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J Vet Cardiol 2021 May 13;36:89-98. Epub 2021 May 13.

Department of Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2015 Linden Dr. Madison, WI 53706, USA.

Introduction: The objective of this retrospective study was to describe the indications, complications, and long-term outcomes in a group of cats that received an epicardial pacing (EP) system.

Animals: Twenty client-owned cats.

Materials And Methods: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, presenting complaint, primary electrocardiogram (ECG) diagnosis, presence of structural heart disease, presence of congestive heart failure (CHF), presence of major or minor complications, and survival time. Read More

J Emerg Nurs 2021 Jun 9. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

An infarction in the right coronary artery affects the inferior wall of the heart and can also cause impedance to the cardiac conduction system. The right coronary artery perfuses the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes, and a loss of blood flow contributes to a breakdown in the communication system within the heart, causing associated bradycardias, heart blocks, and arrhythmias. This case report details the prehospital and emergency care of a middle-aged man who experienced an inferior myocardial infarction, concomitant third-degree heart block, and subsequent cardiogenic shock, with successful revascularization. Read More

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2021 Jun 11;21(1):289. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China.

Background: Nationwide data on the prevalence of atrioventricular (AV) block are currently unavailable in China. Thus, we aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors of AV block among Chinese health examination adults.

Methods: A total of 15,181,402 participants aged ≥ 18 years (mean age 41. Read More

Eur Heart J Case Rep 2021 May 24;5(5):ytab142. Epub 2021 May 24.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, McLaren Macomb Regional Medical Center, 1000 Harrington Street, Mount Clemens, MI 48043, USA.

Background: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) can clinically present as an acute coronary syndrome; however, the former has regional wall motion abnormalities that extend beyond a single coronary vascular territory without any plaque rupture. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy classically involves apical ballooning of left ventricle (LV). It is uncommon for TCM to present as cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) along with third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. Read More

Internist (Berl) 2021 Jun 7. Epub 2021 Jun 7.

Klinik für Innere Medizin - Kardiologie, Angiologie, Nephrologie und konservative Intensivmedizin, Vivantes Klinikum Neukölln, Rudower Str. 48, 12351, Berlin, Deutschland.

A 39-year-old male patient presented with dyspnea and palpitations. The electrocardiogram (ECG) showed a first degree atrioventricular (AV) block and frequent atrial extra systoles. Within the following 48 h the AV block gradually developed into a third degree intermittent complete AV block. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2021 Apr 28;36:20-31. Epub 2021 Apr 28.

Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom.

Introduction: Both paroxysmal high-grade second-degree and persistent third-degree atrioventricular block (AVB) are recognised in cats. Our aim was to document the presentation, echocardiographic data, comorbidities and outcome in affected cats from a single referral hospital, including those that underwent epicardial pacemaker implantation (EPI).

Animals, Materials And Methods: This retrospective study included 64 cats diagnosed with persistent third-degree or paroxysmal high-grade AVB, for which detailed patient history was available. Read More

Echocardiography 2021 May 26. Epub 2021 May 26.

Cardiovascular Non-Invasive Imaging Research Laboratory, Department of Cardiology, Herlev & Gentofte Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate whether echocardiography may aid in identifying patients, specifically men, at risk of bradycardia as detected by implantable loop recorders (ILR) in patients evaluated for syncope and palpitations.

Methods: We included ambulatory patients undergoing ILR implantation for syncope (84%), presyncope (9%), and palpitations (8%). Echocardiographic examination was performed prior to implantation (2. Read More

G Ital Cardiol (Rome) 2021 Jun;22(6):496-508

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 2019 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

Zhong Nan Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2021 Apr;46(4):379-384

Department of Cardiology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.

Objectives: To compare the left ventricular systolic function between the 1eft bundle branch pacing (LBBP) and right ventricular septum pacing (RVSP) in patients with pacemaker dependence by three-dimensional speckle tracking imaging (3D-STI).

Methods: A total of 65 patients with atrioventricular block (AVB) (Mobitz type II second-degree AVB, high-degree AVB, or third-degree AVB), who underwent permanent cardiac pacing implantation including 32 patients receiving LBBP (LBBP group) and 33 patients receiving RVSP (RVSP group) from June 2018 to June 2019,were enrolled in this study. These patients met the following inclusion criterion: pre-operative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)>50% and ventricular pacing rate>40% at 6-month programming follow-up; and the patients underwent echocardiography at pre-operation and 6 months after operation. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2021 Apr 24. Epub 2021 Apr 24.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Purpose: This study investigated the incidences of various conduction abnormalities after rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement(RDAVR) using Edwards Intuity and the temporal changes of these abnormalities during the postoperative course.

Description: We modified the procedure by placing additional anchoring sutures and using a 5-mm videoscope to achieve 'complete annulus fitting'. Direct visual inspection by videoscopy inside and outside the valve guaranteed 'complete annulus fitting'. Read More

J Arrhythm 2021 Apr 1;37(2):460-461. Epub 2021 Feb 1.

Fundação de Hematologia e Hemoterapia de Pernambuco (HEMOPE) Recife Brazil.

Hemophilia A (HA) is a rare bleeding disorder characterized by reduced factor VIII (FVIII) activity and consequently spontaneous bleeding. Since the introduction of prophylaxis with safer FVIII concentrates, people with HA are ageing. Interestingly, they are developing cardiovascular diseases as their non-hemophilia counterparts. Read More

Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 4;11(3). Epub 2021 Mar 4.

Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064 Bologna, Italy.

A 2-year-old Boxer with a history of subaortic stenosis and immunosuppressant therapy developed aortic valve infective endocarditis. On echocardiographic examination with simultaneous electrocardiographic tracing, multiple uncommon periannular complications of the aortic valve endocarditis were found, including aorto-cavitary fistula with diastolic left-to-right shunt, tricuspid valve endocarditis, and third-degree atrioventricular block. Necropsy confirmed the above echocardiographic findings. Read More

Eur Heart J Case Rep 2021 Mar 20;5(3):ytab096. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

London Health Sciences Centre, University of Western Ontario, 339 Windermere Road, London, ON N6A 5A5, Canada.

Background: Modern permanent pacemakers (PPMs) have individual features designed to identify cardiac rhythm abnormalities and improve their performance. Inappropriate pacing inhibition may be an undesired outcome from these features and cause symptoms in patients who require frequent pacing, leading to dizziness, and syncope. Inappropriate inhibition can be difficult to identify in circumstances that are intermittent and difficult to reproduce. Read More

Int J Cardiol 2021 06 13;332:78-84. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Heart Rhythm Center, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan; Cardiovascular Center, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.

Background: To evaluate the performance of a single‑lead, 14-day continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) patch for the detection of arrhythmias compared to conventional 24-h monitoring.

Methods: This prospective clinical trial enrolled patients suspected of arrhythmias but not diagnosed by 12‑lead ECGs. Each patient underwent a 24-h Holter and 14-day ECG patch simultaneously. Read More

J Arrhythm 2021 Feb 17;37(1):219-225. Epub 2020 Dec 17.

First Department of Cardiology University of Ioannina Medical School Ioannina Greece.

Background: Elderly patients having a permanent pacemaker frequently have atrial remodeling. We examined the association between routine biomarkers and atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients receiving a dual-chamber pacemaker for sinus node disease (SND) or second-/third-degree atrioventricular block.

Methods: We recorded clinical, laboratory, and electrocardiographic parameters as well as pacemaker lead parameters at implantation. Read More

Front Pharmacol 2020 20;11:589146. Epub 2020 Nov 20.

Department of Neurosurgery and Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

Ozanimod has been approved for use in the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis by the United States FDA. As a novel, orally available sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator, ozanimod selectively binds to S1P1 and S1P5 receptor with high affinity, minimizing safety concerns caused by S1P receptor activation. e systematically searched PUBMED, EMBASE database, and Cochrane Library database to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from inception to June 28, 2020. Read More

J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2021 03 26;60(2):201-212. Epub 2021 Feb 26.

Center for Animal Resources and Education, Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, New York.

Mouse handling and restraint affect behavior, physiology, and animal welfare, yet little information is available on how various mouse restraint methods affect cardiovascular parameters. We validated the use of a smartphone-based ECG sys- tem in mice by performing simultaneous smartphone and telemetry ECG recordings in conscious, restrained mice and in anesthetized mice. We observed that mice held in standard immobilizing restraint ("scruffing") experienced severe bradycardia. Read More

Cureus 2021 Jan 14;13(1):e12712. Epub 2021 Jan 14.

Electrophysiology, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi, PAK.

Background Hypothyroidism can be a cause of sinus bradycardia. However, thyroid laboratory evaluation is often performed routinely in patients with complete heart block (CHB) though there is little data to support this practice. This study aimed to assess the frequency of thyroid dysfunction in patients presenting with CHB without clinical features of hypothyroidism. Read More

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2021 Apr 28;259:1-6. Epub 2021 Jan 28.

Department of Woman, Mother and Neonate, "V. Buzzi" Children Hospital, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences "Luigi Sacco", University of Milan, Milan, Italy.

Anti-Ro/SSA antibodies are associated with a risk of 1-2 % to develop complete atrioventricular block (AVB) in fetuses of positive mothers. Complete AVB is irreversible, but studies suggest that anti-inflammatory treatment during the transition period from a normal fetal heart rate (FHR) to an AVB might stop this progression and restore sinus rhythm. The most efficient method for diagnostic evaluation of this arrhythmia is the pulsed-Doppler fetal echocardiography. Read More

JAMA Netw Open 2021 01 4;4(1):e2035470. Epub 2021 Jan 4.

Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora.

Importance: Frequent right ventricular (RV) pacing can cause and exacerbate heart failure. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been shown to be associated with improved outcomes among patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction who need frequent RV pacing, but the patterns of use of CRT vs dual chamber (DC) devices and the associated outcomes among these patients in clinical practice is not known.

Objective: To assess outcomes, variability in use of device type, and trends in use of device type over time among patients undergoing implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation who were likely to require frequent RV pacing but who did not have a class I indication for CRT. Read More

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol 2021 Mar 19;32(3):772-781. Epub 2021 Jan 19.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Division of Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan.

Background: Determining the etiology of syncope is challenging in Brugada syndrome (BrS) patients. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator placement is recommended in BrS patients who are presumed to have arrhythmic syncope. However, arrhythmic syncope in BrS patients can occur in the setting of atrioventricular block (AVB), which should be managed by cardiac pacing. Read More

Am J Case Rep 2021 Jan 7;22:e927885. Epub 2021 Jan 7.

Department of Cardiology, NYC Health+Hospitals/Metropolitan, New York City, NY, USA.

BACKGROUND Lyme borreliosis, caused by spirochetes of the Borrelia burgdorferi genospecies complex, is the most commonly reported tickborne infection in North America and those infected may present with cutaneous, cardiac, articular, and neuropsychiatric abnormalities. The protean nature of many of its clinical manifestations presents a diagnostic conundrum. Lyme disease can affect the heart, albeit rarely, with cardiac abnormalities usually manifesting as varying degrees of heart block or arrhythmias. Read More

BMC Surg 2021 Jan 6;21(1):27. Epub 2021 Jan 6.

Neurosurgical Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.

Background: Primary facial spasm accompanied by arrhythmia is a rare clinical phenomenon and has not been reported before. We describe this phenomenon and discuss its mechanism and treatment.

Case Presentation: We herein present a rare case of a patient with left primary facial spasm and a third-degree atrioventricular block (III degree AVB), who was implanted with a temporary cardiac pacemaker to receive microvascular decompression (MVD) because of refusal of a permanent cardiac pacemaker. Read More

Cureus 2020 Nov 13;12(11):e11471. Epub 2020 Nov 13.

Emergency Medicine, Overlake Hospital, Bellevue, USA.

Lyme borreliosis is an infectious disease that is increasing in frequency and can cause various forms of carditis in its disseminated phase. In otherwise healthy patients presenting with new-onset atrio-ventricular dissociation, Lyme carditis must be on the differential; however, due to its rarity in non-endemic regions, the clinician must remain vigilant and keep it on the differential. The objective of this clinical case report is to call attention to the importance of rapid diagnosis of Lyme carditis in regions where the disease is not common. Read More

J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 2021 Jul 10;35(7):2230-2232. Epub 2020 Nov 10.

Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, NorthShore University Health System, Evanston, IL.

Eur Heart J Case Rep 2020 Oct 25;4(5):1-4. Epub 2020 Aug 25.

Department of Cardiology, St George Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2217, Australia.

Background: Coronary artery emboli can occur from a number of rare causes such as arterial thrombo-embolus or septic embolus. This diagnosis generally requires multi-modal imaging including echocardiography, computed tomography, or invasive coronary angiography. Septic coronary emboli is an extremely rare consequence of infective endocarditis (IE), having been reported in <1% of all cases. Read More

Scand J Immunol 2021 Jan;93(1):e12995

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.

Autoimmune congenital heart block (CHB) may develop in foetuses of women carrying anti-Ro/SSA and La/SSB autoantibodies and is characterized by disruption of signal conduction at the atrioventricular (AV) node, resulting in partial or complete AV block. If not fatal in utero, complete CHB typically requires lifelong cardiac pacing. No treatment has so far been unequivocally demonstrated to prevent or treat autoimmune CHB, and the relatively low incidence (1%-5%) and recurrence (12%-16%) rates of second/third-degree AV block add to the complexity of managing pregnancies in women with anti-Ro/La antibodies. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2020 Dec 7;32:60-65. Epub 2020 Oct 7.

The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.

Torsade de pointes is an unusual complication seen in dogs during pacemaker implantation, although ventricular fibrillation has been previously reported. This case report describes torsade de pointes in a dog during pacemaker implantation that degenerated into ventricular fibrillation and discusses the possible contributory factors. It also illustrates the relevance of a pre-emptive resuscitation plan and how this might have affected the outcome in the patient. Read More

Fetal Pediatr Pathol 2020 Oct 24:1-7. Epub 2020 Oct 24.

Department of Neonatology, Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.

Objectives: To explore the clinical features, autoantibodies, and outcome of neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE). We retrospectively reviewed all NLE cases from January 2012 to May 2019 that occurred in our department. Cutaneous, cardiac, hematologic, and hepatobiliary manifestations were found in 36. Read More