Electrocardiogram abnormalities in older individuals by race and ethnicity.

BACKGROUND: Aging is associated with many ECG changes. ECG abnormalities are known to be more prevalent with age and differ across race and ethnicity, yet there are limited studies categorizing the ECG changes in the older population and the differences seen among racial groups. We sought to determine ECG differences associated with race and ethnicity in this ethnically diverse, elderly population. METHODS: The ECG parameters of subjects between the ages of 75 and 99 years from a large and diverse inner-city patient population were analyzed. Subjects were grouped into one of four categories: Hispanic, Black, Non-Hispanic White, or Other for analysis. Rhythm, axis, voltage, and conduction parameters were determined according to the 12 SL algorithm and interpretation statements (GE Healthcare, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin) that were confirmed by an overreading cardiologist. RESULTS: 38,238 subjects were included. Of all groups, Non-Hispanic Whites exhibited more conduction abnormalities such as bundle branch block compared to the other groups, as well as the highest incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) (12.6%, p < 0.05). Hispanics had the highest proportion of normal sinus rhythm. Blacks exhibited the least amount of AF (6.3%), as well as the highest incidence of LVH (25.5%), RAD (13.5%), and the largest percentage of abnormal ECGs (72.8%). CONCLUSION: Significant differences among the elderly of different race and ethnicity were noted with most parameters.

Systematic review of the current status of cadaveric simulation for surgical training.

BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in and provision of cadaveric simulation courses for surgical trainees. This is being driven by the need to modernize and improve the efficiency of surgical training within the current challenging training climate. The objective of this systematic review is to describe and evaluate the evidence for cadaveric simulation in postgraduate surgical training. METHODS: A PRISMA-compliant systematic literature review of studies that prospectively evaluated a cadaveric simulation training intervention for surgical trainees was undertaken. All relevant databases and trial registries were searched to January 2019. Methodological rigour was assessed using the widely validated Medical Education Research Quality Index (MERSQI) tool. RESULTS: A total of 51 studies were included, involving 2002 surgical trainees across 69 cadaveric training interventions. Of these, 22 assessed the impact of the cadaveric training intervention using only subjective measures, five measured impact by change in learner knowledge, and 23 used objective tools to assess change in learner behaviour after training. Only one study assessed patient outcome and demonstrated transfer of skill from the simulated environment to the workplace. Of the included studies, 67 per cent had weak methodology (MERSQI score less than 10·7). CONCLUSION: There is an abundance of relatively low-quality evidence showing that cadaveric simulation induces short-term skill acquisition as measured by objective means. There is currently a lack of evidence of skill retention, and of transfer of skills following training into the live operating theatre.

ANTECEDENTES: Existe un interés creciente en los cursos de simulación con cadáveres para la formación de residentes en cirugía, así como en aumentar la disponibilidad de dichos cursos. Ello es debido a la necesidad de modernizar y mejorar la eficiencia del entrenamiento en el marco actual del reto que supone la formación quirúrgica. El objetivo de esta revisión sistemática era describir y evaluar la evidencia del uso de la simulación con cadáveres en la formación quirúrgica de posgrado. MÉTODOS: Siguiendo la normativa PRISMA, se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura de estudios que evaluaban prospectivamente el entrenamiento quirúrgico mediante la simulación con cadáveres. Se realizaron búsquedas en todas las bases de datos relevantes y en registros de ensayos clínicos hasta enero de 2019. Se evaluó el rigor metodológico utilizando la herramienta MERSQI (Medical Education Research Quality Index), ampliamente validada. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 51 estudios, con un total de 2.002 residentes de cirugía y 69 intervenciones de formación con simulación con cadáveres. Del total de dichos estudios, 22 evaluaron el impacto de la cirugía con cadáver utilizando solo medidas subjetivas, 5 midieron el impacto por el cambio en el conocimiento del alumno y 23 utilizaron herramientas objetivas para evaluar el cambio en el comportamiento del alumno después de la formación. Solo un estudio evaluó el resultado en pacientes, demostrando la transferencia de habilidades del entorno simulado al lugar de trabajo. De los estudios incluidos, el 55% tenía una metodología débil (puntuación MERSQI < 10,7). CONCLUSIÓN: Existe amplia evidencia, pero de baja calidad, referente a la simulación con cadáveres en la formación quirúrgica, demostrando que esta popular herramienta puede ser útil para adquirir habilidades a corto plazo, tal como indican los resultados derivados de medidas objetivas. Actualmente hay una falta de evidencia basada en estudios longitudinales respecto a la retención de habilidades y de cómo estas se transfieren al quirófano real una vez finalizada la formación. Se requieren futuros ensayos aleatorizados de alta calidad para abordar este punto.

Preirradiation paclitaxel in glioblastoma multiforme: efficacy, pharmacology, and drug interactions. New Approaches to Brain Tumor Therapy Central Nervous System Consortium.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the response rate of paclitaxel administered at maximal tolerated doses (MTD) in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiform. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients in this multicenter study were 45 years or older and had measurable residual tumor on postoperative MRI scans. Up to 3 cycles of paclitaxel were administered as a continuous 96-hour intravenous infusion prior to radiation, provided that the tumor did not enlarge on serial MRIs. The initial 10 patients were treated with the previously recommended phase II dose of 140 mg/m2. Less than anticipated toxicity led to the development of a phase I/II study in 24 patients in which paclitaxel doses were escalated separately in patients receiving (+EIAED) or not receiving (-EIAED), concomitant enzyme-inducing antiepileptic drugs. Paclitaxel plasma steady-state concentrations (Css) were measured during the first cycle of chemotherapy. Response was the primary efficacy endpoint for this study, although survival was also assessed. RESULTS: The MTD was 140 mg/m2 in the -EIAED, and 200 mg/m2 in the +EIAED patient groups. The mean Css for the -EIAED patients treated at 140 mg/m2 was 38 nM, whereas the mean Css for +EIAED patients were 17 nm at 140 mg/m2, 27 nM at 175 mg/m2, 46 nM at 200 mg/m2, and 51 nM at 230 mg/m2. One patient, who had a verified partial response, had his diagnosis changed to an anaplastic oligodendroglioma on subsequent central neuropathologic review. None of the 15 assessable glioblastoma patients treated at or above the MTD doses showed a radiographic response to paclitaxel. The median survival of eligible patients on this protocol was 355 days (95% CI, 255 to 485 days), which is similar to the survival of comparable patients treated with conventional therapy. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that (1) paclitaxel given as a 96-hour infusion at the MTD has minimal activity in patients with untreated glioblastoma, (2) the concomitant administration of EIAEDs alters the pharmacology of paclitaxel, resulting in a lower Css, reduced systemic toxicity, and higher dose requirements, (3) this study design, in which a new agent is given prior to radiation therapy (with serial monitoring of MRI), did not adversely affect survival in this patient population.

Automatic methods for detection of tachyarrhythmias by antitachycardia devices.

Electrical devices play an increasingly important role in the control of tachyarrhythmias. Antitachycardia pacing and automatic defibrillation have been severely limited by the poor specificity of tachycardia discrimination in commercially available devices. Although absolute heart rate has been the principal means of automatic diagnosis, several new detection algorithms and methods are being investigated. Multiple electrode timing comparison, signal processing and pattern recognition are employed in these newer techniques. Although each offers some improvement over present technology, none is capable of identifying all arrhythmias. The methods employing comparison of atrial and ventricular rates, without additional criteria, are unable to detect ventricular tachycardia in the presence of 1:1 retrograde conduction. Electrographic analysis techniques require very stable electrodes and may not tolerate normal morphologic variations. A combination of two or more approaches may ultimately be required. All techniques will require that certain critical variables be programmable to allow for individualization in each clinical situation. Soft-ware-controllable devices and those capable of sensing from both the atria and the ventricles will provide the sophistication necessary for the implementation of complex tachycardia detection algorithms. This report reviews automatic tachycardia detection techniques in current use and under investigation.

Combination of tocainide and quinidine for better tolerance and additive effects in patients with coronary artery disease.

The efficacy and tolerance of tocainide used alone and in combination with quinidine were studied in 20 patients with coronary artery disease and frequent (greater than 30/h) ventricular premature complexes. Holter electrocardiographic monitoring was performed at baseline and during therapy with tocainide alone, quinidine alone and a combination of tocainide and quinidine. During single drug therapy, the dose of tocainide was 1,680 +/- 437 mg/day and that of quinidine was 1,340 +/- 235 mg/day. During combination therapy, with smaller doses of tocainide (1,350 +/- 394 mg/day) and quinidine (1,060 +/- 268 mg/day) in many patients, no patient had side effects. At baseline before therapy, the mean ventricular premature complexes/h were 629 +/- 567, couplets/h were 23.9 +/- 29.7 and nonsustained ventricular tachycardias/24 h were 60.5 +/- 152.2. Compared with baseline values (100%), the frequency of ventricular premature complexes was reduced to 33 +/- 44% with quinidine, 39 +/- 30% with tocainide and 10 +/- 16% with combination therapy (p less than 0.01 for combination versus quinidine or tocainide alone; p = NS for quinidine versus tocainide). Individually, an effective regimen (greater than 83% reduction of ventricular premature complexes and abolition of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia) was found in 3 (15%) of 20 patients receiving tocainide alone, in 6 (30%) receiving quinidine alone and in 16 (80%) receiving combination therapy (p less than 0.01 for tocainide versus combination, quinidine versus combination; p = NS for tocainide versus quinidine). Thus, the antiarrhythmic effects of quinidine and tocainide are additive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Familial polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias: a quarter century of successful medical treatment based on serial exercise-pharmacologic testing.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether objective tests of antiarrhythmic drug efficacy could produce favorable short- and long-term outcomes in a family with idiopathic malignant ventricular arrhythmias. BACKGROUND: In 1973 a family presented with a history of several generations of syncopal spells and sudden death. Some individuals had nonspecific electrocardiographic (ECG) changes. Their QT intervals were normal at rest and with exercise. Autopsies in two young family members showed no cardiac abnormalities, specifically no evidence of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, other cardiomyopathy, myocarditis or gross abnormality of the conduction system. METHODS: Available family members had screening ECGs. Symptomatic members had a battery of tests, including electrophysiologic studies, ambulatory ECGs, audiograms, exercise stress testing, serum catecholamine levels during rest and exercise and isoproterenol infusion. Serial exercise-pharmacologic testing was performed in symptomatic family members until induction of an arrhythmia during exercise required higher work loads or became impossible. RESULTS: Arrhythmias were not induced during electrophysiologic studies. In several family members tested, ventricular premature beats and then rapid polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias occurred whenever the sinus rate exceeded 130 beats/min. Emotional stress, isoproterenol infusion and exercise all elicited similar arrhythmias. Catecholamine levels during exercise were, however, unequivocally normal in two of three family members tested. Beta-blockers appeared to be the most effective pharmacologic agent for prevention of these arrhythmias. The efficacy of treatment has been confirmed during a follow-up of 25 years. CONCLUSIONS: This family appears to have catecholamine hypersensitivity as the basis for their ventricular arrhythmias. Guided therapy using serial exercise-pharmacologic testing provided reliable protection for this familial ventricular arrhythmia during a 25-year follow-up.

Combination of disopyramide and mexiletine for better tolerance and additive effects for treatment of ventricular arrhythmias.

The efficacy and tolerance of disopyramide and mexiletine used alone and in combination were studied in 21 patients with frequent (greater than or equal to 30/h) ventricular premature complexes. Ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring was performed at baseline and during therapy with disopyramide alone, mexiletine alone and a combination of disopyramide and mexiletine. During single drug therapy, the dose of disopyramide was 602 +/- 152 mg/day and that of mexiletine was 738 +/- 144 mg/day. During combination therapy with smaller doses of disopyramide (524 +/- 134 mg/day) and mexiletine (652 +/- 146 mg/day), no patient had side effects. At baseline before therapy, the mean number of ventricular premature complexes per hour, was 608 +/- 757, of couplets per hour was 22.4 +/- 45.8 and of episodes of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia/24 h was 219.7 +/- 758.2. The mean number of ventricular premature complexes per hour was reduced to 156 +/- 217 with disopyramide alone, 188 +/- 298 with mexiletine alone and 76 +/- 144 with combination therapy (p less than 0.05 for combination therapy versus disopyramide or mexiletine alone; p = NS for disopyramide versus mexiletine). Individually, an effective regimen (greater than 83% reduction in ventricular premature complexes and abolition of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia) was found in 5 (24%) of 21 patients during therapy with disopyramide alone, in 3 (14%) receiving mexiletine alone and in 13 (62%) receiving combination therapy (p less than 0.05 for combination therapy versus disopyramide or mexiletine; p = NS for disopyramide versus mexiletine). Thus, the antiarrhythmic effects of disopyramide and mexiletine are additive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Disopyramide-pyridostigmine interaction: selective reversal of anticholinergic symptoms with preservation of antiarrhythmic effect.

This double-blind, randomized, placebo crossover study was used to evaluate the effects of a cholinesterase inhibitor--slow-release pyridostigmine (180 mg orally every 12 hours)--on the anticholinergic and antiarrhythmic properties of disopyramide. Quantitative side effects questionnaire scores were used to guide disopyramide administration in 20 men with ventricular tachycardia. Disopyramide was given to each patient both with placebo and with active pyridostigmine. The maximal administered dose for each regimen was used in conjunction with corresponding questionnaire scores to calculate an index or estimate of the maximal tolerable dose of disopyramide. Additional evaluations performed at baseline and at each maximal administered dose regimen included tear and saliva quantitation, 24 hour electrocardiogram (ECG), exercise testing and programmed ventricular stimulation. Results showed that the maximal administered dose of disopyramide was greater with active pyridostigmine than with placebo: 295 +/- 75 versus 245 +/- 100 mg every 6 hours (p less than 0.05). The calculated maximal tolerable dose was substantially greater in the presence of pyridostigmine: 355 +/- 90 versus 260 +/- 115 mg every 6 hours (p less than 0.001). Maximal side effects questionnaire scores also reflected decreased anticholinergic activity in the presence of pyridostigmine compared with placebo: 101.9 +/- 2.2 versus 104.6 +/- 2.8, respectively (p less than 0.005). Baseline tear and saliva production was significantly reduced during disopyramide therapy, but was restored toward normal by the addition of pyridostigmine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of programmed stimulation and Holter monitoring for predicting long-term efficacy and inefficacy of amiodarone used alone or in combination with a class 1A antiarrhythmic agent in patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmia.

The values of two Holter ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring criteria and one programmed stimulation efficacy criterion reported to be predictive of the efficacy of amiodarone were compared in 70 patients taking amiodarone for sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. At baseline, all patients had ventricular tachycardia inducible by programmed stimulation. After amiodarone loading (935 +/- 271 mg for 16 +/- 7 days), efficacy was determined by a programmed stimulation criterion (ventricular tachycardia no longer inducible or less than or equal to 15 beats) and two Holter monitoring criteria (Holter I = greater than or equal to 85% reduction of ventricular premature complexes and abolition of couplets and triplets in 64 patients who had greater than or equal to 10 ventricular premature complexes/h or couplets or triplets or both before therapy; Holter II = abolition of triplets in 41 patients who had triplets before therapy). Amiodarone was effective in 12 of 70 patients by the programmed stimulation criterion, in 49 of 64 patients by Holter criterion I and in 37 of 41 patients by Holter criterion II. In assessing efficacy of amiodarone, programmed stimulation and Holter criteria were discordant in 69% of patients or more (p less than 0.001). There were 16 recurrences or sudden deaths during the entire follow-up period (19 +/- 19 months). Arrhythmia-free survival rates at 24 months of patients with efficacy and inefficacy by each criterion, respectively, were 90 and 78% by programmed stimulation, 84 and 62% by Holter criterion I (p less than 0.05) and 73 and 50% by Holter criterion II (p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Prediction of sudden death and spontaneous ventricular tachycardia in survivors of complicated myocardial infarction: value of the response to programmed stimulation using a maximum of three ventricular extrastimuli.

The prognostic significance of ventricular arrhythmias induced by programmed electrical stimulation was evaluated in 50 survivors of acute myocardial infarction complicated by a major new conduction disturbance (38 patients), congestive heart failure (33 patients) or sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias (22 patients), alone or in combination. Programmed stimulation was performed in patients in stable condition 7 to 36 days (mean 16) after infarction using one to three extrastimuli at four times diastolic threshold at a maximum of two right ventricular sites. Two groups were identified by the response to programmed stimulation: 17 patients with sustained (greater than 15 seconds) or nonsustained (greater than 7 beats but less than or equal to 15 seconds) ventricular tachycardia (group I), and 33 patients with 0 to 7 intraventricular reentrant complexes in response to maximal stimulation efforts (group II). Group I patients had a higher incidence of anterior infarction than that of patients in group II (71 versus 42%), had lower left ventricular ejection fraction (mean 0.35 versus 0.48) and were more often treated with antiarrhythmic drugs (47 versus 18%, p less than 0.05). There were no significant differences between groups in the occurrence of congestive failure, new conduction disorders or sustained ventricular arrhythmias with infarction, or in the proportions treated with a beta-receptor blocking agent, coronary bypass grafting or a permanent pacemaker. Total cardiac mortality was 24% during a mean follow-up period of 23 months and did not differ between groups; however, the response to programmed stimulation identified a group at high risk of late sudden death or spontaneous ventricular tachycardia: 7 (41%) of 17 group I patients compared with 0 of 33 group II patients (p less than 0.001). The induction of sustained or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia identified all patients who died suddenly or had spontaneous tachycardia (sensitivity 100%), but triple extrastimuli were required to induce prognostically significant arrhythmias in five of these seven patients; the specificity of this protocol was only 57%. When the clinical variables of the group were evaluated individually, the response to programmed stimulation had a stronger association with occurrence of late sudden death than did any other factor (Fisher's exact test, p less than 0.001); however, a type II error could not be excluded.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Discordance between ambulatory monitoring and programmed stimulation in assessing efficacy of class IA antiarrhythmic agents in patients with ventricular tachycardia.

Concordance between programmed stimulation and 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiographic (Holter) monitoring was studied in 54 patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia during 84 therapeutic trials with class IA antiarrhythmic agents. During baseline studies before treatment, all patients had frequent (greater than or equal to 30/h) ventricular premature complexes on Holter recordings and sustained ventricular tachycardia inducible by one to three extrastimuli. During treatment, programmed stimulation and Holter monitoring were repeated. Efficacy of treatment determined by programmed stimulation (ventricular tachycardia no longer inducible or nonsustained) was compared with three Holter criteria of efficacy: I = 83% or more reduction of ventricular premature complexes and abolition of ventricular tachycardia; II = 50% or more reduction of ventricular premature complexes and 90% or more reduction of couplets and abolition of ventricular tachycardia; III = abolition of ventricular tachycardia in patients with ventricular tachycardia during a baseline Holter recording. Treatments were judged effective by programmed stimulation criteria in only 25% of cases but in 51, 63 and 75% of cases by Holter criterion I, II and III, respectively. Results of programmed stimulation and Holter monitor were discordant (effective by one criterion but ineffective by the other) in 50% of cases using Holter criterion I, in 54% using Holter criterion II and in 61% using Holter criterion III. In the majority of discordant results, treatments appeared efficacious by Holter criteria but ineffective by programmed stimulation criteria, suggesting insensitivity of efficacy by Holter criteria or nonspecificity of induced ventricular tachycardia during treatment, or both.

Value of Holter monitoring in predicting long-term efficacy and inefficacy of amiodarone used alone and in combination with class 1A antiarrhythmic agents in patients with ventricular tachycardia.

The value of two reported and two new ambulatory electrocardiographic (Holter) criteria was studied in 80 patients taking amiodarone for refractory recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia. In the 80 patients, the four Holter criteria were as follows: I-85% or greater reduction of ventricular premature complexes and abolition of couplets and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in 74 patients who had 10 or more ventricular premature complexes/h, or any couplets or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia/24 hours at baseline; II-abolition of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in 51 patients who had nonsustained ventricular tachycardia at baseline; III-85% or greater reduction of ventricular premature complexes and abolition of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in 64 patients who had 30 or more ventricular premature complexes/h at baseline; and IV-85% or greater reduction of ventricular premature complexes and abolition of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in 73 patients who had 10 or more ventricular premature complexes/h at baseline. Amiodarone was judged effective in, respectively, 51 of 74, 44 of 51, 51 of 64 and 61 of 73 patients by criterion I, II, III or IV. During the follow-up period (19 +/- 20 months), there were 19 instances of recurrence of ventricular arrhythmia or sudden death. Actuarial arrhythmia-free survival rate at 24 months was 84, 74, 86 and 85%, respectively, in patients with efficacy by criterion I, II, III or IV and 61, 43, 48 and 39%, respectively, in patients with inefficacy (p less than 0.015 for all). Many patients with efficacy by Holter criteria, however, had a recurrence of arrhythmia, suggesting insensitivity of these Holter criteria.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Time dependence of ventricular refractory periods: implications for electrophysiologic protocols.

Cardiac refractory periods are routinely measured during electrophysiologic testing. Informal observations suggested that the effective refractory period lengthened with a prolongation of the time in sinus rhythm (basic cycle length time) between successive runs of drive stimuli (S1S1s). If this were true, failure to control the basic cycle length time could affect the results and interpretation of electrophysiologic testing. To study this phenomenon, the effective refractory period was studied in 20 patients during sinus rhythm and two ventricular paced rates with up to three extrastimuli, while varying the basic cycle length time from 2 to 3, to 10 to 20 s. With each of the stimulation sequences used, the effective refractory period lengthened as the basic cycle length time increased ("basic cycle length time-effective refractory period effect"). The effect was most pronounced when extrastimuli were used during the two ventricular paced rates. As the basic cycle length time increased from 2 to 3 to 20 s, the mean effective refractory period determined during sinus rhythm increased from 296 to 300 ms; with the first ventricular paced rate, the effective refractory period increased from 259 to 272 ms (p less than 0.0003) and with the second ventricular paced rate, the effective refractory period increased from 250 to 263 ms (p less than 0.01). The basic cycle length time-effective refractory period effect became more pronounced as the number of extrastimuli increased. With the second ventricular paced rate, as basic cycle length was increased from 2 to 3 to 20 s, the mean prolongation in the cumulative effective refractory period (S1 to final extrastimulus) as the number of extrastimuli increased from 1 to 2 to 3, was 13 (p less than 0.01), 42 (p less than 0.0003) and 82 ms (p less than 0.001), respectively. Results were confirmed in 17 instances by redetermining the effective refractory period at the 2 to 3 s basic cycle length time after the final 20 s basic cycle length time determination, and demonstrating that it was similar to the effective refractory period after the initial 2 to 3 s basic cycle length time. No further prolongation of the effective refractory period could be demonstrated by increasing basic cycle length time from 20 to 60 s, and no significant effect of medications on the basic cycle length time-effective refractory period effect could be demonstrated.

Bethanidine sulfate: efficacy in prevention of ventricular tachyarrhythmias during programmed stimulation. Report of a multicenter study of 56 patients.

Twelve cardiac electrophysiology centers conducted an open label prospective trial of bethanidine sulfate, an oral bretylium analog, for the prevention of ventricular tachyarrhythmias during programmed electrical stimulation. The study group included 56 patients (44 men, 12 women; mean age 60 years; 55 with structural heart disease). Sixteen patients had both ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, 30 had ventricular tachycardia alone and 10 had ventricular fibrillation alone. Programmed stimulation on no antiarrhythmic drugs induced sustained ventricular tachycardia in 46 patients, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in 4 patients and ventricular fibrillation in 6 patients. During programmed ventricular stimulation after 59 trials of 20 to 30 mg/kg body weight of oral bethanidine (acute dosing in 40 patients, and divided dosing over 24 hours in 19 patients), no ventricular tachyarrhythmias were inducible in 6 patients (11%), sustained ventricular tachycardia was converted to nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in 3 patients (5%), ventricular tachyarrhythmias remained inducible in 39 patients (70%) and spontaneous ventricular tachyarrhythmias occurred more frequently in 4 patients (7%). Side effects prevented repeat testing in four patients. The 10 patients presenting with only ventricular fibrillation appeared to have a higher response rate: no ventricular tachyarrhythmias were inducible in 2 patients and sustained ventricular tachycardia was converted to nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in 2 patients. Despite protriptyline administration in 54 of 59 bethanidine trials, symptomatic hypotension occurred in 30 trials (51%). In conclusion, the efficacy of bethanidine for preventing ventricular tachyarrhythmias as assessed by programmed stimulation is low. Patients presenting with only ventricular fibrillation may have a more favorable response to bethanidine sulfate. Symptomatic hypotension occurs frequently despite concomitant use of protriptyline.

Automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: patient survival, battery longevity and shock delivery analysis.

The automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) has been shown to reduce the mortality rate of patients with malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmias. This report describes experience with implantation of 36 automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (AID-B and AID-BR models) in 22 persons over a 44 month patient follow-up period (mean 19.6 months). There were five deaths: two patients died suddenly 22 and 29 months, respectively, after their second implant, one died of congestive heart failure, one died of respiratory failure and one died of catheter sepsis. Although 11 (50%) of the 22 patients never received a countershock for a ventricular tachyarrhythmia and are still alive, the other 11 received one or more spontaneous countershocks. Nine patients (41%) experienced spurious shocks during the follow-up period. Assuming that the first shock for presumed ventricular tachyarrhythmia prevented death, the hypothetical cumulative survival of patients at 42 months would have been 34 +/- 14.1% in the absence of an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator rather than the actual survival rate of 59 +/- 16.8%. The cumulative device survival of the 36 AID-B units was 92 +/- 5.62% at 15 months but diminished to 37 +/- 14.4% by 20 months. No unit lasted longer than 22 months. There were 12 battery depletions. The number of shocks emitted did not influence unit longevity. The manufacturer's elective replacement indicator is of uncertain validity. Six units remained active 7 to 17 months after surpassing their replacement indicator. The automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator prolongs the life of many patients with otherwise intractable arrhythmias.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Comparison of left ventricular cryolesions created by liquid nitrogen and nitrous oxide.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the cryosurgical lesions produced by liquid nitrogen (-196 degrees C) and nitrous oxide (-76 degrees C). BACKGROUND: Cryosurgical ablation is a useful method of arrhythmia surgery, but information on the dimensions of cardiac lesions produced by modifying cryoprobe temperature is limited. METHODS: We compared the dimensions, volumes and electrophysiologic effects of cryolesions created by a liquid nitrogen cryoprobe (Group I) and a nitrous oxide cryoprobe (Group II) on the left ventricular myocardium in the beating canine heart. Exposure time was compared at 1, 2, 3 and 4 min. In each of 18 dogs, two to four lesions were created on the left ventricle and analyzed: 35 lesions created with use of the nitrous oxide cryoprobe and 30 lesions created with the liquid nitrogen cryoprobe. Lesions were measured at the time of induced death 6 weeks postoperatively and assessed by tissue staining with the Masson trichrome technique. RESULTS: The volumes (mm3) of the cryolesions created by the liquid nitrogen cryoprobe were significantly larger (p < 0.05) than those of lesions created by nitrous oxide: 826 +/- 163 versus 493 +/- 197 at 1 min; 1,101 +/- 327 versus 666 +/- 185 at 2 min; 1,356 +/- 318 versus 787 +/- 258 at 3 min and 1,735 +/- 534 versus 923 +/- 376 at 4 min. CONCLUSIONS: Decreasing the temperature of the cryoprobe by using liquid nitrogen increases the volume of the lesions. Programmed electrical stimulation before and 6 weeks after cryoablation indicated no arrhythmogenicity.

Exacerbation of ventricular arrhythmias during the postoperative period after implantation of an automatic defibrillator.

The postoperative course of 68 consecutive patients treated with an implantable defibrillator during the period from 1982 through 1990 was studied. In 46 patients (group 1), no concomitant surgery was performed during the implantation. In 22 patients (group 2), concomitant surgery (coronary artery bypass [n = 12], valve replacement [n = 3] or arrhythmia surgery [n = 7]) was performed. All patients in group 1 were clinically stable before surgery, receiving an antiarrhythmic regimen chosen by serial drug testings. The same regimen was continued postoperatively. Eight of the 46 patients in group 1 whose condition had been stable in the hospital for 19 +/- 25 days preoperatively developed multiple episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia 4 +/- 9 days after implantation while receiving the same antiarrhythmic regimen. Although the exacerbation was transient in some patients, six required different antiarrhythmic therapy and one eventually died. Two additional patients had frequent and prolonged episodes of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia that could trigger the defibrillator, requiring changes in the antiarrhythmic regimen. Another patient had progressive cardiac failure and died on day 5. A marked (sevenfold) increase in asymptomatic ventricular arrhythmias was noted in 42% of the remaining 35 patients. In group 2 (combined surgery), one patient developed refractory ventricular tachycardia 3 days postoperatively and died on that day. Three patients developed frequent nonsustained ventricular tachycardia postoperatively, requiring changes in the antiarrhythmic regimen. The overall surgical mortality rate was 4.4% (4.3% in group 1 and 4.5% in group 2) and was due to refractory ventricular tachycardia in two patients and cardiac failure in one.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Benefits of implantable defibrillators are overestimated by sudden death rates and better represented by the total arrhythmic death rate.

Benefits of the implantable defibrillator on survival were studied in 56 consecutive patients (concomitant coronary bypass or arrythmia surgery in 15) during an 8 year period between 1982 and 1990. During a follow-up period of 29 +/- 25 months, six patients had a sudden death and eight patients had a nonsudden cardiac death. Nonsudden cardiac deaths included three surgical deaths (death within 30 days after the surgery; two in patients without and one in a patient with concomitant cardiac surgery), one arrhythmia-related nonsudden death (death within 24 h after an arrhythmic event despite initial termination of the arrhythmia by the implantable defibrillators) and four nonarrhythmic cardiac deaths. The actuarial survival rate free of events at 1, 2 and 3 years was 96%, 96% and 92%, respectively, for sudden death, 91%, 91% and 87% for sudden death and surgical mortality and 89%, 89% and 85% for total arrhythmic death (sudden death, surgical mortality and arrhythmia-related nonsudden death). Thus, in patients treated with an implantable defibrillator, 1) the rate of sudden death is low (8% at 3 years); 2) 50% of nonsudden cardiac deaths are causally related to arrhythmia (surgical mortality or arrhythmia-related nonsudden death); 3) the total arrhythmic death rate is substantially higher than the sudden death rate; and 4) benefits of an implantable defibrillator are overestimated by reported sudden death and nonsudden cardiac death rates. The benefits may be better represented by the total arrhythmic death and nonarrhythmic cardiac death rates.

Attempted nonsurgical electrical ablation of accessory pathways via the coronary sinus in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Previous canine experiments suggested that transvenous catheters placed in the coronary sinus could be used to deliver limited energy shocks, resulting in fibrosis in the atrial wall and coronary sulcus with sparing of the coronary artery. From the distribution of the fibrosis, it appeared that this approach could be used for attempted ablation of accessory pathways in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Eight patients with symptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome underwent electrophysiologic testing with attempted ablation of 10 accessory pathways. Shocks were limited to 40 to 80 J, except in one patient who received shocks of 100 and 150 J. From 2 to 26 shocks were given to each accessory pathway. All the accessory pathways were blocked completely immediately after the shocks. Subsequently, evidence of accessory pathway conduction recurred in each patient. Three had early promise of long-term improvement after the procedure, with prolongation of the refractory periods of the accessory pathways during the remainder of the initial hospitalization. Several weeks later, however, there was evidence of return toward original values in two of these. Another patient who appeared not to benefit during her initial hospitalization returned 7 weeks later with very depressed accessory pathway conduction, possibly due to developing fibrosis. The only significant complication occurred in the patient receiving shocks of 100 and 150 J; he had apparent rupture of the coronary sinus requiring pericardial drainage. In two patients in whom nonsurgical ablation was not successful, intraoperative mapping showed that the accessory pathway was located in an area of fibrosis at the site of the attempted ablation. In summary, nonsurgical electrical ablation of accessory pathways via the coronary sinus may be successful using limited energy levels in a few patients. The procedure remains experimental, and widespread application must await more effective means of delivering the shocks.