To observe blood B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level changes and the clinical implications in different periods and different cardiac pacing modes, the BNP levels of 105 patients with permanent cardiac pacing were assayed before pacemaker implantation and 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months postoperatively. BNP level changes were compared in different periods and during ...

Coupled pacing (CP), a method for controlling ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation (AF), consists of a single electrical stimulation applied to the ventricles after each spontaneous activation. CP results in a mechanical contraction rate approximately one-half the rate during AF. Paired stimulation in which two electrical stimuli are delivered to the ventricles has also been proposed as ...

atrial fibrillation (af) is the most common complication of coronary artery bypass graft surgery (cabg). the reported incidence of af after cabg varies from 20% to 40%. postoperative af (poaf) is associated with increased incidence of hemodynamic instability, thromboembolic events, longer hospital stays, and increased health care costs. a variety of pharmacological and nonpharmacological strate...

We performed intracardiac electrophysiologic studies in 33 patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia. Nineteen patients underwent one, 10 patients two, and four patients three serial electrophysiologic studies. Ventricular tachycardia was successfully induced in 83% of the patients, and pacing methods were successful in terminating tachycardia in 71% of the studies, although pacing-induce...

Despite clinically available methods of diaphragm pacing, most patients with ventilator-dependent tetraplegia are still dependent on mechanical ventilation. Given the significant disadvantages of these devices, additional pacing options are needed. The objective of this study was to evaluate a novel and potentially more physiological method of inspiratory muscle activation, which involves the a...

This study hypothesized that permanently frustrated, appetitive-foraging behavior caused the stereotypic pacing regularly observed in captive carnivores. Using 2 adult female snow leopards (Uncia uncia), solitarily housed in the Zurich Zoo, the study tested this hypothesis experimentally with a novel feeding method: electronically controlled, time-regulated feeding boxes. The expected result of...

OBJECTIVE To prospectively determine whether ventricular rate and regularity are significant determinants of the velocity and magnitude of left atrial appendage (LAA) flow. DESIGN AND PATIENTS 12 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), high degree atrioventricular block, and indwelling permanent pacemakers were studied. SETTING Cardiology department of a tertiary referral centre. INTERVEN...

47-year-old man with dilated cardiomyopathy, ambulatory left ventricular assist device (Heartmate II, Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA), and biventricular pacemaker/ implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) (St. Jude Medical, St Paul, MN) presented with syncope to a local hospital. He was hemodynamically stable and otherwise asymptomatic. His electrolyte panel was unremarkable. Initial ...

We studied the effects of rapid atrial pacing during the final 10 minutes of a 70-minute, 31% reduction in coronary blood flow in anesthetized swine to understand the significance of apparent metabolic improvements during the initial 60 minutes of segmental ischemia. Within 5-10 minutes of ischemia, subendocardial phosphocreatine (PCr) and ATP were depleted to 47% and 63% of control, respective...

Objective: To prospectively determine whether ventricular rate and regularity are significant determinants of the velocity and magnitude of left atrial appendage (LAA) flow. Design and patients: 12 patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), high degree atrioventricular block, and indwelling permanent pacemakers were studied. Setting: Cardiology department of a tertiary referral centre. Interventio...