: predicted optimal V-V interval A (POVV-A) = electromechanical delay of the segment paced by left ventricle lead minus electromechanical delay of the segment paced by right ventricle lead.

[The electrocardiogram in patients with implanted cardiac pacemakers].

In the submitted review the authors present electrocardiographic record of patients with atrial, ventricular and dual-chamber pacemakers. They also describe specially ECG findings in complications of cardiostimulation. Recommended procedures in these situation: changing pacemaker programme or electric cardioversion or surgical solution--reimplantation of pacemaker generator and/or lead or implantation of second lead.

[Atrial-triggered and ventricular-inhibited ventricular VDD pacing with atrial and ventricular single catheter electrodes--the Phymos MPS pacemaker].

Optimal treatment from the haemodynamic aspect in complete atrioventricular block is dual-chamber DDD pacing. It makes possible atrioventricular sequence and adaptability of the frequency of ventricular pacing to the load under the control of the sinoatrial node. DDD pacing calls, however, for an atrial and ventricular electrode on two leads.

[Cardiac pacing therapy of late intermittent AV block after surgery for tetralogy of Fallot].

Postoperative atrioventricular block may be the cause of early or late death unless diagnosed and treated in time. The authors describe the development of late intermittent complete intraventricular block in an 11-year-old girl with syncope nine years after radical correction of the tetralogy of Fallot. Incomplete trifascicular block was diagnosed by electrophysiological examination of the conduction system four years before the development of complete trifascicular block.

Tip surface changes in endocardial stimulation electrode, visualised by scanning electron microscopy.

The authors have been probably the first investigators who applied scanning electron microscopy to studies of the changes occurring in the surface of the metalic tip of an endocardial stimulating electrode. They found a lowered conductivity for secondary electron emission, and describe the surface changes in a platiniridium-tipped electrode which had been used for almost four years, in comparison with an unused electrode.