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Andreas Schuchert

Publications and source records attributed to Andreas Schuchert.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

New insights into the initiation of atrial fibrillation: a detailed intraindividual and interindividual analysis of the spontaneous onset of atrial fibrillation using new diagnostic pacemaker features.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated onset scenarios of atrial fibrillation (AF), the first phase of the Atrial Fibrillation Therapy (AFT) trial, to determine potential arrhythmogenic triggers as targets for atrial pacing algorithms that have been proposed for prevention of AF. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients (58 men; age 65+/-11 years) with recurrent, symptomatic, drug-refractory AF and a conventional pacemaker indication in 31 of 98 received a dual-chamber pacemaker. Using novel diagnostic pacemaker features AF onset scenarios were prospectively evaluated in 612 AF episodes during a 2-month monitoring period, with atrial pacing limited to 40 bpm. The most common onset scenario was premature atrial complexes (PACs) before AF (48% onsets per patient), followed by bradycardia (33%), sudden onset (17%), and tachycardia (0%). Combinations of onset scenarios were frequent (median 2 different scenarios per patient). A main study finding was the significance of repetitive AF, with 33% of onsets per patient being initiated within 5 minutes of a previous AF episode. Sudden onsets were more frequent among patients with than without repetitive AF (24% versus 0% onsets per patient, P=0.011), whereas the proportion of PACs before AF was not statistically different (50% versus 37%, P=0.52); however, patients with repetitive AF had more PACs per hour (72 versus 29, P=0.023) and a higher number of AF episodes per day (17 versus 0, P=0.001) and were more likely to have at least 1 PAC-related onset (90% versus 53%, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Novel diagnostic pacemaker features allowed a detailed individual analysis of rate and rhythm changes before AF and thus uncovered a substantial intraindividual and interindividual variability of AF onset scenarios.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Syncope].

Syncope is a transient, self-limiting loss of consciousness usually leading to a fall. The onset of syncope is relatively rapid and the subsequent recovery is spontaneous, complete and usually prompt. As syncope is a symptom, the aim of the diagnostic work-up is to assess whether there is a syncope or another "nonsyncopal" condition, whether there are clinical features suggesting the diagnosis, whether the patient has an increased risk for mortality or recurrent episodes, and whether the patient must be admitted to hospital. The diagnostic work-up is given for two cases: a 68-year-old male with insulin-dependent diabetes experienced his first syncope after lunch. The clinical judgment suggested a neurocardiogenic syncope. The initial evaluation consisting of history, physical examination and twelve-lead ECG evidenced that the patient received several drugs for arterial hypertension so that an orthostatic hypotension had to be ruled out. The twelve-lead ECG showed a left bundle branch block suggesting an arrhythmic syncope and the need for additional diagnostics: an echocardiography mainly to assess the left ventricular function which was normal, and a 24-h long-term ECG to rule out arrhythmias which were not observed. The patient gets an explanation of his risk and the reassurance about his excellent prognosis and some preventive lifestyle modifications such as sufficient volume intake. The second case is a sick 58-year-old male with tracheal cough und aggravating breathing who had a syncope on his way to the toilette. The cause of the syncope was related to a bronchitis with high fever. The patient received a causative treatment and recovered completely.

Cardiology↗
PubMed2006

Randomized comparison of simultaneous biventricular stimulation versus optimized interventricular delay in cardiac resynchronization therapy. The Resynchronization for the HemodYnamic Treatment for Heart Failure Management II implantable cardioverter defibrillator (RHYTHM II ICD) study.

BACKGROUND: The clinical value of interventricular (V-V) delay optimization in patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) undergoing implantation of a device for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has not been clearly demonstrated. METHODS: RHYTHM II was a single-blind randomized trial including 121 recipients of a device for CRT with cardioverter/defibrillator capabilities (CRT-D) randomly assigned in a 1:3 ratio to simultaneous (n = 30) versus optimized (OPT) (n = 91) biventricular pacing. V-V delay was optimized by echocardiography. The study end points were (1) freedom from CRT-D system-related complications and (2) changes between preimplant and 6 months of follow-up in (a) New York Heart Association CHF functional class, (b) distance covered during a 6-minute hall walk, and (c) quality of life (QOL). RESULTS: In the OPT group, the V-V delay ranged from 0 to 80 milliseconds, with 28.4% of patients stimulated at an OPT V-V delay of 0 milliseconds. The overall 6-month survival free of adverse events requiring invasive interventions was 81.8%. In the whole cohort, 6 months of CRT-D was associated with a significant decrease in New York Heart Association class, increase in the distance covered during the 6-minute hall walk, and improvement in QOL (each P < .0001). The effects of CRT-D on these end points were similar in both study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cardioverter-defibrillator capabilities was associated with a significant alleviation of CHF symptoms, increase in functional capacity, and improvement in QOL. The optimization of the V-V delay conferred no additional benefit compared with simultaneous biventricular stimulation.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Intraoperative comparison of a subthreshold test pulse with the standard high-energy shock approach for the measurement of defibrillation lead impedance.

UNLABELLED: There are two methods to measure shocking lead impedance: delivery of high-energy shocks that require patient sedation, and the painless measurement of impedance from subthreshold test pulses. The aim of this study was to compare the two methods. METHODS: The study included 131 patients implanted with a standard DR (n = 71) or VR (n = 60) ICD connected to either single-coil (n = 39) or dual-coil (n = 92) defibrillation leads. The noninvasive high-energy impedance test was done using a 17 J shock after induction of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and compared to a 0.4 microJ test pulse used by the ICD for the subthreshold measurements. RESULTS: Defibrillation lead impedance measurements were not significantly different between patients with the same shocking vector configuration. In patients with a single-coil defibrillation lead the impedance was 62 +/- 9 Omega with the high-energy shock and 62 +/- 8 Omega with the subthreshold test pulses (P = 0.13). Patients with a dual-coil configuration recorded average impedances of 40 +/- 5 Omega from both tests (P = 0.44). While there was no difference in values recorded within each lead configuration, there was a significant difference in impedance between the single-coil and the dual-coil patient groups (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant difference between shocking lead impedances measured with the high-energy shock or the subthreshold test pulses. This offers the possibility of noninvasive, low-energy serial measurements of shocking lead impedance at follow-up visits and removing the need for sedation.

Defibrillators, Implantable↗
PubMed2006

Management of far-field R wave sensing for the avoidance of inappropriate mode switch in dual chamber pacemakers: results of the FFS-test study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Far-field R wave sensing (FFS) in the atrial channel of dual chamber pacemakers is a relevant source for inappropriate mode switch from the DDD mode to the DDI or VDI mode. Inappropriate loss of atrioventricular synchrony due to false positive mode switch is hemodynamically disadvantageous, may induce atrial tachyarrhythmias, can lead to pacemaker syndrome, and impairs the reliability of pacemaker Holter data. The aim of the study was to determine whether individual adjustment of the postventricular atrial blanking period (PVAB) based on an additional test is effective in avoiding inappropriate mode switch due to FFS when compared with standard programming of the PVAB. METHODS: A total of 207 patients were supplied with a St. Jude Medical Identity DR or Identity ADx DR dual chamber pacemaker for sinus nodal disease (n = 84), atrioventricular block (n = 79), binodal disease (n = 35), or other indications (n = 9). At hospital discharge, they were randomized to an individually optimized PVAB (n = 100) or to a control group with the PVAB left at the nominal of 100 msec (n = 107). Primary endpoint was the occurrence of inappropriate mode switch due to FFS within 3 months after pacemaker implantation assessed by stored electrograms of the pacemaker. RESULTS: At the 3-month follow-up, 28/107 (26%) patients with the standard programming of the PVAB showed at least one episode of inappropriate mode switch due to FFS versus 10/100 (10%) patients with optimized PVAB (P < 0.01). The optimized PVAB was shorter than the nominal PVAB in about one-third of patients and longer in about two-third of patients. Different atrial lead localizations were not associated with the occurrence of inappropriate mode switch. CONCLUSIONS: Individual adjustment of the PVAB significantly reduces the incidence of inappropriate mode switch due to FFS.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Effect of syncope-related traumatic injuries on the diagnostic evaluation and syncope recurrence of patients with syncope and apparently normal hearts.

The aims of this study were to assess the frequency of traumatic injuries in patients with syncope and apparently normal hearts and their influence on the diagnostic evaluation and recurrence of syncope. Patients presenting with syncope before head-up tilt testing frequently had a history of syncope-related injuries. Syncope-related injuries seemed to be random: they was not related to patients' histories, including the number of previous syncopal attacks, and they had no predictive value for the outcome of head-up tilt testing or for the recurrence of syncope during 1-year follow-up.

Female↗
PubMed2005

Implantable dual-chamber defibrillator for the selective treatment of spontaneous atrial and ventricular arrhythmias: arrhythmia incidence and device performance.

INTRODUCTION: Atrial tachyarrhythmias are a common co-morbidity in patients with an ICD indication. Recently introduced ICD's are equipped to independently detect and treat atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the incidence and termination of spontaneous atrial and ventricular tachyarrythmias in patients with a history of atrial tachyarrhythmias. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ninety patients, 70% male with an ICD indication and history of atrial tachyarrhythmia (LVEF 45 +/- 6%, [AT/AF indication 55 +/- 10, AT/VT 45 +/- 16], 46% CAD) were enrolled and 89 were implanted with a VENTAK PRIZM AVT (Guidant). Spontaneous atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias were printed and evaluated during an average follow-up period of 272 +/- 72 days utilizing the stored intracardial electrogram function of the device. Nineteen patients (21%) presented had only atrial tachyarrhythmias, 32 patients (36%) had both atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias and 18 patients (20%) had only ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Patients with only atrial tachyarrhythmias had a total of 3274 atrial episodes; 2002 terminated spontaneously, 1264 were treated with ATP and 8 with shock therapy. ATP was successful in 735 (58%) of 1264 episodes. Patients with both atrial and ventricular tachyarrhythmias had 7277 documented atrial tachyarrhythmias, 5231 terminated spontaneously, 1153 of 2009 were terminated by ATP (57.4%) and 37 by shock therapy (20 patient controlled). Atrial tachyarrhythmias identified as atrial flutter (AT) by the atrial rhythm classification (ARC) algorithm had a higher ATP conversion success rate than episodes identified as atrial fibrillation (AF); 66.7% for AT and 26.4% for AF. Patients with only ventricular tachyarrhythmias had 690 documented episodes, 401 terminated spontaneously, 248 (85.8%) were terminated by ATP and 41 by shock. CONCLUSION: Seventy-seven percent of patients with an ICD indication had spontaneous atrial and/or ventricular tachyharrhythmias within the first 6 months after ICD implantation. ATP therapy terminated 58% of all atrial tachyarrhytmias and 66.7% of the atrial flutters. The dual chamber ICD detected, classified and terminated all ventricular tacharrhythmias appropriately.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Atrial pacing and sensing characteristics in heart failure patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy.

UNLABELLED: Patients with heart failure and sinus rhythm undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) require the proper detection of atrial signals and reliable atrial pacing for AV-synchronous ventricular pacing. The study aim was to compare atrial pacing and sensing characteristics in patients with transvenous CRT and patients with standard pacing indications. METHODS: The study group consisted of 31 heart failure patients with depressed left ventricular function and bundle branch block, and the control group of 124 patients with dual-chamber pacemakers because of standard pacing indications. The bipolar steroid-eluting atrial screw-in lead Tendril DX 1388 T (St. Jude Medical) was implanted and connected to pulse generators that provide similar diagnostic features. The unipolar pacing threshold at 0.4 ms duration, bipolar sensing threshold, and unipolar pacing impedance were determined at implantation and after 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS: At implantation, the atrial pacing threshold was significantly higher in the CRT group than in the control group, 1.07+/-0.99 V versus 0.74+/-0.36 V (P<0.01). Similar pacing thresholds were recorded after 1 month. The pacing threshold in the CRT group was significantly higher at 1.46+/-0.92 V after 3 and 1.50+/-0.94 V after 6 months (control group: 0.96+/-0.25 V at month 3; 0.98+/-0.32 V at month 6; P<0.05). Sensing threshold was similar at implantation with 2.36+/-1.87 mV in the CRT and 2.54+/-0.78 mV in the control group. The sensing threshold in the CRT group decreased to 1.64+/-0.8 6mV after 3 and to 1.71+/-0.71 mV after 6 months and was significantly lower compared with the control group (2.16+/-0.57 mV at month 3; 2.27+/-0.9 8mV at month 6; P<0.05). At implant, the atrial pacing impedance was not different between the two groups with 443+/-156 ohms in the CRT and 416+/-116 ohms in the control group. During follow-up, the impedance became significantly lower in the CRT group compared with the control group (404+/-84 ohms versus 452+/-101 ohms at month 3; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with patients with standard pacing indications, CRT recipients have less good electrical characteristics in the atrium. Atrial pacing and sensing function should be closely monitored in CRT patients.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Moderate exercise induces different autonomic modulations of sinus and AV node.

BACKGROUND: The routine determination of heart rate variability (HRV) from surface ECGs is based on RR intervals because of the difficulty to precisely locate the P-wave fiducial point on surface ECG recordings. The aim of the study was to assess the changes of RR, PP, and PR intervals at rest and during moderate exercise. The time intervals were determined from atrial and ventricular pacemaker-mediated intracardiac electrograms. METHODS: Ten patients in sinus rhythm with intrinsic AV node conduction who had received the dual-chamber pacemaker Logos (Biotronik) were included. High-resolution atrial and ventricular intracardiac electrograms were transmitted at rest in supine position and during walking to a portable external recorder. Recording sequences of 150 successive heart cycles were used for HRV analyses after computer-assisted triggering of P and R events. The HRV-index SDNN and power spectral densities for the low (LF; 0.04-0.15 Hz) as well as high (HF; 0.15-0.40 Hz) frequency bands were determined. RESULTS: SDNN decreased from 26.0 +/- 8.1 ms at rest to 18.3 +/- 4.2 ms during exercise for the PP intervals (P < 0.05) and from 26.8 +/- 8.1 to 18.4 +/- 4.1 ms for the RR intervals (P < 0.05). The LF/HF ratio increased from 2.02 +/- 1.3 to 4.5 +/- 1.5 in the atrium (P < 0.05) and from 2.0 +/- 1.2 to 5.2 +/- 1.9 in the ventricle P < 0.05). Comparing atrial and ventricular HRV at both activity levels, no significant differences were observed for the power of LF and HF spectral components. Regarding the PR intervals SDNN, the total power and the LF/HF ratio did not significantly change during exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The described technique enabled to record intracardiac electrograms not only at rest, but also during moderate exercise and to use them for HRV evaluation. The changes of PP and RR, but not of the PR intervals, during exercise indicate that autonomic inputs to the sinus node and AV node are independent from each other. The ventricular HRV seems to derive mainly from variations of the sinus node pulse formation.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Contributions of permanent cardiac pacing in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.

Newer indications for permanent cardiac stimulation include the prevention of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) and cardiac resynchronisation in patients suffering from advanced heart failure. Direct comparisons between VVI and DDD or AAI pacing showed an advantage conferred by physiological pacing on the risk of developing AF during long-term follow-up in patients with sinus node dysfunction, AV block, or both. Furthermore, in patients with conventional pacing indications and paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmias, a high percentage of atrial pacing was associated with a lighter AF burden. This article reviews several important issues involved in the optimisation of cardiac pacing with a view to prevent paroxysmal AF by new, dedicated pacing algorithms. The AF Suppression trade mark algorithm significantly reduced the rates of symptomatic paroxysmal AF. This algorithm, which confers its benefit by maintaining the atrial pacing rate slightly above the spontaneous sinus rate, should be activated in patients with a history of atrial tachyarrhythmia. Implanting the lead in the low atrial septum seems to reduce further the frequency of tachyarrhythmic events. Future indications for this mode of pacing may be extended to patients at high risk of new-onset or recurrent AF, such as candidates for cardiac resynchronisation therapy or implantable cardioverter/defibrillator recipients.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2004

Effect of atrial tachyarrhythmia duration on percentage of time with atrial pacing in pacemaker patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

UNLABELLED: Atrial pacing can prevent the recurrence of paroxysmal atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) in pacemaker patients. The aim of the study was to determine in pacemaker patients the effect of AT duration on the percentage of time with atrial pacing by programming the same setting twice. METHODS: In 14 pacemaker patients with paroxysmal AT the dual-chamber pacemaker was programmed to identical parameters for two consecutive follow-up periods. The pacemakers were interrogated after three months to determine the percentage of time with atrial pacing relative to the total time of follow-up periods and the AT duration (atrial rates >150 bpm). The two three-month follow-up periods were compared to each other. The differences between the two follow-up periods were determined for the percentage of time with atrial pacing as well as for the AT duration. To assess the relationship between atrial pacing and AT duration, the differences between the two follow-up periods for atrial pacing and AT duration were correlated to each other. In addition, the percentage of atrial pacing was corrected for AT duration. RESULTS: Median percentage of atrial pacing relative to the complete follow-up period was 73% after the first and 76% after the second period and median AT duration 21% and 18%, respectively (not significantly different). The differences between the first and second study period were 1% for atrial pacing and -2% for AT duration. The percentage of atrial pacing and AT duration were inversely related together with a significant correlation coefficient of r = 0.95 ( p = 0.0001). After atrial pacing was corrected for AT duration, the percentage of atrial pacing relative to the time in sinus rhythm was significantly higher with a median of 93% for the first and second period ( p = 0.005). The correlation coefficient between the percentage of atrial pacing relative to the time in sinus rhythm and AT duration was r = 0.08 (not significant). CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of time with atrial pacing can be underestimated in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and should be carefully interpreted in relation to AT duration.

Aged↗
PubMed2004

Clinical experience with a new detection algorithm for differentiation of supraventricular from ventricular tachycardia in a dual-chamber defibrillator.

INTRODUCTION: Inadequate therapy for supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVT) is a frequent problem of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). Dual-chamber ICDs have been developed to improve discrimination of SVT from ventricular tachycardia (VT). We investigated the positive predictivity, sensitivity, and specificity of a new algorithm, the SMART detection trade mark algorithm, incorporated in the Phylax AV (Biotronik) dual-chamber ICD. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two hundred nine patients (185 men, age 64 +/- 11 years) received a Phylax AV ICD with SMART detection trade mark activated. In 138 of these patients, 1,245 sustained tachycardia episodes with a detailed electrogram were stored in the device during a follow-up period of 10 +/- 6 months. Episodes were correctly classified as ventricular fibrillation (VF, n = 178) in 52 patients, VT (n = 641) in 98 patients, and SVT (n = 385) in 48 patients by the algorithm. Forty-one true SVT episodes (3.3%) were misclassified as VT: atrial fibrillation (n = 7) and flutter (n = 1), sinus tachycardia (n = 12), and other SVT (n = 21). The positive predictivity for VF/VT was 94.5% (95% CI 92.7-95.8) uncorrected and 94.5% (95% CI 92.9-95.8%) corrected with the generalized equation estimation (GEE) method. The positive predictivity for SVT was 100%. The specificity was 88.9% (95% CI 85.6-91.6%) uncorrected and 89.0% (95% CI 85.6-91.6%) corrected with the GEE method with a sensitivity of 100%. CONCLUSION: The SMART detection trade mark algorithm was safe and reliable for the detection of all ventricular tachycardias. Although its specificity was high, it should be improved with regard to SVT to avoid inappropriate ICD therapies.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Two-year performance of a preshaped lead for left ventricular stimulation.

Important goals, when implanting a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) system, are to reach a stable LV lead position in a suitable coronary sinus (CS) tributary associated with a low capture threshold and no extracardiac stimulation. The aim of this study was to assess the 2-year performance of a new preshaped lead designed for LV stimulation. The study enrolled 102 patients with heart failure and bundle branch block who underwent implantation of a CRT system, including a sheath-guided, unipolar, S-shaped LV lead placed in a CS tributary. At each follow-up the electrical parameters and CRT system related adverse events were recorded. Eight patients who underwent LV stimulation alone, versus 88 patients who received biventricular CRT systems, were analyzed separately. Access to the CS was reached in 98 patients, and the lead was permanently implanted in 96 (94%) patients. The overall procedural time was 98 +/- 28 minutes. During follow-up, three patients underwent reinterventions for phrenic nerve stimulation (n = 2) and hematoma (n = 1). The capture threshold at implantation was 1.4 +/- 0.9 V with LV versus 1.7 +/- 0.5 V with biventricular stimulation, and after a transient increase, remained between 1.6 and 1.9 V in both configurations. The device measured impedance was significantly higher with LV than with biventricular stimulation at the time of CRT system implantation (698 +/- 296 Omega vs 380 +/- 67 Omega, P < 0.05) and during follow-up. The initial R wave amplitude was 14.3 +/- 5.9 mV in LV versus 8.9 +/- 3.2 V in the biventricular configuration (NS) and 13.8 +/- 7 mV in LV versus 12.8 +/- 4.8 mV in the biventricular configuration at 24 months (NS). Implantation of the S-shaped LV lead for CRT was safe, expeditious, and associated with a high success rate and reliable long-term performance.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Feasibility of atrial sensing via a free-floating single-pass defibrillation lead for dual-chamber defibrillators.

BACKGROUND: Detection and misclassification of rapidly conducted atrial fibrillation (AF) and marked sinus tachycardia by implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) can result in the delivery of inappropriate therapies. Continuous atrial sensing may improve the differentiation between supraventricular and ventricular tachycardia. The present approach is to implant a separate atrial pacing lead connected to a dual-chamber defibrillator. We hypothesized that a free-floating single-pass defibrillation lead reliably senses the atrial electrical activity. The aim of the study was to assess during implantation the efficacy of a custom-built free-floating single-pass defibrillation lead and to record sinus rhythm (SR), induced AF, and atrial flutter (Afl). METHODS: The free-floating single-pass defibrillation lead (Biotronik, Berlin, Germany) had an atrial bipole with 10 mm spacing and a distance between the atrial bipole and the electrode tip of 13.5, 15 or 17-cm. The lead was temporarily implanted in 15 patients during an ICD implantation. Fifteen seconds recordings were made during SR and after the induction of AF and Afl as well as during induced ventricular fibrillation. The amplitude and the time that the amplitude was less than 0.3 mV were assessed. RESULTS: The amplitude during SR (2.1 +/- 1.4 mV) was significantly higher compared with the amplitudes for Afl (1.3 +/- 0.5 mV; p < 0.02) and AF (0.7 +/- 0.5 mV; p < 0.001). Low amplitudes were not observed during SR and rarely during Afl (1.6 +/- 3.1%), but they were observed 19.9 +/- 15.9% of the time during AF (p < 0.05). The correlation coefficients between SR and AF amplitudes were r = 0.25, between SR and Afl amplitudes r = 0.31, and between AF and Afl amplitudes r = 0.41. During the ventricular fibrillation conversion test 9 patients were in continuous SR. The P-wave amplitude before the induction of ventricular fibrillation was 2.1 +/- 1.4 mV. The signal during ventricular fibrillation decreased to 1.1 +/- 0.7 mV and increased immediately after the termination of ventricular fibrillation to 1.6 +/- 0.8 mV. CONCLUSIONS: The recorded unfiltered signals indicate that SR as well as AF and Afl can immediately be detected after the implantation of the new free-floating single-pass defibrillation lead. High signal amplitude during SR did not predict high amplitude during AF or Afl. During induced ventricular fibrillation the P-wave amplitude decreased intermittently.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Effect of left ventricular function on long-term left ventricular pacing and sensing threshold.

BACKGROUND: The effect of left ventricular (LV) systolic function on the long-term left ventricular pacing and sensing threshold is unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied the effect of LV ejection fraction (LVEF) on the LV pacing and sensing threshold in 56 patients (mean age: 70.2 +/- 10.5 years) underwent permanent LV pacing using a self-retaining coronary sinus lead (Model 1055 K, St Jude Medical, USA). In 49 patients, the LV lead was implanted for conventional pacemaker indication (sick sinus syndrome = 14, heart block = 26 or slow atrial fibrillation = 9). The remaining 7 patients were implanted for congestive heart failure. The LV pacing and sensing threshold, and lead impedance were compared between patients with LVEF <40% (Group 1, n = 28) and LVEF >40% (Group 2, n = 28) during implant and at 3-month follow up. The LV pacing lead was successfully implanted in all patients without any lead dislodgement on follow-up. At implant, Group 1 patients had a significant lower R wave amplitude, but similar LV pacing threshold and lead impedance as compared to Group 2. However, at 3-month follow-up, Group 1 patients had a significantly higher LV pacing threshold compared to Group 2 patients. There were no significant differences in the sensing threshold and lead impedance between the two groups. Furthermore, there was also a significant interval increase in LV pacing threshold in Group 1 patients (0.94 +/- 0.12 V) after 3 months, but not in Group 2 patients (0.16 +/- 0.08 V, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the LV systolic function has a significant impact on the long-term LV pacing threshold. The long-term left ventricular pacing threshold in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction increased after implant and was higher than patients with normal left ventricular systolic function.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Evaluation of a dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillator for the treatment of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.

Eighty-nine patients with a documented history of atrial tachyarrhythmias or fibrillation (AF) received a cardioverter defibrillator designed to selectively differentiate and treat atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. Twenty-two patients received a coronary sinus lead and, therefore, could use a separate shock vector for selective treatment of atrial tachyarrhythmias/AF. The device is designed to treat tachyarrhythmias with antitachycardia pacing (ATP) and/or shock therapy using an atrial and/or a ventricular shock vector. Patients underwent induction and shock termination of atrial or dual tachyarrhythmias (AF/VF) to verify proper device function and to measure the arrhythmia detection time with enhancements and preventive algorithms programmed On and Off, respectively. Detection time for 329 VF inductions was 2.41 +/- 0.64 seconds with enhancements On and 2.29 +/- 0.47 with enhancements Off (NS). At implant or predischarge, 283 AF and/or AF/VF (121 atrial and 162 atrial/ventricular fibrillation) were induced. Shock conversion efficacy was 89.8% with AF conversion energies ranging from 0.9 to 27 J. Thirteen of the 23 patients had atrial shock conversions using the separate shock vector with an average conversion energy of 1.9 +/- 1.4 J. (range 0.5-5 J). During follow-up the efficacy of ATP on atrial tachyarrhythmias was 59% and the efficacy of delivered shocks on AF was 85%. This new dual chamber cardioverter defibrillator appropriately detected and classified atrial arrhythmias, and shock therapy for AF was highly effective. The detection algorithm differentiated atrial tachyarrhythmia/AF and did not delay VF detection. The separate shock vector converted induced AF with energies ranging from 0.6 to 5 J.

Atrial Fibrillation↗
PubMed2003

Diagnostic yield of external electrocardiographic loop recorders in patients with recurrent syncope and negative tilt table test.

External electrocardiographic loop recording permits extended cardiac rhythm monitoring and ECG storage before and after device activation. The purpose of the study was to assess the diagnostic yield of external loop recorders in patients with more than two syncopal events within the last 6 months and a negative tilt table test. Twenty-four consecutive patients (51 +/- 14 years, male n = 9) were enrolled with 3 +/- 4 recurrent syncopal events within the last 6 months and no overt structural heart disease. The loop recorder CardioCall continuously records a two-channel ECG via skin electrodes. When activated, up to 4.5 minutes of the ECG preceding activation is stored. The time between tilt table testing and monitoring was 5 +/- 4 weeks. The average monitoring period covered 50 +/- 22 days. Recording was either unsuccessful or terminated prematurely in 5 patients. The reasons were skin irritation secondary to the electrodes in two patients, cable damage in one patient, and two patients inadvertently erased the stored data when replacing the batteries. Fourteen patients activated the loop recorder at least once. Symptoms leading to device activation were syncope (n = 1), dizziness (n = 11), feeling unwell (n = 7), palpitations (n = 5), headaches (n = 1), and chest pain (n = 1). The loop recorder documented sinus tachycardia during the syncopal event. Sinus tachycardia was also observed in 7 other patients, and atrial flutter in two patients. Eight patients had recurrent syncope with two patients experiencing syncope prior to the monitoring period, one syncope occurred in a patient who inadvertently erased the stored data, one event coincided with sinus tachycardia, and 4 (17%) patients had syncope during 15 +/- 10 months after termination of loop monitoring. The external loop recorder was not very useful for arrhythmia detection in patients with syncopal events, no overt heart disease, and a negative tilt table test because the cardiac rhythm was stored in only 1 of 8 (13%) patients with recurrent syncope. Reasons for the low diagnostic yield of external loop recorders were infrequent syncopal events after the baseline evaluation, with rare events during the limited monitoring period in particular, and premature termination or unsuccessful recording in 21% of patients.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗