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Cardiac resynchronization therapy device implantation is complicated by a significant rate of failure to place a left ventricular lead via the coronary sinus. The present case describes one such failure ironically leading to resynchronization. The patient's QRS narrowing subsequent to postimplant atrial pacing alone suggests that bradycardia‐dependent phase 4 block was the indirect but exclusive cause of the patient's intraventricular conduction delay. Thus, phase 4 block should be considered when atrial pacing at a faster rate resolves a wide QRS interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balloon breach during cryoablation To date, this is the first published report of a double-wall breach while using the cryoballoon ablation catheter during the treatment of a patient with atrial fibrillation; however, there have been previous balloon breaches in both the second and third-generation cryoballoon ablation catheter usage. In this report, we describe the case of a double-wall balloon breach and the intraoperative care that was necessary to stabilize the patient. Additionally, we review other known cases of double-wall balloon breaches, and we examine the safety systems of the cryoballoon catheter that mitigate some of the potential patient complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of 22-year-old Hispanic woman with history of progressive dyspnea on exertion, nonproductive cough, and lower extremity edema. She was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia and Lupus myocarditis should be suspected and treated promptly. It was found that patient had response to combined cyclophosphamide and steroid therapy.

Dofetilide Reduces VT/VF and ICD Therapies. Background: Patients with an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and ventricular arrhythmias leading to ICD therapies have poor clinical outcomes and quality of life. Antiarrhythmic agents and catheter ablation are needed to control these arrhythmias. Dofetilide has only been approved for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. The role of dofetilide in the control of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with an ICD has not been established. Objective: Evaluate the safety and efficacy of dofetilide in a consecutive group of patients with an ICD and recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) and/ or ventricular fibrillation (VF) after other antiarrhythmic drugs have failed to suppress these arrhythmias. Methods: We studied 30 patients (age 59 ± 11; 5 women) with symptomatic VT or VF and ICDs for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death. These patients had an average of 1.8 ± 4.5 episodes of VT/VF per month despite antiarrhymic therapy. Twenty-one patients (70%) had recurrent appropriate ICD therapies prior to initiation of dofetilide, and 9 (30%) VTs below the programmed detection rate of the ICD. Twenty-three patients (77%) had coronary artery disease. Mean ejection fraction was 30 ± 14% and 26/30 (87%) had congestive heart failure. All patients had previously failed 2 ± 1 antiarrhythmic drugs including amiodarone (n = 19) and sotalol (n = 10). Results: During the first month of treatment, 25 patients (83%) had complete suppression of VT/VF and of the 21 patients with ICD therapies 16 (76%) had no therapies during the first month of treatment. During a follow-up period of 32 ± 32 months, dofetilide reduced the monthly episodes of VT/VF from 1.8 ± 4.5 to 1.0 ± 3.5 (P = 0.006). Monthly ICD therapies decreased from 0.9 ± 1.4 to 0.4 ± 1.7 (P = 0.037). In 9 patients that presented with slow VTs under the ICD detection zone, dofetilide reduced monthly VT/VF episodes from 0.7 ± 0.6 to 0.1 ± 0.1 (P = 0.01) and 6 (67%) had no further ICD therapies. Dofetilide was discontinued in 13 patients (43%) after 24 ± 30 months due to failure to control VT/VF (n = 7), placement of a left ventricular assist device (n = 3), catheter ablation (n = 1), heart transplantation (n = 1), and left ventricular restoration surgery (n = 1). There were 7 documented deaths (2 patients died suddenly; 3 patients of progressive heart failure; and 2 of non-cardiac causes). Conclusions: In patients with an ICD and ventricular arrhythmias, dofetilide decreases the frequency of VT/VF and ICD therapies even when other antiarrhythmic agents, including amiodarone, have previously been ineffective. Recurrences still occur in some patients requiring catheter ablation, mechanical support, or heart transplantation. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 23 p. 296-301, March 2012.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 72-year-old man with nonischemic cardiomyopathy who have admitted for management of acute heart failure exacerbation and treated with computed tomography of head, planting dual chamber defibrillator and genetic testing.

The article presents the case study of a 78-year old man subjected with symptoms of presyncope. The patient underwent electrocardiogram tests, which revealed the occurrence of paroxysmal atrioventricular block independent of sinus rate changes. The paroxysmal atrioventricular block was followed with a single ventricular premature complex. Experimental tests on advanced atrioventricular block revealed the existence of the dissociation of cellular activation in the damaged His-Purkinje system.