Radiofrequency catheter ablation can be successfully used to eliminate monomorphic ventricular ectopic activity. It may therefore be a reasonable alternative for the treatment of severely symptomatic, drug-resistant monomorphic ventricular ectopic activity in patients without significant structural heart disease.

By pacing both atria simultaneously, one could reliably predict and optimize left-sided AV timing without concern for IACT. With synchronous depolarization of the atria, reentrant arrhythmias might be suppressed. We studied four male patients (73 +/- 3 years) with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and symptomatic bradyarrhythmias using TEE and fluoroscopy as guides; a standard active fixation screw-in lead (Medtronic model #4058) was attached to the interatrial septum and a standard tined lead was placed in the ventricle. The generators were Medtronic model 7960. The baseline ECG was compared to the paced ECG and the conduction time were measured to the high right atrium, distal coronary sinus and atrial septum in normal sinus rhythm, atrial septal pacing, and AAT pacing. On the surface ECG, no acceleration or delay in AV conduction was noted during AAI pacing from the interatrial septum as compared with normal sinus rhythm. The mean interatrial conduction time for all 4 patients was 106 +/- 2 ms; the interatrial conduction time measured during AAT pacing utilizing the atrial septal pacing lead was 97 +/- 4 ms (P = NS). During atrial septal pacing, the mean conduction time to the high right atrium was 53 +/- 2 ms. The mean conduction time to the lateral left atrium during atrial septal pacing, was likewise 53 +/- 2 ms. We conclude that it is possible to pace both atria simultaneously from a single site using a standard active fixation lead guided by TEE and fluoroscopy. Such a pacing system allows accurate timing of the left-sided AV delay.

Fifty-three consecutive patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and no history of sudden death underwent electrophysiology (EP) study. Sustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) was induced in 19 patients (35%). Patients with prior syncope or near syncope had a higher incidence of VT/VF inducibility. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (i.c.d.) was placed in 14 of the 19 patients. Of the remaining 5 patients with inducible VT/VF, three refused ICD implantation, while two underwent septal myectomy and VT/VF was no longer inducible after the operation. None of the patients received antiarrhythmic drugs. During a mean follow-up period of 47 +/- 31 (2-117) months, no events occurred in the 34 patients with negative EP study. Three events occurred among the 19 patients with inducible VT/VF. One patient died suddenly, one developed wide complex tachycardia which required resuscitation, and one patient received an appropriate ICD shock. In conclusion, sustained polymorphic VT/VF was inducible in about one-third of patients with HCM. Noninducibility of VT/VF appeared to predict a favorable prognosis. Although the overall event rate was low in patients with inducible VT/VF, prophylactic ICD implantation in patients with multiple risk factors may be appropriate.

Recent reports have raised doubts regarding the safety and efficacy of the blind subclavian venipuncture technique for intracardiac lead implantation. To permit a more lateral entry, we used a simple subclavian venogram performed through the brachial vein of the ipsilateral arm of 22 consecutive unselected patients undergoing lead implantation (19 permanent pacemakers and 3 intracardiac defibrillators). A total of 35 leads were implanted (31 left pectoral and 4 right pectoral). Lead insertion by venogram technique was used successfully in all patients. Two inconsequential arterial punctures occurred. There were no pneumothoraces infections, or other complications. Lateral placement should facilitate lead manipulation and minimize "subclavian crush." The method of ipsilateral venogram guided lead insertion appears to be safe and reliable and deserves consideration in patients who require permanent lead placement via the subclavian vein approach.

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Summary:The use of pacing techniques for the treatment of atrial tachyarrhythmias has been advocated for more than 30 years. Although it has played a beneficial role in the management of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) in drug-refractory patients, tachycardia acceleration and development of atrial fibrillation has been the major drawback. With the availability of radiofrequency catheter ablation therapy, the use of implantable antitachycardia devices for PSVT is currently negligible. From retrospective and small control studies it has been shown that atrial or dual-chamber pacing in patients with sick sinus syndrome has been associated with a lower incidence of paroxysmal atrial flutter or fibrillation than in those who received a ventricular pacemaker. Furthermore, recent studies have reported the potential benefit of reducing frequency of paroxysmal atrial flutter and fibrillation with multisite atrial pacing. As a result, there is a resurgence of research interest in antitachycardia pacing for prevention of atrial tachyarrhythmias. This paper briefly describes the basic aspects of antitachycardia pacing, reviews the data on the use of implantable antitachycardia devices for PSVT and the selection of patients, and assesses the current status of research on atrial pacing for prevention of paroxysmal atrial flutter and fibrillation.

Ten years after orthotopic cardiac transplantation, a 56-year-old man developed recurrent presyncope and syncope. A 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recording did not document significant arrhythmic events. A head-up tilt table test was negative. An electrophysiologic study revealed dual atrioventricular (AV) nodal physiology and inducible typical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). The patient became hypotensive and presyncopal during AVNRT. Radiofrequency (RF) catheter ablation successfully eliminated AVNRT without complications. The patient remained free of symptoms at nine months follow-up.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate predictors of appropriate therapy in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. A retrospective cohort of 321 patients with systolic heart failure undergoing ICD placement for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death was queried with a mean follow-up period of 2.6 years. Appropriate ICD therapy was defined as therapy delivered for termination of a ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Appropriate ICD therapy was delivered in 142 (44%) of the patients. In a multivariate model, body mass index ≥28.8 kg/m2, chronic kidney disease, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤20% and metabolic syndrome were found to be independent predictors of appropriate ICD therapy. Appropriate ICD therapy was associated with higher cardiovascular mortality. These findings show the importance of identification of risk factors, especially metabolic syndrome, in patients following ICD implantation as aggressive treatment of these co-morbidities may decrease appropriate ICD therapy and cardiovascular mortality.