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Biomedical subjects

F Walczak

Publications and source records attributed to F Walczak.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[2 episodes of ventricular fibrillation in a patient with mild paroxysms of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome].

In a patient with an overt Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and short paroxysms of atrio-ventricular tachycardia, episodes of atrial fibrillation occurred twice at age of 21 and 24. Atrial fibrillation degenerated into ventricular fibrillation. Intravenous injection of verapamil in this patient (with a short refractory period of the accessory pathway) could have facilitated ventricular fibrillation. The patient was resuscitated successfully. Electrophysiologic study revealed double accessory pathways--in the left free wall (effective refractory period in both directions--below 200 ms) and right posterior ++para-septal localization. 20th Nov 1990 A. Biederman M.D. performed surgical dissection of both accessory pathways. In control electrophysiologic studies there was no evidence of abnormal atrio-ventricular conduction. During one year follow up the patient reported no paroxysms of tachycardia.

Adult↗

[Early results of surgical treatment of patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome].

Successful dissection of accessory pathways (AcP's) was performed in 19 of 20 patients. 15 pts had single, 4 double and 1 patient had 3 accessory pathways (AcP's). The patient with 3 AcP's was operated twice. During the first operation two AcP's were eliminated. The third one was revealed during the postoperative electrophysiologic study. Verapamil facilitated its manifestation and localisation. No patient had syncope or atrio-ventricular tachycardia after the operation. In 3 of 10 patients who had atrial fibrillation before the operation, episodes of AF occurred in the early postoperative period. Conduction to the ventricles was through the normal conduction system. Dissection of AcP's prevented extremely fast ventricular response and syncope. After discontinuation of amiodarone more frequent ventricular premature beats occurred in patients with long history of cardiac arrhythmias, on drugs for a long time and in patients who had heart dilatation. Several months after the operation VEB were less frequent, probably because tachycardias did not occur, left ventricle geometry improved, and cardiodepressant drugs were discontinued. Previously these patients had been treated usually with combination of 2-3 such drugs. After the successful dissection of AcP's the patients lost the feeling of illness and do not feel being imperilled. Children can attend schools normally and some adult patients resumed their professional activities.

Adolescent↗

[Electrocardiography of high resolution in the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic dysplasia of the right ventricle].

UNLABELLED: To assess the diagnostic value of high resolution ECG in ARVD which is a rare and diagnostically difficult disease, cardiac micropotentials were evaluated in 32 pts with ventricular arrhythmias with LBBB pattern and right axis deviation. Typical ECG-, ECHO-, angiographic features of ARVD were found in 9 pts (mean age 36 y, VT 8 pts, MAS-5). Normal right ventricle (NRV) (Echo, Tc99) was seen in 23 pts (mean age 36 y, VT-14 pts, MAS-6). 25 healthy man (mean age 28 y) served as control (C). RESULTS: [table: see text] Morphology of total QRS complex in pts with ARVD, comparing to NRV pts and C, was exceptionally characteristic: it was composed of high frequency notches seen not only as prolonged LP but also within fundamental QRS complex. CONCLUSION: In pts with ARVD beside presence of LP, significantly prolonged TVAT and characteristic notches within QRS complex are observed, therefore the high resolution ECG is a promising method in noninvasive diagnosis of ARVD.

Adult↗

[Clinical and electrophysiological indications for surgical treatment in patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome].

20 patients with WPW syndrome and recurrent tachyarrhythmias were studied clinically and electrophysiologically. The localization and electrophysiological properties of accessory pathways and other heart structures were estimated before the surgical treatment. 13 patients (pts) suffered syncope in the course of atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation with heart rate greater than 300/min, often proceeding into ventricular fibrillation or atrioventricular tachycardia greater than 260/min, which sometimes proceeds into atrial/ventricular fibrillation. 6 pts experienced dizziness or fainted during tachyarrhythmias or rhythm changes. In 15 pts antiarrhythmic drugs in monotherapy or various combinations did not prevent recurrence of tachyarrhythmias. In 4 of 5 other pts only amiodarone was effective but the drug was discontinued due to serious adverse effects. The lack of good effect of antiarrhythmic drug therapy can be based on mutually unfavorable electrophysiologic properties of the accessory pathways and other heart structures. Pts who experienced syncope had a particularly short effective refractory period (ERP) of the accessory pathways in ante- and retro-grade direction and short ERP of the ventricle muscle. Additionally, there were multiple accessory pathways, heart muscle impairement and frequent ventricular premature beats--factors triggering the tachyarrhythmias.

Adolescent↗

[Indications for emergency surgical treatment of ectopic atrial tachycardia].

Recurrent automatic atrial tachycardia can induce dilated cardiomyopathy. We present clinical and therapeutic problems of 16 years old male with ectopic left atrial tachycardia refractory to pharmacological therapy. In this patient long periods of atrial tachycardia 200-240/min due to lack of effective medication caused cardiac failure. Uncontrolled taking of various antiarrhythmic drugs and persistent tachycardia led to cardiogenic shock. The electrophysiologic study revealed focus of the tachycardia localized in the area of left cardiac auricle. The rate of the tachycardia was changing from 84 to 240/min, with periods of Mobitz I block in the AV node. In periods of 1:1 AV conduction the tachycardia had sometimes LBBB QRS morphology. The atrial tachycardia provoked unsustained ventricular one. The patient was operated. Resection of left auricle and mitral valvuloplasty were performed. After the operation the patient regained undisturbed sinus rhythm and symptoms of heart failure disappeared.

Adolescent↗

[Dilated cardiomyopathy in children and adolescents. Diagnostic problems, clinical course and prognosis].

UNLABELLED: The clinical profile of 19 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy from 2 to 18 years old (mean age 13.4 +/- 4 years) was reviewed to detect any factors that might be predictive for their survival. Follow-up study ranged from 5 to 105 months (mean 39 +/- 33 months). All patients received digitalis + diuretics, 12 were managed with immunosuppression, 16 with antiarrhythmics. There were 12 survivors and 7 nonsurvivors: the 1-year mortality was 21.2%, the 2-years mortality was 35.8%. All deaths were within first 2 years. In 12 patients who survived 2 years, significant improvement was noticed in 9 cases. Endomyocardial biopsy was performed in 16 patients. Four of them with histological diagnosis of myocarditis survived and in 3 of them a considerable improvement was noticed. Half of 12 patients with nonspecific histological findings died (p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference between survivors and nonsurvivors in all following parameters: the incidence of severe heart failure (NYHA class III-IV) and severe ventricular arrhythmias (Lown III-IV), relative heart volume, echocardiographic LVDD, haemodynamic parameters--CI, LVEF, LVEDP, LVEDVI. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical, electrocardiographic, echocardiographic and haemodynamic data are nonpredictive for survival. The most dangerous period are the first two years of illness. In long term, improvement was noticed in half of patients.

Adolescent↗

[Recurrent episodes of Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome due to degeneration of atrio-ventricular tachycardias into atrial fibrillation in a patient with Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome].

We present clinical problems and the therapy of a 52 year old patient with Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome and numerous episodes of Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome. In that patient atrio-ventricular tachycardia caused atrial fibrillation. Short refractory period of the accessory pathway and the ventricular muscle allowed for extremely fast ventricular rate with haemodynamic collapse and syncope. Long-term treatment with propafenone or amiodarone did not prevent the arrhythmias. Electrophysiological study pre- and intraoperation including the epicardial mapping were performed several weeks after discontinuation of therapy with amiodarone. The studies revealed left free wall accessory pathway. Dr. A. Biederman and al. performed dissection of the accessory pathway. There were no evidence of conduction through the accessory pathway during the post operation electrophysiologic study. The patient has neither reentrant tachycardias nor atrial fibrillation episodes.

Adams-Stokes Syndrome↗

[Reversible congestive cardiomyopathy due to chronic atrio-ventricular tachycardia].

A case of reversible congestive cardiomyopathy induced by a chronic tachycardia is presented. During esophageal stimulation (R-P' = 307 ms, H-A' = 355 ms, A' - H = 85 ms) it was found that tachycardia is probably due to an accessory pathway. The left ventricular dimensions were 6.0 cm (systole) and 7.0 cm (diastole), ejection fraction (EF) was 15%. After 5 days of therapy with amiodarone and methyldigoxin the patient's rhythm converted to sinus rhythm. After 15 months of therapy the EF increased to 47%, end-diastolic left ventricular dimension diminished to 5.1 cm.

Adult↗

[Dissection of the accessory conduction pathways with simultaneous mitral valve surgery].

The case of surgical treatment of a 44-years old female with a double atrio-ventricular accessory pathway and mitral stenosis was described. Fast ventricular rates due to conduction through the accessory pathways during atrial fibrillation in course of mitral stenosis caused severe heart failure, occasionally with deep hypotonia. Combined treatment with prajmaline and propafenone blocked conduction through accessory pathways. The ventricular rate slowed from approx. 200/min to 150/min. Addition of digoxin slowed the ventricular rate down to approx 80-100/min. There were no signs of preexcitation. Treatment with diuretics and vasodilators was continued. The state of patient improved. Echocardiographic and hemodynamic evaluation revealed: mitral stenosis (orifice - 75 mm2) with moderate regurgitation, small aortic and tricuspid regurgitation. The coronary arteries were normal. On the base of the ECG recordings during atrial fibrillation both accessory pathways were localized on lateral and posterior parts of the left free wall. The patient was operated on. Both atrio-ventricular by-pass tracts were dissected using Sealy's method in Cox modification and then mitral valve prosthesis Medtronic-Hall 27 mm was implanted. Prajmaline and propafenone were discontinued and preexcitation did not recovered. The sinus rhythm was restored by electroversion. The patient had no overt heart failure on discharge from the Institute.

Adult↗

Pyramid electrode location in a cardiac micropotential study.

There are several electrode systems dealing with low noise, body surface, and ECG recordings that have been suggested by various investigators. In the last few years, the most developed system for late potential detection has been related to the uncorrected Frank XYZ leads. However, for His bundle detection many different electrode networks have been used. A pyramid-type electrode system has been used previously for His-Purkinje signal measurement and, with some modifications, for late ventricular activity recordings. This pyramid-type system was used to evaluate 300 adult patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) or cardiomyopathy. In the proposed system, electrodes are located near the myocardium with their configuration consisting of three electrode pairs forming a pyramidal shape. Each electrode can also play the role of the top of the pyramid, with all measurement directions converging to a point. By changing the pyramidal top, signals can be detected in various chosen measurement directions. The pyramid system provides spatial averaging facility, allowing the whole measuring system (consisting of low noise multi-input amplifiers) to detect signals in the range of 1 microVp-p on a beat-to-beat basis. In the majority of cases in hospital environments, however, a number of digital averaging cycles is still necessary. Using this system, late potentials (LP) were found in 29% of the patients without myocardial infarction (MI) and in 86% of cases with remote MI and sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and/or ventricular fibrillation (VF). Waveforms suspected to be of His-Purkinje System (HPS) origin were detected in 71% of subjects with normal or prolonged P-R segment.

Action Potentials↗