CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS OF ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY STUDY FINDINGS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC BIFASCICULAR BLOCK AND SYNCOPE

Electrophysiology study was performed in 93 patients with bifascicular block and unexplained syncope. Clinical evidence of organic heart disease was present in 33 (35%). Electrophysiological abnormalities were detected in 45 patients (48%). Of these, 36 had distal conduction disease, including 28 with an HV interval > 55 ms (mean 76.4 ms), and eight who developed infraHisian block following either intravenous procainamide (four) or atrial pacing (four). Sick sinus syndrome was evident in six patients and a further two had carotid sinus hypersensitivity. Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) was induced in only three patients, two of whom also had prolonged HV interval. Among the 93 patients, 45 had therapy which was guided by positive findings at electrophysiology study (Group 1). Of these, 42 received permanent pacemakers, two were treated with combined permanent pacing and antiarrhythmic drug therapy, and one was treated with antiarrhythmic drug alone. In addition, eight patients without electrophysiologic abnormalities were treated empirically by pacing (Group 2). Finally, 40 patients without electrophysiologic abnormalities received no specific therapy (group 3). At a mean follow-up of 39 months (range two-125 months), recurrence of syncope had occurred in 4% of Group 1 patients, and 25% of Group 3 patients (p < 0.05). No patient in Group 2 had had recurrence. Total mortality was 40%, including 47% of patients in Group 1, 25% of Group 2, and 35% of Group 3. Death was sudden in seven patients. We concluded that among patients with bifascicular block and syncope, therapy directed by findings at electrophysiology study was associated with symptomatic improvement, but mortality was not significantly influenced. Patients with no electrophysiological abnormality have a high recurrence of syncope which may relate either to undetected bradyarrhythmia or ventricular tachycardia. These results highlight some limitations in current assessment, including, for programmed ventricular stimulation, significant differences in both stimulation protocols and the definition of ventricular tachycardia.     

Self-inflicted tourniquet paralysis mimicking acute demyelinating polyneuropathy.

Tourniquet paralysis is an uncommon complication of surgery, and self-inflicted tourniquet paralysis has never been documented to our knowledge. We report a patient with bilateral self-induced tourniquet paralysis of the lower extremities, whose symptoms were initially attributed to an acute demyelinating sensorimotor polyneuropathy based on clinical presentation and electrodiagnostic study. After investigations failed to reveal a cause, he was found to have placed tourniquets on his legs because of a rare obsession with limb amputation known as apotemnophilia. Significant spontaneous partial resolution of clinical symptoms was noted after 6 weeks. Electrophysiologic evidence of segmental demyelination of multiple motor nerves localized to the same region may help to distinguish this condition from other forms of acute demyelinating polyneuropathy.     

Rest thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging in a patient with leukaemic infiltration of the heart

Despite the high incidence of leukaemic infiltration of the heart, only 8 cases of atrioventricular block due to leukaemia have been reported in the literature. Improvement in the heart block associated with disappearance of the leukaemic infiltrate has not been reported. A rest thallium-201 study was used in a 65-year-old man to demonstrate leukaemic infiltration of the heart which was associated with complete heart block. After chemotherapy, when the tumour burden was reduced and the leukaemia in remission, his heart block resolved, and a follow-up thallium scan was normal. Offprint requests to: A.C. Civelek     

低浓度左旋布比卡因用于多点腋路臂丛神经阻滞的研究

目的观察在神经刺激仪引导下,0·1%的左旋布比卡因是否能用于多点腋路臂丛阻滞,比较两种容量0·1%左旋布比卡因用于腋路多点臂丛阻滞的差异。方法34例择期行手部和前臂手术的患者,随机均分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ两组,每组患者均在神经刺激仪引导下,行多点腋路臂丛神经阻滞。Ⅰ组每点注射0·1%左旋布比卡因9ml分别阻滞肌皮神经、正中神经、尺神经和桡神经;Ⅱ组分别注射0·1%左旋布比卡因18ml阻滞上述各个神经。在注射完局麻药后5、10、20、30、40min时,分别对四支神经所支配的感觉区域和运动区域进行感觉和运动评估。术后随访患者,记录臂丛阻滞的镇痛时间和阻滞有效时间。结果两组患者在阻滞后5min均可产生明显的感觉和运动阻滞效果,镇痛时间和阻滞时间差异无显著意义。分别注射9ml或18ml的0·1%左旋布比卡因,两组患者肌皮、正中、桡、尺神经的感觉和运动阻滞效果相似。结论神经刺激仪定位的情况下,0·1%的左旋布比卡因行多点腋路臂丛神经阻滞,能够产生明显的痛觉和运动阻滞,这种阻滞效果并不依赖于药物容量的改变。     

126例心房颤动合并长R-R间期患者的动态心电图分析

Objective To analyze the relationship between atrial fibrillation complicating long R-R interval, escape beat and escape heart rhythm and pathological atrioventricular block by dynamic electrocardiography (DCG). Methods 126 patients with atrial fibrillation were divided into group A (being related to sleep) and group B (being not related to sleep) according to the factor whether long R-R interval, escape beat and escape heart rhythm relevant to sleep. All were detected by DCG for 24 hours. Results The cases with1.5～2.0 s long R-R interval, more than 2.0s long R-R interval, escape beat and escape heart rhythm were (26.02±6.03), (7.39±1.05 ) and (6.90±1.28)in group A and (203.05±41.01), (35.48±7.52), (28.10±6.25) in group B respectively. The cases of group B were markedly more than those in group A. Conclusion Those atrial fibrillation complicating long R-R interval, escape bbeat and escape heart rhythm were related to sleep could not be deemed as pathological atrioventricular block, while those were not related to sleep could be considered pathological atrioventricular block.     

Effects of complete heart block on myocardial function, morphology, and energy metabolism in the rat.

AIMS: Severe sustained bradycardia may cause acute and possibly chronic congestive heart failure (CHF). The aim of this study was to investigate acute and chronic effects of complete heart block (CHB) on cardiac function, morphology, and creatine (Cr) metabolism. METHODS AND RESULTS: CHB was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats (approximately 250 g, n = 11) by means of electrocautery applied to the region of AV node and were compared with controls (n = 15). The rats were investigated at 1, 3, and 12 weeks after CHB induction with transthoracic echocardiography. Invasive haemodynamic assessment of left and right ventricular pressures was performed at 12 weeks. After the sacrifice, the hearts were freeze-clamped for analysis of myocardial Cr, and high energy phosphometabolites. The efficacy of operative procedure was 54%. The peri-operative mortality rate was 20%. Heart rate (HR) decreased by approximately 50% (P < 0.01) while stroke volume (SV) increased 2.5 times (P < 0.01) in the CHB rats. Cardiac index remained unchanged. The rats with CHB grew normally and were in no apparent distress. Filling pressures in left and right ventricles were normal. The CHB rats developed marked cardiomegaly with biventricular dilatation and eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy (P < 0.01). There was no change in the myocardial content of Cr and high energy phosphometabolites. CONCLUSION: Rats with CHB are compensating for reduction in HR with increased SV without haemodynamic and biochemical characteristics of CHF. This model may be useful to study the effects of CHB and bradycardia on myocardial structure, function, electrophysiology, and metabolism as well as for studies of cell therapy for reparation of AV conductance.     

交感神经节与椎旁阻滞联合运用于改善脑中风预后的研究

目的 评价交感神经节与椎旁阻滞联合运用在脑中风康复治疗中的效果。方法 150例中风患者随机分为交感神经节与椎旁阻滞联合运用组（SGB组）和康复训练组（H组）。分别在治疗前、治疗后及随访期间，记录患者的体征、实验室检查及特殊检测结果。使用临床神经功能缺损程度评分标准及修订的巴氏指数（modified Barthel index，MBI）评测。采用t检验和卡方检验分析组间差异。结果 治疗1、3、6个月后，SGB组与H组总疗效均有改善，分别为H组：50％、60％、70％；SGB组：90％、95％、100％，SGB组疗效优于H组。两组比较，自觉症状、神经功能缺损改善程度有明显差异，生活活动能力改善程度差别不大。治疗前、后相比，SGB组收缩压、舒张压、局部皮温、血高切黏度、血低切黏度、PGA有改善，H组改变不明显；两组患者血浆黏度无明显改善。TCD显示，SGB组脑血流改善占85．3％，H组占14．3％。SGB组住院时间短于H组，住院费用不增加。结论 在脑中风康复治疗中，联合运用交感神经节与椎旁阻滞，疗效明显优于常规康复训练。     

全麻复合硬膜外阻滞与单纯全麻的比较

比较全麻复合硬膜外阻滞和单纯全麻在围术期对机体应激、炎性、免疫等方面的影响。使用全麻加硬膜外麻醉能有效地抑制手术引起的应激反应，稳定循环状态，减少并发症，使病人在术中更为安全平稳，麻醉效果更为可靠，术毕清醒快，术后镇痛有利于术后病人咳嗽咯痰，并且能减轻围手术期对T细胞亚群的影响。     

Integrated home monitoring predicts lead failure in a pacemaker dependent 4-year-old girl.

A 4-year-old girl with post-surgical complete atrioventricular block received an epicardial dual chamber pacemaker system. During further growth intermittent exit block occurred, first misinterpreted as neurological seizures. The epicardial lead was replaced using a transvenous approach, and a pacemaker with an integrated home monitoring facility was implanted. After her discharge, a rise in the pacing threshold automatically initiated an event message. On the basis of this information, the patient was called in and imminent dislodgement of the ventricular lead was diagnosed by x-ray. The lead was repositioned and was found stable over 1-year follow-up.     

Peripheral Foot Blockade Versus Popliteal Fossa Nerve Block: A Prospective Randomized Trial in 51 Patients

The majority of foot and ankle operations are performed on an outpatient basis and often under some form of regional anesthesia. In this prospective, randomized study of 51 patients undergoing elective unilateral forefoot procedures, we compared 2 different anesthetic techniques: the peripheral foot blockade and the popliteal sciatic nerve block. Variables assessed included the quality of surgical anesthesia, postoperative analgesia, and the incidence of postoperative complications. The anesthesia was classified as effective if it was the sole anesthetic technique for the forefoot surgery. We found successful results in both groups: 92% in the foot block group and 96% in the popliteal block group. Analysis of time required to perform the anesthetic procedure showed a significant difference between the 2 groups, with foot block being considerably faster (14.3 minutes vs 19.2 minutes for popliteal block) (P = .0078). Foot block patients demonstrated 10.96 hours of analgesia, whereas popliteal block patients exhibited 14.32 hours (P = .132). With a mean follow-up of 5.7 months, we did not find anesthesia-related complications in any of the patients. Both techniques showed a high level of safety and efficacy, with no significant difference detected between them. Our patients showed a high rate of satisfaction with both procedures (96% for foot block patients and 96.1% for popliteal block patients) and reported a good discharge disposition. These data show that both procedures are safe and effective anesthetic techniques and well suited to forefoot ambulatory surgery.