The cardiovascular effects of large hiatal hernias: a narrative review of cases and studies.

Hiatal hernia (HH) is a common disease in the general population. It is often asymptomatic, but if it does present clinical manifestations, these are usually gastrointestinal. Gastroesophageal reflux is the main symptom that accompanies it.

Associated factors with the occurrence of in-hospital cardiac arrest in patients admitted to internal medicine wards for non-cardiovascular causes.

Background And Objective: In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) has a low survival rate, so it is essential to recognize the cases with the highest probability of developing it. The aim of this study is to identify factors associated with the occurrence of IHCA.

Material And Methods: A single-center case-control study was conducted including 65 patients admitted to internal medicine wards for non-cardiovascular causes who experienced IHCA, matched with 210 admitted controls who did not present with IHCA.

Would a complete electrophysiological study allow us to make a correct diagnosis? Case report.

Background: Oblique course of some left accessory pathways is rare An incomplete electrophysiological study may confuse us between an oblique accessory pathway or the presence of two accessory pathways. The proximity of all atrial and ventricular electrograms, at each pole of the catheter, within the coronary sinus may be a novel finding.

Case Presentation: A 68-year-old woman patient presented arrhythmias with hypotension requiring electrical cardioversion.

Uneven vectorial projection is the best explanation for QRS dispersion, not the asynchronic ventricular activation.

Background: It is believed that QRS dispersion (QRSd) is caused by asynchrony of ventricular activation, but there are no studies that prove it.

Objectives: To determine the mechanism that best explains QRSd in surface electrocardiogram (ECG).

Methods: Cross-sectional study in 95 consecutive patients (median age: 31.

Increased QRS duration and dispersion are associated with mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with permanent right ventricular apical pacing.

Background: Permanent right ventricular apical pacing may have negative effects on ventricular function and contribute to development of heart failure. We aimed to assess intra- and interventricular mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with permanent right ventricular apical pacing, and to establish electrocardiographic markers of dyssynchrony.

Methods: 84 patients (46:38 male:female) who required permanent pacing were studied.

New Parameter of the Second Half of the P-Wave, P-Wave Duration, and Atrial Conduction Times Predict Atrial Fibrillation during Electrophysiological Studies.

Objective: Several P-wave parameters reflect atrial conduction characteristics and have been used to predict atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between maximum P-wave duration (PMax) and new P-wave parameters, with atrial conduction times (CT), and to assess their predictive value of AF during electrophysiological studies (AF-EPS).

Subjects And Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in 153 randomly selected patients aged 18-70 years, undergoing EPS.

Vectorial theory surpasses the local theory in explaining the origin of P-wave dispersion.

Background: Local theory and the vectorial theory are used to explain the origin of P-wave dispersion (PWD). There are no previous studies that analyze both at the same time.

Objectives: We set out to determine the implication of local and vectorial theories in the origin of PWD.

Atrial conduction explains the occurrence of the P-wave dispersion phenomenon, but weakly.

Background: P-wave dispersion (PWD) is believed to be caused by inhomogeneous atrial conduction. This statement, however, is based on limited little solid evidence. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between atrial conduction and PWD by means of invasive electrophysiological studies.

Interatrial blocks: diagnosis and clinical significance.

In 1979 Bayés de Luna described interatrial blocks (IAB). Following the same principle of classification of blocks in other structures of the heart, he divided them into first (partial IAB), second (atrial aberrancy) and third degree (advanced IAB). Atypical forms of these blocks were recently described.

Tpeak-Tend, Tpeak-Tend dispersion and Tpeak-Tend/QT in children and its relationship with clinical variables.

Aim: To characterize the Tpeak-Tend, the Tpeak-Tend dispersion and Tpeak-Tend/QT in children and its relationship with clinical variables.

Methods: Cross-sectional study in 126 children between 9 and 12 years of the Camilo Cienfuegos School in Santa Clara, Cuba. Clinical and anthropometric variables were obtained to determine their relationship with electrocardiographic parameters: Tpeak-Tend V5, Tpeak-Tend dispersion and Tpeak-Tend/QT ratio V5.

Atrial fibrillation and cryptogenic stroke. What is the current evidence? Role of electrocardiographic monitoring.

The diagnosis of cryptogenic stroke is made by exclusion. However, current evidence supports the role of atrial fibrillation episodes as a cause of this condition. Prospective data have demonstrated the benefits of long-term electrocardiographic monitoring to identify atrial fibrillation in association with cryptogenic stroke.

Levels of uric acid and increased diastolic blood pressure: Risk factors for atrial fibrillation in patients older than 60 years.

Objective: To characterize the maximum P-wave duration (Pmax) and P-wave dispersion (PWD) according to blood pressure (BP) and uric acid (UA) levels in geriatric patients.

Method: An analytical study was performed in 83 patients aged over 60 years treated at the Family Medical Office 5 of the Aracelio Rodríguez Castellón Polyclinic, in Cienfuegos, Cuba between January and December 2015. The sample was divided into two groups (patients with hyperuricemia and patients with normal UA levels).

Ventricular repolarization markers for predicting malignant arrhythmias in clinical practice.

Malignant cardiac arrhythmias which result in sudden cardiac death may be present in individuals apparently healthy or be associated with other medical conditions. The way to predict their appearance represents a challenge for the medical community due to the tragic outcomes in most cases. In the last two decades some ventricular repolarization (VR) markers have been found to be useful to predict malignant cardiac arrhythmias in several clinical conditions.

Increased p wave dispersion in elite athletes.

Background: Few studies have been performed on P wave indices in athletes. The aim of this study was to determine the behaviour of maximum P wave duration (Pmax), minimum P wave duration (Pmin) and P wave dispersion (PWD) in young high performance athletes, as well as the relationship of PWD with training history, heart rate (HR) and echocardiographic parameters.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional observational study in 38 athletes of high performance in sports: water polo, distance running and weight lifting compared with 34 sedentary controls.

[Arterial mean pressure and pulse pressure in young hypertensive patients].

Background And Objective: Evidence shows that pulse pressure (PP) is very useful when assessing the hypertensive patient and this has led to a lower use of mean arterial pressure (MAP). We intended to demonstrate that MAP should be better than PP in young hypertensive patients.

Subjects And Method: Cross-sectional study in 70 white males with ages among 16-40 years, distributed in two groups of 35 individuals labelled as control group or hypertensive patients, who were assessed by echocardiography.