Ambulatory ECG Recordings (ambulatory + ecg_recording)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Ranolazine Exerts Potent Effects on Atrial Electrical Properties and Abbreviates Atrial Fibrillation Duration in the Intact Porcine Heart

JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 7 2009
KAPIL KUMAR M.D.
Introduction: In vitro studies and ambulatory ECG recordings from the MERLIN TIMI-36 clinical trial suggest that the novel antianginal agent ranolazine may have the potential to suppress atrial arrhythmias. However, there are no reports of effects of ranolazine on atrial electrophysiologic properties in large intact animals. Methods and Results: In 12 closed-chest anesthetized pigs, effects of intravenous ranolazine (,9 ,M plasma concentration) on multisite atrial effective refractory period (ERP), conduction time (CT), and duration and inducibility of atrial fibrillation (AF) initiated by intrapericardial acetylcholine were investigated. Ranolazine increased ERP by a median of 45 ms (interquartile range 29,50 ms; P < 0.05, n = 6) in right and left atria compared to control at pacing cycle length (PCL) of 400 ms. However, ERP increased by only 28 (24,34) ms in right ventricle (P < 0.01, n = 6). Ranolazine increased atrial CT from 89 (71,109) ms to 98 (86,121) ms (P = 0.04, n = 6) at PCL of 400 ms. Ranolazine decreased AF duration from 894 (811,1220) seconds to 621 (549,761) seconds (P = 0.03, n = 6). AF was reinducible in 1 of 6 animals after termination with ranolazine compared with all 6 animals during control period (P = 0.07). Dominant frequency (DF) of AF was reduced by ranolazine in left atrium from 11.7 (10.7,20.5) Hz to 7.6 (2.9,8.8) Hz (P = 0.02, n = 6). Conclusions: Ranolazine, at therapeutic doses, increased atrial ERP to greater extent than ventricular ERP and prolonged atrial CT in a frequency-dependent manner in the porcine heart. AF duration and DF were also reduced by ranolazine. Potential role of ranolazine in AF management merits further investigation. [source]


Effect of Noise on T-Wave Alternans Measurement in Ambulatory ECGs Using Modified Moving Average versus Spectral Method

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 5 2009
RAJA J. SELVARAJ M.D.
Background: The modified moving average (MMA) and spectral method (SM) are commonly used to measure T-wave alternans (TWA), but their accuracy has not been compared in ambulatory electrocardiograms (ECGs) where TWA signal-to-noise ratio is low. Our objective was to compare the effect of noise and signal nonstationarity on the accuracy of TWA measurement using MMA versus SM when applied to synthetic and ambulatory ECGs. Methods: Periodic and nonperiodic noise were added to noiseless synthetic ECGs. Simulated TWA (0,20 ,V) was added to synthetic ECGs and ambulatory ECG recordings. TWA was measured using SM and MMA, and the measurement error relative to added TWA was compared. An MMA ratio was used to discriminate TWA signal from noise. Signal nonstationarity was simulated by changing heart rate, TWA magnitude, and TWA phase. Results: With no added TWA, MMA falsely measured TWA in synthetic and ambulatory ECGs, while false measurement was not seen with SM. An MMA ratio > 1.2 eliminated false TWA detection. In the presence of low TWA magnitude (<10 ,V), TWA was overestimated by MMA and underestimated by SM in proportion to the noise level. In synthetic ECGs with periodic noise and 10-,V added TWA, MMA was less accurate than SM. The effects of simulated signal nonstationarity on the TWA magnitude measured with MMA versus SM were similar using a 64-beat analysis window. Conclusions: In the presence of noise, MMA falsely detects or overestimates simulated TWA in ambulatory ECG recordings. In this setting, the proposed MMA ratio improves the specificity of MMA. [source]


Effect of Right Ventricular Apex Pacing on the Tei Index and Brain Natriuretic Peptide in Patients with a Dual-Chamber Pacemaker

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 9 2006
HITOSHI ICHIKI
Background: Asynchronous electrical activation induced by right ventricular apex (RVA) pacing can cause various abnormalities in left ventricular (LV) function, particularly in the context of severe LV dysfunction or structural heart disease. However, the effect of RVA pacing in patients with normal LV and right ventricular (RV) function has not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of RVA pacing on LV and RV function by assessing isovolumic contraction time and isovolumic relaxation time divided by ejection time (Tei index) and by assessing changes in plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). Methods: Doppler echocardiographic study and BNP measurements were performed at follow-up (mean intervals from pacemaker implantation, 44 ± 75 months) in 76 patients with dual chamber pacemakers (sick sinus syndrome, n = 30; atrioventricular block, n = 46) without structural heart disease. Patients were classified based on frequency of RVA pacing, as determined by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram (ECG) that was recorded just before echocardiographic study: pacing group, n = 46 patients with RVA pacing ,50% of the time, percentage of ventricular paced 100 ± 2%; sensing group, n = 30, patients with RVA pacing <50% of the time, percentage of ventricular paced 3 ± 6%. Results: There was no significant difference in mean heart rate derived from 24-hour ambulatory ECG recordings when comparing the two groups (66 ± 11 bpm vs 69 ± 8 bpm). LV Tei index was significantly higher in pacing group than in sensing group (0.67 ± 0.17 vs 0.45 ± 0.09, P < 0.0001), and the RV Tei index was significantly higher in pacing group than in sensing group (0.34 ± 0.19 vs 0.25 ± 0.09, P = 0.011). Furthermore, BNP levels were significantly higher in pacing group than in sensing group (40 ± 47 pg/mL vs 18 ± 11 pg/mL, P = 0.017). With the exception of LV diastolic dimension (49 ± 5 mm vs 45 ± 5 mm, P = 0.012), there were no significant differences in other echocardiographic parameters, including left atrium (LA) diameter (35 ± 8 mm vs 34 ±5 mm), LA volume (51 ± 27 cm3 vs 40 ± 21 cm3), LV systolic dimension (30 ± 6 mm vs 29 ± 7 mm), or ejection fraction (66 ± 9% vs 63 ± 11%), when comparing the two groups. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the increase of LV and RV Tei index, LVDd, and BNP are highly correlated with the frequency of the RVA pacing in patients with dual chamber pacemakers. [source]


Steady-State versus Non-Steady-State QT-RR Relationships in 24-hour Holter Recordings

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 3 2000
GILLES LANDE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the QT-RR interval relationship in ambulatory ECG recordings with special emphasis on the physiological circumstances under which the QT-RR intervals follow a linear relation. Continuous ECG recordings make it possible to automatically measure QT duration in individual subjects under various physiological circumstances. However, identification of QT prolongation in Holter recordings is hampered by the rate dependence of QT duration. Comparison of QT duration and QT interval rate dependence between different individuals implies that the nature of the QT-RR relationship is defined in ambulatory ECG. Holter recordings were performed in healthy volunteers at baseline and after administration of dofetilide, a Class III antiarrhythmic drug. After dofetilide, beat-to-beat automated QT measurements on Holter tapes were compared with manually measured QT intervals on standard ECGs matched by time. The QT-RR relationship was analyzed at baseline in individual and group data during three different periods: 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime. Data were collected under steady-state or non-steady-state conditions of cycle length and fitted with various correction formulae. Our study demonstrated an excellent agreement between manually and automated measurements. The classic Bazett correction formula did not fit the QT-RR data points in individual or group data. When heart beats were selected for a steady rhythm during the preceding minute, QT-RR intervals fit a linear relationship during the day and night periods, but not during the 24-hour period in both individual and group data. In contrast, in the absence of beat selection, data fit a more complex curvilinear relationship irrespective of the period. Our study provides the basis for comparison of QT interval durations and QT-RR relationships between individuals and between groups of subjects. [source]