OBJECTIVES To compare the time course of resumption of mechanical performance of the left and right atrium after the novel method of internal low-energy cardioversion (CV) and conventional external CV of atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND Right atrial performance has been shown to normalize before the left atrium after external CV. However, no data on atrial function after internal CV are a...

conclusions: left ventricular systolic heart failure, may result in inter and intra-atrial asynchrony even in clinically stable patients without significant pulmonary hypertension and diastolic dysfunction. results: in heart failure patients either inter or intra-atrial asynchrony were far more common in comparison with normal subjects (p=0.008 and p=0.007 respectively). patients and methods: t...

BACKGROUND To evaluate, with different pacing modes, acute changes in left ventricular systolic function, obtained by continuous cardiac output thermodilution in various subsets of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Increments of mean arterial pressure and cardiac output were considered the end point. METHODS Fifty cases electively submitted to cardiac surgery were analyzed. ...

The objective of this study was to determine how neurons within the right atrial ganglionated plexus (RAGP) and posterior atrial ganglionated plexus (PAGP) interact to modulate right atrial chronotropic, dromotropic, and inotropic function, particularly with respect to their extracardiac vagal and sympathetic efferent neuronal inputs. Surgical ablation of the PAGP (PAGPx) attenuated vagally med...

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an independent risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the underlying mechanisms are still not clearly elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the atrial electromechanical function, atrial electrophysiological changes and AF inducibility in alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits. METHODS In 8 alloxan-induced diabetic rabbits and 8 controls, ...

PURPOSE To implement a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)-based protocol to define atrial structure and function in individuals with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF), heritable cardiac conduction and myocardial disease with atrial dysrhtyhmias (HCCMD), and healthy controls. METHODS Fifteen controls, 20 PAF, and 12 HCCMD subjects underwent CMR examination including: multislice short-axis cin...

BACKGROUND It has been proposed that multisite atrial pacing (MSAp) restores atrial electrical activation and prevents atrial fibrillation recurrence; however, single-site Bachmann's bundle pacing (BBp) has also been reported as providing effective atrial resynchronization. Coronary sinus pacing (CSp) leads to reversed impulse propagation within the atria. METHODS AND RESULTS Acute echocardio...