Prognostic Value of J (Osborn) Waves on Surface Electrocardiogram Tracing during Therapeutic Hypothermia in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Survivors (JOW trial).

Background: Patients admitted to the hospital after successful resuscitation from sudden cardiac death (SCD) are treated with therapeutic hypothermia (TH) to facilitate brain preservation. The prognostic significance of J (Osborn) waves (JOW) in the 12 leads electrocardiogram in this setting has not been elucidated as yet.

Objectives: To ascertain retrospectively the prognostic significance of JOW recorded during TH in SCD survivors.

Developing a risk score to predict mortality in the first year after implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation: Data from the Israeli ICD Registry.

Introduction: Life expectancy of less than 1 year is usually a contraindication for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. The aim was to identify patients at risk of death during the first year after implantation.

Methods And Results: Data were derived from a prospective Israeli ICD Registry.

Long-Term Survival of Discharged Patients Admitted to Intensive Coronary Care Unit after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Background: Survival of patients who were discharged from the hospital following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has not been well defined.

Objectives: To verify predictor variables for prognosis of patients following OHCA who survived hospitalization.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical, demographic, and outcome data of consecutive patients who were hospitalized from January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2014, into the intensive coronary care unit (ICCU) after aborted OHCA and discharged alive.

Azithromycin is not associated with QT prolongation in hospitalized patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Purpose: Large data-based studies have reported excess cardiovascular mortality in high-risk patients treated with azithromycin, but whether or not azithromycin causes QT prolongation remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of azithromycin treatment on QT prolongation in a cohort of patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) METHODS: One-hundred twenty-two hospitalized patients with CAP were enrolled in the study. We compared the baseline QTc, with daily post antibiotic QTc.

[TRENDS OF PERMANENT PACEMAKER IMPLANTATION IN A SINGLE CENTER OVER A 20-YEAR PERIOD].

Aims: To review the changes in permanent pacemaker implantation indications, pacing modes and patients' demographics over a 20-year period.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively retrieved data on patients who underwent first implantation of the pacemaker between 1-1-1991 and 31-12-2010. One thousand and nine (1,009) patients underwent a first pacemaker implantation during that period; 535 were men (53%), their mean age was 74.

[Ventricular fibrillation following hyperventilation and apneic underwater swimming].

This is a case study of an 18 years old boy who lost consciousness during apneic underwater swimming. When cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated ventricular fibrillation was seen on cardiac monitoring. Bradycardia, atrial and ventricular premature beats are a known response to hyperventilation and apneic underwater diving.

Bivalirudin versus Unfractionated Heparin during Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Patients at High Risk for Bleeding.

Low/medium-bleeding-risk populations undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) show significantly less bleeding with bivalirudin (BIV) than with unfractionated heparin (UFH), but this has not been established for high-risk patients. We performed a randomized double-blind prospective trial comparing efficacy and safety of BIV versus UFH combined with dual antiplatelet therapy during PCI among 100 high-risk patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) or angina pectoris. The baseline characteristics were similar in both treatment arms.

Permanent pacing in nonagenarians over 20-year period.

Introduction: Life expectancy increases progressively and nonagenarians are a growing population. We report trends in pacing and long-term outcome in nonagenarians over a 20-year period in a single center compared with those of younger patients.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all the patients who underwent their first pacemaker implantation from January 1, 1991 to December 31, 2010 and were followed through December 31, 2013.

Renal dysfunction and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing ICD and CRTD implantation: data from the Israeli ICD registry.

Background: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduce mortality in patients with heart failure (HF) and left ventricular dysfunction. However, their efficacy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is controversial.

Objective: We examined the association between renal dysfunction and clinical outcomes in patients undergoing ICD and CRT defibrillator (CRTD) implantation.

Axillary vein puncture without contrast venography for pacemaker and defibrillator leads implantation.

Background: Axillary vein puncture has been demonstrated to be an effective method for pacemaker and defibrillator leads implantation, without the complications encountered with the standard intrathoracic approach.

Objective: Different techniques have been adopted for the cannulation of the axillary vein. We report our experience using the outer edge of the first rib below the inferior border of the clavicle as fluoroscopic landmark.

Supraclavicular vein approach to overcoming ipsilateral chronic subclavian vein obstruction during pacemaker-ICD lead revision or upgrading.

Aims: We report our experience with the supraclavicular vein approach of subclavian vein puncture to overcome ipsilateral chronic obstruction when implanting pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator leads.

Methods And Results: The subclavian vein obstruction was documented by venography. The skin was punctured with an 18-gauge needle, 1 cm lateral to the lateral head of the sternocleidomastoid muscle and 1 cm cranial to the clavicle.

Supraclavicular vein approach for upgrading an implantable cardioverter defibrillator to a biventricular device.

Total occlusion of the left subclavian vein was found in a 52-year-old patient, 5 years after implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). During replacement, the ICD was upgraded to a biventricular device for worsening of the patient's congestive heart failure to New York Heart Association class III. Insertion of the left ventricular lead in the ipsilateral vein system was successfully achieved by using the supraclavicular approach, enabling puncturing of the left subclavian vein medially to the obstruction.

Pacing and defibrillation lead exchange without vein puncture.

Background: During lead implantation, venous access is generally achieved by puncturing the subclavian or axillary vein. Sometimes, although rarely, after lead positioning, the lead must be changed because of its inadequate mechanical stability or poor pacing parameters. This report concerns a technique of lead exchange that avoids an additional vein puncture.

Implantation of a resynchronization implantable cardioverter defibrillator in a patient with persistent left superior vena cava.

Implantation of resynchronization implantable cardioverter defibrillator was performed in a patient with persistent left superior vena cava. A dual coil defibrillation lead was inserted in the right ventricle apex via a small innominate vein. Left ventricular and atrial leads were implanted through persistent left superior vena cava.

[Biphasic versus monophasic shock waveforms for transthoracic cardioversion of atrial flutter in the emergency room].

Unlabelled: Transthoracic electrical cardioversion (ECV), traditionally using monophasic waveform (MW) shock, has an important role in the treatment of symptomatic atrial flutter (AFI). Biphasic waveform (BW) shock has been demonstrated to be more successful than MW shock for termination of atrial fibrillation, but data about its use for ECV of AFI are limited.

Methods And Results: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 53 patients (pts) admitted -to the ER due to symptomatic AFl during the period August 2004 to August 2005: 31 pts received BW shock and 22 pts MW shock.

Endocardial ventricular pacing through a bioprosthetic tricuspid valve.

A patient with bioprosthetic tricuspid valve was treated with ventricular endocardial pacing using a new delivery system consisting of a steerable catheter and a 4.1 F bipolar, fixed-screw, steroid eluting lead. The functioning of the lead and bioprosthetic tricuspid valve was excellent during the following year.

[Intravenous flecainide administration for conversion of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in the emergency room].

Introduction: Since the removal of intravenous propafenone from the Israeli market, flecainide is the only intravenous antiarrhythmic class 1C drug available nowadays in Israel.

Aim: The study aimed to report our experience of intravenous flecainide administration in the treatment of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) in the Emergency Room (ER).

Methods: Patients with AF lasting > 1 hour and <48 hour duration were considered possible candidates for entry into the study.

Torsade de pointes in patients on chronic amiodarone treatment: contributing factors and drug interactions.

Background: Torsade de pointes is rarely associated with chronic amiodarone treatment, despite the effect of amiodarone on QT interval prolongation.

Objective: To identify risk factors and associated conditions that may cause TdP in patients on chronic amiodarone treatment.

Methods: We reviewed the data of six consecutive patients on chronic amiodarone treatment who were admitted to the intensive cardiac care unit due to syncope and TdP.