Europace : European pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrophysiology : journal of the working groups on cardiac pacing, arrhythmias, and cardiac cellular electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology
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Supraventricular arrhythmias are often observed in patients before and after atrial septal defect repair. Although several papers report different incidences of sustained supraventricular arrhythmias, postoperative 'incisional' macroreentrant tachycardias have not been systematically investigated. ⋯ Atrial fibrillation remains the most frequent form of arrhythmia before and after surgical closure of atrial septal defects in adulthood, and relates to age at the time of repair and coexisting heart disease. Incisional macroreentrant atrial tachycardia is an identifiable, albeit less common, form of tachycardia, which can be treated by transcatheter ablation.
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Distinction between atrioventricular node re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT) is sometimes difficult using location of retrograde P waves on ECG. ⋯ Correct distinction between anterior slow-fast AVNRT and orthodromic AVRT can be reliably made regardless of gender or age in case of R'V(1)/SII or invisible P wave. AVRT as the expected mechanism should be reconsidered in the case of visible P waves in the elderly and in the female gender in the absence of pre-excitation.
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Comparative Study
A 12-month quality of life assessment of cardiac arrest survivors treated with or without an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
Previous studies indicate that the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has a large impact on the quality of life of patients. The effects of having an ICD over longer periods of times has been less studied. ⋯ The prevalence of anxiety and probable depression was high in cardiac arrest survivors. Probable depression affected social function. Those patients who felt anxious experienced less health improvement. Quality of life and well-being were not affected by the type of treatment. We conclude that surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has a greater impact on patients than the treatment received.
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To ascertain the proportion of adults with a pacemaker in situ attending the Accident and Emergency Department because of syncope or unexplained falls and the cause of index symptoms in these patients, including the prevalence of hypotensive syndromes. ⋯ It is rare for patients who attend the Accident and Emergency Department because of syncope or unexplained falls to have a pacemaker in situ. In those who do, hypotensive disorders are a common finding.
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The European Society of Cardiology has convened a Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death in order to provide a comprehensive, educational document on this important topic. The main document has been published in the European Heart Journal in August 2001. ⋯ The present recommendations are specifically intended to encourage the development and revision of national guidelines on prevention of sudden cardiac death. The common challenge for cardiologists, physicians of other medical specialties and health professionals throughout Europe is to realize the potential for sudden cardiac death prevention and to contribute to public health efforts to reduce its burden.