[Clinical significance of 1st degree atrioventricular block and its medico-legal evaluation in cases of pensionable invalidity]. / Significato clinico del blocco atrio ventricolare di primo grado e valutazione medico legale in caso di invalidità pensionabile.

His bundle recording is a useful way of locating the site of block in atrioventricular conduction disturbances. It is a determinant factor in interpreting the causes of fainting and in prognosis, not only for therapeutical but also for medicolegal purposes.

[Complications due to a change of electric circuit in patients with intracavitary pacemakers]. / Complicanza da alterazione del circuito elettrico in portatori di pace-maker endocavitario

Two cases of electrolytic chemical necrosis of the right ventricle and tissue surrounding the pocket in patients with intracardial pacemakers are presented. The clinical signs of this condition include absence of normal ventricular electrical stimulation and inflammation and/or necrosis of the site if battery implantation.

[Work capacity evaluation in patients with valvular prostheses]. / Valutazione della capaciptà lavorativa nei portatori di protesi valvolare.

The possibility of evaluating the capacity for work of subjects wearing heart valve prostheses is analysed. The many factors affecting the return to normal life after operations for valvulopathies are not considered. In strictly medical terms cardiac terms cardiac function can be adequately evaluated by anamnestic and clinical surveys, supplemented by standard non-surgical instrumental examination with particular emphasis on echography, computerised radioisotope angiocardiography and physical exertion tests.

[Treatment using radiofrequency stimulation of supraventricular paroxysmal tachycardia in W.P.W. syndrome]. / Trattamento mediante stimolazione a radiofrequenza di tachicardia parossistica sopraventricolare in sindrome di W.P.W.

The case of woman patient suffering from W.P.W. syndrome and recurrent attacks of supraventricular paroxysmal tachycardia refractory to medical treatment is reported. After electrophysiological study, a radiofrequency coil is implanted. This is activated by the patient during attacks and leads to rapid interruption. The modalities under which paroxysmal tachycardias are interrupted by means of electrostimulating units are discussed and indications for radiofrequency stimulation assessed.

[Electric stimulation of the heart : treatment indications and criteria for choosing of pacemakers. Contribution of the Ospedale Santa Croce in Cuneo]. / L'elettrostimolazione cardiaca: indicazioni al trattamento e criteri di scelta dei pace-makers. Contributo dell'Ospedale Santa Croce di Cuneo

The various types of emergency electrical heart stimulation for the short and medium terms or permanent, are reviewed along with choice criteria. The personal series represting 5 years experience at the Cuneo S. Croce Hospital is reported.

[Risk stratification after uncomplicated myocardial infarct: the usefulness of the echocardiographic-dipyridamole test]. / Stratificazione del rischio dopo infarto miocardico non complicato: utilità del test eco-dipiridamolo.

To assess the value and safety of echo-dipyridamole test in risk stratification soon after an uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction, 56 consecutive patients were enrolled in a prospective study with a 1-year follow-up period for new coronary events. Echo-dipyridamole and symptom-limited ECG stress test were performed respectively 14 to 20 days and 4 to 5 weeks after acute event. Echo-dipyridamole test was performed administering 0.84 mg/kg iv of the drug in 10 min: any worsening of left ventricular regional wall motion was considered as a positive test. Up to December 1989, 43 out of 56 patients had their follow-up period completed: the infarction was anterior in 13 (30%), inferior in 22 (51%), non-Q wave in 8 (19%); mean age was 55 +/- 10; basal echocardiographic ejection fraction was 52 +/- 6%. There were no major complications during echo-dipyridamole test. Coronary events occurred in 7 patients (16%): reinfarction in 3, angina in 4; there were no cardiac deaths. A positive echo-dypiridamole test was observed in 12/43 patients (28%); sensitivity versus coronary events was 43%, specificity 75%, negative predictive value 87%. Ten out of 43 patients (23%) had positive and 9/43 (21%) non valuable ECG stress test: sensitivity versus coronary events was 50%, specificity 75%, predictive negative value 88%. The 2 tests showed no significant difference in detecting patients at risk of future coronary events.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Contribution of computerized radioisotope angiocardiography to the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic dysplasia of the right ventricle]. / Contributo della angiocardiografia radioisotopica computerizzata all'equilibrio al riconoscimento della displasia aritmogena del ventricolo destro.

Radionuclide angiography phase analysis was performed in two patients presenting with recurrent right-sided ventricular tachycardia without angiographic evidence of valvular or ischemic heart disease. A dilated, poorly contracting (EF = 20%) right ventricle with localized dyskinetic areas was found in contrast with normal left ventricular function. The suggested diagnosis of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia was confirmed by right ventricular angiography performed in one patient. The diagnostic interest of radionuclide angiography phase analysis in patients with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia is stressed.