The Bilitch Registry.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to S Furman.
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Impedance cardiography permits noninvasive beat-to-beat determination of cardiac output, the product of the amplitude of the first derivative of thoracic impedance signal (dZ/dt), the ventricular ejection time, and heart rate corrected by the distance between the measuring electrodes. Its use is based on: (1) the dZ/dt signal that originates from the upper thorax; (2) the ventricular ejection period measured by the dZ/dt curve that occurs between the opening and closing of the aortic valve; (3) the dZ/dt curve is similar in morphology and timing to the aortic flow curve measured by an electromagnetic flowmeter with a significant linear correlation (r = 0.9) between dZ/dt and peak aortic flow; (4) similarity of the linear correlation between stroke volume, determined by the flowmeter and the impedance signal; and (5) significant reduction of the dZ/dt signal by 90% follows simultaneous occlusion of the aorta and the pulmonary artery. The rapid systolic portion of the impedance signal occurs only when blood is ejected into the aorta and is independent of right ventricular ejection. Most studies comparing impedance cardiography results with standard cardiac output determination have shown a correlation of 0.7-0.9. While the accuracy of impedance cardiography remains controversial and can be affected by the inherent limitations of the technique and by low cardiac output, intracardiac shunts, and valvular regurgitation, the high reproducibility of the method is established and may be comparable or superior to other commonly used techniques. When accurate determination of cardiac output is crucial, impedance cardiography may be used in conjunction with a standard technique to establish a baseline reference, thereby permitting further analysis. If only the trend need be followed, the high reproducibility of impedance cardiography measurements allows small changes in cardiac output to be detected on a frequent and ongoing basis. The ease and precision of this technique warrants its more widespread use in the assessment of pacemaker patients. Further use of this promising technique will allow a better definition of its role in the assessment of a wide range of cardiac patients.
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Infection, though uncommon, can be the most lethal of all potential complications following transvenous pacemaker implantation. Eradication of infection associated with pacemakers requires complete removal of all hardware, including inactive leads. Since 1972, 5,089 patients have had 8,508 pacemaker generators implanted at Montefiore Medical Center. There were 91 infections (1.06%); four of our patients required surgical removal. Nine additional patients were referred for surgical removal of infected transvenous pacemaker leads from other institutions. Surgical methods for removal included use of cardiopulmonary bypass or inflow occlusion. Surgery may be safely used in unstable or elderly patients and should not be reserved as a last resort. This article reviews our surgical experience removing infected pacemaker leads at Montefiore Medical Center.
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Dual-chamber (DDD) pacing mode survival was assessed by reviewing 486 consecutive initial transvenous DDD pacemaker implantations between December 1981 and December 1988 inclusive, with a mean follow-up time of 33 months. The patients' mean age was 71.4 years and 55% were male; 38% had dominant sinoatrial and 62% had dominant atrioventricular (AV) node disease. Nineteen patients (4%) underwent secondary operative intervention for lead dislodgement (n = 11), lead or pulse generator malfunction (n = 6) or infection (n = 2). During follow-up, 87 patients (18%) had their device permanently reprogrammed out of the DDD mode and 10 others (2%) required temporary reprogramming out of this mode; 12 patients who required device reprogramming were managed in other dual-chamber or atrial pacing modes. Reasons for reprogramming included atrial fibrillation (n = 48; 10%); loss of atrial sensing (n = 26; 5%); recurrent "endless loop" tachycardia (n = 5; 1%); lead dislodgement without repositioning (n = 4; 1%); pulse generator malfunction (n = 1; 1%) and other (n = 5; 1%). The occurrence of atrial fibrillation was associated with dominant sinoatrial disease and a prior history of atrial fibrillation; 19% of atrial sensing loss was attributable to early or faulty pacemaker technology. The DDD mode survival rate at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years was, respectively, 90%, 88%, 84%, 79% and 78%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Objective hemodynamic assessment of pacemaker patients is necessary for gauging responses to changes in programming or other conditions that affect the circulation. Impedance cardiography permits noninvasive, repetitive determinations of cardiac output at short intervals, but data regarding variability of this method in patients with pacemakers is unavailable. Thirty-eight patients with implanted pacemakers (24 DDD, 14 VVI) and six normal subjects were studied. A computerized impedance cardiograph was used to calculate cardiac output from the product of the first derivative of the thoracic impedance signal (dZ/dt), the ventricular ejection time, and heart rate. Each patient was studied while supine after a period of at least 15 minutes of rest and repeated impedance measurements (about ten) were performed. Fourteen patients were studied in sinus rhythm, 24 were studied during DDD pacing, and 32 patients were studied during VVI pacing. Cardiac and stroke indices were calculated 706 times on the basis of 11,296 accepted beats. Variability was assessed by methods that analyzed serial measurements and variability between two consecutive and nonconsecutive measurements. The mean indices and coefficients of variation of two measurements and of serial measurements in sinus rhythm and during DDD pacing were 4%; in VVI it was 6%. The precision of impedance cardiography in all pacing modes, as demonstrated by analysis of variability, indicates that detected changes of stroke volume and cardiac output > 7% on serial (two and more) measurements, performed by the same operator and during the same session, represent true hemodynamic alterations with 95% confidence.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
UNLABELLED: Responses to orthostasis may be altered in states associated with autonomic dysfunction. Computerized impedance cardiography, a noninvasive method for continuous assessment of stroke volume and mean blood pressure, was utilized to study the postural hemodynamic changes in eight normal and 27 patients with DDD pacemakers. Twenty patients with complete heart block (five with heart failure) were studied in the VDD mode and seven patients with sick sinus syndrome were assessed in DVI (four) or VDD (three). The results with pacemaker patients are significantly different from those observed in normal. Pacemaker patient responses to standing included: (1) a reduction in systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure; (2) an increase in heart rate in patients with intact sinus node function and no change in patients with sick sinus syndrome; and (3) stroke volume was unchanged in patients with sick sinus syndrome or heart failure and only modest reduction occurred in the remaining patients. CONCLUSIONS: (1) No reduction in stroke volume during upright posture occurs in DDD patients with sick sinus syndrome and this appears to be a compensatory reaction to an inadequate heart rate response to standing; (2) The hemodynamic response of DDD patients to the assumption of an upright posture is consistent with autonomic dysfunction; and (3) The primary cause for autonomic dysfunction in DDD patients may be the asynchronous ventricular depolarization caused by right ventricular pacing.
UNLABELLED: Electromyopotential oversensing of unipolar pacemakers was first appreciated 20 years ago, but its prevalence in present day devices is less well defined. Thirty-four pacemaker patients, only two with symptoms suggestive of oversensing, were evaluated in unipolar settings to assess the frequency of provocation of oversensing in one or, if present, both pacing channels. The sensing threshold of each patient, whenever possible, was recorded as well. RESULTS: Atrial oversensing occurred in 11/18 patients (61%), all at sensitivities in the 0.4-1.0 mV range. Ventricular oversensing was noted in 13/33 patients (39%), with all but one programmed to settings of 1.25 mV or more sensitive (i.e. < 1.25 mV). Twenty six of 26 patients amenable to testing had ventricular sensing thresholds of at least 4.0 mV or more. Of the 15 patients amenable to atrial sensing threshold testing, 4 had a threshold of 1.0 mV or < 1.0 mV, 6 had thresholds between 1.0-2.0 mV, and 5 sensed at settings > 2.0 mV. CONCLUSION: Electromyopotential oversensing remains a relevant issue in current day unipolar pacemakers. Most patients do not describe symptoms related to electromyopotential interference, yet such interference is frequently provoked. Oversensing is common at high sensitivities typically utilized for atrial sensing, but quite unusual at settings necessary for adequate ventricular sensing. Programming unipolar devices to unnecessarily high sensitivities should be avoided or serious consequences may result.
The maze procedure is an operation that has had great initial success in curing atrial fibrillation. This procedure includes several right atrial incisions that may interrupt the integrity of the sinoatrial node or its arterial supply. To assess the effect of the maze procedure on sinus node function (SNF), the following studies were performed: sinus node recovery times (SNRT), corrected SNRT (CSNRT), CSNRT under autonomic blockade maximal heart rate and intrinsic heart rates. Thirty-four dogs underwent a right thoracotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The dogs were divided into three groups. Group 1 (n = 9), the sham group, underwent CPB without any incisions. Group 2 (n = 8) underwent CPB and one of the right atrial incisions. Group 3 (n = 18) underwent CPB and all three of the right atrial incisions. SNF was determined before and after the procedure. Groups 1 and 2 had no significant difference in measured SNF acutely after the procedure. In Group 3 the mean SNRT increased from 552 msec to 1,984 msec (P = 0.005). Sinus node dysfunction was corroborated by all studies. In the chronic studies, a trend toward recovery of SNF was observed. The maze procedure results in significant acute sinus node dysfunction. This dysfunction may resolve spontaneously over the ensuing months. Modifications of the maze procedure that avoid the sinus node or its blood supply area may reduce procedure related sinus node dysfunction.
One goal of the initial implantation procedure for a cardioverter defibrillator is determination of the configuration and patch location with the lowest defibrillation threshold (DFT). To determine the safety of multiple defibrillation tests, an analysis of the intraoperative defibrillation threshold tests (DFTT) in our patients was performed. In 84 patients, the mean number of DFT trials was 5.27; the mean number of joules received was 275.0. The maximum number of shocks in one implant procedure was 50 for a total of 4,895 joules without complications. Four patients received 30 or more DFT shocks without complication. There were two complications related directly to the DFTT: one patient with severe noninflammatory cardiomyopathy developed electromechanical dissociation and was subsequently resuscitated and survived; the second patient with severe triple vessel coronary artery disease suffered an intraoperative myocardial infarction during testing and eventually died 22 days postoperatively. All patients received an ICD unit; six patients had DFTs of greater than 20 joules. Based on our experience, we followed the clinical status (heart rate, blood pressure, ECG changes, fluid status, total anesthesia time) during the DFTT to determine the extent and duration of our testing protocol. Multiple shocks due to repositioning of the leads in a stable patient should not prohibit extensive testing as adverse consequences do not appear to be cumulative.
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