Autonomic cardiovascular responses in antecedent poliomyelitis

Autonomically mediated cardiovascular responses were evaluated in 20 subjects with antecedent poliomyelitis and compared to data from an age- and sex-matched control group. The polio subjects had a lower heart rate response to the Valsalva manoeuvre but the same respiratory sinus arrhythmia as the controls. From this it is concluded that the polio subjects had a normal vagal function. The polio subjects had a greater initial heart rate increase but the same blood pressure response to the orthostatic position as the controls. This indicates a normal function of the sympathetic nerves. The greater heart rate increase is most likely caused by a displacement of blood to the legs because of muscle atrophy. The polio subjects had a smaller blood flow increase as an initial response to an isometric handgrip than the controls. This might be attributed to a reduced beta-adrenergic vasodilation, possibly due to a reduced central vasomotor drive. It is concluded that subjects with antecedent poliomyelitis have no significant dysfunction of the peripheral autonomic nerves. Thus, there is no deterioration of the peripheral autonomic nerve function in parallel with the progressive muscle atrophy and paralysis earlier described in post-polio subjects.     

Heart rate and late mortality in cardiac transplant recipients

There are currently 104 patients at this centre who have survivedat least 3 months after orthotopic cardiac transplantation.Seven of these long-term survivors have subsequently died andin three cases death was sudden and unexpected. All three ofthese patients had been noted to have inappropriately high restingheart rates (>130 b.min^–1) The rhythm was sinus tachycardia,supraventricular tachycardia or both intermittently. The heart rates of all 104 long-term survivors were recordedfrom ECGs taken at routine follow-up visits every 3 months forone year and annually thereafter. The overall mean heart ratewas 100±13.2 b.min^–1. Four patients, including the three identified above, had meanheart rates greater than the 95th centile. The mortality ratein this group is 75%. Four deaths have occurred in the remaining100 patients (P <0.001). In our series, an inappropriately high resting heart rate dueto sinus tachycardia or supraventricular tachycardia in long-termsurvivors of cardiac transplantation, is an adverse prognosticsign.     

Sudden Death Mortality in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Patients

Implanfable Cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is not absolute and our experience was reviewed to determine the frequency and nature of SCO in this population. The incidence and cause of mortality in 56 consecutive patients, who underwent ICD implantation beginning May 1982 with follow-up through May 19, 1990 were analyzed. Twenty-one patients died, 33% of the mortality was due to SCD, and 52% of deaths may be considered arrhythmic. The cumulative 1, 3, and 5 year SCD survivals were 93%, 89%, and 75%. All seven patients dying of SCD presented initially with SCD, all received previous shocks prior to SCD, and two of the seven patients had devices that were probably inactive at the time of death. We conclude that ICDs reduce but by no means eliminate arrhythmic death, particularly in those at highest risk for SCD. Arrhythmic death remained the most common cause of death in this population.     

解郁定悸汤治疗中青年妇女心律失常

目的:观察解郁定悸汤治疗中青年妇女心律失常的临床疗效。方法:选择有室上性早搏、室性早搏等心律失常的中青年妇女60例,随机分成治疗组和对照组各30例,治疗组采用自制方解郁定悸汤+美托洛尔片12.5～50 mg治疗,对照组服用安慰剂+美托洛尔片12.5～50 mg治疗,评价两组的治疗效果、副作用及复发情况。结果:治疗组和对照组治疗后的临床症状及动态心电图表现均较治疗前有显著改善,但治疗组的疗效优于对照组(P<0.05)有效率达93%,且复发少(P<0.05),两组均无明显不良反应。结论:解郁定悸汤治疗中青年妇女心律失常疗效确切,安全性较好,为临床用药提供了一个新选择。     

稳心颗粒联合尼可地尔治疗缺血性心肌病房性心律失常临床观察

目的探讨缺血性心肌病伴房性心律失常采用稳心颗粒联合尼可地尔治疗的临床效果。方法选择2017年1月—2019年1月收治的缺血性心肌病伴房性心律失常患者114例,遵照不同治疗原则分组标准分为对照组和研究组,各57例,2组入院后均采用常规基础治疗,对照组在基础治疗的基础上给予稳心颗粒进行治疗。研究组在对照组的基础上联合应用尼可地尔进行治疗,比较2组治疗效果、心功能情况、P波离散程度、6 min步行试验距离以及不良反应。结果研究组治疗总有效率为96.49%,显著高于对照组(80.70%),差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。研究组心功能、P波离散程度、6 min步行距离以及脑钠素水平均显著好于对照组,差异均存在统计学意义(P<0.05),但2组患者用药后不良反应发生率比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论稳心颗粒联合尼可地尔应用于缺血性心肌病伴房性心律失常患者的治疗中,能够显著提高治疗效果,改善心脏功能,且未见明显不良反应,好于单一用药,值得推广。     

A Digital Timing and Display Unit for Intraoperative Mapping of Cardiac Arrhythmias

An inexpensive display and timing unit incorporating a multichannel signal delay has been developed for mapping the heart during electrophysiological surgery. It provides a continuous digital readout of the time relationships between 3 introcardiac electrograms and the surface electrocordiogram. The electrograms are displayed on a storage oscilloscope with an automatic erase facility. This unit is used to locate accessory atriventricular connections in the Wolff-parkinson-White syndrome, to map ventricular tachycardias and to locate the bundle of His. The design has been refined during 5 years of use in over 200 operative procedures.     

Left ventricular hypertrophy amplifies the QT,and Tp-e intervals and the Tp-e/ QT ratio of left chest ECG

Objective

To evaluate the changes in Tp-e interval (an interval from the peak to the end of the T wave), QT interval and Tp-e/QT ratio of the body surface ECG in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).

Methods

The Tp-e interval and QT interval were measured on body surface ECGs in 42 patients without either hypertension or LVH (control group), 41 patients having hypertension but not LVH (non-LVH group), and 38 patients with both hypertension and LVH (LVH group).

Results

The mean corrected QT (QTc) interval, and mean corrected Tp-e[T(p-e)c] interval were significantly longer in the LVH group (0.430±0.021s vs. 0.409±0.019s, p < 0.01; 0.098±0.013s vs. 0.088±0.011s, respectively) than those in the control group. The Tp-e/QT ratio was also amplified in LVH group (0.232±0.028 vs.0.218±0.027) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

LVH increased the QT interval, Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio of the body surface ECG.