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Biomedical subjects

F Morady

Publications and source records attributed to F Morady.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Atrial electrogram characteristics in patients with and without atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.

BACKGROUND: Multicomponent atrial electrograms and "slow pathway potentials" are helpful in identifying target sites for radiofrequency catheter ablation of the slow pathway in patients with atrioventricular (AV) nodal reentrant tachycardia. The purpose of this study was to compare the atrial electrograms recorded at various locations in the right atrium in patients with and without AV nodal reentrant tachycardia to assess the specificity of multicomponent atrial electrograms and possible slow pathway potentials both for the posteroseptal right atrium and for patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 25 patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia and 23 control patients without AV nodal reentrant tachycardia or dual AV nodal physiology, atrial electrograms with an AV ratio of < or = 1:2 were recorded at the posteroseptal right atrium near the coronary sinus ostium and in the right atrium near the posterior, lateral, and anterior aspects of the tricuspid annulus. Attempts were made to identify broad, multicomponent, and double atrial electrograms. There were no significant differences between the patients with and without AV nodal reentrant tachycardia in the mean number of deflections in the atrial electrograms or in the mean duration of the atrial electrograms recorded at any of the atrial sites. In all patients, the number of atrial electrogram deflections and the atrial electrogram duration were significantly greater at the posteroseptal position than at the other three atrial sites. The prevalence of potentials with the appearance of slow pathway potentials in the posterior septum was similar in patients with and without AV nodal reentrant tachycardia (68% and 70%, respectively). The prevalence of these potentials was 6% to 25% at the other three atrial sites (P < .005 compared with the posterior septum). CONCLUSIONS: The atrial electrogram characteristics that have been found to be useful in identifying effective posteroseptal slow pathway ablation sites in patients with AV nodal reentrant tachycardia are equally prevalent in patients without AV nodal reentrant tachycardia or dual AV nodal physiology. Atrial electrograms in the posteroseptal area are broader and contain more deflections than at other areas in the right atrium, possibly because of conduction properties of the posterior transitional zone that are independent of the presence of AV nodal reentrant tachycardia.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of implantation of nonthoracotomy defibrillators in the operating room versus the electrophysiology laboratory.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) with nonthoracotomy lead systems are widely available, and are implanted either in the electrophysiology laboratory or the operating room. The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of nonthoracotomy ICD implantation in an electrophysiology laboratory versus an operating room. During a 7-month period, 62 consecutive ICDs with nonthoracotomy lead systems were implanted in patients in an electrophysiology laboratory. During the next 10 months, 110 consecutive ICDs were implanted in patients in a surgical operating room. All ICD implantations were performed under general anesthesia by electrophysiologists. There were no differences in age (58 +/- 14 vs 62 +/- 12 years, p = 0.06), gender distribution (p = 0.3), frequency of structural heart disease (97% vs 97%, p = 0.9), ejection fraction (0.31 +/- 0.15 vs 0.29 +/- 0.13, p = 0.3), or presentation with cardiac arrest (65% vs 53%, p = 0.2) between patients undergoing ICD implantation in the electrophysiology laboratory and operating room, respectively. The rate of successful implantation and of complications for systems implanted in the electrophysiology laboratory (95% and 13%, respectively) and in the operating room (98% and 14%, respectively) were similar (p = 0.4 and p = 0.8, respectively). Specifically, the rate of infection (0% vs 4%, p = 0.3) and hematoma formation (2% vs 4%, p = 0.8) were not statistically significantly different. Three patients who had undergone ICD implantation in an operating room died within 30 days. ICDs with nonthoracotomy lead systems can be implanted with a similarly high rate of success and acceptable complication rate in the electrophysiology laboratory and in the operating room.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Effect of accessory pathway location on the efficiency of heating during radiofrequency catheter ablation.

During radiofrequency catheter ablation of accessory pathways there is a poor correlation between applied power and temperature at target sites for catheter ablation. This study was designed to examine the relation between power and temperature during radiofrequency catheter ablation in patients with accessory pathways and to identify the factors that affect the efficiency of heating, defined as the ratio of applied power and temperature. Twenty-nine patients underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation of an accessory pathway. Among 257 energy applications, 108 were applied for ablation of a right-sided accessory pathway, 105 for a left-sided accessory pathway, and 44 for a posteroseptal accessory pathway. During each application of radiofrequency energy, temperature was continually monitored by use of an ablation catheter with a thermistor embedded in the tip of the distal electrode. During some applications of energy, fluctuations in temperature were observed. The average power, impedance, temperature, and efficiency of heating for all applications of radiofrequency energy was 37 +/- 11 W, 100 +/- 9 ohms, 53 +/- 9 degrees C, and 1.7 +/- 0.8 degrees C/W (range 0.9 degrees to 6.6 degrees C/W), respectively. The efficiency of heating varied by location (p < 0.0001), with the greatest efficiency of heating for posteroseptal energy applications (2.3 +/- 1.2 degrees C/W, which were significantly greater than for left-sided (1.8 +/- 0.8 degrees C/W; p < 0.01) or right-sided (1.2 +/- 0.4 degrees C/W; p < 0.0001) applications. Phasic fluctuation in temperature was observed during 127 (49%) energy applications, and the efficiency of heating was 1.5 +/- 0.7 degrees C/W.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Comparison of early and late complications in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery with and without concomitant placement of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Previous studies have reported a significant morbidity and mortality associated with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery in conjunction with the placement of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) with an epicardial lead system. In the absence of a control group, how significantly the component of concomitant placement of the ICD system contributes to these untoward outcomes remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the short- and long-term complications in patients undergoing CABG surgery in conjunction with the placement of an ICD with epicardial leads and to compare these complications with those of patients who had only CABG surgery (control group). The study group (group A) consisted of 56 patients who underwent CABG surgery and placement of an ICD pulse generator with epicardial leads. A control group (group B) consisted of 56 patients who underwent CABG surgery only during the same time period. The two groups were matched for age, sex distribution, left ventricular function, surgical approach, number of bypass grafts per patient, bypass pump time, and length of follow-up period. The early mortality for group A was 7.1% versus 1.8% for group B (p > 0.05). The incidence of early morbidity (congestive heart failure, infection, supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias) for groups A and B was similar (26.8% vs 25.0%, p > 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Relation between impedance and temperature during radiofrequency ablation of accessory pathways.

Temperature monitoring is a useful tool for radiofrequency ablation of accessory pathways. Impedance monitoring is also helpful, and an impedance fall of 20 ohm may predict coagulum formation. Therefore the purpose of this study was to prospectively quantitate the correlation between impedance and temperature during radiofrequency ablation. Thirty-three consecutive patients underwent radiofrequency ablation with a thermistor ablation catheter with continuous temperature and impedance monitoring during each energy application. The initial and final impedance and temperature measurements for 319 applications of radiofrequency energy were 109 +/- 17 ohm and 102 +/- 17 ohm (p < 0.0001), respectively, and 37 +/- 1 degree C and 57 degrees +/- 11 degrees C (p < 0.0001), respectively. Among the 319 applications of radiofrequency energy, 158 were associated with > or = 20 degrees C increase in tissue temperature, and 10 were associated with coagulum formation. A > or = 20 degrees C increase in tissue temperature was observed in 84 of 104 applications associated with a 5 to 10 ohm decrease in impedance (81% positive predictive value and 93% negative predictive value). The mean change in impedance for applications associated with and without coagulum formation was -19 +/- 7 ohm and -6 +/- 6 ohm (p < 0.0001), respectively, and coagulum formation never occurred with less than a 12 ohm decrease. In conclusions successful tissue heating without coagulum formation can be achieved by titrating the power to achieve a 5 to 10 ohm decrement in impedance. Impedance decrements beyond 10 ohm increase the likelihood of coagulum formation.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Clinical presentation and long-term follow-up of athletes with exercise-induced vasodepressor syncope.

The purpose of this study is to report on a series of patients who were referred for evaluation of syncope that occurred during or immediately after exercise and in whom a diagnosis of vasodepressor syncope was established (9 women and 8 men; mean age of 28 +/- 17 years). The approach to management was individualized in each patient. All patients were monitored to determine the frequency and type of recurrent symptoms. The mean age at onset of symptoms was 23 +/- 16 years. In 10 patients syncope occurred only in association with exercise. Pharmacologic therapy was successful in normalizing the patients' response to upright tilt in each of the 10 patients in whom it was attempted. During a mean follow-up period of 35 +/- 9 months, none of the patients placed on pharmacologic therapy has had recurrent syncope. Seventeen (88%) of 19 patients have resumed participation in athletics. The results of this study demonstrate that vasodepressor syncope is a cause of syncope in athletes and that patients with exercise-related vasodepressor syncope can safely continue to participate in athletics.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Incidence of implantable defibrillator discharges after coronary revascularization in survivors of ischemic sudden cardiac death.

Coronary revascularization has been suggested as sole therapy for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest associated with ischemia. The use of implantable defibrillators (ICD) in combination with coronary revascularization for this patient population is unclear. Among 412 consecutive patients receiving an ICD, 23 (6%) were identified as sudden cardiac arrest survivors who were noninducible with programmed stimulation and had unstable angina or ischemia on a functional study; they underwent successful coronary revascularization. During a follow-up of 34 +/- 18 months, 10 (43%) of the 23 patients received ICD shocks (8 +/- 8 per patient, range 1 to 22 shocks), and nine of the 10 patients had syncope/presyncope associated with at least one ICD discharge. Patients with ICD discharges were compared with those without ICD discharges, and no clinical characteristics were statistically different between the two groups. In conclusion, revascularization alone may be inadequate therapy for survivors of sudden cardiac arrest associated with ischemia who are noninducible with programmed stimulation, and clinical variables cannot predict which patients are likely to have recurrent malignant ventricular arrhythmias.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

Effect of first-phase polarity of biphasic shocks on defibrillation threshold with a single transvenous lead system.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the polarity of the first phase of a biphasic shock affects the defibrillation threshold. BACKGROUND: The polarity of a monophasic shock has been shown to affect the defibrillation threshold. METHODS: A transvenous defibrillation lead with distal and proximal shocking electrodes was used in this study. In 15 consecutive patients, the defibrillation threshold was determined twice using a step-down protocol, in random order: with the distal coil as the anode for the initial phase (anodal biphasic shock) and with the polarity reversed (cathodal biphasic shock). The power to detect a 5.0-J difference in this study is 0.96. These patients were 61 +/- 11 years old (mean +/- SD), and the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 0.32 +/- 0.10. RESULTS: Mean defibrillation threshold using anodal biphasic shocks was 9.9 +/- 4.8 J, compared with 9.5 +/- 4.2 J using cathodal biphasic shocks (p = 0.8). In three patients the defibrillation threshold was lower by a mean of 6.3 +/- 2.9 J with the former configuration; in three patients the defibrillation threshold was lower by a mean of 6.7 +/- 2.5 J with the latter configuration; and in nine patients it was the same. Using the standard cathodal configuration, a defibrillation threshold < or = 10 J was obtained in approximately 70% of patients, and a subcutaneous patch was not required in any patient. CONCLUSIONS: The polarity of the first phase of a biphasic shock used with a single transvenous lead does not affect the defibrillation threshold.

Defibrillators, Implantable↗
PubMed1995

The value of the clinical history in the differentiation of syncope due to ventricular tachycardia, atrioventricular block, and neurocardiogenic syncope.

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to identify and quantitate the symptoms associated with neurocardiogenic syncope, syncope due to ventricular tachycardia, and syncope resulting from atrioventricular block. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty patients referred for evaluation of syncope in whom a diagnosis of neurocardiogenic syncope, atrioventricular block, or ventricular tachycardia was established were studied. Each patient was interviewed using a standard questionnaire. The clinical histories were then compared to identify which variables best differentiated the cause of syncope. RESULTS: The clinical histories of patients with syncope due to ventricular tachycardia and atrioventricular block were similar. Only age, the duration of prodromal symptoms, diaphoresis prior to syncope, and fatigue following syncope differed. In contrast, the clinical history in patients with neurocardiogenic syncope differed greatly from that obtained in patients with syncope due to atrioventricular block or ventricular tachycardia. Features of the clinical history that were predictive of syncope due to atrioventricular block or ventricular tachycardia were male sex, age > 54 years, < or = 2 episodes of syncope, and a duration of warning of < or = 5 seconds. Features of the clinical history predictive of syncope not due to ventricular tachycardia or atrioventricular block were palpitations, blurred vision, nausea, warmth, diaphoresis, or lightheadedness prior to syncope, and nausea, warmth, diaphoresis, or fatigue following syncope. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study identify and compare the features of the clinical history obtained in patients with syncope due to ventricular tachycardia, atrioventricular block, and neurocardiogenic syncope and demonstrate that the clinical history is of value in distinguishing patients with these three causes of syncope.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Catheter ablation of ventricular tachycardia.

Endocardial lesions created by radiofrequency catheter ablation are relatively small and focal. The application of radiofrequency ablation to patients with structural heart disease and ventricular tachycardia is quite limited because the substrate for these tachycardias is often diffuse or difficult to localize. In contrast, idiopathic ventricular tachycardia often originates from a discrete focus and can usually be ablated using radiofrequency energy. The wider applicability of ablation therapy for ventricular tachycardia will depend on improvements in mapping techniques and the ability to create larger areas of injury in patients with coronary artery disease and ventricular tachycardia.

Atrioventricular Node↗
PubMed1995

Assessment of pacing maneuvers used to validate anterograde accessory pathway potentials.

Four pacing maneuvers have been proposed to validate an anterograde accessory pathway potential (APP): (1) atrial pacing to induce complete block between the atrial electrogram and the APP; (2) ventricular pacing to advance the APP without altering the timing of the atrial electrogram; (3) atrial pacing to induce complete block between the APP and the ventricular electrogram; and (4) ventricular pacing to advance the ventricular electrogram without altering the timing of the APP. The purpose of this study was to assess these validation techniques by applying them to electrograms that simulated APPs but which were known to be atrial in origin. In 32 patients undergoing an electrophysiology procedure, a split atrial electrogram containing two components separated by at least 30 msec (mean 54 +/- 15 msec) was recorded. Using an atrial extrastimulus technique, complete block between the two components of the atrial electrogram (criterion 1) could never be induced, but complete block between the second component of the atrial electrogram and the ventricular electrogram (criterion 3) consistently was induced. Using a ventricular extrastimulus technique, the second component of the atrial electrogram consistently could be advanced by 10 to 40 msec without altering the timing of the first component (criterion 2). In addition, with ventricular pacing, the ventricular electrogram consistently was advanced without altering the timing of the two components of the atrial electrogram (criterion 4). In conclusion, among the four pacing maneuvers used to validate an anterograde APP, the only one that may be specific for an APP is the ability to induce complete block between the atrial electrogram and the APP.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Electrophysiologic effects of sotalol and amiodarone in patients with sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia.

No prospective studies have compared sotalol and amiodarone during electropharmacologic testing. The purpose of this prospective, randomized study was to compare the electrophysiologic effects of sotalol and amiodarone in patients with coronary artery disease and sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT). Patients with coronary artery disease and sustained monomorphic VT inducible by programmed stimulation were randomly assigned to receive either sotalol (n = 17) or amiodarone (n = 17). The sotalol dose was titrated to 240 mg twice daily over 7 days. Amiodarone dosing consisted of 600 mg 3 times daily for 10 days. An electrophysiologic test was performed in the baseline state and at the end of the loading regimen. An adequate response was defined as the inability to induce VT or the ability to induce only relatively slow hemodynamically stable VT. During the follow-up electrophysiologic test, 24% of patients taking sotalol and 41% of those taking amiodarone had an adequate response to therapy (p = 0.30). Amiodarone lengthened the mean VT cycle length to a greater degree than sotalol (28% vs 12%, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the effects of sotalol and amiodarone on the ventricular effective refractory period. In patients with coronary artery disease, amiodarone and sotalol are similar in efficacy in the treatment of VT as assessed by electropharmacologic testing. The effects of the 2 drugs on ventricular refractoriness are similar, but amiodarone slows VT to a greater extent than sotalol.

Aged↗