Heart rhythm : the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society
-
Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Ethical and legal views of physicians regarding deactivation of cardiac implantable electrical devices: a quantitative assessment.
Despite the high prevalence of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, little is known about physicians' views surrounding the ethical and legal aspects of managing these devices at the end of life. ⋯ In this single-center study, internists were less comfortable discussing cessation of PM and ICD therapy compared to other life-sustaining therapies and lacked experience with this practice. Education regarding the legal and ethical parameters of device deactivation is needed.
-
Comparative Study
Classification and assessment of computerized diagnostic criteria for Brugada-type electrocardiograms.
Although a Brugada-type electrocardiogram (ECG) is occasionally detected in mass health screening examinations in apparently healthy individuals, the automatic computerized diagnostic criteria for Brugada-type ECGs have not been established. ⋯ The proposed criteria demonstrated a reasonable accuracy (type 1: 91.9%, type 2/3: 86.2%, type S: 76.2%) for diagnosing Brugada-type ECG in comparison to the macroscopic diagnosis by experienced observers. Moreover, the automatic criteria had a comparable detection rate (0.6% in adults, 0.16% in children) of Brugada-type ECGs to the macroscopic inspection in the health screening examinations.
-
The purpose of the study was to determine whether applying highly recommended changes in the 2005 American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines would improve outcomes after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ Compared with controls, patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest treated with a renewed emphasis on improved circulation during CPR had significantly higher neurologically intact hospital discharge rates.