[Permanent pacemaker implantation in patients with persistent left superior vena cava and absent right superior vena cava. Report of three cases].

Persistent left superior vena cava and absent right superior vena cava is an uncommon anatomical association. This is a challenging situation for permanent pacemaker implantation. We report three patients with this anomaly and a permanent pacemaker successfully implanted through the left superior vena cava and coronary sinus, without acute or chronic complications.

[A 36 years experience with implantable pacemakers. A historical analysis].

Background: The implantation of pacemakers improves cardiac function and quality of life, in particular with dual chamber DDD and DDDR modes.

Aim: To evaluate our clinical experience and results on pacemaker implantation, from 1963 to 1998.

Material And Methods: Computerized data collected from 2,445 consecutive paced patients was reviewed.

[Aortic valve multiple papillary fibroelastoma complicated with a cerebrovascular accident: Report of one case].

The echocardiographic identification of cardiac tumors as cause of embolic episodes is infrequent, and the finding of multiple papillary fibroelastoma is even less common. We report a 70 years old female with a history of a rheumatic mitral valve lesion, subjected to a commissurotomy in 1970. She was admitted with a cerebrovascular accident and the transesophageal echocardiogram revealed the presence of a multiple papillary fibroelastoma in the aortic valve.

[Selective training of respiratory muscles in patients with chronic heart failure].

Background: Patients with chronic heart failure have a lower inspiratory muscle strength and fatigue endurance.

Aim: To assess the effects of selective training of respiratory muscles in patients with heart failure.

Patients And Methods: Twenty patients with stable chronic heart failure, aged 58.