European heart journal
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Patients who have an accessory pathway (AP) of atrioventricular (AV) conduction may develop circus movement tachycardia otherwise known as atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia (AVRT). Orthodromic AVRT is the most common form. It occurs as a result of antegrade conduction through the normal AV conduction system and retrograde conduction to the atria via the AP. ⋯ No class of drug stands out as 'therapy of choice', and physician preference, pro-arrhythmic effects and associated conditions need to be taken into account such that an individual choice can be made in each patient. The management of patients with AVRT has been revolutionized in recent years with the advent of catheter-based techniques for their cure. Whilst this method of treatment is highly effective and has low complication rates, pathways in particular locations such as the septal region remain challenging.
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European heart journal · May 1998
Prediction of behavioural and emotional problems in children and adolescents with operated congenital heart disease.
The aim of the present study was to determine which medical variables were predictors of long-term behavioural/emotional outcome after surgical correction for congenital heart disease in infancy and childhood. ⋯ Several medical variables were significant predictors and can be used to identify those congenital heart disease children who are at risk of long-term behavioural/emotional maladjustment.
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European heart journal · May 1998
Non-invasive assessment of inspiratory muscle performance during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure.
The aim of this study was to assess inspiratory performance at rest and during exercise in patients with chronic heart failure in comparison with healthy controls using a non-invasive index: the tension-time index of inspiratory muscles (TTMUS). ⋯ This study shows that the determination of TTMUS at rest and during exercise allows the observation of alterations in inspiratory muscle performance as a result of both reduced inspiratory strength, as measured by the maximal inspiratory pressure, and increased ventilatory drive, as reflected by the mouth occlusion pressure in patients with chronic heart failure. The non-invasiveness of this new index is an additional argument for its use in a clinical setting.