Journal of electrocardiology
-
Overreading of 12 lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) is required to circumvent errors of computerized ECG interpretation. The accuracy of the overreading physician's interpretation of ECGs that were incorrectly read as atrial fibrillation by a computer algorithm has not been systematically examined. ⋯ Knowledge of an individual patient on whom an ECG is ordered may result in a more critical rhythm assessment and might account for the higher accuracy of rhythm interpretation by the cardiologist as compared with the interpretation by the overreading cardiologist who is lacking relevant clinical information.
-
Many studies demonstrated that a prolonged heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) increases the risk of malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. ⋯ Our study demonstrated a significant positive relationship between the QTc interval and baseline blood pressure in a Chinese hypertensive population.
-
Case reports and unblinded studies suggest that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease is associated with QT prolongation and torsade de pointes ventricular tachycardia. Hepatitis C coinfection is common in patients with HIV disease, and cirrhosis is also associated with QT prolongation. We therefore undertook a systematic analysis of the role of liver injury, nutritional state, and coinfection with hepatitis C in the etiology of QT prolongation in HIV disease. ⋯ Human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C infections both independently prolong QTc. Coinfection with hepatitis C greatly increases the likelihood of clinically significant QTc prolongation in patients with HIV disease.
-
Emergency medical services (EMS), hospital emergency departments, and cardiologists have taken steps to reduce time to reperfusion therapy by implementation of aggressive acute myocardial infarction treatment and triage protocols. Data indicate that significant myocardial salvage requires reperfusion within 2 hours, and the current American College of Cardiology guideline is 90 minutes after hospital emergency department admission. ⋯ Initial gains in the time from hospital arrival to percutaneous coronary intervention, attributed to acquisition of the ECG in the prehospital setting, were not sustained over 10 years.
-
This study investigated the treatment of ventricular tachycardia (VT) after repair of tetralogy of Fallot or double outlet of the right ventricle. ⋯ In patients with drug-refractory VT originating from the right ventricle late after congenital heart disease, and when their left ventricular function do not deteriorate, combined therapy for radiofrequency catheter ablation with class III antiarrhythmic agents might effective and should be considered as a therapeutic option.