BACKGROUND The effect of a hybrid intravenous and oral prophylactic amiodarone regimen on postcardiothoracic surgery (CTS) atrial fibrillation (AF) is unknown. The impact of active atrial septal pacing on post-CTS AF has not been well characterized. In addition, the effect of using both amiodarone and atrial septal pacing together to prevent atrial fibrillation is unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS...

Clinical trials in patients with pacemakers for sinus node dysfunction or atrioventricular block (AVB) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators provide increasing evidence showing that desynchronization of ventricular electrical activation and contraction, induced by conventional right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing, is a serious threat for long-term cardiac morbidity and mortality. The risk ...

OBJECTIVE To compare the acute effects of right atrial appendage, atrial septal, coronary sinus os, and dual site pacing on the duration of atrial activation. METHODS 20 patients with a variety of cardiac conditions underwent an intracardiac electrophysiological study. Electrograms were recorded from the right atrial appendage and at multiple sites within the coronary sinus. The duration of a...

Ventricular capture management is an automatic pacing threshold adjustment algorithm that automatically measures pacing threshold through detection of the evoked response after a pacing stimulus. Although it is principally designed to save device battery under the maintenance of the patient׳s safety, we experienced a rare case with serious pacing failure due to a weakness of this algorithm. Thi...

BACKGROUND Left ventricular septal (LVS) pacing reduces ventricular dyssynchrony and improves cardiac function relative to right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing in animals. We aimed to establish permanent placement of an LVS pacing lead in patients using a transvenous approach through the interventricular septum. METHODS AND RESULTS Ten patients with sinus node dysfunction scheduled for dual-ch...

We have previously demonstrated the role of univentricular pacing modalities in influencing coronary conduit flow in the immediate post-operative period in the cardiac surgery patient. We wanted to determine the mechanism of this improved coronary conduit and, in addition, to explore the possible benefits with biventricular pacing. Sixteen patients undergoing first time elective coronary artery...

BACKGROUND Biventricular (BiV) pacing is the most common mode of delivering cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). However, initial clinical studies have indicated that left ventricular (LV) pacing is not inferior to BiV pacing. This study was conducted to address whether LV only pacing can provide the same hemodynamic response as BiV pacing. METHODS This before-after clinical trial was con...

Interatrial block (IAB) denotes a conduction delay between the two atria (P-wave duration ≥110 ms). Depending on the severity of the block, IAB can be partial or advanced. Even though several studies have reported a high prevalence of IAB, it still remains a diagnosis many neglect without any follow-up. The crisis in IAB is undramatic until predictable complications appear. Nevertheless, the da...

BACKGROUND Dual chamber pacing improves functional status and reduces left ventricular outflow tract gradients in some, but not all patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) by altering ventricular depolarisation. We investigated the use of biventricular (BIV) pacing in symptomatic patients with HCM. METHOD 8 patients aged 58±7yrs with symptomatic HCM underwent BIV pacing. 5 patients ha...

BACKGROUND Although temporary cardiac pacing is infrequently needed, temporary epicardial pacing wires are routinely inserted after valve surgery. As they are associated with infrequent, but life threatening complications, and the decreased need for postoperative pacing in a group of low risk patients; this study aims to identify the predictors of temporary cardiac pacing after valve surgery. ...