To optimize resynchronization in biventricular pacing with epicardial leads, mapping to determine the best pacing site, is a prerequisite. A port access surgical mapping technique was developed that allowed multiple pace site selection and reproducible lead evaluation and implantation. Pressure-volume loops analysis was used for real time guidance in targeting epicardial lead placement. Even th...

We tested whether biventricular resynchronization explains contractile function changes with univentricular and biventricular pacing in heart failure patients with varying magnitudes of baseline biventricular asynchrony. Thirty patients (New York Hospital Association class > or = III, QRS duration > or =120 ms) were tested. Contractile function was measured by left ventricular maximum first der...

This report describes a 55-year-old woman in whom yellow scorpion sting resulted in the development of Mobitz type 1 and transient complete heart blocks unresponsive to atropine administration.  It might be concluded that although autonomic involvement including parasympathetic overactivity is present in such cases, other factors such as toxic damage to the cardiac conduction system may play a ...

Rhabdomyoma is a well characterised entity in a neonate. Herein, we report a massive biventricular rhabdomyoma in a neonate presenting with cyanosis and congestive heart failure which was confirmed on autopsy. The report is for documentation of an unusually large tumour.

INTRODUCTION Cardiac dyssynchrony causes disorganised cardiac contraction, delayed wall contraction and reduced pumping efficiency. We aimed to assess the prevalence of different types of dyssynchrony in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and to establish the correlation between atrio-ventricular block and atrio-ventricular dyssynchrony (AVD), and between impaired intra-ventricular con...

Results 45 cases of KD were identified (64% males, mean age 32 months). Heart involvement was present in 24% (3 coronary, one of which giant aneurysm (2%), 2 pancarditis, 2 pericarditis, and 8 valvulitis). Patients with heart involvement had higher mean age, higher mean C-Reactive Protein. This subset of patients was less prone to respond to the first dose of intravenous immunoglobulins. The fr...

Patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV have thin-walled, friable arteries and veins. Invasive procedures carry a significantly increased risk for perforation of blood vessels. The aim of this case report is to demonstrate the feasibility and potential benefits of using a stereotactic magnetic navigation system (MNS) for mapping and ablation under these very special circumstances. A 45-yea...

In dextrocardia, the main base-apex cardiac axis is directed to the right side of the chest. The majority of dextrocardia is associated with situs solitus and either normally related or L-transposed great vessels. Dextrocardia with situs inversus is rare and presents in different forms depending on the atrio-ventricular (AV) and ventricular-aterial (VA) relationship. We report a rare case of de...