PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

H G Fieguth

Publications and source records attributed to H G Fieguth.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Pelvic symptoms 6 months after implantation of an automatic cardioverter-defibrillator].

Very few complications after implantation of an automatic cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) have been observed. Most complications are caused by infections, electrode problems and inappropriate ICD shocks caused by supraventricular tachyarrythmia. We report on a 64-year-old patient who received an ICD after successful resuscitation due to ventricular fibrillation. Six months after ICD implant the patient suffered from abdominal pain. Abdominal X-ray and ultrasound revealed perforation of the ICD into the pelvis. After operative revision and implantation into a new pulse generator pouch, the patient was fine up to 7 months later. Then incarceration of an epigastric hernia was present without any signs that the defibrillator pouch was involved.

Abdominal Pain↗
PubMed1995

[Cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in the heart catheterization laboratory--observations with 105 patients].

Today, we are facing an exponential increase in implantation of cardioverter defibrillators (ICD). The intraoperative and follow-up results are reported in 105 patients (pts) with ventricular tachyarrythmias who underwent ICD implantation in the catheterization laboratory. Fifty-seven pts (54%) hat their first ICD implant (G 1), whereas 46 pts (44%) underwent pulse generator replacement or electrode revision (2 pts, 2%) (G 2). In all pts, ICD implant or pulse generator replacement was performed under general anesthesia from the beginning. In 57/58 pts (98%) in G 1, ICD implantation was possible with a mean defibrillation threshold (DFT) of 13 +/- 8 joules. One patient hat a DFT of > 25 joules and ICD implantation was not achieved. This patient underwent epicardial lead implantation 1 day later. One patient in G 1 had a vessel rupture (v. subclavia) intraoperatively. During a mean follow-up of 5 +/- 2 (< 1-13) months, three pts (3%) died from congestive heart failure, 2, 4 and 6 months after device implantation. An infection occurred in 1 patient in G 2, 3 months after generator replacement. Our data show that in the majority of patients ICD implantation in the cath-lab is possible, safe, and the complication rate is low. Therefore, ICD implantation in the cath-lab can generally be recommended.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[10 years of therapy with implantable defibrillators--observation in 353 patients].

Since January 1984, the cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has been implanted in 353 patients (pts). Epicardial ICD implantation was performed in 207 pts and 146 pts underwent non-thoracotomy ICD implant. Overall operative mortality was 3% (12/353 pts) and was significantly higher in pts with epicardial ICD implantation (11/207 pts, 5%) than in patients who received non-thoracotomy ICDs (1/146 pts, < 1%) (p < 0.05). During a mean follow-up of 25 +/- 23 months, 63 pts (19%) died: 8 pts (0.8% per year) from sudden arrhythmic death and 6 pts (0.8% per year) suddenly without an underlying arrhythmia. Cardiac death was observed in 36 pts (4% per year) and 13 pts (2% per year) died from other causes. Appropriate ICD discharges were observed in 245 pts (72%) with a mean incidence of 22 +/- 44 IC discharges per pt. In pts with third-generation ICDs, 3,542 ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA) were observed and terminated by primary ICD shocks in 778 VTA (22%). Antitachycardia pacing was attempted in 2,764 VTA (78%) and was successful in 2,484 VTA (90%).

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Experiences with the new cardioverter-defibrillator Ventak PRxII].

Clinical safety and efficacy of the new third-generation implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) Ventak PRxII was studied in 50 patients (pts) with ventricular tachycardia (VT) and/or fibrillation (VF). In 23 pts (46%) the ICD was implanted with a transvenous lead system as first implant and 27 pts (54%) received the Ventak PRxII as generator replacement. Intraoperatively, the mean defibrillation threshold (DFT) was 13 +/- 8 joules and 12 +/- 8 joules, respectively. One pt died perioperatively. During a follow-up of 5.3 +/- 3.8 months 3 patients died due to heart failure. During follow-up 1060 arrhythmia episodes (AE) occurred and were terminated primarily by countershock in 121 AE (11%). Antitachycardia pacing (ATP) was tried in 939 AE (89%) and was successful in 878 AE (94%). Acceleration was present in 6 AE (< 1%). We conclude that there is a high efficacy rate in AE termination by the Ventak PRxII, using ATP or countershock. Therefore, the Ventak PRxII allows a flexible approach to cardiac rhythm management.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[The role of anti-tachycardia stimulation in patients with 3rd-generation defibrillators].

The most effective antitachycardia pacing mode (ATP) is still a matter of debate. Randomized prospective testing of 5 different ATP modes was performed in 82 patients (pts) prior to and after cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. The 5 ATP modes included 3-4 stimulation attempts with 4-10 adaptive scanning burst pulses. Adaptive burst coupling interval was 75% in mode A, 81% in mode B, 69% in mode C, 72% in mode D, and 88% in mode E. Auto-decremental scanning within bursts was 8 ms in modi A, B, and C, and 10 ms in modus E; autodecremental scanning between bursts was 8 ms in modi B and C, and 10 ms in modus D. During the pre-op electrophysiologic study (EP), termination (TR) of induced ventricular tachycardia (VT) was possible in 69% and by pre-discharge EP in 53%. Acceleration (AC) rates were 16% pre-op and 32% post-op (p = ns). There were no significant differences in TR or AC between modes A-E. During a mean follow-up of 18 +/- 4 (< 1-41) months, 3182 arrhythmia episodes (AE) occurred: 344 AE (11%) were terminated by primary ICD shocks and ATP was attempted in 2838 AE (89%) and was successful in 2576 AE (91%). AC occurred in 87 AE (3%) and ATP was without effect in 175 AE (6%). Our data show that ATP is helpful in patients with third-generation ICDs and is very effective during follow-up. However, there is no ideal ATP-mode visible in the present study.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Risk and benefit of additional aortocoronary bypass grafting in patients undergoing cardioverter-defibrillator implantation.

It is unclear whether additional aortocoronary bypass grafting should be performed in patients who need an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in one- or two-step procedures. Therefore we studied the follow-up of 139 patients who underwent epicardial implantation of the cardioverter defibrillator (CD). All patients had coronary artery disease and recurrent ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation. Eighty-nine patients had implantation of the CD without additional surgical approaches (group G1), and 50 patients had concomitant aortocoronary bypass grafting (group G2). Perioperative mortality (within 30 days after CD implant) was 1 (1%) of 89 patients in G1 and 6 (12%) of 50 patients in G2 (p < 0.01). During the mean follow-up of 26 +/- 20 months, sudden death occurred in four (4%) of 89 patients in G1 and two (4%) of 50 patients in G2. Twenty-three (17%) patients died of cardiac failure (18 [20%] patients in G1 and 5 [10%] patients in G2). ICD discharges occurred in 69 (78%) of 89 patients in G1 and in 36 (72%) of 50 patients in G2. The mean incidence of ICD discharges was 23 +/- 69 shocks per patient in G1 and 18 +/- 25 shocks per patient in G2 (p = NS). We conclude that concomitant aortocoronary bypass grafting during CD implantation leads to a higher perioperative mortality. Avoidance of myocardial ischemia does not significantly influence sudden death mortality nor markedly reduce the number of ICD discharges.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Surgical interventions in ischemic ventricular tachyarrhythmias--endocardial resection or implanted cardioverter/defibrillator.

The surgical therapy of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA) in ischemic heart disease is attracting attention, since current medical therapies are showing limited long-term efficacy. The curative concept of electrophysiologically guided endocardial resection (ER) and palliation with the implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) are compared retrospectively. From 1980-1992, 121 patients (55 +/- 9 years, 108 males, 13 females) underwent ER and 203 patients (59 +/- 9 years, 195 males, 8 females) received an ICD for ischemic VTA. Concomitant coronary revascularization was performed in 38/121 patients with ER (31%) and in 62/203 patients (31%) with ICD. Perioperative mortality was 8% (10/121 patients) for ER and 5% (10/203 patients) for ICD (P = n.s.). Hundred eleven patients with ER (mean follow-up 41 +/- 37 months) and 193 with ICD (mean follow-up 22 +/- 20 months) were available for survival analysis: freedom from sudden death was comparable for the two groups at 1 year (99% for ICD, and 94% for ER) and at 5 years (90% for ICD and 90% for ER) (P = n.s.). Freedom from cardiac death also showed no differences between the groups at 1 year (94% for ICD, and 84% for ER) and at 5 years (74% for ICD and 74% for ER) (P = n.s.). Left ventricular function, indicated by left ventricular ejection fraction, was comparable (34 +/- 9% in ER, 30 +/- 11% with ICD) (P = n.s.) in the two groups. The linearized incidence of DC-shocks was 10.3/year in ICD patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Problems and complications after implantation of automatic defibrillators].

Until now there are only few reports about problems and complications associated with the automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Therefore, we studied the follow-up of 295 patients, who underwent ICD therapy. Epicardial ICD implantation was performed in 206 patients (71%) and 89 patients (29%) received transvenous ICD systems. Infections or seroma of the pulse generator and/or lead systems were observed in 18 patients (6%), in nine patients after first ICD implant and in nine patients after generator replacement. General signs of inflammation were present in eleven patients, whereas local signs with seroma of the pocket were observed in seven patients. Explantation of the entire ICD hardware was performed in eleven patients and seven patients underwent partial removal of the ICD system. Lead complications occurred in 15 patients (5%), in eleven patients with epicardial and in four with transvenous ICD systems. All patients had inappropriate ICD shocks and had to undergo lead replacement. Inappropriate ICD shocks due to supraventricular tachyarrhythmias occurred in 24 patients (8%). Other complications (apoplexia, hematoma, pneumothorax) were observed in 15 patients (5%). Our data show that complications associated with the ICD are low. However, these complications can cause big problems and need appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[The importance of the underlying disease for outcome of patients with implanted automatic defibrillators].

It is unclear whether the outcome of patients with implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is influenced by the underlying etiology or not. Therefore, we studied the follow-up of 271 patients who underwent ICD implantation for life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Coronary artery disease was present in 203 patients (75%) (G1), dilated cardiomyopathy in 36 patients (18%) (G2), while 32 patients (12%) (G3) had an "arrhythmogenic" ventricle (dysplasia, valvular disease, idiopathic arrhythmias). Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 30 +/- 11% in G1, 33 +/- 13% in G2 and 48 +/- 13% in G3. Perioperatively, 12/271 patients (4%) died. During the mean follow-up of 21 +/- 17 (< 1 to 99) months, 52/259 patients (20%) died: 31% (11/36 patients) in G2, 19% (36/193 patients) in G1 and 17% (5/39 patients) in G3. There was a low incidence of sudden death (SD) (4%, 2% per year) without significant differences between G1 (3%), G2 (8%) and G3 (3%). In addition, no significant differences were observed in cardiac mortality (CD) between G1 (10%), G2 (14%) and G3 (3%) (p = n.s.). ICD discharges occurred in 188 patients (69%); ICD discharges occurred in G1 in 138 patients (68%), in G2 in 27 patients (75%) and in G3 in 23 patients (72%). The mean incidence of ICD discharges per patient was 16 +/- 10 shocks in G1, 24 +/- 8 shocks in G2 and 18 +/- 8 shocks in G3. After ICD implant, complications occurred in 67 patients (23%). Our data show that the ICD is highly effective in preventing sudden death independent on the underlying etiology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Long-term follow-up of anti-tachycardia surgery in patients with ventricular tachycardia].

From March 1980 to May 1992 mapping guided surgery was performed in 132 patients with drug-refractory recurrent ventricular tachycardia. There were 121 patients (group I) with coronary disease and 11 patients (group II) had noncoronary ventricular tachycardia. Patients in group I underwent subendocardial resection and cryoablation was performed in group II patients. Perioperative mortality (< 30 days after surgery) was 8% (10/132 patients). During the mean follow-up of 41 +/- 24 months, 37/122 patients (30%) died, 35/111 patients in group I (32%) and 2/11 patients in group II (18%) (p = 0.29). In group I, sudden death occurred in 8/111 patients (7%) and cardiac death in 23/111 patients (21%); in group II, 1/11 patients (9%) died from sudden and 1/11 patients (9%) from cardiac death. Nonfatal recurrences occurred significantly more frequently in group II (6/11 patients, 55%) than in group I (16/111 patients, 14%) (p < 0.01). During the follow-up functional class of heart failure improved in 69 patients (57%), remained constant in 27 patients (22%) and decreased in the remaining 26 patients (21%). The surgical approach to control ventricular tachycardia has low rates of sudden death and nonfatal recurrences in patients with drug-refractory ischemic ventricular tachycardia. Patients with noncoronary disease had a high incidence of nonfatal ventricular tachycardia after surgery and should be considered for other therapeutic approaches in the future.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Chronic rejection following lung transplantation. Incidence, time pattern and consequences.

UNLABELLED: The long-term prognosis following lung transplantation (LTX) depends mainly on the development of chronic rejection which appears clinically as deterioration of the lung function while, histologically, obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) is found. However, it still remains questionable whether heart-lung (HL), double or single lung (DL/SL) transplants behave similarly with regard to incidence and time pattern. Eighty-two patients, transplanted until August 92, were analyzed. Early and late deaths within 180 days postoperatively were excluded. A total of 64 patients at risk could be evaluated. By repeated lung function tests, obstructive airway disease was defined by a drop of 25% or more of the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in percent of the inspiratory vital capacity. RESULTS: The functional optimum after transplantation was reached after a comparable time-span postoperatively in all groups. Chronic deterioration of the lung function developed earlier following DLTX compared to HLTX and SLTX. Obstructive airway disease was diagnosed in 9/20 (45%) HL, 7/19 (37%) DL, and 7/25 (28%) SL patients. Of these, 4 died and 4 had to be retransplanted for the disease while an additional 15 patients are currently under investigation. It is concluded that the development of obstructive airway disease represents a serious problem in all types of lung transplantation. There is a tendency to earlier development following DLTX--perhaps caused by the greatest immunological potential in this group of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Implantation of the automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator for coronary artery disease--surgical experience in 185 patients.

The results in 185 patients with coronary artery disease undergoing implantation of an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) were reviewed with regard to the operative technique applied and problems observed. In 123 patients (group I) only AICD implantation was performed. Ninety patients were operated through sternotomy or thoracotomy while in 33 patients an endovenous/subcutaneous technique was used. Sixty-two patients (group II) underwent simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and AICD implantation by median sternotomy. Perioperative mortality was 2.4% in group I with one fatality in the subgroup of endevenous/AICD placements and 11.3% in group II (p < 0.01). Overall infectious complications were low with 2 removals in group I and 1 in group II; however, no infections were observed after endovenous system implantation. It is concluded that the operative mortality rate of a combined approach is significantly higher, when compared to isolated AICD placement. However, the greater risk of the former cohort is mainly due to the impaired ventricular performance. Further investigations will have to prove whether a two-step approach using the endovenous technique in patients with a need for AICD and CABG will reduce the operative mortality.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Role of interventional therapy in patients with coronary heart disease and life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

This study includes 357 patients with coronary heart disease and life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Thirty-three patients (10%) underwent direct current (DC) catheter ablation (group 1), 121 (34%) mapping-guided surgery (group 2) and 203 (56%) received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) (group 3). The mean follow-up was 35 +/- 25 months in group 1, 41 +/- 37 months in group 2 and 22 +/- 22 months in group 3. During follow-up, 6 patients (18%) died in group 1, 45 (37%) in group 2 and 46 (23%) in group 3. Sudden death occurred in two patients (6%) in group 1, 10 patients (8%) in group 2 and eight patients (4%) in group 3. Non-fatal recurrences group were observed in 19 patients (57%) in group 1 and in 16 patients (14%) in group 2. ICD discharges occurred in 175/203 patients (86%) in group 3 with a mean number of 18 +/- 28 ICD shocks per patient. Our data show that catheter ablation has a low incidence of sudden death but a high incidence of non-fatal recurrences. Mapping-guided surgery yields low rates of sudden death or recurrence. Patients with an ICD have a low sudden death rate. A treatment algorithm is necessary to evaluate patients at high risk for sudden death and to choose the right patient for the right treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Initial experience with a new transvenous defibrillation system.

The clinical efficacy and safety of a new bidirectional transvenous defibrillation endocardial lead system (ELS) was studied in 39 patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation (VF). There were 28 patients with coronary disease and 11 patients with nonischemic VT/VF. Fourteen patients received the ELS combined with antitachycardia pacing devices (Ventak PRx 1700, CPI) and 25 patients with the Ventak P or P2 (CPI). Implantation of the ELS was attempted in 47 patients. Intraoperatively, the mean defibrillation threshold (DFT) was > 25 joules in five patients and no reliable ELS position was found in three other patients. These eight patients underwent thoracotomy and epicardial leads implantation. The mean DFT was < or = 20 joules in all 39 patients and the mean DFT was 18 joules. During the mean follow-up of 8 +/- 2 months two patients (5%) died suddenly. Complications occurred in two patients (5%).

Cardiac Catheterization↗
PubMed1993

Clinical efficacy and safety of the new cardioverter defibrillator systems.

Clinical efficacy and safety of two new third-generation implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) were studied in 38 patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation (VF). There were 31 patients with coronary disease, three patients with right ventricular dysplasia, one patient with dilated cardiomyopathy, and three patients with valvular disease. Twenty-four patients (group I) received an ICD with monophasic (Ventak PRx 1700, CPI) and 14 patients (group II) with biphasic shocks (Cadence V 100, Ventritex). Intraoperatively, the mean defibrillation threshold was significantly lower in group II than in group I, both in patients with induced VT (group I 11.0 +/- 6.3 joules; group II 5.8 +/- 1.3 joules) (P < 0.01) and induced VF (group I 17.5 +/- 4.6 joules; group II 9.6 +/- 5.2 joules) (P < 0.01). During the mean follow-up of 12 +/- 7 months four patients (11%) died. 865 arrhythmia events (AE) occurred and were terminated by ATP (671 VTs, 78%). Acceleration of VTs was observed in 28 AE (3%) and ATP was unable to interrupt 58 AE (7%). ICD shocks were delivered as a first therapy in 108 AE (13%).

Cardiac Catheterization↗
PubMed1993

[The automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for prevention of sudden heart death in children and adolescents].

Little experience exists with the automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in the pediatric population. Since 1990, an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator was implanted in four young patients (mean age 15.8 years, mean body weight 53.3 kg) with life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias at our institution. In three patients, a cardiac anomaly was evident (dilated cardiomyopathy, status post Rastelli operation for complex transposition of the great arteries, status post atrial switch for transposition of the great arteries), the last patient had a normal cardiac anatomy. Indications for implantation were resuscitation from documented hypotensive ventricular tachycardia in one patient and recurrent syncope of suspected cardiac origin in the remaining three patients. At preimplantation electrophysiological study, all four patients had inducible ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation. At implantation of the cardioverter defibrillator in the operating theatre, the ventricular tachyarrhythmias were again induced and terminated reliably by the device. After a mean follow-up of 13 months, three of the four patients had appropriate discharges without syncope or resuscitation. The automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator appears to be a feasible and effective therapy also in pediatric patients for prevention of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Adolescent↗