Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
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A patient who had undergone heterotopic heart transplantation and placement of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator in his native heart underwent generator change. Defibrillation testing induced ventricular fibrillation in his donor heart. To prevent this potentially lethal complication, defibrillator shock therapy must be synchronized to the donor heart R wave.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Sep 2004
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyAutomatic recognition of abnormal respiratory events during sleep by a pacemaker transthoracic impedance sensor.
A number of pacemakers use transthoracic impedance to derive minute ventilation as a sensor for rate adaptation. Transthoracic impedance is also able to track fluctuations in tidal volume occurring in sleep apnea/hypopnea syndromes (SAS). We evaluated the feasibility of a transthoracic impedance-derived pacemaker algorithm for monitoring sleep respiratory disturbances. ⋯ The RDI monitoring function appears to be of value in screening pacemaker patients for SAS. Its performance is comparable to existing simple screening techniques. The ability to permanently monitor respiration, in combination with other diagnostic capabilities (such as Holter functions), presents a unique opportunity to monitor the association between arrhythmias and disturbances of breathing during sleep.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Aug 2004
Case ReportsLeft atrial-esophageal fistula following radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.
This report describes a fatal case of left atrial-esophageal fistula occurring in a 72-year-old man after a radiofrequency catheter ablation of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Catheter ablation was performed around the pulmonary vein using an 8-mm-tip electrode (60 W or 55 degrees C) guided by a 25-mm circular catheter. ⋯ His clinical condition deteriorated, and he died of speticemia. Thus, left atrial-esophageal fistula is a sever complication of radiofrequency catheter ablation of the left atrial posterior wall.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Aug 2004
Canine model of Brugada syndrome using regional epicardial cooling of the right ventricular outflow tract.
Myocardial cooling can induce J point elevation (Osborn wave) as seen on ECG of the Brugada syndrome by activating transient outward current (Ito) and causing a spike-and-dome configuration of the monophasic action potential (MAP) in the ventricular epicardium in isolated canine ventricular wedge preparations. We determined the effect of regional epicardial cooling of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) on surface ECG and ventricular vulnerability in the dog. ⋯ Localized epicardial cooling of the RVOT could be an in vivo experimental model of Brugada syndrome.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Aug 2004
Editorial CommentLink between hypothermia and the Brugada syndrome.