The aim of this study was to compare the effects of cardiac resynchronization therapy on left ventricular function and reverse remodeling in patients in sinus rhythm with the effects in patients with atrial fibrillation who have not undergone atrioventricular node ablation. Echocardiographic and clinical parameters were evaluated at baseline and after 6 months of cardiac resynchronization thera...

this study describes the prevalence of cardiac dysrhythmias occurring over a single 24 h period in ponies and compares the heart rate and frequency of dysrhythmias in two groups of ponies of different ages. electrocardiograms were recorded using a holter monitoring system from twenty four ponies aged less than 15-year-old (n = 14) and greater than 15-year-old (n = 10). subsequent analyses of ca...

pacemaker infection has multiple risk factors. its presentation is most often similar to infected endocarditis and the diagnosis is made through studying blood cultures. transesophageal echocardiography can confirm the diagnosis. the most common microorganisms are staphylococcus speciesis. as a matter of fact, complete pacemaker removal appears to be the only definite treatment. we presented a ...

BACKGROUND Although clinicians sometimes choose amiodarone to convert atrial fibrillation (AF) to sinus rhythm, no current and comprehensive systematic review has summarized its effectiveness. OBJECTIVE To review the effectiveness of amiodarone in converting AF to sinus rhythm over a 4-week period. METHODS Two reviewers conducted a systematic search for randomized trials in databases, compl...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of intravenous RSD1235 in terminating recent onset atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND Anti-arrhythmic drugs currently available to terminate AF have limited efficacy and safety. RSD1235 is a novel atrial selective anti-arrhythmic drug. METHODS This was a phase II, multi-centered, randomized, double-blinded, step...

BACKGROUND AND AIM To assess safety and efficacy of antazoline for termination of atrial fibrillation (AF) occurring during ablation of accessory pathways (AP). METHODS We analyzed electrophysiological mechanism of antazoline (changes in A-A interval) and the percentage of pre-excited QRS complexes before and after antazoline administration. The total dose administered and the time from the s...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility and mechanistic implications of segmental pulmonary vein (PV) ostial ablation during atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS AND RESULTS Forty consecutive patients underwent PV isolation for AF. Among 125 PVs targeted for isolation, ablation was performed during AF in 70 veins and during sinus rhythm in 55 veins. A decapolar Lass...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of cardioversion on peak oxygen consumption (peak VO2) in patients with long-standing atrial fibrillation, to assess the importance of underlying heart disease with respect to the response to exercise, and to relate functional capacity to long-term arrhythmia outcome. DESIGN Prospective controlled clinical trial. SETTING Tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS ...

OBJECTIVE To compare rate control and rhythm control strategies in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) after percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy (PMV). METHODS 183 patients with AF after successful PMV, with AF duration <or= 12 months and post-PMV left atrial (LA) size <or= 45 mm, were studied in a prospective, randomised trial. The primary end point was improvement in AF-related symptom...

BACKGROUND In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), antiarrhythmic drug therapy currently plays a greater role in maintaining sinus rhythm after cardioversion than it does in converting AF to sinus rhythm. Amiodarone is the most effective antiarrhythmic agent for maintaining sinus rhythm after cardioversion in patients with AF. However, its pharmacokinetics is complex; the drug interacts with...