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Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2018 Dec 15. Epub 2018 Dec 15.

Department of Cardiology, Heart Center Brandenburg, Bernau, Berlin, Germany.

Dislocation of the epicardial pacemaker into the peritoneal cavity is an uncommon but potentially life-threatening complication.We report a case of a 74-year-old with an abdominally implanted epicardial pacemaker that migrated through the peritoneum to the excavatio rectovesicalis. The laparoscopic approach was chosen because of the increased risks of perioperative morbidity and decreased survival. Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2018 Dec 14. Epub 2018 Dec 14.

Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti, Clinica di Cardiologia e Aritmologia, Ancona, Italy.

Micra is a transcatheter leadless pacing system delivered percutaneously through femoral vein access into the right ventricle. We are going to describe an initially standard procedure, with an unexpected troubleshooting at the end: the impossibility to release the device and retract the delivery due to a knot in the tether. This article is protected by copyright. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, 80525, USA. Electronic address:

Epicardial pacemaker implantation can be performed as a lone procedure or in combination with another thoracic or abdominal surgery. This article reviews the current literature and describes a minimally invasive approach for epicardial pacemaker implantation in small animals. The principal advantage of epicardial pacing is that it avoids contact with blood and intracardiac structures and thereby avoids uncommon but potentially devastating complications associated with endocardial pacemaker implantation. Read More

Heart Rhythm 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China;; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Hospital, China;; Shenzhen Institutes of Research and Innovation, University of Hong Kong, China. Electronic address:

Background: The major risk of implanting leadless pacemaker at the right ventricular apex is cardiac perforation.

Objective: We described and prospectively evaluated the safety and feasibility of a technique for mid-septal implantation of the Micra leadless pacemaker.

Methods: We positioning the device at the center of the cardiac silhouette in the right anterior oblique (RAO) view, towards the left in the left anterior oblique (LAO) view and away from the sternum in the left lateral view. Read More

Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Cardiology department, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Objective: To compare procedural outcomes of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) patients who were implanted with older versus newer generation valves.

Background: The current evidence base for improved safety of the newer commercially available TAVI valves is limited.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Israeli multicenter TAVI registry was performed. Read More

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Division of Cardiology, Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is increasingly used to treat severe aortic stenosis. A frequent complication of TAVR is high grade or complete atrioventricular (AV) block requiring a permanent pacemaker (PPM). There is little data on the long-term dependency on pacing after TAVR. Read More

J Card Surg 2018 Dec 12. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

University of Arizona, Banner University Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.

Background: Permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation and paravalvular leak (PVL) rates after sutureless aortic valve replacement (SuAVR) vary widely. The aim of this meta-analysis was to examine the incidence of new PPM implantation and PVL after SuAVR.

Methods: Studies evaluating PPM implantation and PVL rates after SuAVR were searched in Medline/PubMed, Ovid Journals, Clinicaltrials. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2014 Jan 13;9(1):32-34. Epub 2013 Dec 13.

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

Venous occlusions or anatomic variants are unexpectedly encountered during transvenous pacing lead implantation procedures. A 78-year-old man, who had been medically treated for a thoracic and abdominal dissecting aortic aneurysm was referred to our hospital for treatment of congestive heart failure due to complete atrioventricular block with bradycardia. At the time of the pacemaker implantation, the guidewire for inserting the introducer sheath could not be advanced into the left brachiocephalic vein. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2013 Oct 31;8(4):134-137. Epub 2013 Aug 31.

Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Division of Cardiology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi 755-8505, Japan.

We herein report a rare autopsy case of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) presenting ventricular tachycardia after pacemaker implantation. A 69-year-old male received a dual-chamber pacemaker implantation for complete atrioventricular block. He had no chest symptoms after the operation. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2013 Aug 25;8(2):e81-e84. Epub 2013 Jun 25.

Division of Cardiology, Saga Prefectural Hospital Koseikan, 1-12-9 Mizugae, Saga 840-8571, Japan.

An 80-year-old man, who had dilated cardiomyopathy with right ventricular (RV) dilatation, underwent implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation for advanced atrioventricular block and primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. Tined and screw-in leads were placed on the right atrial appendage and RV apex, respectively. Ventricular pacing inhibition was detected after surgery due to oversensing by diaphragmatic myopotential occurring only during deep inspiration. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2013 Jul 30;8(1):e24-e26. Epub 2013 Apr 30.

Department of Cardiology, Matsushita Memorial Hospital, 5-55 Sotojima, Moriguchi, Osaka 557-0045, Japan.

Ventricular septal defect is a common congenital heart disease for which patch closure technique using cardiopulmonary bypass has been applied for a few decades, resulting in a low incidence of perioperative complications. We report a 26-year-old woman with bradycardia of 25-30 beats per minute, which was considered to be a late-onset complication of surgical closure of an isolated ventricular septal defect performed 21 years earlier. She has been stable for more than 9 months without an implanted pacemaker, although her heart rate was always around 40 beats per minute in scheduled follow-up visits. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2010 Aug 21;2(1):e52-e54. Epub 2010 Mar 21.

Department of Cardiology, Clinical Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia.

We report two cases of idiopathic atrial dilatation in two adult siblings, a brother and a sister. The first patient was a 36-year-old man who was referred to our institution for evaluation of atrial fibrillation and syncopes. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed an enlarged right atrium accompanied by a severe tricuspid regurgitation associated with annular dilatation. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2016 Jul 9;14(1):29-31. Epub 2016 Apr 9.

James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.

Techniques to overcome challenging venous anatomy have become an increasingly important part of modern day cardiac device implantation. Complete superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction, however, is a rare and serious clinical entity, and consequently there is limited clinical experience in addressing this pathology in the context of transvenous pacemaker implantation. We present the case of a 48-year-old renal transplant patient with sick sinus syndrome and recurrent syncope, who had an upper SVC occlusion and a failed epicardial pacing system. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2016 Jul 31;14(1):26-28. Epub 2016 Mar 31.

Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease, Department of Internal Medicine University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

A 63-year-old male with past medical history of type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, stroke, and permanent pacemaker implant for poor chronotropic response to exercise underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) for worsening atypical chest pain. The patient had normal myocardial perfusion by nuclear stress testing 3 months prior to this test. A rare variation of dual left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was identified by CCTA and subsequent coronary angiography confirmed a dual LAD and revealed no significant stenosis of the coronary arteries. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2016 Mar 29;13(3):85-86. Epub 2015 Dec 29.

Heart Center, Kyushu University Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.

J Cardiol Cases 2016 Mar 27;13(3):82-84. Epub 2015 Nov 27.

Department of Internal Medicine 1 - Cardiology, Linz General Hospital, Johannes Kepler University School of Medicine, Linz, Austria.

A 47-year-old female with a dual chamber pacemaker was referred to our institution for transvenous lead removal because of suspected pocket infection. The history of this patient started in 2002 with a tricuspid valve endocarditis. Therefore, the patient had tricuspid valve repair that yielded a poor outcome. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2016 Jan 21;13(1):17-20. Epub 2015 Oct 21.

Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad, India.

In this rare case report of giant unruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SOVA), a 17-year-old male presented with sudden onset syncope due to complete heart block (CHB). An emergency evaluation was done with the help of transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and cardiac catheterization with support of temporary pacemaker. The obvious distorting effects of a giant SOVA dissecting into interventricular septum were CHB, significant regurgitation of tricuspid and mitral valve, mild regurgitation aortic valve and biventricular dysfunction. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2015 Dec 29;12(6):180-182. Epub 2015 Aug 29.

The Heart Hospital, University College Hospital, London, UK.

A 49-year-old man was admitted with symptomatic, sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia. He had a previous history of AMP-kinase disease associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and complete heart block, and a pre-existing dual chamber pacemaker. He also had a mechanical tricuspid valve replacement and mitral valve replacement, for severe tricuspid regurgitation from right ventricle (RV) lead-induced injury to the tricuspid valve and a fibroblastoma on the mitral valve. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2015 Apr 19;11(4):109-112. Epub 2015 Jan 19.

Cardiovascular Center, Tachikawa General Hospital, Nagaoka, Japan.

A 66-year-old man was admitted for congestive heart failure with tachycardiac atrial fibrillation (AF). Heart failure was improved by diuretics, but control of heart rate by verapamil was insufficient, and bisoprolol was prescribed. After taking 2. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2014 Sep 28;10(3):91-93. Epub 2014 Jun 28.

Division of Cardiology, Saga-Ken Medical Centre Koseikan, Saga, Japan.

A 79-year-old male, with a history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), was referred to our cardiovascular department for a detailed examination of blackout caused by sinus arrest only during meals. Ultrasound echocardiography showed normal cardiac contraction with no asynergy, irrespective of the remaining stenotic coronary lesion. An electrophysiological study revealed deteriorated atrioventricular nodal conduction at a Wenckebach point of 70 beats per minute. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2014 Sep 22;10(3):81-84. Epub 2014 Jul 22.

Division of Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada.

We report an anorexic adolescent girl with an intermittent Brugada syndrome. A 14-year-old anorexic girl with a body mass index (BMI) of 13.15 kg/m was admitted in the acute state of the disease with an ST elevation in V1 and V2, suggestive of Brugada syndrome. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2017 Jan 17;15(1):25-27. Epub 2016 Nov 17.

Department of Cardiology, Apollo Hospital, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

A 62-year-old female, who had undergone dual chamber pacemaker implantation through left subclavian approach, developed tension pneumothorax of left side. This resulted in shift of entire mediastinum and lead displacement with altered lead parameters. Pacemaker implantation can be complicated by tension pneumothorax in 0. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2016 Oct 2;14(4):115-118. Epub 2016 Jul 2.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.

A 54-year-old man presented with back pain. His medical history included hypertension and gout. There was no history of heart disease or arrhythmia. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2016 Feb 3;13(2):52-55. Epub 2015 Dec 3.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Nantan General Hospital, Kyoto, Japan.

A 77-year-old Japanese woman underwent bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement (AVR) and the Maze procedure for severe aortic valve disease and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), and one year after the AVR, she also underwent a permanent pacemaker implantation for sick sinus syndrome. At two postoperative years, a large mural mass happened to be detected in her left atrium on routine trans-thoracic echocardiography. The cardiac rhythm records produced by the implanted pacemaker demonstrated the recurrence of AF. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2016 Feb 8;13(2):47-51. Epub 2015 Dec 8.

Department of Cardiology, Akashi Medical Center, Akashi, Japan.

We experienced a case of Kounis syndrome with cardiopulmonary arrest and severe coronary spasm. A 70-year-old man with cardiac pacemaker and chronic dialysis was treated for angina pectoris of the right coronary artery. After diagnostic coronary angiography of the right coronary artery, optical coherence tomography was performed with contrast medium and low-molecular-weight dextran. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2010 Jun 27;1(3):e176-e179. Epub 2010 Jan 27.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Integrated Medicine and Informatics, Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Toon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan.

Technologies associated with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices and lead systems have progressed. However, dislocation after coronary sinus (CS) lead placement continues to be a problem. Furthermore, CS lead positioning at the site of the ventricular latest activation (detected by echocardiography) is often problematic due to large vessel size leading to the lead placement (wedge site) near the apical site. Read More

J Rural Med 2018 Nov 29;13(2):185-187. Epub 2018 Nov 29.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shonai Amarume Hospital, Japan.

Older pacemaker systems, which are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) incompatible, require replacement with compatible systems when patients are in need of MRI. Replacement involves extraction of the pacing lead, which is usually done with a laser sheath under general anesthesia. We report two cases of complete pacing system replacements allowing patient access to MRI. Read More

J Am Coll Cardiol 2018 Dec;72(24):3098-3109

Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Background: Infection of implanted medical devices has catastrophic consequences. For cardiac rhythm devices, pre-procedural cefazolin is standard prophylaxis but does not protect against methicillin-resistant gram-positive organisms, which are common pathogens in device infections.

Objective: This study tested the clinical effectiveness of incremental perioperative antibiotics to reduce device infection. Read More

J Am Coll Cardiol 2018 Dec;72(24):3087-3094

Department of Kardiologie, Klinikum Würzburg Mitte, Standort Juliusspital, Würzburg, Germany; Medizinische Klinik 1, Leopoldina-Krankenhaus, Schweinfurt, Germany. Electronic address:

Background: Alcohol-induced infarction for treatment of symptomatic hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) was discussed as a risk factor for increased cardiac mortality during follow-up.

Objectives: This study sought to report on long-term survival after echo-guided alcohol septal ablation (percutaneous transluminal septal myocardial ablation [PTSMA]) in symptomatic patients with HOCM.

Methods: Between May 2000 and June 2017, PTSMA with alcohol injection was performed in 952 patients (age 55. Read More

Sensors (Basel) 2018 Dec 7;18(12). Epub 2018 Dec 7.

iTEAM, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain.

With technological advancement, implanted medical devices can treat a wide range of chronic diseases such as cardiac arrhythmia, deafness, diabetes, etc. Cardiac pacemakers are used to maintain normal heart rhythms. The next generation of these pacemakers is expected to be completely wireless, providing new security threats. Read More

Chest 2018 Dec 10. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.

Background: The incidence of complications and the outcomes of temporary transvenous pacemaker (TTP) placement in the modern era are not well established.

Methods: To determine the current incidence of pericardial complications and the outcomes of patients undergoing TTP, we performed an analysis using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS), which is a US national database of hospital admissions. We identified all patients who underwent TTP using ICD-9 codes. Read More

Exp Ther Med 2018 Dec 28;16(6):4717-4721. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

The Heart Center, Jining First People's Hospital, Jining, Shandong 272011, P.R. China.

Changes in vascular endothelial function, blood coagulation and cardiac function indexes after the implantation of a permanent cardiac pacemaker in patients with bradycardia were investigated. A total of 53 healthy people and 117 patients with bradycardia in Jining First People's Hospital from January 2015 to August 2017 were selected. Factor VIII: coagulation (FVIII:C), von Willebr and factor (vWF), antithrombin activity (AT:A), D-dimmer (D-D), thrombomodulin (TM), tissue factor (TF), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) in the non-pacemaker group and the pacemaker group were significantly different from those in the control group (P<0. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2018 Nov 6. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

Division of Cardiology, University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, Burlington, Vermont.

Acute Kidney Recovery (AKR) is a potential benefit of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). We determined the incidence and predictors of AKR in a multicenter prospective registry of TAVI. After excluding patients on dialysis or who died within 48 hours postprocedure, we reviewed 1,502 consecutive patients underwent TAVI in Northern New England from 2012 to 2017. Read More

J Am Coll Cardiol 2018 Dec;72(23 Pt A):2870-2882

Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Department of Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California. Electronic address:

Background: The pathophysiology of cardiomyopathy associated with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) remains unclear.

Objectives: This study prospectively explored cardiomyopathy development in a swine model of paced ectopic beats.

Methods: A total of 35 swine underwent pacemaker implantation. 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

Am J Cardiol 2019 Jan 2;123(1):93-99. Epub 2018 Oct 2.

University of Iowa.

The benefit of cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients supported by a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is unknown. There are currently no guidelines regarding the continuation, discontinuation or pacemaker (PM) settings post-LVAD implant. The aim of the study was to assess the hemodynamic benefit of biventricular (BiV) pacing in LVAD patients. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 Jan 27;123(1):139-144. Epub 2018 Sep 27.

Division of Cardiology, Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan.

A significant proportion of patients with acute myocarditis experience sudden cardiac death presumably due to cardiac arrhythmia. In this study, we explore the burden, the predictors of arrhythmia in acute myocarditis and the association between arrhythmias and adverse in-hospital outcomes. After evaluating the frequency of various tachyarrhythmias and bradyarrhythmia in myocarditis population, we built a logistic model to determine the independent predictors of arrhythmias in myocarditis and a 1:1 propensity-matched analysis to examine the impact of arrhythmias. Read More

Am J Cardiol 2019 Jan 3;123(1):108-115. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Department of Cardiology, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.

We evaluated temporal trends in gender-related differences in patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for severe symptomatic aortic stenosis from a multicenter TAVI registry during the years 2008 to 2016. Our final cohort included 1,159 males and 1,370 females, with a median follow-up of 2.3 (IQR 1. Read More

Pediatr Cardiol 2018 Dec 11. Epub 2018 Dec 11.

Department of Cardiology, Pediatric Heart Centre, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstr. 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland.

The absence of cardiac symptoms, the improved exercise tolerance and the increased life expectancy are the advantages of a successful cardiac device therapy. Nevertheless, the fact of a lifelong device dependency, the inherent possibility of device malfunction and the progression of the underlying heart disease may impact the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the psychological adjustment of these individuals. To date, an overview of findings on these topics is lacking. Read More

Front Physiol 2018 27;9:1686. Epub 2018 Nov 27.

Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.

Spontaneous beating of the sinoatrial node (SAN), the primary pacemaker of the heart, is initiated, sustained, and regulated by a complex system that integrates ion channels and transporters on the cell membrane surface (often referred to as "membrane clock") with subcellular calcium handling machinery (by parity of reasoning referred to as an intracellular "Ca clock"). Stable, rhythmic beating of the SAN is ensured by a rigorous synchronization between these two clocks highlighted in the coupled-clock system concept of SAN timekeeping. The emerging results demonstrate that such synchronization of the complex pacemaking machinery at the cellular level depends on tightly regulated spatiotemporal signals which are restricted to precise sub-cellular microdomains and associated with discrete clusters of different ion channels, transporters, and regulatory receptors. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2013 Dec 29;8(6):173-175. Epub 2013 Oct 29.

Division of Cardiology, Shizuoka Red Cross Hospital, 8-2 Otemachi, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka 420-0853, Japan.

The therapeutic effect of interferon (IFN) on chronic hepatitis C and its adverse effects have been well documented. Although the incidence of IFN-related cardiotoxicity is low, careful observation is necessary because of its possible fatal outcome. We describe a 45-year-old woman who suffered from sinus node dysfunction after the combination therapy of pegylated IFN-alpha and ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2013 Jun 25;7(6):e173-e175. Epub 2013 Mar 25.

Department of Cardiology, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Dayton, OH, USA.

Syncope is defined as a transient loss of consciousness due to cerebral hypoperfusion characterized by rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous complete recovery. Numerous causes of syncope have been described. Vasovagal syncope is the most common with a number of precipitants. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2013 May 15;7(5):e129-e132. Epub 2013 Feb 15.

Department of Rhythmology, Louis Pradel Cardiovascular Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.

The infection of an implanted pacemaker or defibrillator is often difficult to diagnose. Positron emission tomography-computerized tomography (PET-CT) has recently been shown to be of great interest in this difficult clinical setting. We report the case of a patient with suspected implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) infection. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2013 Apr 6;7(4):e109-e113. Epub 2013 Feb 6.

Division of Cardiology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, 1-21-1 Toyama, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan.

An 86-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with a head injury secondary to an episode of syncope associated with incontinence. Electrocardiography showed complete atrioventricular block, giant negative T waves in the precordial leads, and QT interval prolongation. Emergency coronary angiography showed no significant coronary stenosis, while left ventriculography demonstrated midventricular ballooning. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2012 Oct 10;6(4):e106-e108. Epub 2012 Jul 10.

Cardiology Division, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Maggiore della Carità, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy.

Background And Purpose: Early diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction is based on 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG), however this interpretation could be difficult in patients with ventricular-paced rhythm.

Subject: We describe the clinical case of a 44-year-old man already implanted with a dual-chamber closed loop stimulation (CLS) pacemaker (PM) and admitted to our department with an ECG showing ST elevation in the inferior leads. All examinations were negative and showed no abnormalities. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2012 Apr 20;5(2):e122-e124. Epub 2012 Jan 20.

Department of Cardiology, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.

An isolated persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) with absent right superior vena cava is a rare and generally asymptomatic congenital malformation. It is usually discovered incidentally during a pacemaker implantation or electrophysiological procedures. We report an adult male who underwent successful dual chamber permanent pacemaker implantation through left subclavian approach with a 7-year follow-up showing a still appropriate function of the device. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2011 Oct 11;4(2):e110-e114. Epub 2011 Aug 11.

Division of Cardiology, Hokkaido Chuo Rosai Hospital, Iwamizawa, Hokkaido, Japan.

A 42-year-old man with a more than 10-year history of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, but no history of heart failure or syncope, had left ventricular outflow tract pressure gradient (LVOT-PG) of 50-80 mmHg on Doppler echocardiography. In June 2010, he experienced general malaise on effort, and LVOT-PG increased to 124 mmHg. Two months later, he suffered a transient ischemic attack, complicated with atrial fibrillation (AF). Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2011 Aug 20;4(1):e38-e42. Epub 2011 May 20.

Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.

We report the case of a patient with bilateral coronary arteriovenous fistulas (CAVFs) connecting the right coronary artery and left circumflex coronary artery with the right atrium who had progression of first-degree atrioventricular (AV) block to complete AV block during a 4-year period. The His bundle electrogram revealed that the complete AV block was the result of a block at the level of the AV node. Dipyridamole stress thallium-201 myocardial imaging showed decreased perfusion in the inferoapical wall. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2011 Jun 6;3(3):e167-e169. Epub 2011 Apr 6.

Department of Cardiology, CHU Timone, Rue St Pierre, Marseille 13005, France.

Regarding the risk of atrioventricular block during the first days following transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), temporary pacing is required. Conventional transfemoral temporary pacing catheters have several drawbacks including the risk of cardiac perforation, infection, and the absence of any fixation mechanism. We describe a case of TAVI procedure with safer temporary pacing, using subclavicular active-fixation pacemaker electrode and external generator. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2011 Jun 27;3(3):e154-e158. Epub 2011 Mar 27.

Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.

Left apical ballooning syndrome, also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC), characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction is increasingly recognized worldwide. Predominantly affecting females, this condition mimics myocardial infarction and often occurs in the setting of emotional or physical stress. We report the case of a 77-year-old male who was admitted to the hospital for complete heart block and developed TTC after pacemaker implantation. Read More