Prevention of atrial fibrillation by inter-atrial septum pacing guided by electrophysiological testing, in patients with delayed interatrial conduction.

Aims: Interatrial septum (IAS) pacing seems efficient in synchronizing atrial depolarization in patients (pts) with delayed inter-atrial conduction, but its clinical role in preventing atrial tachyarrhythmias is still debated. This study was conducted in order to evaluate the clinical efficacy of IAS pacing guided by pace mapping of the IAS, as an alternative treatment modality in pts with drug refractory paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF).

Methods And Results: We evaluated 29 pts (13 male, 16 female, 60 +/- 11 years), with drug refractory PAF, normal sinus node function and prolonged inter-atrial conduction time (P wave 142 +/- 10 ms).

Modulation of the sympathovagal balance in drug refractory dilated cardiomyopathy, treated with permanent atrioventricular sequential pacing.

The aim of this study was to assess the long term efficacy of DDD pacing mode in selected patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and drug refractory heart failure. The patients were evaluated according to the long term alteration of the sympathovagal balance (SVB). Patients with IDCM were considered eligible for DDD pacing if during temporary VDD pacing a 15% or more increase in the resting cardiac output was demonstrated.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator-an unusual case of inappropriate discharge during showering.

The evolution of diagnostic information provided in implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) has paralleled the advances in the therapeutic options incorporated in these systems. Contemporary devices are capable of providing recordings of electrical events surrounding all delivered and aborted device therapy. This report presents un unusual case of inappropriate discharge of an ICD, resulting from electromagnetic interference.

Ventricular performance and quality of life in patients who underwent radiofrequency AV junction ablation and permanent pacemaker implantation due to medically refractory atrial tachyarrhythmias.

Unlabelled: In patients with drug refractory atrial tachyarrhythmias and previous failed attempts of ablation of the arrhythmia substrate, radiofrequency (RF) modulation or ablation of the atrioventricular (AV) junction is an alternative procedure.

Aim: Of this study was to assess the efficacy and long term results of RF AV junction ablation in conjunction with permanent pacemaker implantation, in the management of patients with drug resistant atrial tachyarrhythmias.

Methods: Between 4/92 and 1/97, 46 patients (30 male, 16 female, 67 +/- 12 years) underwent RF AV junction ablation because of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (24 patients), chronic atrial fibrillation (13 patients), atrial flutter (5 patients) and atrial tachycardia (4 patients).

Atrial septal pacing to synchronize atrial depolarization in patients with delayed interatrial conduction.

The current method of pacing the right atrium from the appendage or free wall is often the source of delayed intraatrial conduction and discoordinate left and right atrial mechanical function. Simultaneous activation of both atria with pacing techniques involving multisite and multilead systems is associated with suppression of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias and improved hemodynamics. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that pacing from a single site of the atrial septum can synchronize atrial depolarization.