Laser assisted extraction of pacemaker and implantable defibrillator leads.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results of laser-assisted extraction of permanent pacemaker and defibrillator leads. METHODS: We operated upon 36 patients, whose mean age was 54.2 years, and extracted 56 leads. The reasons for extracting the leads were as follows: infection in 19 patients, elective replacement in 13, and other causes in 4 patients. The mean time of catheter placement was 7.5+/-5.5 years. Forty-seven leads were from pacemakers, and 9 were from defibrillators. Thirty-eight leads were in use, 14 had been abandoned in the pacemaker pocket, and 4 had been abandoned inside the venous system. RESULTS: We successfully extracted 54 catheters, obtaining a 96.4% rate of success and an 82.1% rate for complete extraction. The 2 unsuccessful cases were due to the presence of calcium in the trajectory of the lead. The mean duration of laser light application was 123.0+/-104.5 s, using 5,215.2+/-4,924.0 pulses, in a total of 24.4+/-24.2 cycles of application. Thirty-four leads were extracted from the myocardium with countertraction after complete progression of the laser sheath, 12 leads came loose during the progression of the laser sheath, and the remaining 10 were extracted with other maneuvers. One patient experienced cardiac tamponade after extraction of the defibrillator lead, requiring open emergency surgery. CONCLUSION: The use of the excimer laser allowed extraction of the leads with a 96% rate of success; it was not effective in 2 patients who had calcification on the lead. One patient (2.8%) had a complication that required cardiac surgery on an emergency basis.

Probability of occurrence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias in Chagas' disease versus non-Chagas' disease.

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is highly effective in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) responsible for sudden cardiac death. However, the probability of occurrence of these arrhythmic events in presence of cardiomyopathy remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to compare the probability of nonoccurrence of life-threatening VA in ICD recipients with Chagas' versus non-Chagas' heart disease. Over a mean follow-up of 10.5 months, 53 ICD recipients (mean age = 50.1 years, 48 male) were evaluated. Eleven patients had Chagas' heart disease, 19 had idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and 23 had ischemic cardiomyopathy. Ventricular tachyarrhythmias with a cycle length < 315 ms were considered life-threatening. The cumulative probability of nonoccurrence of life-threatening VA was examined by Kaplan-Meyer method and the outcomes were submitted to the log rank test. At 2 years, the cumulative probability of life-threatening VA nonoccurrence was 0 in the Chagas' heart disease group versus 40% up to 55 months of follow-up in the non-Chagas' disease group (P = 0.0097). Among patients with cardiomyopathies of different etiologies, those with Chagas' heart disease had the lowest cumulative probability of nonoccurrence of life-threatening VA, confirming its unfavorable prognosis and the importance of preventive measures against sudden death in this disease.

Neurohumoral behavior in recipients of cardiac pacemakers controlled by a closed-loop autonomic nervous system-driven sensor.

The purpose of a sensor-driven pacing system is to physiologically correct chronotropic incompetence (CI). The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in heart rate provided by a sympathetically driven pacemaker (PM) compared with normal sinus function (NSF). Nine men and six women (age 37-80 years) with AV block and a PM controlled by a closed-loop system were studied. Group I included eight patients with CI, and group II included seven patients with NSF. All patients underwent Valsalva maneuver and tilt table testing with measurements of plasma catecholamines and renin activity. Pacing was initially programmed in the DDDC mode at a lower rate (60 ppm) and upper rate limit (0.85 x [220 - age]), then in DDDR in group I and VVIR in group II. The second phase of the study consisted of nitroglycerin and phenylephrine infusions, and the third phase of physiological provocative maneuvers. The second and third phases were performed in three patients from each group with sensor activity On and Off. In group I, heart rate changed during tilt only in the DDDR mode. In group II, heart rate changes were comparable in both modes. Catecholamine levels in group I were higher during DDDC than during DDDR pacing (P < 0.05). In group I, heart rate did not change during phases II and IV of the Valsalva maneuver in the DDDC mode, but behaved nearly physiologically after sensor activation. A late and a paradoxical response to nitroglycerin was observed in groups I and II and to phenylephrine in group I. During physiological maneuvers, significantly greater variations in heart rate were observed during DDDR than during DDDC pacing. Sympathetic SDP provides physiological modulations of the heart rate were provided by a sympathetically driven pacing system in patients with AV block and CI.

Efeito do esteróide nos limiares agudos de um eletrodo atrial e ventricular de fixaçäo ativa / Steroid effect of an active fixation lead on acute atrial and ventricular pacing thresholds

OBJETIVO: Comparar a performance de um eletrodo bipolar permanente com fixaçäo ativa e colar de esteróides, com outro eletrodo semelhante, mas sem o colar de esteróide. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Este estudo foi realizado em 2 fases em 3 centros no Brasil: na fase atrial eletrodos Sweet Tip Rx e Sweet Tip foram implantados em 16 e 8 pacientes, respectivamente. Em todos os pacientes os limiares de voltagem (largura de pulso = 0,5ms) e a largura de pulso (amplitude = 1,5V) foram medidos por ocasiäo da alta hospitalar, 2 semanas e 3 ou 4 meses após o implante. RESULTADOS: Na avaliaçäo de 2 semanas a média dos limiares de voltagem, foi de 0,57ñ0,04V para o Sweet Tip Rx e 1,0ñ0,19V para o Sweet Tip (p<0,02). Para os eletrodos ventriculares, essa média foi de 0,66ñ0,07V para o Sweet Tip Rx e 1,50ñ0,23V para o Sweet Tip (p<0,01). Para os eletrodos atriais os valores médios dos limiares de largura de pulso nesta etapa foram 0,10ñ0,02ms para o Sweet Tip Rx e 0,19ñ0,07ms para o Sweet Tip (p>0,49) e para os eletrodos ventriculares 0,14ñ0,02ms para o Sweet Tip Rx e 0,31ñ0,05ms para o Sweet Tip (p<0,01). Na última avaliaçäo, os valores médios dos limiares de largura de pulso dos eletrodos atriais foram 0,06ñ0,01ms para o Sweet Tip Rx e 0,14ñ0,05ms para o Sweet Tip (p<0,26) e, para os eletrodos ventriculares 0,09ñ0,01ms para o Sweet Tip Rx e 0,50ñ0,14ms para o Sweet Tip (p<0,01). Näo houve diferença significativa entre a impedância dos dois tipos de eletrodos nas avaliaçöes tardias. CONCLUSÄO: Os eletrodos envolvidos com esteróides tiveram um limiar significativamente menor após o implante.

Bloqueios atrioventriculares / Atrioventricular block

Entidade clínica descrita há séculos, o bloqueio atrioventricular é determinado por uma variedade de condiçöes e processos patológicos, podendo ser de localização nodal atrioventricular ou no sistema de His-Purkinje. Pode ser assintomático ou relacionar-se a quadros de baixo fluxo cerebral e/ou insuficiência cardíaca congestiva. Em geral, o prognóstico se define pelo sítio do bloqueio no sistema de condução e pela doença que o originou. A estimulação cardíaca artificial influiu sobremaneira no tratamento dos bloqueios atrioventriculares com a melhora dos sintomas, permitindo a reintegração de seus portadores na sociedade.

Clinical and electrophysiologic features of syncope in chronic chagasic heart disease.

INTRODUCTION: Syncope in patients with chronic Chagasic heart disease (CCHD) is a frequent but poorly studied problem. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-three patients with CCHD and recurrent syncope were followed for 2 to 127 months. They were classified into the following groups: G-I (n = 15) without inducible ventricular tachycardia (VT) and normal HV interval; G-II (n = 17) with only inducible VT; G-III (n = 11) with only an abnormal HV interval; and G-IV (n = 10) with both an inducible VT and an abnormal HV interval. Empiric pharmacologic therapy was given in G-I; pharmacologic therapy guided by electrophysiologic study in G-II; atrioventricular pacing in G-III; and empiric pharmacologic with atrioventricular pacing in G-IV. Age and sex were similar among groups; New York Heart Association Functional Class I symptoms were more prevalent (P = 0.0001) in G-I. The ejection fraction by echocardiography was higher in G-I (P = 0.0122). The density of premature ventricular complexes by Holter monitoring was similar among groups. The complexity of premature ventricular complexes by Holter was significantly higher in G-II (P = 0.0270); this variable, analyzed from the exercise electrocardiogram, was not different among groups. All deaths were sudden, prevalence was higher in G-II and absent in G-III, and recurrence of syncope was similar among groups. CONCLUSION: The most probable causes of recurrent syncope were VT (43%) with poor prognosis, and paroxysmal atrioventricular block (21%) with a favorable prognosis. Absence of congestive heart failure, complexity of premature ventricular complexes by Holter, and absence of intraventricular heart block showed statistical correlation with normal electrophysiologic study, inducible VT, and normal HV interval, respectively.

[Pacemaker with mechanical sensors. Accumulated experience in long-term follow-up]. / Marcapassos dotados de sensor mecânico. Experiência acumulada em seguimento tardio.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the behavior of single chamber stimulation system, rate responsive with vibration sensing, taking into consideration the results of long term clinical follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From september 1986 to april 1989, 70 patients received pacemakers with vibration sensing. Sixty four patients (91.9%) implanted Activitrax I model and six (8.1%) Activitrax II. Thirty-one (44.3%) were men and the mean age was 51.2 years. Fifty-one patients (72.9%) had complete atrioventricular block, 11 (15.7%) sinus node dysfunction, one (1.4%) sinus node and atrioventricular disease, and one (1.4%) for therapeutic support of arrhythmia. The etiology of these dysfunctions were Chagas' disease in 31.4%, myocardiosclerosis in 35.7%, post-operative in 15.6%, post-av node fulguration in 5.8% and idiopathic in 11.5%. The group was submitted to clinic and electronic evaluation and laboratory examinations: echocardiogram, dynamic ECG, stress test and ergoespirometric test. The mean follow-up as 19.6 months. RESULTS: Clinic evaluations: decrease in congestive heart failure functional class in 86% of the patients. No recurrence of syncopes and no cardiac deaths. Echocardiogram: increase in ejection fraction in 42% of patients. Dynamic ECG: appropriate rate response in 94.3% of patients (good cronotropic response). Ergoespirometry: increase in oxygen consumption in 75% of studied cases, Electronic evaluation: absence of generator dysfunction; complications in 18% of cases, all corrected by reprogramation. CONCLUSION: The single chamber cardiac stimulation system with vibration sensing showed safety, efficacy and low rate of complications.

Fístula bronco-pleuro-cutânea após implante epicárdico de marca-passo. Relato de caso / Bronchopleurocutaneous fistula after epicardial pacemaker implantation

Um paciente de 42 anos, de idade portador de bloqueio atrioventricular chagasico do terceiro grau, submetido a 2 implantes de marca-passo epicardico por toracotomia esquerda e a 2 endocardicos, sem marca-passo ha 4 anos, apresentava infeccoes pulmonares reptidas e trajeto fistuloso junto a incisao da toracotomia. O eletrocardiograma mostrou bloqueio A-V total e o estudo radiologico, a presenca da paquipleuriz esquerdo e presenca de dois fragmentos de eletrodos. A injecao de contraste iodado pelo trajeto demonstrou a presenca de fistula bronco-cutanea. Apos implante de marca-passo temporario, o paciente foi submetido a toracotomia esquerda, sendo confirmada a presenca de paquipleuriz e carneificacao da lingula aderida aos eletrodos onde havia o trajeto da fistula. Foi realizada a descorticacao pleural, lingulectomia e retirada do fragmento do eletrodo.O paciente evoluiu bem tendo sido submetido, 2 meses apos, a implante de marca-passo endocardico definitivo atraves da veia jugular interna esquerda. Os autores comentam a raridade deste tipo de complicacao e acentuam a necessidade de tratamento adequado nos casos de infeccoes cronicas causadas pela permanencia de fragmentos de marca-passo