Circulation
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Prospective randomized multicenter trial of empirical antitachycardia pacing versus shocks for spontaneous rapid ventricular tachycardia in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: Pacing Fast Ventricular Tachycardia Reduces Shock Therapies (PainFREE Rx II) trial results.
Successful antitachycardia pacing (ATP) terminates ventricular tachycardia (VT) up to 250 bpm without the need for painful shocks in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients. Fast VT (FVT) >200 bpm is often treated by shock because of safety concerns, however. This prospective, randomized, multicenter trial compares the safety and utility of empirical ATP with shocks for FVT in a broad ICD population. ⋯ Compared with shocks, empirical ATP for FVT is highly effective, is equally safe, and improves quality of life. ATP may be the preferred FVT therapy in most ICD patients.
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Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Diagnosis of sleep-related breathing disorders by visual analysis of transthoracic impedance signals in pacemakers.
Minute ventilation sensors of cardiac pacemakers measure ventilation by means of transthoracic impedance changes between the pacemaker case and the electrode tip. We investigated whether this technique might detect sleep-related breathing disorders. ⋯ Detection of apnea/hypopnea events by pacemaker minute ventilation sensors is feasible and accurate compared with laboratory polysomnography. This technique might be useful to screen and monitor sleep-related breathing disorders in pacemaker patients.