Atrial fibrillation precipitated by acute hypovolaemia

Six patients with varying degrees of acute cardiorespiratory failure were seen. All patients deteriorated noticeably when rapid atrial fibrillation developed. In all patients intravenous digitalis failed to slow the ventricular response, and in three patients misguided attempts at electrical cardioversion failed. Haemodynamic monitoring showed a normal or low pulmonary artery occlusion pressure in all patients. Controlled expansion of plasma volume was associated with an immediate slowing of the heart rate in all patients, and the heart rate in all patients returned to sinus rhythm within 30 minutes of transfusion. It is suggested that hypovolaemia in critically ill patients may contribute to the development of atrial fibrillation.     

A multi-center study of hemodynamic characteristics exhibited by children with unexplained syncope

Background Syncope is common in children and adolescents, with 15% estimated to have had at least one syncopal episode by age 18. In recent years, an increasing number of children, especially girls at their school age, have developed unexplained syncope. The mechanism of an unexplained syncope exhibited by children is incompletely studied; the association between different hemodynamic patterns and clinical features is also not clear. The aim of the study was to investigate the hemodynamic patterns of children with unexplained syncope and to examine the clinical relevance.Methods Two hundred and eight children [87 boys, 121 girls, aged 3－19 years, mean (11.66±2.72) years] were selectively recruited from May 2000 to April 2006 when they presented syncope as their main complaint at the Multi-center Network for Childhood Syncope in Beijing, Hunan Province, Hubei Province, and Shanghai of China. All of the patients underwent head-up tilt tests; data were analyzed using SPSS version 10.0 for Windows. Continuous variables were expressed as the mean±standard deviation. Dichotomous variables were compared through a χ(2) test. A value of P<0.05 (two sided) was regarded as statistically significant.Results The age distribution of children with syncope was approximately normal. Head-up tilt tests was positive in 155 children, and the incidence of positive response of the baseline head-up tilt test for diagnosing unexplained syncope was 50.48%. The sensitivity value and diagnostic value of sublingual nitroglycerin head-up tilt test were both 74.52%. The hemodynamic pattern was normal in 53 children. The 155 children, who were positive in head-up tilt tests, showed signs of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (60, 28.8%), the vasoinhibitory pattern (72, 34.6%), the cardioinhibitory pattern (5, 2.4%), and the mixed pattern (18, 8.7%). The gender distribution between the two age groups (age < 12 years vs age ≥ 12 years) was not different (P>0.05). The distribution of hemodynamic patterns between the children of the two age groups (age < 12 years vs age ≥ 12 years), and the children with different complaints (dizziness vs syncope) was significantly different (P<0.05), while the distribution between the children of different sexes and different lasting time of syncope (≤ 5 minutes vs> 5 minutes) was not significantly different (P>0.05). Different hemodynamic patterns were differentiated by differing syncope inducements, presymptoms, and complicated symptoms during and after syncope.Conclusion The tested girls were more prone when compared with the boys to have unexplained syncope, and the peak age was around twelve years old. The incidence of positive response of head-up tilt tests was also relatively higher for the girls. The distribution of hemodynamic patterns for different ages was different. For children with unexplained syncope, we should use head-up tilttests to distinguish the hemodynamic patterns in order to adopt rational therapeutic measures.     

儿童不明原因晕厥诊断的多中心研究

目的 探讨直立倾斜试验(HUTT)对儿童不明原因晕厥的诊断价值.方法 晕厥组为2002年1月至2008年4月在北京、湖南、湖北、上海四地晕厥门诊就诊或住院的379例不明原因晕厥患儿,其中男171例,女208例;年龄3～18岁,平均(12±3)岁.所有患儿通过常规检查仍不能明确患儿晕厥的原因时,进行基础直立倾斜试验(BHUTT)或舌下含化硝酸甘油激发的倾斜试验(SNHUTT)检查.对照组为10名身体健康、无晕厥及晕厥先兆病史的正常儿童,其中男5名,女5名;年龄9～15岁,平均(11.4±2.1)岁,其心血管、神经系统、心电图、超声心动图及X线胸片检查均正常;所有正常儿童均进行BHUTT或SNHUTT.结果 在379例患儿中,286例患儿为自主神经介导性晕厥(75.5%).晕厥患儿中67例为体位性心动过速综合征(17.7%);157例为血管迷走性晕厥血管抑制型(41.4%);14例为血管迷走性晕厥心脏抑制型(3.7%);47例为血管迷走性晕厥混合型(12.4%);1例患儿为直立性低血压(0.3%);93例患儿仍为不明原因晕厥(24.5%).在晕厥组和对照组中,BHUTr的诊断阳性率分别为55.9%和0,SNHUTT的诊断阳性率分别为75.5%和20.0%.BHUTT阳性患者在BHUTT过程中出现阳性反应的时间平均为(16±12)min,阳性反应出现时的体位均为倾斜60°体位;SNHUTT阳性患儿在SNHUTT过程中出现阳性反应的时间平均为(6±4)min,阳性反应出现时的体位均为倾斜60°体位并舌下含化硝酸甘油.结论 应用HUTT可较好地、客观地对儿童自主神经介导性晕厥进行诊断,SNHUTT具有较高的诊断阳性率,明显提高了BHUTT的诊断阳性率,且阳性反应时间明显低于BHUTT.     

Atrial fibrillation occurring in a patient taking etanercept plus methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis

A 57-year-old man with nodular rheumatoid arthritis was started on a combination of etanercept and methotrexate. After treatment for five months on this therapy, he presented with new-onset atrial fibrillation. While this report is anecdotal, any new drug warrants intense monitoring for unexpected toxicities in the post-marketing period. Etanercept is being tried in patients with congestive heart failure, where TNF-a seems to be increased. Further surveillance and caution are suggested in patients with known coronary artery disease or atrial dysrhythmia.     

直立倾斜试验对不明原因晕厥病人的临床应用价值

目的 :探讨直立倾斜试验 (TTT)对血管迷走性晕厥 (VS)患者的诊断价值及短期药物疗效。方法 :采用自制手动式倾斜试验台对不明原因晕厥患者 193例进行多阶段异丙肾—直立倾斜试验 ,试验阳性者分别服用阿替洛尔、美托洛尔及氨茶碱等药物 ,一周后对部分患者重复TTT。结果 :诱发出晕厥者 12 7例 ,心电图主要改变为交界性逸博心律。服药一周后复查TTT ,阿替洛尔 9/ 11例、美托洛尔 11/ 14例阴转 ,氨茶碱 0 / 5例阴转。结论 :TTT既是诊断VS简便、有效的措施 ,也是判断药物疗效的可靠方法。阿替洛尔、美托洛尔是治疗VS的有效药物     

Right atrial myxoma in a patient presenting with syncope

We describe a case of right atrial myxoma in a 62-year-old woman presenting with syncope. The patient had a 4-month history of syncope and felt faint on lying flat in bed before the admission. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography showed a large right atrial mass that was prolapsing through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle during diastole. Coronary angiography revealed a tumor stain through the right coronary artery and no significant stenosis of the coronary arteries. During operation, cardiopulmonary bypass was initiated with cannulation into the aorta and retrograde femoral vein and superior vena caval cannulation. The large tumor was attached by a short stalk to the interatrial septum at the border of the fossa ovalis. The tumor and the interatrial septum including the stalk with a 1.5-2.0 cm cuff extending the full thickness of the septum were completely excised. A histologic examination of the tumor confirmed the diagnosis of cardiac myxoma. We emphasize a characteristic feature of syncopal attacks, and discuss the importance of prevention of intraoperative systemic and pulmonary tumor embolization resulting from venous cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with right atrial myxomas.     

Role of carotid sinus syndrome and neurocardiogenic syncope in recurrent syncope and falls in patients referred to an outpatient clinic in a district general hospital

Carotid sinus syndrome (CSS) and neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS) are recognised as important causes of recurrent syncope and falls in the elderly. In this study the role of CSS (diagnosed with carotid sinus massage) and NCS (diagnosed with prolonged head-up tilt) in a district general hospital were investigated. Over 27 consecutive months carotid sinus massage was performed in 139 patients. Of these 29 (20.8%) patients (mean (SD) age of 78 (9) years) showed a positive response. Of these 18 (62%) patients showed a positive response only when carotid sinus massage was performed with 70( degrees ) head-up tilt. Thirteen (8.7%) of the 149 patients who had prolonged head-up tilt testing were found to have NCS. The mean (SD) age for patients with NCS was 59 (26) years and the mean (SD) time required to produce a positive response during prolonged head-up tilt was 12 (5) minutes. It is concluded that carotid sinus massage and head-up tilt testing are useful in patients presenting with unexplained syncope and falls in a district general hospital setting. Carotid sinus massage should be repeated upon head-up tilt if a negative response is obtained in the supine position.     

Results of Invasive Electrophysiologic Evaluation in 268 Patients with Unexplained Syncope

Syncopeisacommonclinicalsymptomwhichmaybecausedbyawidevarietyofetiologies Al thoughnoninvasivetestssuchasambulatoryelectro cardiographicmonitoringandtilttabletesthascon tributedtoasignificantevolutionofthecardial andvasovagalsyncope ,thecausesofsyncoperemainstobeidentifiedinapproximately 5 0 %ofpatientsdespitethesetests Inthosepatientselectrophysiologicstud ieswillhelpassignthecauseofsyncope Inthisstudythefindingsofelectrophysiologicstudiesof 2 6 8pa tientswithunexplainedsyncopewereanalyzed 1…     

直立倾斜试验对不明原因晕厥的诊断价值

目的探讨直立倾斜试验对不明原因晕厥患者的诊断价值。方法选择2009年4月—2010年2月不明原因晕厥患者20例,在安静环境下空腹进行直立倾斜试验,定期观察其血压、心律、心率、意识的变化。结果阳性15例,占75.0%,阳性病例中,女11例,占73.3%.其中混合型12例（80.0%）,血管减压型2例（13.3%）,心脏抑制型1例（6.7%）。结论直立倾斜试验对不明原因的晕厥患者有特异性诊断价值。     

压腹操作和颈动脉窦按摩治疗阵发性室上速对比研究

目的 对比研究压腹操作和颈动脉窦按摩在治疗阵发性室上速（ＰＳＶＴ）中的疗效。 对ＰＳＶＴ患者用压腹操作和颈动脉窦按摩进行前性及双盲对照研究。ＰＳＶＴ通过随意所选择的方法不能终止，然后再改乃另一种迷走经刺激方法。如果两种方法都不能转复心律，则根据患者血流动力学状况，选用药物复律或同步电复律。结果 在对比研究的９０例患者中，首先用压腹操作的４５例患者复律８例，首先用颈动脉按摩的４５例患者复律７例。压腹     

Atrial fibrillation in Europe

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most frequent arrhythmia whose incidence increases with age.At present about 1％-2％ of the European population suffer from AF.Presumably about 25％ of the population between 40 and 50 years will develop AF in their life course and the prevalence of AF will increase by at least 2.5-fold in the next 50 years.Apart from the hemodynamic impact and an increased mortality rate,non-valvular AF is associated with an increased 5-7 fold risk for stroke caused by embolism originating from the left atrium (LA) and especially from the left atrial appendage (LAA) as compared to patients without AF.Overall 20％-25％ of all ischemic strokes are caused by cardiac embolism,about 50％ of them occur in patients with non-valvular AF.In addition most AF patients are symptomatic and complain about palpitations,tachycardia,dizziness,dyspnea,and reduced physical capacity.Hospitalization due to AF related symptoms and complications is common.Besides clinical aspects,AF will have an increasing socio-economic impact in the future.