Effect of amiodarone and sotalol on the defibrillation threshold in comparison to patients without antiarrhythmic drug treatment.

AIM OF THE STUDY: It is generally accepted that chronic therapy with antiarrhythmic drugs might increase the defibrillation threshold at implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. A recently published animal study showed a minor effect of the class 1 antiarrhythmic drug lidocaine on the defibrillation threshold if biphasic shocks were used. METHODS AND RESULTS: We therefore performed a retrospective analysis in 89 patients who received an ICD capable of monophasic (n=18) or biphasic (n=71) shocks with a transvenous lead system. In all patients the defibrillation threshold was determined according to the same step down protocol. In the 18 patients with a monophasic device the effects of chronic therapy with amiodarone (n=7) on the defibrillation threshold were evaluated in comparison to a group without antiarrhythmic treatment (n=11). In those patients receiving a biphasic device the effects of chronic therapy with amiodarone (n=29), sotalol (n=20) or no antiarrhythmic medication (n=22) on the defibrillation threshold were evaluated. The groups receiving a monophasic device did not differ in respect to age, sex, underlying cardiac disease, clinical arrhythmia (VT/VF), clinical functional status, left ventricular ejection fraction and the number of patients with additional subcutaneous electrodes. These parameters as well as the type of implanted device were not different between patient groups receiving a biphasic device. Patients on chronic amiodarone therapy receiving a monophasic device had a significantly higher defibrillation threshold (29.1 +/- 8.8 J) than patients without antiarrhythmic treatment (19.1 +/- 5.1 J, P = 0.021). The groups did not differ significantly in respect to the impedance measured at the shocking lead (P = 0.13). In three patients on chronic amiodarone an epicardiac lead system had to be implanted due to an inadequate monophasic defibrillation threshold compared to no patient without antiarrhythmic drug treatment (P = 0.043). In the patients with a biphasic device the intraoperative defibrillation threshold was not significantly different between the three study groups (P = 0.44). No patient received an epicardiac lead system. The defibrillation threshold in the amiodarone group was 15.3 +/- 7.3 J, in the sotalol group 14.4 +/- 7.2 J and in the patients without antiarrhythmic drug treatment 17 +/- 6.1 J. As well, no significant difference was seen between the groups in respect of the impedance of the high voltage electrode (P = 0.2). CONCLUSION: With the use of a biphasic device in combination with a transvenous lead system the intraoperative defibrillation threshold is not significantly different between patients on chronic amiodarone in comparison to patients without antiarrhythmic drug treatment or patients on chronic oral sotalol. This is in contrast to our findings with a monophasic device.

[MR angiography of the vertebrobasilar circulatory area: the potential uses of the saturation technic to determine the direction of the flow]. / MR-Angiographie des vertebrobasilären Stromgebiets: Einsatzmöglichkeiten der Saturationstechnik zur Bestimmung der Flussrichtung.

MR angiography (MRA) combined with selective saturation techniques has proved to be a reliable method for the determination of flow direction and vascular supply at the level of the circle of Willis. We describe its application to the vertebrobasilar system (VBS) in ten volunteers and five patients with abnormal findings. In one patient with postsurgical stenosis of the brachiocephalic artery, reverse flow of the vertebral artery (VA) was demonstrated. Collateral blood flow from the anterior circulation over the posterior communicating arteries was shown in three patients with bilateral vertebral or proximal basilar artery occlusion. Due to increase of pressure during contrast injection into the contralateral VA, DSA showed reverse flow of a dissected VA in one patient. MR flow determination as well as TCD proved antegrade flow. All results correlated with both DSA and transcranial Doppler (TCD). The technique is little time consuming and is a promising add-on examination to conventional and MRA imaging of the VBS.

Effect of a single element subcutaneous array electrode added to a transvenous electrode configuration on the defibrillation field and the defibrillation threshold.

Even with the use of biphasic shocks, up to 5% of patients need an additional subcutaneous lead to obtain a defibrillation safety margin of at least 10 J. The number of patients requiring additional subcutaneous leads may even increase, because recent generation devices have a < 34 J maximum output in order to decrease their size. In 20 consecutive patients, a single element subcutaneous array lead was implanted in addition to a transvenous lead system consisting of a right ventricular (RV) and a vena cava superior lead using a single infraclavicular incision. The RV lead acted as the cathode; the subcutaneous lead and the lead in the subclavian vein acted as the anode. The biphasic defibrillation threshold was determined using a binary search protocol. Patients were randomized as to whether to start them with the transvenous lead configuration or the combination of the transvenous lead and the subcutaneous lead. In addition, a simplified assessment of the defibrillation field was performed by determining the interelectrode area for the transvenous lead only and the transvenous lead in combination with the subcutaneous lead from a biplane chest X ray. The intraoperative defibrillation threshold was reconfirmed after 1 week, after 3 months, and after 12 months. The mean defibrillation threshold with the additional subcutaneous lead was significantly (P = 0.0001) lower (5.7 +/- 2.9 J) than for the transvenous lead system (9.5 +/- 4.6 J). With the subcutaneous lead, the impedance of the high voltage circuit decreased from 48.9 +/- 7.4 omega to 39.2 +/- 5.0 omega. In the frontal plane, the interelectrode area increased by 11.3% +/- 5.5% (P < 0.0001) and in the lateral plane by 29.5% +/- 12.4% (P < 0.0001). The defibrillation threshold did not increase during follow-up. Complications with the subcutaneous electrode were not observed during a follow-up of 15.8 +/- 2 months. The single finger array lead is useful in order to lower the defibrillation threshold and can be used in order to lower the defibrillation threshold.

Clinical experience with the new detection algorithms for atrial fibrillation of a defibrillator with dual chamber sensing and pacing.

INTRODUCTION: A major drawback of therapy with an implantable defibrillator is the nonspecificity of detection. Theoretically, adding atrial sensing information to a decision algorithm could improve specificity of detection. METHODS AND RESULTS: This open-label nonrandomized study compares the detection algorithm of the Ventak AV and the Ventak Mini implantable defibrillators. The Ventak AV (n = 39) uses dual chamber detection as opposed to single chamber detection (with rate stability) in the Ventak Mini (n = 55). Programmed zone configurations, rate thresholds, and stability criteria were identical in all patients. In the Ventak AV group, 235 ventricular tachyarrhythmias were adequately detected and treated by the device. In the Mini group, 699 episodes of ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia occurred. All but six of the latter episodes were correctly identified and treated: one patient with incessant ventricular tachycardia had five episodes not terminated by the device, another episode occurred in a patient with a device/lead defect. In the Ventak AV group, 33 episodes of sinus tachycardia and 166 episodes of atrial fibrillation/flutter activated the device; inappropriate therapy was applied to 41% of atrial fibrillation/flutter episodes. In the Ventak Mini group, 226 supraventricular tachyarrhythmias activated the device, eight of which were sinus tachycardia and 218 were atrial fibrillation or flutter; of the atrial fibrillation/ flutter episodes 24% were treated inappropriately (fewer vs Ventak AV, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The new detection algorithm incorporated in the Ventak AV did not inadvertently withhold therapy for ventricular tachyarrhythmias, but at the same time the number of inappropriate therapies for atrial fibrillation was not decreased in comparison to a single chamber device.

Intracranial vertebrobasilar system: MR angiography.

PURPOSE: To determine the reliability of magnetic resonance (MR) angiography in depicting normal vascular anatomy and its usefulness in detecting vascular disease compared with those of digital subtraction angiography (DSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with symptoms referable to disease of the vertebrobasilar system were examined with MR angiography and DSA. RESULTS: In patients with normal DSA results, all vertebral arteries (VAs) and basilar arteries (BAs) were also visualized with MR angiography. MR angiography demonstrated 117 of 120 superior cerebellar arteries and 80 of 90 posterior inferior cerebellar arteries but only 30 of 58 anterior inferior cerebellar arteries. MR angiography demonstrated disease of the VAs and BAs with 100% sensitivity. Stenoses were differentiated from occlusions in all cases. However, the degree of stenosis was overestimated in 63% of patients. In six patients with occlusive disease, collateral flow was correctly analyzed with selective saturation. CONCLUSION: Despite its limitations, MR angiography is a clinically important noninvasive technique for screening patients for macroangiopathy of the posterior arterial supply to the brain.

[Pelvimetry using various magnetic resonance tomography techniques vs. digital image enhancement radiography: accuracy, time requirement and energy exposure]. / Pelvimetrie mittels verschiedener kernspintomographischer Techniken vs. digitale Bildverstärkerradiographie: Genauigkeit, Zeitbedarf und Energiebelastung.

In 50 patients with suspected or proven cephalo-pelvine disproportion pelvimetry was performed with MR-tomography using a gradient-echo-sequence (FLASH 2D) before or after labour. Results were compared with measurements using digital radiography. In principle, both methods are exchangeable. The sagittal pelvic in- and outlet bispinous diameters are well reproducible. On the other hand, the transverse pelvic inlet and the distance between the ischiatic tubera are not so reliably reproduced. The accuracy of measurement does not depend on individual pelvic distances. Critical statistical analysis demonstrates, that in the worst case differences between the two methods might become unacceptable. Our results indicate two major reasons: 1. there are interobserver problems which cannot be neglected, and 2. the anatomical definition of referential landmarks for the measurements is unsafe. In 10 volunteers, a comparison was made between a T1-weighted spin-echo sequence (SE), a fast gradient echo sequence (FLASH-2D) and an ultrafast gradient echo technique (Turbo-FLASH). For the examination techniques presented here, the high-frequency exposure load or specific absorption rate (SAR loc and SAR total) is below the values permitted by the German Federal Health Bureau (Bundesgesundheitsamt). Whereas the exposure load in case of spin-echo takes (SE) is 22fold higher than with the gradient echo technique (GHE), the load values of ultra-fast GE (usGE) are only about 16% of the 2D-FLASH sequence or about 0.007% of SE. The difference in image quality does not affect the accuracy of measurement.

Enhanced detection criteria in implantable cardioverter defibrillators: sensitivity and specificity of the stability algorithm at different heart rates.

The lack of specificity in the detection of ventricular tachyarrhythmias remains a major clinical problem in the therapy with ICDs. The stability criterion has been shown to be useful in discriminating ventricular tachyarrhythmias characterized by a small variation in cycle lengths from AF with rapid ventricular response presenting a higher degree of variability of RR intervals. But RR variability decreases with increasing heart rate during AF. Therefore, the aim of the study was to determine if the sensitivity and specificity of the STABILITY algorithm for spontaneous tachyarrhythmias is related to ventricular rate. Forty-two patients who had received an ICD (CPI Ventak Mini I, II, III or Ventak AV) were enrolled in the study. Two hundred ninety-eight episodes of AF with rapid ventricular response and 817 episodes of ventricular tachyarrhythmias were analyzed. Sensitivity and specificity in the detection of ventricular tachyarrhythmias were calculated at different heart rates. When a stability value of 30 ms was programmed the result was a sensitivity of 82.7% and a specificity of 91.4% in the detection of slow ventricular tachyarrhythmias (heart rate < 150 beats/min). When faster ventricular tachyarrhythmias with rates between 150 and 169 beats/min (170-189 beats/min) were analyzed, a stability value of 30 ms provided a sensitivity of 94.5% (94.7%) and a specificity of 76.5% (54.0%). For arrhythmia episodes > or = 190 beats/min, the same stability value resulted in a sensitivity of 78.2% and a specificity of 41.0%. Even when other stability values were taken into consideration, no acceptable sensitivity/specificity values could be obtained in this subgroup. RR variability decreases with increasing heart rate during AF while RR variability remains almost constant at different cycle lengths during ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Thus, acceptable performance of the STABILITY algorithm appears to be limited to ventricular rate zones < 170 beats/min.