[Complete vagal block in the clinical evaluation of sinus bradycardia].

The authors determined the discriminant threshold of sinus rate (SR) and the degree of its increase after complete vagal block (0.04 mg/kg of atropine sulfate IV) in 34 patients with symptomatic sinus bradycardia, the day after electrophysiological evaluation (performed before and after autonomic block with propranolol 0.2 mg/kg and atropine sulfate 0.

[Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of right and left ventricular filling in hypertension].

Left (LV) and right ventricular (RV) filling was evaluated by pulsed doppler echocardiography in 56 hypertensive (HTN) untreated patients and in 30 normotensive (N) subjects, matched for age, body surface and heart rate. HTN were classified in two groups: HTN1: with normal LV mass index (LV mi) (< 135 g.m-2 for men, < or = 115 g.

Comparative evaluation of verapamil, flecainide and propafenone for the acute conversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm.

In 69 consecutive patients with recent-onset atrial fibrillation, we compared the usefulness of verapamil, flecainide and propafenone for the acute conversion to sinus rhythm within 1 hour of the start of intravenous infusion. The patients were randomized to receive verapamil, 10 mg in 5 minutes (n = 29), flecainide, 2 mg/kg in 10 minutes (n = 20) or propafenone, 2 mg/kg in 10 minutes (n = 20). The 3 treatment groups did not differ significantly regarding patient baseline characteristics.

Optimal value of filling pressure in the right side of the heart in acute right ventricular infarction.

Haemodynamic monitoring was performed within the first 48 hours after the onset of symptoms in basal conditions, during volume loading, and during infusion of glyceryl trinitrate in 41 patients who fulfilled the diagnostic electrocardiographic and haemodynamic criteria of right ventricular infarction. In most patients an increase of mean right atrial pressure up to 10-14 mm Hg was followed by an increase in right ventricular stroke work index. But raising the mean right atrial pressure above 14 mm Hg was almost always accompanied by a reduction in right ventricular stroke work index.

[Incidence and clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of left ventricular insufficiency with normal systolic function in permanent arterial hypertension].

In Arterial hypertension abnormalities of left ventricular filling are constant and appear at an early stage, and in most cases signs of left ventricular failure (LVF) precede alterations in the left ventricular systolic function. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency as well as the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of LVF with normal systolic function in permanent arterial hypertension. 113 permanently hypertensive patients with normal left ventricular performance at echocardiography were studied clinically (functional class, congestive signs of LVF and/or presystolic gallop) and by means of echocardiographic recordings (dimensions of the left ventricle, mitral EF slope, left atrial diameter).