Journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · May 2002
Tight mechanism correlation between heart rate turbulence and baroreflex sensitivity: sequential autonomic blockade analysis.
Heart rate turbulence is a powerful de novo risk predictor for patients surviving acute myocardial infarction. However, little is known about its underlying physiologic mechanism. ⋯ Heart rate turbulence of turbulence onset and turbulence slope is critically vagal dependent and highly correlated with spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity, which underscores its clinical importance in cardiovascular risk stratification.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Mar 2002
Prevalence of a shared isthmus in postinfarction patients with pleiomorphic, hemodynamically tolerated ventricular tachycardias.
Multiple forms of ventricular tachycardia (VT) after myocardial infarction may result from multiple reentrant circuits that share an isthmus or from separate reentrant circuits. The prevalence of a shared isthmus in patients with multiple hemodynamically tolerated VTs has not been determined. ⋯ In postinfarction patients with pleiomorphic, hemodynamically stable VT, a shared isthmus may be present in approximately 40% of VTs.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Feb 2002
Atrial morphology in hearts with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: implications for the interventionist.
In view of the possible need for septal puncture to ablate left-sided lesions and the occasional difficulty in coronary sinus (CS) cannulation, we investigated relevant anatomic features in the right atrium of hearts with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA). ⋯ The shorter posterior "septal" margin in hearts with ccTGA may increase the risk of exiting the heart while performing septal puncture when pointing the needle posteriorly. The shorter CS isthmus and the abnormal location of the CS opening in some of these hearts are important when contemplating radiofrequency ablation in this area.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Jan 2002
ReviewAutomatic external defibrillator: key link in the chain of survival.
Sudden cardiac death is a major health problem. Worldwide success of resuscitation from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is modest, with 5% to 10% survival to hospital discharge. ⋯ The AED is a promising tool in the fight against sudden cardiac death and should be studied and supported by all scientists involved, including electrophysiologists.
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J. Cardiovasc. Electrophysiol. · Jan 2002
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator utilization based on discharge diagnoses from Medicare and managed care patients.
Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have become an accepted therapy for patients at high risk of sudden cardiac death. To assess the current utilization of this therapy, we estimated the number of patients at risk of sudden death using an historical claims-based study and compared these results to current ICD usage volumes. ⋯ This study suggests that, based on discharge diagnoses, many patients who could benefit from ICDs are not receiving this therapy. Diverse reasons for this underutilization should be addressed to improve access to, and appropriate use of, this therapy.