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F Furlanello

Publications and source records attributed to F Furlanello.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

[Value and limitations of 2-dimensional echocardiography in the identification of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the value and limitations of Cross-sectional Echocardiography (CSE) in the diagnosis of Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD). Diagnosis was based on accepted clinical, electrocardiographic, electrophysiologic and angiographic criteria. CSE criteria for the diagnosis are segmental right ventricular wall motion abnormalities of unknown cause, usually associated with localized or diffuse dilatation of right ventricular (RV) chamber and with the presence of localized anomalies consisting of sacculation or bulging of RV wall. Comparison of CSE and RV angiographic findings was performed in 8 patients with ARVD (6 men and 2 women, aged 10 to 37 years, mean 28 years). CSE and angiography compared closely when diffuse RV enlargement and wall motion abnormalities were identified by both techniques. Bulging and sacculation of the RV wall at CSE predicted the presence of similar lesions at angiography, but agreement for specific location was poor and, in addition, CSE showed low sensitivity in their detection. The inherent different information provided by the two methods added to the subjectivity of the qualitative analysis probably accounts for the inconsistencies. Therefore in patients with diagnosed ARVD RV enlargement, otherwise unexplained, associated with wall motion abnormalities and localized anomalies at CSE strongly supports the diagnosis and avoids the need for angiography. By other hand, in patients with high clinical suspicion of ARVD a negative CSE study can not exclude the diagnosis and angiography should be indicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

[The Italian Group for the Study of Streptokinase in Myocardial Infarct: Study of arrhythmias].

The purpose of the trial "Arrhythmias" was to evaluate all the arrhythmic events in the control and treated patients by considering, in the latter, the chronological relation to the infusion of Streptokinase (SK). This was done in order to determine if the presence of arrhythmias was significantly greater in the treated patients, and if these arrhythmias could be considered as possible markers of reperfusion. 10 Centres participated by recording and evaluating all the hyperkinetic and hypokinetic arrhythmic events in the treated and control patients for an observation period of 2 hours including infusion of SK. The recording method used was computerised UCIC or Holter recording. The centre for data handling carried out storage and statistical elaboration of the data. The Lown and the Italian Modified Lown classifications were used. When appropriate, the statistical significance of observed differences was assessed with chi-square and t tests. 433 patients, 227 treated and 206 controls, were randomised. No statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups as regards the quantity and quality of the hyperkinetic or hypokinetic arrhythmias. On the contrary, on dividing the patients into two groups in accordance with the incidence of Hyperkinetic Ventricular Arrhythmias (HVA), more serious HVA were observed in the controls both in absolute value and in relation to those with better functional class, younger patients (less than 65 yrs.) and with multiple site infarct. The results of the search for arrhythmias which can be markers of reperfusion, show that the Slow Ventricular Tachycardia is the only arrhythmia which can be used as such.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac↗
PubMed1986

[Electrophysiologic evaluation of athletes with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: induction of supraventricular arrhythmia at rest and under exertion with transesophageal atrial electrostimulation].

The most suitable approach to the athletes with WPW is controversial. Therefore 66 symptom-free athletes with WPW and without heart disease (53 M, 13 F, mean age 21.98 yrs, min 12--max 44) underwent a study protocol whose end-point was the induction of supraventricular tachyarrhythmia, i.e. atrial fibrillation or, if not possible, atrial flutter or atrial tachycardia at rest and during ergometric stress test. The athletes with shortest R-R interval between preexcited beats less than or equal to 240 ms at rest and/or less than or equal to 210 ms during exercise were judged as being at risk i.e. no fit for sport activity. The end-point was reached in 64/66 athletes (in 62 atrial fibrillation). In 4 athletes with life threatening arrhythmia induced at rest the evaluation during exercise was not performed. According to the evaluation at rest we were able to identify only 18 athletes (28.1%) as being at risk, while according to the complete study protocol 26 athletes (40.6%) were judged as such. In 23/64 athletes (36%) this judgement was discordant with the usual non invasive evaluation (i.e. Holter monitoring, ergometric stress test, ajmaline test). During induced atrial fibrillation no significant difference, was found between the percentage of preexcited beats at rest and during exercise. On the average, 40 min. are required for performance of this study protocol (if the induced arrhythmia lasts less than 5 min.). According to our results we conclude: a) the non invasive assessment of the WPW athletes is unsatisfactory; b) the induction of atrial fibrillation during exercise gives a remarkable increase of the diagnostic power with respect to the assessment only at rest; c) since it is simple to perform and not expensive (in time, staff and cost) and because of its high diagnostic yield, we regard this protocol as fundamental for the electrophysiological evaluation of WPW athletes and also suitable for systematic study of WPW patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1985

Once per week oral administration of amiodarone in the prophylaxis of supraventricular paroxysmal tachycardia.

In eight patients who had previously responded to treatment with oral amiodarone for prevention of recurrent supraventricular paroxysmal tachycardia, a new regimen of oral amiodarone dosing was evaluated. Each patient received the entire dose, previously taken throughout one week (600 to 1,200 mg), on a single day, once each week. After six weeks on this regimen, all patients were still free of arrhythmias and there were no adverse reactions to the drug. In the first week of the new treatment, amiodarone plasma levels gradually fell from 1.83 mg/l, to 0.48 mg/l, on average. The trough level was similar to that obtained when the drug was given on a daily basis. It is concluded that this new regimen can be used for patients receiving oral amiodarone, and it may be advantageous in improving the compliance of some patients.

Amiodarone↗
PubMed1985

[Ventricular hyperkinetic arrhythmias and circulatory arrest in idiopathic isolated complete atrioventricular block. Description of a clinical case].

Here we report on the case of a patient with idiopathic complete AV block and ventricular ectopic beats in basal state. The patient had been asymptomatic until the age of 50 and then suddenly began to suffer from relapsing episodes of syncope, related to "Torsade de Pointe" and Ventricular Fibrillation (hypokalaemia was present at the same time). We deal with the prognostic significance of ventricular ectopic beats and we make the hypothesis that hyperkinetic ventricular arrhythmias play a role in the origin of the symptoms of patients with congenital or idiopathic complete AV block. Finally, we discuss the limits of the therapeutic effectiveness of permanent pacing in these cases.

Cardiac Pacing, Artificial↗
PubMed1985

[Natural history of persistent atrial paralysis. Description of a case with familial and evolutionary characteristics].

We report a case of partial persistent atrial standstill from a group of patients with familial endemic complete or partial persistent atrial standstill. In this patient we observed the evolution from sinus rhythm (with episodes of uncommon atrial flutter treated by electrostimulation) to the typical clinical picture of partial persistent atrial standstill, which is described also in its electrophysiological features. Incomplete and complete persistent atrial standstill may represent different stages of the same disease of the atrial wall.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Sustained ventricular tachycardia in postinfarct ischemic heart disease: spontaneous polymorphism. Clinical, therapeutic and prognostic aspects].

UNLABELLED: Spontaneous Polymorphism (SP) is present when at least two episodes of Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia (SVT) occur spontaneously in the same patient (pt) with different bundle branch block pattern or with shifting of QRS axis by greater than or equal to 90 in the various episodes. We undertook this study in order to investigate the clinical significance of SP in SVT as well as therapeutic and prognostic implications. MATERIAL AND METHODS. From our global pts populations we chose those with SVT in chronic ischemic heart disease (CIHD) with previous myocardial infarction (PMI), they had to be already studied by electrophysiologic technique (EES). The pts were divided into two groups (Gr.): Gr. I: 13 SP pts (12 M, 1 F, mean age 57.5 +/- 13; mean follow-up 19.2 +/- 11 months); Gr. II: 15 no SP pts (14 M, 1 F, mean age 60 +/- 10; mean follow-up 9.9 +/- 13 months). RESULTS: The two Gr. are comparable in terms of symptoms, exercise tolerance, infarct site, intraventricular conduction disturbances (61.5% and 66.6% respectively), ventricular wells kinetics (38.4% and 26.6% respectively) and time interval between acute myocardial infarction the first episode of SVT (7.58 +/- 6.02 and 8.27 +/- 6.57 years respectively). 8 of the 10 alive Gr. I pts have been treated with Amiodarone (A) (2800-4200 mg/wk). All 9 alive Gr. II pts are on A (1400-4200 mg/wk). A serum level in 7 Gr. I pts was 1.7 +/- 0.65 mcg/ml and 1.61 +/- 0.67 in 5 Gr. II pts. 3/13 Gr. I pts died: 2 for sudden death (15.3%), 6/15 Gr. II pts died: 4 suffered sudden death (26.6%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Sustained ventricular tachycardia: low-energy transcatheter internal cardioversion. Efficacy, reliability and tolerance in comparison with ventricular burst].

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy, reliability and patient tolerance of low-energy transcatheter intracardiac cardioversion in the treatment of Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia (VT), and to compare this method to ventricular burst. For this purpose 11 patients (pts) (10 M, 1 F, mean age 50.1 yrs, range 24-72) with 18 different types of VT (17 induced during Endocavitary Electrophysiological Study (EES), 1 "clinical"), who all underwent EES all but 1 with organic heart disease, were first treated by transcatheter intracardiac cardioversion and then, if possible, with ventricular burst at 125%-150% of VT rate. The Medtronic Cardioverter 5350 and the Medtronic catheter 6880 were used. The following results were obtained: transcatheter intracardiac cardioversion terminated 9/18 types of VT (8 types at least 3 times) in 6 pts. Cardioversion threshold was on average 1.31 J (range: 0.14-5). Transcatheter intracardiac cardioversion failed to terminate 9/18 types of VT (in 5 pts); VT acceleration or ventricular fibrillation occurred in 6/9 types. The mean cycle length of successfully cardioverted VT (382 +/- 61 msec.) was significantly longer (p = 0.05) than that of not successfully cardioverted VT (284 +/- 83 msec.) and of the VT in whom an acceleration or a degeneration into ventricular fibrillation was observed (240 +/- 55 msec.). In 4 pts it was necessary to use external DC shock and in 4 supraventricular hyperkinetic arrhythmia was induced. All pts complained of considerable discomfort at shocks greater than or equal to 0.5 J. In all the 7 types of successfully cardioverted VT as well as in 3 out of the 4 types of not successfully cardioverted VT in which it was possible to test ventricular burst, this latter proved to be effective. These results indicate that: the efficacy of transcatheter intracardiac cardioversion is not great at least in our pts (50%); moreover, the transcatheter intracardiac cardioversion is affected by a high incidence of acceleration of VT and degeneration into ventricular fibrillation (33.3%) and by the induction of supraventricular hyperkinetic arrhythmia (22.2%). Patient discomfort appears to be a major limitation to transcatheter intracardiac cardioversion. The VT cycle length is determinant for the success of the transcatheter intracardiac cardioversion and for the induction either of an acceleration of VT or of a degeneration into ventricular fibrillation (which are observed only in VT with cycle length less than or equal to 300 msec.).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Real-time beat-to-beat measurement of conduction intervals during cardiac electrophysiological studies.

The conduction times through different myocardial structures have been measured in real-time during clinical intracardiac investigations by means of a low-cost microprocessor-based system. Two endocavitary electrograms, a surface ECG and a pacemaker stimulus are analysed to detect the stimulus as well as atrial, His and ventricular waves and to measure, beat to beat, the time intervals between them. Measurements have been made in the course of 40 clinical studies, randomly chosen from about 500, and including different conditions such as sinus rhythm, acute drug tests and programmed atrial pacing. Our results show that the real-time measurement of the conduction intervals is feasible and may offer several advantages: it allows immediate data analysis which enables the investigator to better make decisions during the study; it reduces the time and effort required to perform and analyse the study; and it increases the quantity and quality of information gained on the cardiac status of the patient.

Adolescent↗