Arrhythmia monitoring and outcome after myocardial infarction (BIO|GUARD-MI): a randomized trial.

Objectives: Cardiac arrhythmias predict poor outcome after myocardial infarction (MI). We studied if arrhythmia monitoring with an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) can improve treatment and outcome.

Design: BIO|GUARD-MI was a randomized, international open-label study with blinded outcome assessment.

Anterior-Lateral Versus Anterior-Posterior Electrode Position for Cardioverting Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Smaller randomized studies have reported conflicting results regarding the optimal electrode position for cardioverting atrial fibrillation. However, anterior-posterior electrode positioning is widely used as a standard and believed to be superior to anterior-lateral electrode positioning. Therefore, we aimed to compare anterior-lateral and anterior-posterior electrode positioning for cardioverting atrial fibrillation in a multicenter randomized trial.

[Dizziness in patients with heart disease].

In patients with heart disease, dizziness is primarily associated with syncope or pre-syncope and mandates further investigation to obtain a specific diagnosis, estimation of risk of sudden death and treatment options. After a focused history and physical examination, the cause of the problem may be determined in more than half of the patients. The reflex syncope is by far the most common form and may usually be handled by reassurance of the benign nature of the problem.

Heart failure in patients with sick sinus syndrome treated with single lead atrial or dual-chamber pacing: no association with pacing mode or right ventricular pacing site.

Aims: Previous studies indicate that ventricular pacing may precipitate heart failure (HF). We investigated occurrence of HF during long-term follow-up among patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) randomized to AAIR or DDDR pacing. Furthermore, we investigated effects of percentage of ventricular pacing (%VP) and pacing site in the ventricle.

Atrial fibrillation in patients with sick sinus syndrome: the association with PQ-interval and percentage of ventricular pacing.

Aims: In the recently published DANPACE trial, incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) was significantly higher with single-lead atrial (AAIR) pacing than with dual-chamber (DDDR) pacing. The present analysis aimed to evaluate the importance of baseline PQ-interval and percentage of ventricular pacing (VP) on AF.

Methods And Results: We analysed data on AF during follow-up in 1415 patients included in the DANPACE trial.

A comparison of single-lead atrial pacing with dual-chamber pacing in sick sinus syndrome.

Aims: In patients with sick sinus syndrome, bradycardia can be treated with a single-lead pacemaker or a dual-chamber pacemaker. Previous trials have revealed that pacing modes preserving atrio-ventricular synchrony are superior to single-lead ventricular pacing, but it remains unclear if there is any difference between single-lead atrial pacing (AAIR) and dual-chamber pacing (DDDR).

Methods And Results: We randomly assigned 1415 patients referred for first pacemaker implantation to AAIR (n = 707) or DDDR (n = 708) pacing and followed them for a mean of 5.

Routine transradial coronary angiography in unselected patients.

Objectives: To measure and compare the results of changing from routine transfemoral to routine transradial coronary angiography performed by a single operator.

Design: A learning period of 3 months for the transradial procedure with 43 selected patients was followed by a 12-month routine period with 243 unselected patients. The success and complication rates, contrast volumes, catheter and X-ray times were measured and compared to results of a preceding period where the transfemoral approach was used.

Sinus and paced P wave duration and dispersion as predictors of atrial fibrillation after pacemaker implantation in patients with isolated sick sinus syndrome.

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the sinus and the paced P wave duration and dispersion as predictors of AF after pacemaker implantation in patients with isolated sick sinus syndrome (SSS). The study included 109 (69 women, mean age 72 +/- 11 years) patients with SSS, 59 with bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome (BTS). A 12-lead ECG was recorded before pacemaker implantation and during high right atrial and septal right atrial pacing at 70 and 100 beats/min.