Search

INTRODUCTION The electrocardiograms (ECG) criteria to anchor the lead to the right ventricular septum have not been established. This study aimed to identify ECG criteria of pacing at the right ventricular mid septum (RVMS) and investigate whether the paced QRS duration (pQRSd) from the RVMS was narrow. METHODS AND RESULTS In 42 patients, ECG pacing at the basal anterior wall (BA), mid-anterior wall (MA), apex (AP), and mid septum (MS) was recorded. The pacing sites were validated by using right ventriculography and computed tomography. We estimated the ECG parameters and compared them among the four pacing sites. The combination of simple four paced-ECG parameters could reliably confirm the pacing at the RVMS. The area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve for the number of positive findings among the following: (a) positive QRS in lead aVL, (b) QRS notching in lead I, (c) precordial leads transition at less than V5, and (d) presence of isoelectric QRS in the inferior leads was 0.95 (95% confidence interval, 0.91-0.98) and the number of positive findings (≥3) had a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 93.7% for discriminating MS from the other sites. The pQRSd with three or more positive findings was significantly narrower than that with less than three positive findings (≥3: 137.4 ± 9.2 ms

BACKGROUND The implantation of leads in the right atrial septum (RAS) or the right ventricular septum (RVS) is technically challenging, and dislodgement occurs occasionally. This study aims to determine a predictor for the dislodgement of leads implanted in the RAS or RVS. METHODS This retrospective cohort study enrolled 137 consecutive patients who underwent the cardiac implantable electronic devices implantation, using active fixation leads in the RAS and RVS. We compared the pacing threshold, R- or P-wave amplitude, slew rate, and presence of the current of injury (COI) between dislodged and nondislodged leads. RESULTS We performed lead fixation for 74 and 125 times in the RAS and RVS, respectively. Atrial lead dislodgement occurred five times (6.8%) intraoperatively and five times (6.8%) postoperatively, whereas ventricular lead dislodgement occurred eight times (6.4%) intraoperatively and three times (2.4%) postoperatively. Although there were no lead parameters that showed a significant difference common to RAS lead and RVS lead, the presence of the COI was significantly different between nondislodged and dislodged leads in both the RAS and RVS (atrial leads: 57.8% vs 0%, P

BACKGROUND Alteration in mitral valve morphology resulting from retrograde stiff wire entanglement sometimes causes hemodynamically significant acute mitral regurgitation (MR) during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Little is known about the echocardiographic parameters related to hemodynamically significant acute MR. METHODS AND RESULTS This study population consisted of 64 consecutive patients who underwent transfemoral TAVR. We defined hemodynamically significant acute MR as changes in the severity of MR with persistent hypotension (systolic blood pressure

OBJECTIVES In this study, we sought to investigate the association between revolution speed of rotational atherectomy (RA) and debulking area assessed by frequency domain-optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT). BACKGROUND The number of patients with severe calcified coronary artery disease requiring treatment with calcium ablation, such as RA, is increasing. However, there is little evidence available regarding the association between debulking area and revolution speed during RA. METHODS We retrospectively investigated 30 consecutive severely calcified coronary lesions in 29 patients who underwent RA under FD-OCT guidance. The association between preset revolution speed of RA and burr size-corrected debulking area of the calcified lesion was evaluated using a multivariable regression model with nonlinear restricted-cubic-spline, which can help assess nonlinear associations between variables. RESULTS The median age of study participants was 73 years (quartile 65-78); 82.8% were male. The median burr size was 1.5 mm (1.5-1.75); median total duration of ablation was 120 s (100-180). FD-OCT revealed that the post-procedural minimum lumen area increased significantly from 1.64 mm2 (1.40-2.09) to 2.45 mm2 (2.11-2.98) (p

Background: Although nifekalant hydrochloride (NIF) has been demonstrated to suppress ventricular tachyarrhythmias, especially electrical storms, the mechanism by which it does so is still unclear. We examined the effects of NIF on the spatial dispersion of repolarization (SDR) after implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shock. Methods and Results: In 35 patients with oral amiodarone and β-blocker therapy, and an ICD, we recorded the 87-lead electrocardiogram during sinus rhythm (CONTROL-1 group) under general anesthesia, and just after the termination of induced ventricular fibrillation (VF) by ICD shock, with or without NIF administration. In all recordings, the corrected QT interval (QTc) was measured in each lead. The dispersion of QTc (QTc-D; maximum QTc minus minimum QTc) was also measured. Compared with that in the CONTROL-1 group, the QTc-D exhibited significant deterioration after ICD shock (61±14 and 90±19 ms1/2, respectively; p

A high prevalence and a rapid progression of aortic valve stenosis (AS) in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) has been reported. In these circumstances, intraleaflet hemorrhage of aortic valve may be related to the development of AS in HD patients. We immunohistochemically examined the relationship among intraleaflet hemorrhage, neovascularization, hemoglobin scavenger receptor (CD163), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) using surgically resected aortic valve specimens from AS patients undergoing HD. The study population consisted of 26 HD patients and 25 non-HD patients with severe AS who had undergone aortic valve replacement. Frozen aortic valve samples surgically obtained from AS patients were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against smooth muscle cells, macrophages, glycophorin-A (a protein specific to erythrocyte membranes), CD31, CD163, and HO-1. Morphometric analysis demonstrated that the CD163-positive macrophage score, the number of CD31-positive microvessels, and the percentage of glycophorin-A and HO-1-positive area were significantly higher in HD patients than in non-HD patients (CD163-positive macrophage score, P

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) have a high prevalence of cardiovascular events. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in dialysis patients has been shown to be susceptible to in vitro peroxidation; therefore, oxidized-LDL (ox-LDL) could be generated in these patients. Moreover, myeloperoxidase (MPO) released from activated neutrophils may play a role in the induction of LDL oxidation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma ox-LDL levels, plasma MPO levels, and serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels during initial HD in patients with diabetic ESRD. Patients (n=28) had serial venous blood samples drawn before and after HD at the initial, second, and third sessions. Plasma ox-LDL levels were measured using a specific monoclonal antibody (DLH3), and plasma MPO levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Plasma ox-LDL levels and MPO levels after a single HD session increased significantly (ox-LDL, P

Background Coronary artery disease (CAD) often occurs concurrently in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). However, the influence of concomitant CAD on the presence of atherosclerotic complex plaques in the aortic arch, which is associated with increased stroke risk, has not been fully assessed in patients with severe AS. Hypothesis We hypothesized that concomitant CAD would be associated with the presence of complex arch plaques in patients with severe AS. Methods The study population consisted of 154 patients with severe AS who had undergone transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and coronary angiography (71 male; mean age, 72 ± 8 years; mean aortic valve area, 0.67 ± 0.15 cm2). Aortic arch plaques were assessed using TEE, and complex arch plaques were defined as large plaques (≥4 mm), ulcerated plaques, or mobile plaques. Results The prevalence of aortic arch plaques (87% vs 70%; P = 0.03) and complex arch plaques (48% vs 20%; P

Introduction: Type 1 Brugada ECG is essential for the diagnosis of Brugada syndrome. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of multichannel Holter ECG recording in the third intercostal space for detecting type 1 Brugada ECG. Methods and Results: We enrolled 60 consecutive individuals with type 1 Brugada ECG and 31 individuals with type 2 or 3 Brugada ECG, in the presence or absence of Na+ channel blockers. All individuals underwent 12-lead ECGs recorded in the standard position and the third intercostal space at least 5 times every 3 months (4L-ECGs, 3L-ECGs, respectively) and multichannel Holter ECG. On multichannel Holter ECG, the precordial electrodes were attached at standard positions (4L-Holter) and the third intercostal space (3L-Holter) for leads V1 and V2. Among the 60 individuals, type 1 Brugada ECG in 4L-ECGs, 3L-ECGs, 4L-Holter, and 3L-Holter was detected in 15 (25%), 26 (43.3%), 23 (38.3%), and 33 individuals (55%), respectively, whereas detected in none of the 31 individuals. The documented duration of type 1 Brugada ECG on 3L-Holter was significantly longer than that on 4L-Holter (700 ± 467 vs 372 ± 422 min; P = 0.01, 3L-Holter vs 4L-Holter, respectively), and type 1 Brugada ECG was most frequently observed between 6 pm and 12 pm. Neither the presence nor the duration of the appearance of type 1 Brugada ECG differed significantly between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. Conclusion: Multichannel Holter ECG recording in the third intercostal space is more sensitive and useful for the diagnosis of type 1 Brugada ECG than repeated 12-lead ECGs or multichannel Holter ECG in the standard position.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive and accurate assessment of mitral valve anatomy has become integral in the presurgical evaluation of patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). Recently developed real time three-dimensional (RT3D) ultrasound allows online acquisition, rendering, and can provide accurate information on cardiac structures. We sought to evaluate the feasibility of RT3D for the assessment of MVP segments when compared with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and intraoperative findings. METHODS: We examined 42 patients with MVP using RT3D, two-dimensional (2D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and TEE. For RT3D analysis, cropping planes were used to slice the 3D volume on line to visualize the prolapsed segments of the mitral valve leaflets. The mitral valve was divided into six segments based on the American Society of Echocardiography's recommendations. Two experienced cardiologists evaluated echocardiographic images. RESULTS: Adequate RT3D images of the mitral valve were acquired in 40 out of 42 patients. The sensitivity and specificity of RT3D for defining prolapsed segments when compared with TEE were 95% and 99%, respectively (anterior leaflet: 96% and 99%, posterior leaflets: 93% and 100%, respectively). The sensitivity and specificity of TTE were 93% and 97%, respectively (anterior leaflet: 96% and 98%, posterior leaflets: 90% and 97%, respectively). Interobserver agreement for RT3D (Kappa 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91-1.00) was significantly greater than for TTE (Kappa 0.85, 95% CI 0.78-0.93) (P < 0.05). The elapsed time for completion of RT3D (14.4 +/- 2.8 min) was shorter than for TEE (26.4 +/- 4.7 min, P < 0.0001) and TTE (19.0 +/- 3.1 min, P< 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: RT3D is fast, accurate, and highly reproducible for assessing MVP.

Objective Accelerated atherosclerosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Altered coronary microvascular function may act as a marker of changes that predispose to the development of significant coronary vascular disease. The purpose of this study was to compare coronary flow reserve (CFR) in a group of premenopausal women with SLE and a group of age-, sex-, and race-matched healthy control subjects. Methods Coronary flow velocity in 18 premenopausal women with SLE (mean ± SD age 29.4 ± 5.9 years) and 19 matched healthy controls (mean ± SD age 28.2 ± 4.3 years) was assessed by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography after an overnight fast. The CFR was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to baseline coronary blood flow velocity in the left anterior descending coronary artery. Hyperemia was induced by intravenous administration of adenosine triphosphate. Results The mean ± SD duration of SLE was 8.2 ± 7.2 years (range 0.25–25 years), and the mean ± SD score on the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index was 11.0 ± 5.3 (range 4.0–21.0). Adequate recordings of flow velocity in the left anterior descending artery under both conditions were obtained using an ultrasound procedure in all study subjects. CFR was significantly lower in SLE patients as compared with control subjects (mean ± SD 3.4 ± 0.8 versus 4.5 ± 0.5; P < 0.0001). Conclusion These findings provide evidence that coronary vasomotor function is impaired in patients with SLE and support the notion that many of these young patients have subclinical coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVES We sought to evaluate the effect of acute hyperglycemia on coronary microcirculation by noninvasive measurement of coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Measurements of CFVR using TTDE and levels of plasma glucose and serum insulin and lipids were determined before and 1 hour after loading with oral glucose (75-g glucose) in 10 young healthy males (mean age, 30 +/- 2 years) or an artificial sweetener in five of the 10 subjects without coronary risk factors. RESULTS In all subjects, the levels of plasma glucose and serum insulin significantly increased after glucose loading compared with baseline (5.1 +/- 0.6 vs 7.6 +/- 1.2 mM/l, 6 +/- 3 vs 49 +/- 13 microU/ml, respectively; P < 0.0001). CFVR was significantly decreased 1 hour after acute oral glucose loading (4.4 +/- 0.7-3.8 +/- 0.7, respectively; P < 0.01). There was no significant change in CFVR after loading with an artificial sweetener (4.4 +/- 0.6-4.4 +/- 0.5 cm/sec). CONCLUSIONS TTDE revealed that acute hyperglycemia induced by oral glucose loading suppresses CFVR in healthy young male subjects. This result suggests that acute hyperglycemia may have adverse effects on coronary microcirculation.

Daily Fluctuations of ECG in Brugada Syndrome. Introduction: Risk stratification between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with Brugada syndrome is not yet established. We compared daily fluctuations in 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and signal-averaged ECG (SAECG) characteristics between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with Brugada syndrome to identify new markers for distinguishing between high- and low-risk patients. Methods and Results: Thirty-five patients with Brugada syndrome underwent ECG and SAECG simultaneously at least 4 times every 3 months. We evaluated daily fluctuations (differences between maximum and minimum values) in ECG and SAECG characteristics and compared them between symptomatic (N = 11), and asymptomatic (N = 24) patients. On ECG, the daily fluctuations in r-J interval (interval from QRS onset to J point) in leads VI, V2, and V6 were significantly larger in symptomatic than in asymptomatic patients (VI; 20 ± 6 vs 10 ± 8 msec, P < 0.01, V2; 22 ± 8 vs 11 ± 4 msec, P < 0.01, and V6; 24 ± 7 vs 14 ± 7 msec, P < 0.01). On SAECG, daily fluctuations in filtered QRS (f-QRS) duration and LAS40 were significantly larger in symptomatic than in asymptomatic patients (f-QRS; 15 ± 7 vs 9 ± 4 msec, P < 0.05, and LAS40; 21 ± 7 vs 10 ± 6 msec, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Instability of depolarization appears to be related to the risk of fatal ventricular arrhythmias in patients with Brugada syndrome. Daily fluctuations in ECG and SAECG characteristics could be useful for distinguishing between high- and low-risk patients with Brugada syndrome.

We investigated the correlation of adrenergic receptor polymorphisms, alpha(2c)Del322-325, beta(1)Ser49Gly and beta(1)Arg389Gly, with the risk of heart failure in the Japanese population.These polymorphisms were analysed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in patients with chronic heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and compared with the control group.There were no differences or any trends in the allele and genotype frequencies of the beta(1)Ser49Gly and beta(1)Arg389Gly polymorphisms. The allele frequency of the alpha(2c)Del322-325 variant was lower in patients than in controls (0.11 vs. 0.04, P = 0.0110.017, by Bonferroni correction), while the genotype frequency just failed to reach significance (P = 0.0220.017, by Bonferroni correction).In this population, the variants beta(1)Ser49, beta(1)Arg389, and alpha(2c)Del322-325 do not appear to be risk factors for chronic heart failure due to DCM. The alpha(2c)Del322-325 variant may in fact confer some protection.

BACKGROUND Measurement of left ventricular (LV) volumes and ejection fraction (EF) is important in managing patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Introduction of free-hand three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) system which is equipped with small magnetic tracking system and average rotational geometry for LV volumes may provide easy and accurate quantification of LV systolic function in CAD patients. PURPOSE To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of LV volumes and EF measurement by free-hand 3DE with rotational geometry in patients with CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS The study subjects consisted of consecutive 25 patients with CAD who were scheduled for quantitative gated single-photon emission computed tomography (QGS). LV end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), and EF were determined by conventional two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), 3DE, and QGS. Three-dimensional echocardiography data acquisition and analysis were possible in 22 of 25 subjects (feasibility 88%). In this 3DE system, image acquisition time was 2 minutes, and 5 minutes were needed for off-line analysis of LV volumes and EF. Correlations and the limits of agreement between 3DE and QGS (r = 0.97, 0.0 +/- 9.1 ml for EDV, r = 0.99, 0.0 +/- 5.0 ml for ESV, and r = 0.97, 0.5 +/- 3.3% for EF, respectively) were superior to those between 2DE and QGS (r = 0.85, 12.6 +/- 26.8 ml for EDV, r = 0.85, 9.7 +/- 26.1 ml for ESV, and r = 0.90, -1.3 +/- 6.9% for EF, respectively). Inter- and intra-observer variabilities of 3DE were smaller than that of 2DE (5% vs 10%, 5% vs 10% for EDV, 6% vs 13%, 5% vs 9% for ESV, and 4% vs 11%, 4% vs 6% for EF, respectively). CONCLUSION Three-dimensional echocardiography using magnetic tracking system and average rotational geometry offered a feasible and accurate method for quantification of LV volumes and EF in patients with CAD.

Background: Coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) measurement by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) has been found to be useful for assessing left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) stenosis. However, this method has been restricted only for the LAD. The purpose of this study was to detect severe right coronary artery (RCA) stenosis by CFVR measurement using contrast-enhanced TTDE. Methods: In 60 consecutive patients with angina pectoris (mean (SD) age: 60 (11), 18 women), coronary flow velocities in the RCA were recorded in the postero-descending coronary artery by contrast-enhanced TTDE at rest and during hyperemia induced by intravenous infusion of adenosine triphosphate (140 mcg/ml/kg). CFVR was calculated as the ratio of hyperemic to basal peak and mean diastolic flow velocity. CFVR measurements by TTDE were compared with the results of coronary angiography performed within 1 week. Results: Coronary flow velocity was successfully recorded in 49 (82%) of the 60 patients with contrast agent. CFVR (mean (SD)) was 1.4 (0.4) in patients with, and 2.6 (0.6) in patients without significant stenosis in the RCA (%diameter stenosis > 75%, P < 0.001). Using the cutoff value 2.0 for CFVR in the RCA, its sensitivity and specificity in detecting significant stenosis in the RCA were 88% and 91%, respectively. Conclusion: CFVR measurement in the postero-descending coronary artery by contrast enhanced TTDE is a new, noninvasive method to detect significant stenosis in the RCA. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 21, April 2004)

Background The recently introduced pocket-sized portable transthoracic echocardiography (pTTE) is accurate for measurement of cardiac chamber size and function as well as for assessment of valvular regurgitation. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the pocket-sized pTTE with the standard TTE (sTTE) and assess its cost-effectiveness. Hypothesis The use of pocket-sized pTTE, as an initial screening tool, may be feasible, accurate and cost-effective in the diagnostic strategy of cardiac abnormalities. Methods The study subjects were 200 patients scheduled for sTTE and an electrocardiogram (ECG). Each patient underwent pTTE examination with the Vscan (GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI) immediately after sTTE. The findings of pTTE and the ECG were compared with the results of sTTE. Cost-effectiveness was calculated. Results There was a strong agreement in the detection of abnormal findings between pTTE and sTTE (agreement = 90%), whereas the agreement between the ECG and sTTE was 65%. When pTTE or the ECG was used as an initial screening tool prior to sTTE, similar cost reduction was obtained (approximately 30%) by reducing the number of referrals for sTTE. However, the negative predictive value of a diagnostic strategy with pTTE (92%) was superior to that with an ECG (67%). Conclusions This study demonstrates that the pocket-sized pTTE provides accurate detection of cardiac structural and functional abnormalities beyond the ECG. In addition, the use of pTTE as an initial screening tool prior to sTTE is cost-effective, suggesting that the pocket-sized pTTE is poised to alter the current diagnostic strategy in clinical practice.

We report a case of 78-year-old man with dilated form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. An ICD (Secura, Medtronic Inc.) was implanted for drug-resistant ventricular tachycardia (VT). He received remote home monitoring system (CareLink) including intrathoracic fluid monitoring system (OptiVol). On December 9, 2010, he suffered from general fatigue, but did not have any symptom due to VT. At midnight on December 15, the OptiVol alert due to severe increase of OptiVol fluid index was automatically transmitted. On the next day, we received the alert. In the transmitted data, we found that 85 episodes of sustained VT (mean HR 143 bpm) had occurred and antitachycardia pacing (ATP) was performed 243 times for the VT since December 9. He was diagnosed as HF due to electrical storm of slow VT and admitted emergently on the same day. He received medical treatment for HF and VT. Eventually, he underwent RFCA for VT because of resistance to medication. Finally, we succeeded in terminating the VT by RFCA and improving HF. He had asymptomatic electrical storm of VT, which developed into HF. In this case, the OptiVol alert provided the earlier detection of HF and consequently gave a chance to find out the asymptomatic electrical storm of slow VT resistant to repeated ATP.