Complete atrioventricular block during ablation of atrial flutter.

We report the case of a 51-year-old patient who developed a complete atrioventricular (AV) block during the isthmic radiofrequency catheter ablation of a typical atrial flutter. The cause was an acute occlusion of the segment three of the right coronary artery. His recanalization was associated with the immediate restoration of a normal AV conduction.

Are the results of electrophysiological study different in patients with a pre-excitation syndrome, with and without syncope?

Aims: Syncope in Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome may reveal an arrhythmic event or is not WPW syndrome related. The aim of the study is to evaluate the results of electrophysiological study in WPW syndrome according to the presence or not of syncope and the possible causes of syncope.

Methods And Results: Among 518 consecutive patients with diagnosis of WPW syndrome, 71 patients, mean age 34.

Increased sensitivity of electrophysiological study by isoproterenol infusion in unexplained syncope.

Unlabelled: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the interests of electrophysiologic study (EPS) after infusion of isoproterenol in patients with syncope and negative EPS in control state.

Methods: 1350 patients were consecutively admitted for syncope and EPS. Patients were included if they had no history of tachycardia, a normal Holter monitoring, a negative EPS in control state.

Electrophysiologic characteristics of atria in patients without heart disease.

Background: The significance of atrial fibrillation or tachycardia (AF) induction remains debatable. Some believe that the presence of heart disease (HD) increases the sensitivity and decreases the specificity of programmed atrial stimulation (PAS). There are few data in patients without HD.

Paradoxical effect of isoprenaline infusion.

Background: Isoprenaline (isoproterenol) is a beta-adrenergic drug, used to increase the heart rate and, during electrophysiological study, to facilitate the induction of supraventricular (SVT) and ventricular tachycardias (VT). Decrease in heart rate during isoprenaline infusion is a rare phenomenon. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the incidence, the possible mechanisms, and the significance of a paradoxical bradycardia induced by isoprenaline infusion.

Significance of inducible ventricular flutter-fibrillation after myocardial infarction.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the factors associated with the induction of ventricular flutter/fibrillation (VFl/VF)and its prognostic significance in post-myocardial infarction.

Methods: Programmed ventricular stimulation was performed after myocardial infarction (MI) for syncope (n = 232) or systematically (n = 755); 230 patients had an induced VFl/VF and were followed during 4 +/- 2 years.

Results: VFl/VF was induced in 49/232 patients (21%) with syncope versus 181/755 asymptomatic patients (24%) (NS) and 94/410 patients (23%) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% versus 136/577 patients (22.

Differences in mechanisms and outcomes of syncope in patients with coronary disease or idiopathic left ventricular dysfunction as assessed by electrophysiologic testing.

Objectives: This study evaluated the causes of syncope and the significance and differences in left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, coronary disease, and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Background: Risk stratification of and indications for an automated defibrillator could differ according to the cause of LV dysfunction.

Methods: Electrophysiologic study, including atrial and ventricular programmed stimulation, was performed in 119 patients with coronary disease (group I) and 61 patients with DCM (group II) with an left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <40% and syncope.

Absence of change of signal-averaged electrocardiogram identifies patients with ventricular arrhythmias who are non-responders to amiodarone.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the ability of a non-invasive study, the signal-averaged ECG (SAECG), to predict the effect of amiodarone at ventricular level.

Background: Amiodarone is the main drug drug used in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias. Standard ECG does not detect any change in QRS complex resulting from amiodarone therapy.