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
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Beta-blockade and A1-adenosine receptor agonist effects on atrial fibrillatory rate and atrioventricular conduction in patients with atrial fibrillation.
Reduced irregularity of RR intervals in permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) has been associated with poor outcome. It is not fully understood, however, whether modification of atrioventricular (AV) conduction using rate-control drugs affects RR variability and irregularity measures. We aimed at assessing whether atrial fibrillatory rate (AFR) and variability and irregularity of the ventricular rate are modified by a selective A1-adenosine receptor agonist tecadenoson, beta-blocker esmolol, and their combination. ⋯ Modification of AV node conduction can increase RR variability but does not affect regularity of RR intervals or AFR.
-
Comparative Study
The effect of radiotherapy beam energy on modern cardiac devices: an in vitro study.
Radiotherapy (RT) for malignancies can harm pacemakers (PMs) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). There is some evidence that, besides cumulative dose, the damaging radiation effects increase with beam energy. The aim of this study was to determine whether modern PMs and ICDs are more sensitive to high-energy than to low-energy photon beams. ⋯ Photon beam energy plays a considerable role in inducing implantable cardiac device malfunctions. Low-energy RT may be safer in PM/ICD patients despite relatively high radiation dose to the device.
-
Comparative Study
Electrophysiological and anatomical differences of the slow pathway between the fast-slow form and slow-slow form of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.
This study aimed to clarify whether electrophysiological and anatomical properties of the slow pathway (SP) could be different between the fast-slow form (F/S) and the slow-slow form (S/S) atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). ⋯ Properties of the retrograde SP differ between F/S and S/S of AVNRT. Fast-slow form may utilize the same pathway for the retrograde conduction as the anterograde SP in S/S.
-
Absent left atrium (LA) mechanical contraction may occur following the modified Cox-maze operation, and was found to impose a potential risk for the occurrence of thrombo-embolic stroke. It is unknown whether certain morphological P-wave characteristics can surrogate absent LA mechanical activity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphological features of the P-waves on the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) of patients who underwent the maze operation and to relate them to the contractile profile of the LA. ⋯ Absent LA mechanical contraction following the modified maze operation may be accompanied by a distinguished pattern of the P-waves on the surface ECG.
-
Observational Study
Increased risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke during active stages of inflammatory bowel disease: a nationwide study.
Inflammation is considered to play a role in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). Hence inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be associated with AF. We therefore examined the incidence of AF and stroke in patients with IBD. ⋯ Active IBD is associated with increased risk of AF and stroke. These findings may be relevant to clinical practice.