Predictors of appropriate defibrillator therapy among patients with an implantable defibrillator that delivers cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine predictors of appropriate implantable defibrillator (ICD) therapy among patients with heart failure who are treated with a cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D).

Methods And Results: Patients enrolled in the Ventak CHF/Contak CD study were treated with a CRT-D device and were required to have NYHA class II-IV CHF, QRS duration > or = 120 msec, and a class I or II indication for an ICD. The study database was retrospectively analyzed during the 6-month postimplant period to identify predictors of appropriate ICD therapy.

Coronary artery disease in patients with Buerger's disease.

Buerger's disease (thromboangiitis obliterans) is a small- and medium-vessel vasculitis that predominantly involves the distal extremities. Coronary involvement in Buerger's disease is very unusual and rarely reported. We describe the unusual coronary angiogram findings of a 61-year-old Caucasian male with Buerger's disease who underwent cardiac catheterization for preoperative cardiac risk stratification prior to a carotid endarterectomy.

Direct imaging of transvenous radiofrequency cardiac ablation using a steerable fiberoptic infrared endoscope.

Background: Direct imaging through blood has been achieved in vivo using fiberoptics and infrared wavelength technology.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a percutaneous, steerable, fiberoptic infrared endoscope to identify and characterize the electrode-tissue interface during transvenous cardiac ablation.

Methods: Infrared endoscopy was performed during 24 catheter ablation attempts in 10 mongrel dogs.

Termination of epicardial left ventricular tachycardia by pacing without global capture.

It is generally accepted that the diagnosis of an epicardial origin of ventricular tachycardia (VT) can be made indirectly by observing VT termination during ablation on the epicardial surface of the heart. There is a caveat, however, which is that termination of VT during radiofrequency current application on the epicardial surface could be due to extension of the lesion beyond the epicardium. Therefore, successful ablation of VT using an epicardial approach does not necessarily prove the reentrant circuit is located superficially.

Transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale associated with paradoxical embolism using the amplatzer PFO occluder: initial and intermediate-term results of the U.S. multicenter clinical trial.

Closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) has been proposed as an alternative to anticoagulation in patients with presumed paradoxical emboli. We report the immediate and mid-term results of the phase 1 U.S.

Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus in adults using the Amplatzer duct occluder: initial results and follow-up.

Background: Surgical closure of patent ductus arteriosus in adult patients may be problematic. Transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus is an established procedure. Recently, transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus using the Amplatzer duct occluder has been shown to be safe and efficacious.