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Am J Cardiol 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, CIBERCV, Madrid, Spain; Universidad Europea, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Interatrial block (IAB) represents a conduction delay between right and left atria and is associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation and stroke. IAB has not been previously assessed in patients with Takotsubo syndrome (TS). Our aim was to describe the prevalence and prognostic significance of IAB in patients with TS. Read More

J Cardiol 2019 Apr 11. Epub 2019 Apr 11.

Department of Cardiology, Asahi General Hospital, Asahi, Chiba, Japan.

Background: Currently, bradycardia treatment is limited to permanent pacemaker (PM) implantation. No consensus exists as to its optimal medication regimen. However, as cilostazol accelerates heart rate (HR) in bradycardia, we investigated its efficacy for sick sinus syndrome (SSS) to avoid permanent PM implantation. Read More

Histol Histopathol 2019 Apr 10:18115. Epub 2019 Apr 10.

Cardiovascular Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, England, UK.

Background- Functional properties of the sinoatrial node (SAN) are known to differ between sexes. Women have higher resting and intrinsic heart rates. Sex determines the risk of developing certain arrhythmias such as sick sinus syndrome, which occur more often in women. Read More

Monaldi Arch Chest Dis 2019 Apr 5;89(1). Epub 2019 Apr 5.

Department of Cardiology, Sawai Man Singh Medical College, Jaipur.

Superior vena cava [SVC] syndrome due to pacemaker leads is a distinct diagnostic rarity. It is diagnosed clinically based on constellation of signs and symptoms supported by imaging evidence of SVC obstruction. A 70-year-old male, an ex-smoker, presented with facial and upper limb swelling along with exertional dyspnea. Read More

Emergencias 2019 Abr;31(2):146-147

Hospital Juan Ramón Jiménez, Huelva, España.

Heart Fail Rev 2019 Apr 5. Epub 2019 Apr 5.

'Grigore T. Popa' University of Medicine, Iasi, Romania.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a common disorder generating high mortality and important morbidity prevalence, with a very limited medical treatment available. Studies have shown that the pathophysiological hallmark of this condition is an elevated left intra-atrial pressure (LAP), exertional dyspnea being its clinical manifestation. The increasing pressure from LA is not based on volume overload (such as in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction) but on a diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction combined with an inter-atrial dyssynchrony mimicking a pseudo-pacemaker syndrome. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Apr 4;12(4). Epub 2019 Apr 4.

Division of Rheumatology, Internal Medicine, Albany Medical Center, Albany, New York, USA.

A 54-year-old woman was referred to our centre for the third recurrence of colchicine-intolerant, corticosteroid dependent iatrogenic post-traumatic pericarditis after pacemaker placement 3 months prior to the first episode. The initial episode and each recurrence were associated with a pericardial effusion requiring drainage. Evaluation for pericardial infection, malignancy, autoimmune disease and pacemaker lead perforation was negative. Read More

Zhonghua Er Ke Za Zhi 2019 Apr;57(4):272-276

Heart Center, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, First Hospital of Tsinghua University, Beijing 100016, China.

To assess the clinical characteristics, pathogenic genes and therapeutic effects of congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) in children. A retrospective analysis included 58 LQTS children (37 boys, 21 girls; age of diagnosis (8.0±4. Read More

Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2019 Apr 29;144(7):484-488. Epub 2019 Mar 29.

Abteilung für Diagnostische und Interventionelle Radiologie, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg.

History And Clinical Findings:  A 75-year-old woman was admitted to our institution for acute abdominal pain. She had a history of atrial fibrillation, pacemaker implantation and diastolic heart failure. At time of admission, she was under oral anticoagulation therapy with apixaban. Read More

J Neurol Surg A Cent Eur Neurosurg 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen, Charles University, University Hospital Pilsen, Pilsen, Czech Republic.

Background And Study Aims:  Both general anesthesia (GA) and local anesthesia (LA) are used in our department for carotid endarterectomy. The decision of which anesthetic technique to use during surgery is made on an individual basis. The aim of our study was to analyze the reasons for using GA or LA. Read More

J Physiol Biochem 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Physiotherapy, Universitat de València, Valencia, Spain.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) describes a condition associated with multiple diseases concomitantly such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and dyslipidemia. It has been linked with higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, atrial fibrillation, and sudden cardiac death. One of the underlying mechanisms could be altered automaticity, which would reflect modifications of sinus node activity. Read More

Congenit Heart Dis 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.

Objective: Fontan surgery is performed in children with univentricular heart defects. Previous data regarding permanent pacemaker implantation frequency and indications in Fontan patients are limited and conflicting. We examined the prevalence of and risk factors for pacemaker treatment in a consecutive national cohort of patients after Fontan surgery in Sweden. Read More

Front Cardiovasc Med 2019 28;6:11. Epub 2019 Feb 28.

Struttura Complessa Medicina Interna, ASST Papa Giovanni XXIII, Bergamo, Italy.

Neonatal Lupus (NL) is a rare syndrome caused by placental transfer of maternal anti-SSA/Ro and anti-La/SSB autoantibodies to the fetus. The rarity of this condition requires the establishment of multidisciplinary registries in order to improve our knowledge. Inclusion criteria in this retrospective study were the maternal confirmed positivity for anti-SSA/Ro and/or anti-SSB/La antibodies, and the presence of II or III degree congenital heart block (CHB) or neonatal period (up to 27 days after birth). Read More

Mol Med Rep 2019 May 6;19(5):3584-3592. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

Department of Cardiology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China.

Biological pacemakers that combine cell‑based and gene‑based therapies are a promising treatment for sick sinus syndrome or severe atrioventricular block. The current study aimed to induce differentiation of adipose tissue‑derived stem cells (ADSCs) into cardiac pacemaker cells through co‑expression of the transcription factors insulin gene enhancer binding protein 1 (ISL‑1) and T‑box18 (Tbx18). ADSCs were transfected with green fluorescent protein, ISL‑1, Tbx18 or ISL‑1+Tbx18 fluorescent protein lentiviral vectors, and subsequently co‑cultured with neonatal rat ventricular cardiomyocytes in vitro for 7 days. Read More

G Ital Cardiol (Rome) 2019 Mar;20(3):136-148

Dipartimento di Medicina Ambientale e Salute Pubblica, Università degli Studi, Padova.

Background: The pacemaker (PM) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) Registry of the Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing (AIAC) monitors the main epidemiological data in real-world practice. The survey for the 2017 activity collects information about demographics, clinical characteristics, main indications for PM/ICD therapy and device types from the Italian collaborating centers.

Methods: The Registry collects prospectively national PM and ICD implantation activity on the basis of European cards. Read More

Cardiorenal Med 2019 27;9(3):135-144. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Nephrology Division, University of Naples - "Luigi Vanvitelli" - Medical School, Naples, Italy,

The appropriate vascular access for hemodialysis in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) is undefined. We describe two cases of end-stage renal disease patients with CIED and tunneled central venous catheter (CVC) who developed venous cava stenosis: (1) a 70-year-old man with sinus node disease and pacemaker in 2013, CVC, and a Brescia-Cimino forearm fistula in 2015; (2) a 75-year-old woman with previous ventricular arrhythmia with implanted defibrillator in 2014 and CVC in 2016. In either case, after about 1 year from CVC insertion, patients developed superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome due to stenosis diagnosed by axial computerized tomography. Read More

Ann Rheum Dis 2019 May 26;78(5):696-703. Epub 2019 Feb 26.

Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Objective: Congenital heart block (CHB) may develop in fetuses of Ro/SSA autoantibody-positive women. Given the rarity of CHB, information on comorbidity and complications later in life is difficult to systematically collect for large groups of patients. We therefore used nation-wide healthcare registers to investigate comorbidity and outcomes in patients with CHB and their siblings. Read More

J Arrhythm 2019 Feb 3;35(1):155-157. Epub 2018 Nov 3.

Department of Medicine University of California San Diego San Diego California.

A 16-year-old female with symptomatic Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome underwent catheter ablation of a left-sided lateral accessory pathway. The accessory pathway was eliminated with the first ablation lesion; however, the patient immediately developed complete heart block (CHB). At first, complete heart block was thought to be due to ablation of left atrial extension of the AV node, and pacemaker therapy was considered. Read More

J Arrhythm 2019 Feb 10;35(1):142-144. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Department of Cardiology Tokyo Women's Medical University Tokyo Japan.

Twiddler syndrome is an uncommon complication that occurs by twisting of the generator and may cause torsion, dislodgement, and injury of the leads. We report a rare case of a twiddler syndrome associated with an abdominal permanent pacemaker. Abdominal twiddler syndrome may possess a unique mechanism, which may not be seen in chest twiddler syndrome. Read More

J Arrhythm 2019 Feb 1;35(1):139-141. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Cardiac Health Heart Centred and Cardiology Division Department of Medicine Queen Mary Hospital The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China.

Atrioventricular nodal (AVN) ablation and right ventricular (RV) pacing is recommended for refractory atrial fibrillation (AF) and tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome. Three AF patients (mean age 83, range 79-89 years) underwent AVN ablation and transvenous leadless pacemaker Micra implantations using the same venous access without anticoagulation interruption. Satisfactory pacing 0. Read More

Med Hypotheses 2019 Mar 2;124:56-59. Epub 2019 Feb 2.

Al Sabah Arrythmia Institute, Mount Sinai St. Luke's Hospital, New York, USA.

The atrioventricular node (AV) is considered the electrical connection between the atria and ventricles. There is an electrical pause between activation of the atria and the ventricles (PR segment), but to date the mechanism responsible for this interruption remains unclear. The present communication focuses on the hypothesis that magnetic field dynamics could provide the answer. Read More

J Neurol Sci 2019 Apr 7;399:118-124. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Neurology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCSS, Largo A. Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy; Institute of Neurology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. Electronic address:

Introduction: Respiratory complications are relevant in DM1, leading to a significantly increased morbidity and mortality risk in these patients; however, so far only few studies concerning respiratory function have been conducted in DM1 patients. We report a retrospective, multicenter, cross sectional study on a large cohort of DM1 patients widely characterized in the phenotype, to assess prevalence and identify predictors of restrictive respiratory syndrome.

Methods: 268 DM1 subjects aged >18 years, who had recently performed spirometric tests were included; restrictive syndrome was diagnosed if forced vital capacity (FVC) <80% of predicted. Read More

Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2019 Jan 17. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

The Fetal Center, Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX, USA. Electronic address:

The aim of foetal cardiac therapy is to treat an abnormality at the developmental stage so that the process of cardiac growth, which is complex and relies on the volume and direction of circulating blood as well as genetic determinants, can continue. In reality, most cardiac interventions are palliative; hence, major abnormalities are still present at birth. Nevertheless, tangible benefits following successful foetal intervention include improved haemodynamics and reduction in secondary damage leading to better postnatal outcomes. Read More

Diabetes Metab Res Rev 2019 Feb 15:e3140. Epub 2019 Feb 15.

Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.

It is commonly held that the gall bladder (GB) is not indispensable for life. However, recent studies strongly suggest that GB removal can lead to the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). With the recent recognition of the role of bile acids (BAs) in systemic metabolic regulation, it is worthwhile to re-examine the function of the GB, which can be regarded as the physiological "pacemaker" of BA flow. Read More

J Tehran Heart Cent 2018 Jul;13(3):136-139

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Barts Heart Centre, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.

Intraventricular conduction abnormalities following cardiac surgery have been thoroughly described, especially after valvular surgery. It is also widely known that several anesthetic factors can cause autonomic disturbances resulting in the unmasking of sinus node dysfunction, significant bradycardia, and cardiovascular collapse during the intraoperative period. However, little is known about asymptomatic episodes, especially those occurring prior to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Read More

Hemodial Int 2019 Apr 7;23(2):E53-E58. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Department of Kidney Disease, Kawashima Hospital, 1-39 Kitasakoichiban-cho, Tokushima, 770-0011, Japan.

Hemodialysis patients have weakened immune systems and can exhibit fever due to various causes. Herein, we describe the case of a 61-year-old hemodialysis patient who exhibited intermittent low-grade fever after a pacemaker had been implanted 2 months before due to sick sinus syndrome. She had a medical history of subcutaneous sarcoidosis and uveitis. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2019 Apr 29;22:20-39. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Clinica Veterinaria Malpensa, Viale Marconi 27, 21017 Samarate, Varese, Italy.

Pacemaker implantation is considered as a standard procedure for treatment of symptomatic bradycardia in both dogs and cats. Advanced second-degree and third-degree atrioventricular blocks, sick sinus syndrome, persistent atrial standstill, and vasovagal syncope are the most common rhythm disturbances that require pacing to either alleviate clinical signs or prolong survival. Most pacemakers are implanted transvenously, using endocardial leads, but rarely epicardial leads may be necessary. Read More

Rev Port Cardiol 2019 Jan 23;38(1):65.e1-65.e3. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Cardiology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address:

Superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome is typically dramatic. Although the diagnosis is usually easy, elucidation of the etiology is difficult. We present a patient who developed SVC syndrome early after transvenous pacemaker implantation and who was subsequently diagnosed with lung carcinoma. Read More

Pharmacol Res 2019 Mar 21;141:443-450. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Despite recent advances in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, the available options are still limited and associated with some complications. Induction of biological pacemakers via Tbx18 gene insertion in the heart tissue has been suggested as a promising therapeutic strategy for cardiac arrhythmia. Following a previous in vitro study reporting the production of Tbx18-expressing human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPS-CMs), we aimed to investigate the efficacy of these engineered cells to generate pacemaker rhythms in a murine model of complete heart block. Read More

Cardiology 2018 16;141(3):172-175. Epub 2019 Jan 16.

Division of Cardiology, Departments of Pathology and Internal Medicine, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Objective: Although several studies have described the effects of adriamycin on the heart, electrocardiographic total 12-lead QRS voltage (distance in millimeters from the peak of the R wave to the nadir of either the Q or S wave, whichever was deeper, with 10 mm [1 mV] being standard) both before and after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHT) has not been reported. This study describes the total 12-lead QRS voltage in 8 patients studied at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, from 1994 to June 2018, who underwent OHT for severe heart failure caused by anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy.

Method: Prior to OHT, the total 12-lead non-paced QRS voltages ranged from 86 to 189 mm (mean 125 ± 56) and for paced QRS voltages from 82 to 113 mm (mean 97 ± 15). Read More

Tremor Other Hyperkinet Mov (N Y) 2018 8;8:618. Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Local Health Unit of Reggio Emilia, Neurology Division, Castelnovo né Monti and Scandiano (RE), IT.

Background: Rarely, cardiac pacemaker implant can lead to the development of involuntary hyperkinetic movement disorders localized to the abdominal wall or the diaphragm.

Phenomenology Shown: We report a case of a 79-year-old female who developed rhythmic continuous clonic right abdominal movements caused by cardiac pacemaker lead dislodgement.

Educational Value: Our case highlights that, in the differential diagnosis of hyperkinetic abdominal movement disorder, the presence and the possible pathogenic role of a cardiac pacemaker should be kept in mind. Read More

Case Rep Cardiol 2018 13;2018:5498052. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Cardiology, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY 11219, USA.

A 73-year-old female with multiple comorbidities including coronary artery disease was admitted for an elective PCI of a lesion detected in the RCA. On the day of the planned PCI, shortly after right femoral artery cannulation, the patient developed a sudden complete heart block requiring the administration atropine and insertion of a temporary pacemaker. Concomitantly, the patient developed acute pulmonary edema, hypotension, and hypoxia requiring intubation for mechanical ventilation. Read More

Circ Genom Precis Med 2019 Jan;12(1):e002238

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Institute for Genetics of Heart Diseases (IfGH), University Hospital Münster, Germany (J.K., B.S., S.Z., G.S., E.S.-B.).

Background: Inherited forms of sinus node dysfunction (SND) clinically include bradycardia, sinus arrest, and chronotropic incompetence and may serve as disease models to understand sinus node physiology and impulse generation. Recently, a gain-of-function mutation in the G-protein gene GNB2 led to enhanced activation of the GIRK (G-protein activated inwardly rectifying K channel). Thus, human cardiac GIRK channels are important for heart rate regulation and subsequently, genes encoding their subunits Kir3. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2019 Mar 27;279:105-111. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Pathophysiology, Oita University, 1397-1, Yamane, Hidaka, Saitama 350-1298, Japan.

The most common cardiac feature of Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS) is atrioventricular block (AVB), and pacemaker implantations (PMIs) are recommended for KSS patients with advanced AVB. However, some KSS patients develop fatal arrhythmias such as polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PMVT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF) and die suddenly even after PMIs. We report a patient with KSS who developed PMVT, VF, and QT prolongation, and was treated with mexiletine and successfully managed with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Read More

Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2019 Jan 11:1-10. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology-A , University of Murcia , Murcia , Spain.

Circadian system is comprised by central circadian pacemaker and several peripheral clocks that receive information from the external environment, synchronizing the circadian clocks. It is widely known that physiology is rhythmic and that the rupture of this rhythmicity can generate serious consequences. Circadian clocks, led by suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the central nervous system, are the responsible for generating this biological rhythmicity. Read More

J Cardiol 2019 May 7;73(5):394-400. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Medical Science and Cardio-renal Medicine, Yokohama, Japan.

Background: Recent pacemakers with transthoracic impedance sensors have a specific algorithm identifying sleep apnea (SA). Our aim was to evaluate the algorithm in Japanese patients.

Methods: Consecutive patients implanted with a pacemaker with sleep apnea monitoring algorithm at our hospital were enrolled prospectively. Read More

Indian Heart J 2018 Dec 20;70 Suppl 3:S435-S441. Epub 2018 Aug 20.

Dr. Newale Health Centre, Navi Mumbai, 400614, India. Electronic address:

Increased heart rate (HR) is associated with deleterious effects on several disease conditions. Chronic heart failure (CHF) is one of the cardiovascular diseases with recurrent hospitalization burden and an ongoing drain on health-care expenditure. Despite advancement in medicine, management of CHF remains a challenge to health-care providers. Read More

Heart 2019 Apr 28;105(8):656-660. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.

We present the case of a 68-year-old woman, currently asymptomatic but with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome, for which she underwent a DDD pacemaker implantation and was started on oral anticoagulants. A recent chest X-ray (figure 1), for respiratory infection, was performed and the patient was referred to our institution for evaluation. Following diagnostic procedures, the patient was successfully operated on. Read More

Circulation 2018 Nov 6:CIR0000000000000628. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Circulation 2018 Nov 6:CIR0000000000000627. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Biomed Res Int 2018 18;2018:7487324. Epub 2018 Nov 18.

Fujian Hypertension Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.

Objective: Sick sinus syndrome (SSS) is one of the most common causes of cardiac impairment necessitating pacemaker implantation. However, studies of SSS pathogenesis are neither comprehensive nor conclusive due to limited success in achieving a stable rat SSS model. Here, we modified pinpoint press permeation to establish a stable rat SSS model. Read More

Clin Case Rep 2018 Dec 30;6(12):2445-2450. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Cardiology Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dinant/Godinne Yvoir Belgium.

Sick sinus syndrome is uncommon in children, and syndromic forms are rare. Some forms of sick sinus syndrome like the bradycardia-tachycardia type could be managed by a radiofrequency ablation, even in young children, and could be helpful to delay the implantation of a pacemaker. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2019 Apr 14;22:2-19. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA. Electronic address:

The sinoatrial node (SAN) is the primary pacemaker in canine and human hearts. The SAN in both species has a unique three-dimensional heterogeneous structure characterized by small pacemaker myocytes enmeshed within fibrotic strands, which partially insulate the cells from aberrant atrial activation. The SAN pacemaker tissue expresses a unique signature of proteins and receptors that mediate SAN automaticity, ion channel currents, and cell-to-cell communication, which are predominantly similar in both species. Read More

Innovations (Phila) 2018 Nov/Dec;13(6):455-457

LSI SOLUTIONS, Victor, NY USA.

Traditionally, pacing leads are placed transvenously, although smaller pediatric patients who require permanent pacemakers may benefit from delaying tranvenous lead placement until they are larger. Alternative, minimally invasive atrioventricular pacing options have not previously existed for this patient population, leaving many of these children with large sternotomies or thoracotomies. Using three port sites and an adjustable shaft dual-needle suturing device, we placed a steroid-eluting, sew-on epicardial lead on the right atrium of a 9-year-old patient. Read More

Echocardiography 2019 01 9;36(1):201-203. Epub 2018 Dec 9.

Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical & Research Center, Tehran, Iran.

Residual fibrous structures, referred as "ghosts", are occasionally encountered following lead extraction. Though typically detected in patients with cardiac device infections, their prognostic and therapeutic implications remain speculative. We describe a 62-year-old gentleman with history of sick sinus syndrome who presented atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. Read More

Int Heart J 2019 Jan 5;60(1):12-18. Epub 2018 Dec 5.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University.

Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD) is a group of hereditary muscular dystrophy syndrome caused by deficiency of genes encoding nuclear envelope proteins. Patients having EDMD show the triad of muscle dystrophy, joint contracture, and cardiac disease. In almost all patients, cardiac involvement is prevalent and is the most severe aspect of EDMD. Read More

J Atr Fibrillation 2018 Aug 31;11(2):2052. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Division of Cardiology, Altru Health System, Grand Forks, North Dakota 58201.

We present a particularly rare case and the first ever report of a ventricular self-extraction in a 98-year old female. Our patient had a past medical history significant for severe Alzheimer's dementia, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, and sick sinus syndrome who was admitted in clinically stable condition following the unwitnessed self-extraction the ventricular lead of her dual chamber pacemaker. This case highlights the potential risks and other clinical challenges of pacemaker and ICD placement in elderly patients and in patients with cognitive impairment. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2019 Mar 26;30(3):299-307. Epub 2018 Dec 26.

Department of Cardiology, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Introduction: Cardiac perforation of the right ventricle associated with pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) leads' implantation is uncommon, albeit potentially life-threatening, complication. The aim of this study is to further identify the optimal therapeutic strategy, especially when lead dislocation has occurred outside the pericardial sac.

Methods And Results: The study population included 10 consecutive patients (six female, mean age: 66. Read More