Improving the acceptability of the atrial defibrillator for the treatment of persistent atrial fibrillation: the atrial defibrillator sedation assessment study (ADSAS).

Background: To compare the acceptability and effectiveness of three pre-medication regimens for manually activated cardioversion of recurrent persistent atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Eighteen patients implanted with the Jewel AF atrial defibrillator for drug-resistant persistent atrial fibrillation only were studied in an open-labelled randomised crossover study. Patients were assigned to sedation (S) with midazolam elixir, analgesia (A) with morphine sulphate or combination therapy (C) with dextromoramide and lorazepam.

Long-term care of the patient with the atrial defibrillator.

With an aging population, atrial fibrillation is becoming an increasingly common cause of hospital admission. Patients with recurrent, symptomatic persistent atrial fibrillation often require repeated admissions to the hospital for cardioversion. The development of the atrial defibrillator has empowered such patients to take charge of their condition and perform cardioversion on themselves at home.

Circadian variation of arrhythmia onset patterns in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: The circadian onset patterns and cycle lengths of atrial tachyarrhythmias (AT) were determined in a group of patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Methods: Fifteen patients, mean age 63 +/- 14 years and 80% male, were implanted with the Jewel AF atrial defibrillator (Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minn) for persistent atrial fibrillation only. Onset times of AT and median onset atrial cycle lengths were determined from device memory.

Psychosocial aspects of patient-activated atrial defibrillation.

Unlabelled: Atrial Defibrillator.

Introduction: The atrial defibrillator empowers patients to cardiovert themselves from atrial arrhythmias at a time that is socially and physically acceptable, thereby preventing hospitalization. The long-term psychosocial effects of repeated use of the patient-activated atrial defibrillator at home are unknown.

Echocardiographic changes and predictors of arrhythmia recurrence after long-term use of the atrial defibrillator.

Background: The patient-activated atrial defibrillator allows patients to cardiovert themselves from atrial fibrillation soon after the onset of symptoms. The long-term effects of early cardioversion from persistent atrial fibrillation on left ventricular performance and left atrial size are unknown.

Methods: Eighteen patients, mean age 63.