Heart rhythm : the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Increased impedance to inspiration ameliorates hemodynamic changes associated with movement to upright posture in orthostatic hypotension: a randomized blinded pilot study.
Movement to upright posture may result in marked drop of blood pressure with susceptibility to injury from syncope and falls in patients with orthostatic hypotension. ⋯ Enhancing impedance to inspiration may prove useful as adjunctive therapy for diminishing symptoms associated with movement to upright posture in individuals with orthostatic hypotension.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Safe and effective conversion of persistent atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm by intravenous AZD7009.
Acute drug conversion of persistent atrial fibrillation usually fails. ⋯ AZD7009 exhibited dose-dependent effects in converting AF to SR in AF patients and appeared to be associated with a low risk of proarrhythmia despite continued administration during a period of heightened vulnerability.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Coronary sinus electrode does not reduce atrial defibrillation thresholds.
Atrial defibrillation can be achieved with a conventional dual-coil, active pectoral implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) lead system. Shocking vectors that incorporate an additional electrode in the CS have been used, but it is unclear if they improve atrial DFTs. ⋯ Shocking vectors that incorporate a CS coil do not significantly improve atrial defibrillation efficacy. Since the Ventricular Triad shocking pathway provides reliable atrial and ventricular defibrillation, this configuration should be preferred for combined atrial and ventricular ICDs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Effects of a rate smoothing algorithm for prevention of ventricular arrhythmias: results of the Ventricular Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (VAST).
Rate smoothing, which is available in some pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), has been used to prevent Torsades de Pointes in patients with long QT syndrome. Its efficacy in general ventricular arrhythmia prevention has not been determined. ⋯ Rate smoothing does not result in a reduction in ventricular arrhythmias in a heterogeneous population of patients receiving ICDs.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Prospective, randomized comparison of two biphasic waveforms for the efficacy and safety of transthoracic biphasic cardioversion of atrial fibrillation.
The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a difference in commercially available biphasic waveforms. ⋯ Biphasic waveforms were very effective in transthoracic cardioversion of AF, and complication rates were low. No significant difference in efficacy was observed between BR and BTE waveforms. Impedance was not an important determinant of success for either biphasic waveform.