A protocol for programmed ventricular stimulation is described in which the effect of increasing stimulation current on ventricular refractoriness and arrhythmia induction was specifically examined. The protocol was evaluated prospectively in 70 patients undergoing electrophysiological study for documented or suspected ventricular arrhythmias. Programmed electrical stimulation was performed at ...

BACKGROUND Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) improves outcomes in selected patients with heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction. One mechanism of benefit is believed to be favourable ventricular remodelling. Whether CRT also decreases the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias and risk of sudden death is unknown. OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of CRT on frequency of ventricular...

Ventricular arrhythmias are rare in childhood but may be associated with syncope and sudden death. This report describes 8 children with ventricular arrhythmias, 6 of whom suffered syncopal episodes. Ventricular tachycardia was documented in 5. One boy died suddenly. Complete cardiac investigation was carried out with exercise testing, Holter monitoring, echocardiography, cardiac catheterizatio...

Over the past two decades, breakthroughs in basic science have revealed the genetic etiology for several inherited arrhythmias. Onset of arrhythmias often commences in childhood and adolescence. The aim of the article is to provide a succinct overview of the genetic background of diseases that may cause life threatening arrhythmias in children and provide a description of reported genotype-phen...

BACKGROUND Intramural septal idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias have not been described systematically. METHODS AND RESULTS In a consecutive group of 93 patients with idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias referred for ablation, the site of origin of ventricular arrhythmias was assessed by activation mapping and pace-mapping. In 7 of 93 patients (8%), an intramural focus in the interventricular s...

Accurate prediction of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmia remains challenging. Left ventricular ejection fraction has shown an association with increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and is included in the recommendations for implantable cardioverter defibrillator as primary prevention. However, left ventricular ejection fraction may be normal in a large number of patients wh...

BACKGROUND Sudden death in athletes can occur during sport activities and is presumably related to ventricular arrhythmias. There are no guidelines concerning athletes who develop ventricular arrhythmias during an exercise test. It is unclear whether they should be allowed to continue with their competitive activity or not. OBJECTIVES To investigate the long-term follow-up of athletes with ve...

Late hospital phase ventricular arrhythmias in acute myocardial infarction (MI) have been associated with a high incidence of sudden death following hospital discharge. Thirty-eight patients were studied 10-24 days following onset of symptoms of MI. Each patient had a 24-hour ambulatory ECG tape recording and left ventricular and coronary angiography performed. Patients with complicated ventric...

Twenty-six patients with variant angina pectoris (VAP) were studied 1) to determine whether the degree of ST-segment elevation and R-wave changes correlate with the development of arrhythmias; and 2) to evaluate the relationship between the prevalence of arrhythmias, the severity of coronary artery disease, left ventricular function and wall motion. Serious arrhythmias were found in 12 patients...