Study of atrial function using echocardiographic automatic boundary detection following external or internal cardioversion for idiopathic atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of an echocardiographic method of automatic boundary detection (ABD) in the assessment of the degree of atrial dysfunction in patients who had undergone external or internal cardioversion for idiopathic atrial fibrillation.

Methods: The study population included 31 patients (mean age 48 +/- 6.5 years) with idiopathic atrial fibrillation.

Impaired systolic dysfunction of left ventricular longitudinal fibers: a sign of early hypertensive cardiomyopathy.

Background: Atrioventricular plane displacement (AVPD) study by M-mode echocardiography can supply useful clinical information about left ventricular (LV) long-axis function.

Hypothesis: We assessed the hypothesis that AVPD estimation could be used to detect early hypertensive cardiomyopathy.

Methods: The study population included 81 hypertensive patients with normal LV ejection fraction and fractional shortening, and 50 age- and gender-matched healthy controls.

Right ventricle bipolar pacing may prevent appropriate biventricular pacing from two pacemakers. Case report.

This article reports on practical problems and possible solutions that may occur in case of upgrading a dual-chamber pacemaker by implanting a second left ventricular ventricular pacing, ventricular sensing, ventricular triggering (VVT) pacemaker. This therapeutic strategy was considered appropriate in the case of a 73-year-old patient with severe heart failure, who was scheduled to undergo coronary artery bypass surgery. A right-sided, dual-chamber pacemaker had been already implanted to the patient.