Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE
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Pacing Clin Electrophysiol · Aug 1994
Case ReportsThe use of serotonin reuptake inhibitors for the treatment of recurrent syncope due to carotid sinus hypersensitivity unresponsive to dual chamber cardiac pacing.
Carotid sinus hypersensitivity can be a cause of recurrent unexplained syncope in the older patient. Dual chamber cardiac pacing may relieve the bradycardia, but may not affect the vasodilatory component of this disorder. ⋯ Both patients were treated with serotonin reuptake inhibitors and after 4-6 weeks of therapy had complete resolution of symptoms. We conclude that serotonin reuptake inhibitors may be useful in the treatment of recurrent syncope due to carotid sinus hypersensitivity resistant to dual chamber cardiac pacing.
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Pacing Clin Electrophysiol · Aug 1994
Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors.
This study examined diagnostic and therapeutic roles of electrophysiological testing and long-term clinical outcome after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to idiopathic ventricular fibrillation. This is defined as ventricular fibrillation occurring in the absence of detectable underlying heart disease or metabolic or electrolyte disturbance. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest resulting from idiopathic ventricular fibrillation is uncommon. ⋯ Two of the four patients without inducible sustained ventricular arrhythmias had events during follow-up. Of the two patients with inducible ventricular fibrillation, one experienced a cardiac arrest and documented ventricular fibrillation at 41 months after the index event and the other had had no recurrence at 15-month follow-up. All four patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators were alive at last follow-up, and two had device discharges.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)