Premature Ventricular Contractions (premature + ventricular_contraction)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Mapping and Ablation of Trigger Premature Ventricular Contractions in a Case of Electrical Storm Associated with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
TARO OKADA M.D.
We report a case of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation (PVT/VF) storm associated with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). The electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor revealed frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) initiated PVT/VF. Electroanatomic mapping revealed the plausible origins of PVCs were located in the scar border zone at the posterior septum of the left ventricle. Purkinje-like potentials (PLPs) always preceded PVCs and a decremental property for the PLPs and infarcted myocardium junction was observed. Ablation at these sites eliminated both PVCs and PVT/VF. [source]


Quality of Life and Cost for Patients with Premature Ventricular Contractions by Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2006
CONG-XIN HUANG
Objective: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL), health-care resource utilization, and cost for the patients with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) by radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Methods: RFCA was performed in 58 patients with symptomatic PVCs that were refractory/easy to medication. A 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring, QoL, health-care resources utilization, and cost were assessed at a screening visit and 3 and 12 months after RFCA. Results: RFCA was successfully performed in 56 patients (96.6%). This resulted in a significant improvement in the QoL at 3 and 12 months after the procedure. There were no major complications related to the procedure. Nine patients (15.5%) had residual arrhythmia. Seven of them underwent repeated ablation with successful results. It also improved the QoL and reduced health-care resource utilization and cost. Conclusions: RFCA is a safe and effective treatment for PVCs, and it is a viable alternative to drugs in the presence of disabling symptoms. [source]


Rest Premature Ventricular Contractions on Routine ECG and Prognosis in Heart Failure Patients

ANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Vy-Van Le M.D.
Background: Premature ventricular contractions (PVC) at rest are frequently seen in heart failure (HF) patients but conflicting data exist regarding their importance for cardiovascular (CV) mortality. This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of rest PVCs on an electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with a history of clinical HF. Methods and Results: We considered 352 patients (64 ± 11 years; 7 females) with a history of clinical HF undergoing treadmill testing for clinical reasons at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System (VAPAHCS) (1987,2007). Patients with rest PVCs were defined as having ,1 PVC on the ECG prior to testing (n = 29; 8%). During a median follow-up period of 6.2 years, there were 178 deaths of which 76 (42.6%) were due to CV causes. At baseline, compared to patients without rest PVCs, those with rest PVCs had a lower ejection fraction (EF) (30% vs 45%) and the prevalence of EF , 35% was higher (75% vs 41%). They were more likely to have smoked (76% vs 55%). The all-cause and CV mortality rates were significantly higher in the rest PVCs group (72% vs 49%, P = 0.01 and 45% vs 20%, P = 0.002; respectively). After adjusting for age, beta-blocker use, rest ECG findings, resting heart rate (HR), EF, maximal systolic blood pressure, peak HR, and exercise capacity, rest PVC was associated with a 5.5-fold increased risk of CV mortality (P = 0.004). Considering the presence of PVCs during exercise and/or recovery did not affect our results. Conclusion: The presence of PVC on an ECG is a powerful predictor of CV mortality even after adjusting for confounding factors. Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2010;15(1):56,62 [source]


Fetal and offspring arrhythmia following exposure to nicotine during pregnancy

JOURNAL OF APPLIED TOXICOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Yu Feng
Abstract Although recent studies have demonstrated prenatal nicotine can increase cardiovascular risk in the offspring, it is unknown whether exposure to nicotine during pregnancy also may be a risk for development of arrhythmia in the offspring. In addition, in previous studies of fetal arrhythmia affected by smoking, only two patterns, bradycardia and tachycardia, were observed. The present study examined acute effects of maternal nicotine on the fetal arrhythmia in utero, and chronic influence on offspring arrhythmia at adult stage following prenatal exposure to nicotine. Nicotine was administered to pregnant ewes and rats. In the fetal sheep, intravenous nicotine not only induced changes of fetal heart rate, but also caused cardiac cycle irregularity, single and multiple dropped cardiac cycles. Although maternal nicotine had no influence on fetal blood pH, lactic acid, hemocrit, Na+, K+ levels and plasma osmolality, fetal blood PO2 levels were significantly decreased following maternal nicotine in ewes. In offspring rats at 4,5 months after birth, prenatal exposure to nicotine significantly increased heart rate and premature ventricular contraction in restraint stress. In addition, arrhythmias induced by injection of nicotine were higher in the offspring prenatal exposure to nicotine in utero. The results provide new evidence that exposure to nicotine in pregnancy can cause fetal arrhythmia in various patterns besides tachycardia and bradycardia, the possible mechanisms for nicotine-induced fetal arrhythmia included in utero hypoxia. Importantly, following exposure to nicotine significantly increased risk of arrhythmia in the adult offspring. The finding offers new insight for development of cardiac rhythm problems in fetal origins. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Adenosine-Induced Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients with Supraventricular Tachycardias

ANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 4 2008
Cagatay Ertan M.D.
Background: Adenosine is widely used for the diagnosis and the termination of supraventricular arrhythmias. There are many case reports and few series about the proarrhythmic potential of adenosine. We sought to evaluate the proarrhythmic potential of adenosine used to terminate the supraventricular arrhythmias. Methods: The records of all patients that received adenosine for the termination of supraventricular tachycardia were reviewed retrospectively and those with a continuous electrocardiographic (ECG) recording during adenosine administration were included to the study. Results: Our search identified 52 supraventricular episodes of 46 patients with a continuous ECG recording during adenosine administration. Following adenosine administration, premature ventricular contraction (PVC) or ventricular tachycardia (VT) developed in 22 (47.8%) patients and in 26 (50%) tachycardia episodes. No patient had a sustained VT. Nonsustained VT developed in eight (17.4%) patients. All VT episodes were polymorphic, short, and self-terminating. When the basal and demographic properties of patients with PVC or VT and those without PVT or VT were compared, there was no significant difference. Conclusions: Adenosine is a quite safe and effective drug for the termination of narrow QRS complex tachycardia but it often induces nonsustained VT or PVC that are clinically insignificant in the absence of other accompanying heart disease. [source]


Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardia Originating from the Posteroseptal Mitral Annulus: A Case Report

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 12 2006
KEIICHI ASHIKAGA M.D.
We describe a 71-year-old man with a ventricular tachycardia (VT) originating from the mitral annulus. A sustained VT was induced by exercise or an isoproterenol administration, but not by pacing. Frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) with the same QRS as the VT were transiently suppressed by an adenosine triphosphate injection, suggesting that it was due to cyclic-AMP mediated triggered activity. The PVCs and VT were all abolished by radiofrequency catheter ablation guided by the earliest activation and a perfect pace map, which was located at the posteroseptal mitral annulus. The patient has been free from any symptoms for 2 years. [source]


Site-Specific Arrhythmogenesis in Patients with Brugada Syndrome

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2003
HIROSHI MORITA M.D.
Introduction: It has been believed that electrophysiologic abnormality of the epicardial region of the right ventricular free wall may play an important role in arrhythmogenesis of phase 2 reentry in Brugada syndrome, but clinical evidence of the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias at the right ventricular free wall has not been evaluated. In this study, we evaluated the site-specific inducibility of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and the origin of spontaneous premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in patients with Brugada syndrome. Methods and Results. Forty-five patients with Brugada-type ECG were enrolled in this study. Spontaneous PVCs were recorded in 9 patients. Programmed electrical stimulation (PES) was performed at the right ventricular apex (RVA), the free wall and septal region of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), and the left ventricle (LV). The inducibility of PVT/VF was evaluated at each ventricular site, and the origin of PVC was determined by pace mapping. Sustained VF was induced in 17 patients. VF was induced in all 17 patients by PES at RVOT. Although PES at the septal region of the RVOT induced VF in only 5 patients (29%), PES at the free-wall region of the RVOT induced PVT/VF in 13 patients (76%). PES at RVA induced VF in only 2 patients (12%), and PES at LV failed to induce any arrhythmic events. Ventricular pace mapping showed that 64% of PVCs occurred at the free-wall region of the RVOT, 18% at the septal region of the RVOT, 9% at RVA, and 9% at LV. Conclusion: VF in patients with Brugada syndrome frequently is induced at the free-wall region of the RVOT area. The origin of PVC appears to be related to the site of PVT/VF induction by PES.(J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 14, pp. 373-379, April 2003) [source]


Real-time Integration of Intracardiac Echocardiography and Electroanatomic Mapping in PVCs Arising from the LV Anterior Papillary Muscle

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 9 2009
Ph.D., TAKUMI YAMADA M.D.
A 54-year-old woman with idiopathic premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) underwent electrophysiological testing. Three-dimensional (3D) geometries of the papillary muscles and chamber of the left ventricle (LV) were reconstructed using a CARTO-based 3D ultrasound imaging system (Biosense Webster Inc., Diamond Bar, CA, USA) during the PVCs. Activation mapping in the LV was then performed during the PVCs and the activation map revealed the earliest ventricular activation on the anterior papillary muscle. An irrigated radiofrequency current delivered at that site with guidance from that system eliminated the PVCs. This case may suggest that the guidance system may be feasible and useful for catheter ablation of PVCs arising from uncommon sites. [source]


Role of Left Ventricular Scar and Purkinje-Like Potentials During Mapping and Ablation of Ventricular Fibrillation in Dilated Cardiomyopathy

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
ANIL-MARTIN SINHA M.D., D.Phil.
Background: Purkinje-like potentials (PLPs) have been described as important contributors to initiation of ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients with normal hearts, ischemic cardiomyopathy, and early after-myocardial infarction. Methods: Of the 11 consecutive patients with VF storm, nonischemic cardiomyopathy (68 ± 22 years, left ventricular ejection fraction 28 ± 8%) who were given antiarrhythmic drugs and/or heart failure management, five had recurrent VF and underwent electrophysiology study (EPS) and catheter ablation. Results: At EPS, frequent monomorphic premature ventricular contractions (PVC) and/or ventricular tachycardia did not occur. With isoproterenol, VF was induced in three patients, and sustained monomorphic PVCs were induced in one patient. Three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping using CARTO (Biosense-Webster Inc., Diamond Bar, CA) revealed posterior wall scar in four of the five patients. PLP in sinus rhythm were recorded around the scar border in these four patients, and radiofrequency ablation targeting PLP was successfully performed at these sites. The patient without PLP did not undergo ablation. During follow-up (12 ± 5 months), only the patient without PLP had four VF recurrences requiring implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks. Conclusion: In patients with VF and dilated cardiomyopathy, left ventricular posterior wall scar in the vicinity of the mitral annulus seems to be a common finding. Targeting PLP along the scar border zone for ablation seems to efficiently prevent VF recurrence in these patients. [source]


Mapping and Ablation of Trigger Premature Ventricular Contractions in a Case of Electrical Storm Associated with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
TARO OKADA M.D.
We report a case of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation (PVT/VF) storm associated with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM). The electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor revealed frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) initiated PVT/VF. Electroanatomic mapping revealed the plausible origins of PVCs were located in the scar border zone at the posterior septum of the left ventricle. Purkinje-like potentials (PLPs) always preceded PVCs and a decremental property for the PLPs and infarcted myocardium junction was observed. Ablation at these sites eliminated both PVCs and PVT/VF. [source]


Quality of Life and Cost for Patients with Premature Ventricular Contractions by Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2006
CONG-XIN HUANG
Objective: To evaluate the quality of life (QoL), health-care resource utilization, and cost for the patients with premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) by radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA). Methods: RFCA was performed in 58 patients with symptomatic PVCs that were refractory/easy to medication. A 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring, QoL, health-care resources utilization, and cost were assessed at a screening visit and 3 and 12 months after RFCA. Results: RFCA was successfully performed in 56 patients (96.6%). This resulted in a significant improvement in the QoL at 3 and 12 months after the procedure. There were no major complications related to the procedure. Nine patients (15.5%) had residual arrhythmia. Seven of them underwent repeated ablation with successful results. It also improved the QoL and reduced health-care resource utilization and cost. Conclusions: RFCA is a safe and effective treatment for PVCs, and it is a viable alternative to drugs in the presence of disabling symptoms. [source]


Electrocardiographic Evaluation in Patients with Systemic Scleroderma and without Clinically Evident Heart Disease

ANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 3 2009
Anna Bie, Ph.D., ous-Wilk M.D.
Background: In patients with systemic scleroderma (SSc), clinically evident cardiac involvement is recognized to be a poor prognostic factor. The aim of the study was to evaluate electrocardiographic changes, parameters of heart rate variability (HRV), and heart rate turbulence (HRT) in patients with SSc without evident symptoms of heart disease. Methods: A group of 27 patients with SSc were subjected to standard electrocardiography (ECG) examination and 24-hour Holter monitoring. Analysis of HRV in time and frequency domains, HRT, and echocardiography were also performed. Results: Holter monitoring revealed a larger number of premature supraventricular contractions (PSVCs), as well as premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) in the patients with systemic scleroderma, as compared with the control group. Moreover, the SSc patients showed decreased parameters of time and frequency domains, as referred to the controls, especially during night hours. In four patients, abnormal HRT values were present. On echocardiography, only slight changes were found, however in five patients left ventricle diastolic dysfunction was diagnosed. Conclusions: The noninvasive electrocardiographic methods seems to be useful for detecting early heart involvement in course of SSc and could be recommended for routine used in clinical practice. Significance of HRT analysis in patients with SSc needs further elucidation. [source]


Positional premature ventricular contractions due to lead traction

CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 10 2006
Karl-Heinrich Scholz M.D.
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Effects of intravenous dofetilide in patients with frequent premature ventricular contractions: A clinical trial

CLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 6 2000
Peter E. Pool M.D.
Abstract Background: Although suppression of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) is not a predictor of mortality over the long term, the extent of PVC suppression is an important characteristic of any antiarrhythmic drug. Hypothesis: This study was undertaken to determine whether intravenous (IV) dofetilide has the ability to suppress PVCs in patients who have frequent occurrences. Methods: Subjects were men and women, aged 18 to 75 years, with > 30 PVCs/h on two consecutive 24-h Holter recordings while drug free, and > 50 PVCs/h during a 2-hour telemetric electrocardiogram. The study was randomized, double-blind, and placebo controlled. Subjects received a single-blind, IV infusion of placebo and were randomized (3:1) to receive a double-blind second infusion of placebo or an infusion of dofetilide (a 15-min loading infusion of 4 g/kg followed by a 60-min maintenance infusion of 3.5 g/kg, for a total dose of 7.5 g/kg). Results: Dofetilide produced an 82.6% and placebo a 2.9% median reduction in PVCs. Drug responder rate, defined as 80% reduction in PVCs, was 50% in the dofetilide group and 0% in the placebo group. Conclusion: Intravenous dofetilide significantly reduced PVCs in patients who had > 30 PVCs/h at baseline, and it produced , 80% reduction in PVCs in 50% of all subjects. [source]