80 research outputs found
Extraction of permanent pacemaker and implantable defibrillator leads a single center experience
No full textEfficacia dell’isolamento delle vene polmonari mediante tecnica cryo: risultati a medio termine di un singolo Centro
No full text
A New antiarrhythmic drug in the treatment of recent-onset atrial fibrillation: Vernakalant
No full textVernakalant is a new antiarrhythmic agent recently approved in Europe for the rapid cardioversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation. It works by blocking early-activating K+ atrial channels and frequency-dependent atrial Na+ channels, prolonging atrial refractory periods and rate-dependent slowing atrial conduction, without promoting ventricular arrhythmia. Preclinical and clinical trials showed good toleration of this drug. The main purpose of our review is to describe all the trials that led to the incorporation of vernakalant into the current European atrial fibrillation guidelines. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
The role of antiarrhythmic drugs in atrial fibrillation
No full textAtrial fibrillation(AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia, and is associated with a significantly increased risk of thromboembolic events and mortality. From the age of 50 years, prevalence of AF doubles every 10 years, being more common in males and reaching 5.9% in patients 65 years and older. The treatment of AF has as first objective the restoration and maintenance of sinus rhythm. The drugs used to date present several limitations in terms of side and pro-arrhythmic effects, associated with a limited antiarrhythmic effect. Recent European guidelines for the management of AF have pointed out that the pharmacological antiarrhythmic therapy to maintain sinus rhythm is helpful for symptoms related to the arrhythmia. Amiodarone is the drug with the greatest potential for maintenance of sinus rhythm in the older population as well. Other drugs currently in use are flecainide, propafenone, sotalol, and more recently introduced dronedarone and vernakalant. To date, there is no consensus among scientific societies on the management of AF: for elderly patients, who account for the majority of patients with AF, a strictly individualized evaluation is mandatory. © 2013 Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore
Risposta a lungo terminbe alla terapia di resincronizzazione: esperienza di un singolo Centro
No full textHybrid Approach to Atrial Fibrillation Ablation
No full textSequential surgical thoracoscopic and electrophysiological (EP) ablation is gaining popularity as a novel approach for the treatment of patients with stand-alone, persistent and long standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF)
Hybrid transvenous and surgical approach for the extraction of coronary sinus leads: A case series
No full textTransvenous lead extraction is the standard therapy for cardiac device-related infection. In some patients, however, a hybrid surgical and transvenous approach may be necessary
Characteristics and mid-term follow-up of a single-center population affected by Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy
No full textIntroduction Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is an acute cardiomyopathy mimicking acute myocardial infarction. The aim of our study was to define clinical and instrumental features of an Italian population of patients with TTC and to report their short and mid-term outcome. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 42 patients admitted to our Department with diagnosis of TTC (100% women, age 67W11 years) using Mayo Clinic-modified criteria. In this population, we analyzed the stressful event (if present), the clinical presentation, the ECG and echocardiogram at admission and the markers of myocardial cytonecrosis, such as troponin I, at admission and during the hospitalization. All the patients have been clinically evaluated after 6 months and 1 year of follow-up. Results In this population, a stressful event before TTC has been detected in 59% of patients. The most common clinical presentation was chest pain (81%) and the major sign was dyspnea (17%). ECG showed negative T waves and ST elevation, respectively, in 45 and 38%. Only 10% had a ST depression and 7% developed a newly acquired complete left bundle branch block. All of these abnormalities disappeared within 1.8W0.9 days. The mean ejection fraction at admission was 35W7% associated with apical (40%), mid-apical (56%) and mid-ventricular (4%) wall motion abnormalities. The recovery of these abnormalities occurred within 10W3 days. At 6-month and 1-year followup, no patients had TTC recurrence, and 10 patients at 6 months and 20 patients at 1 year were re-hospitalized for a non-cardiac cause. Conclusion Our data describe the characteristics of TTC in a small Italian population, which are similarly described in Japanese and North American people. TTC was related to a very low mortality, both in the short and mid term, but the risk of acute heart failure in the acute phase could not be neglected
- …
