Efficacy and safety of flecainide acetate for atrial tachycardia or fibrillation.

Thirty-nine patients with symptomatic ectopic atrial tachycardia (9 paroxysmal, of which 5 were incessant) and atrial fibrillation (AF) (25 paroxysmal, 5 chronic) were treated with oral flecainide acetate (100 to 400 mg/day). Thirty-two patients had organic heart disease (16 coronary artery disease, 6 valvular, 10 cardiomyopathy, 7 primary electrical abnormality). Previous antiarrhythmic trials consisted of 0 to 5 drugs (mean 2.

Effects of isosorbide dinitrate on rheumatic and non-rheumatic mitral regurgitation.

Isosorbide dinitrate was given to seven patients with isolated mitral regurgitation (three cases of rheumatic origin, four non-rheumatic) to assess its hemodynamic effects. The pulmonary capillary pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic volume index, and the aortic pressure were all significantly reduced. The heart rate was significantly increased, while the systemic vascular resistance and the left ventricular contractility index were unchanged.

Multiple pulmonary artery aneurysms. New use for magnetic resonance imaging.

The first patient in whom multiple pulmonary artery aneurysms were detected by magnetic resonance imaging is described. The patient was successfully treated with surgery.

Aortic root abscess. Initial experience using magnetic resonance imaging.

The detection of aortic root abscess by magnetic resonance imaging has not been described previously. We report a patient with an aortic root abscess that was successfully diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography. Computed tomography failed to detect the abscess.

Accelerated junctional rhythms during oral verapamil therapy.

This study examined the frequency of atrioventricular (AV) dissociation and accelerated junctional rhythms in 59 patients receiving oral verapamil. Accelerated junctional rhythms and AV dissociation were frequent in patients with supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, particularly AV nodal reentry. Verapamil administration to these patients led to an asymptomatic increase in activity of these junctional pacemakers.