BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that an increased incidence of atrial fibrillation occurs in patients undergoing single-chamber ventricular pacing (VVI) when compared with those undergoing single-chamber atrial pacing (AAI) or those having dual-chamber atrioventricular pacing (DDD). The mechanism for this is unknown. We hypothesized that long-term loss of atrioventricular (AV) synchrony leads to a...

In order to reduce pacing current threshold in transesophageal stimulation, a novel multichannel transesophageal pacemaker and multichannel esophageal lead has been developed. Three different approaches to reduce pacing current threshold were clinically studied. Precise positioning of the pacing dipole allowed reduction of pacing current threshold on average by 20% over the standard bipolar tra...

BACKGROUND Recent studies have demonstrated that atrial electrical remodeling was an important contributing factor for the occurrence, persistence and maintenance of atrial fibrillation. The expression changes of ionic channels, especially L-type calcium channel and potassium channel Kv4.3, were the important molecular mechanism of atrial electrical remodeling. This study aimed to observe the e...

In a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebocontrolled study we investigated the facilitating influence of intravenous procainamide on conversion of atrial flutter by rapid atrial pacing. Fifty consecutive patients with spontaneous sustained atrial flutter were 1:1 randomized into two homogenous groups: group A received 10 mg.kg-1 procainamide intravenously, group B placebo. After infusi...

INTRODUCTION Activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an important role in atrial electrical remodeling (AER). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of irbesartan on cardiac sodium current (INa) in a canine model of atrial fibrillation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighteen dogs were randomized into sham, pacing or pacing+irbesartan groups ( n = 6 in each group)....

OBJECTIVE DDD pacing is better than VVI pacing in complete heart block and sick sinus syndrome but is more expensive and demanding. In addition, some patients have to be programmed out of DDD mode and this may have an important impact on the cost-effectiveness of DDD pacing. The purpose of this study was to determine how many patients remain in DDD mode over the long term (up to 10 years). DE...

Atrial flutter (AFL) is a rare arrhythmia in neonatal and infantile period. Potentially, AFL might lead to severe morbidity even fatal outcome. However it can have good prognosis with early diagnosis prompt appropriate treatment. Synchronized electrical cardioversion or transoesophageal atrial overdrive pacing recommended both stable unstable cases. Antiarrhythmic drugs be tried newborns though...

A 76-year-old male with ischemic cardiomyopathy presented with heart failure symptoms in the absence of angina. Several hospitalizations were required due to heart failure exacerbation and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Electrocardiography and tissue synchronization imaging confirmed ventricular dyssynchrony, requiring biventricular pacing. After a failed attempt of percutaneous placement of t...

INTRODUCTION The incidence of atrial fibrillation is greater in men than in women, but the reasons for this gender difference are unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of gender on the atrial electrophysiologic effects of rapid atrial pacing and an increase in atrial pressure. METHODS AND RESULTS Right atrial pressure and effective refractory period (ERP) were measure...