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Biomedical subjects

S Swiryn

Publications and source records attributed to S Swiryn.

81 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Significance of the HV interval in 517 patients with chronic bifascicular block.

In January 1975, we reported results of a prospective follow-up study (mean 538 +/- 42 days) of 119 patients with chronic bifascicular block (BFB), and concluded that BFB patients with normal and prolonged HV (NHV and PHV) had a similar incidence of atrioventricular (AV) block and mortality. In this report, we update these findings in 517 patients with a follow-up of 21 days to 9.8 years (mean 3.4 +/- 0.2 years). Three hundred nineteen patients (61%) had NHV and 198 (39%) had PHV (greater than 55 msec). The NHV and PHV groups were similar in regard to age (NHV vs PHV, 61 +/- 1 vs 62 +/- 1 years) and sex (80% male, 20% female vs 82% male and 18% female). The following were more common (p less than 0.05) in patients with PHV (percent of patients with finding in NHV vs PHV groups): angina (18% vs 27%), congestive failure (27% vs 42%), cardiomegaly (48% vs 66%), New York Heart Association functional class II-IV (34% vs 56%), premature ventricular complexes (20% vs 29%), and organic heart disease (OHD) (75% vs 85%). Spontaneous trifascicular block (TFB) developed in two patients (0.6%) with NHV and nine patients (4.5%) with PHV (p less than 0.05). Cumulative 7-year incidence of TFB was 3% with NHV and 12% with PHV (p less than 0.01). Seven-year cumulative cardiovascular mortality was 32% in NHV patients and 57% in PHV patients (p less than 0.005). In conclusion, PHV in patients with chronic BFB was associated with a greater incidence and severity of OHD, and higher total and sudden death mortalities. The risk of spontaneous TFB was small in patients with either NHV or PHV, although it was significantly higher in the latter.

Angina Pectoris↗

Chronic longterm electrophysiologic study of paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia.

Nine patients with recurrent paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia underwent chronic electrophysiologic studies to delineate effective drug therapy for prevention of recurrence of this arrhythmia. The frequency of attacks of ventricular tachycardia necessitating hospitalization ranged from 2 to 12 (mean 5 +/- 4) attacks per year. Pacing induction of ventricular tachycardia was performed prior to and following intravenous or oral administration of procainamide (eight patients), disopyramide phosphate (nine patients), aprindine (five patients) and propranolol (four patients). Successful drug response (prevention of ventricular tachycardia induction or induction of nonsustained episodes of tachycardia) was noted in six of nine patients (66 percent). Lack of drug effect on the ability to sustain ventricular tachycardia was noted in three patients (34 percent). In addition, a deleterious drug response, manifested by potentiation of ventricular flutter or fibrillation, was observed in two of the three patients who failed to respond to drugs. Chronic drug therapy based on successful response in six patients resulted in cure of ventricular tachycardia in five of six patients (83 percent), one patient having one attack necessitating hospitalization. Of the three patients who demonstrated lack of drug effect during chronic electrophysiologic studies, one died suddenly and two had recurrent episodes of ventricular tachycardia while receiving a drug that did not prevent induction of ventricular tachycardia.

Adult↗

Significance of chronic bifascicular block without apparent organic heart disease.

Eighty-six of 452 patients (19%) with chronic bifascicular block were found to have no clinically apparent associated organic heart disease (OHD) and were defined as having primary conduction disease (PCD). Comparison of patients with PCD and OHD revealed a significantly lower incidence of the following clinical variables in the PCD patients (p less than 0.001): exertional angina, dyspnea, congestive heart failure, cardiomegaly, functional class I (all by study design), left bundle branch block and premature ventricular contractions. Both mean AH and HV intervals were significantly shorter in patients with PCD (p less than 0.01). The incidence of HV prolongation was 21% in PCD and 41% in OHD patients (p less than 0.001). All patients were prospectively followed for 21-2998 days with a mean +/- SEM of 1209 +/- 66 days for PCD and 1172 +/- 36 days for OHD. Atrioventricular (AV) block developed in three patients from the PCD group and 26 from the OHD group (NS), with spontaneous block occurring in one (1%) PCD patient and 19 (5%) OHD patients (p less than 0.05). Annual mortality due to sudden death as well as total cardiovascular mortality (including sudden death) for the 5-year follow-up was significantly lower in patients with PCD. Patients with PCD have significantly lower incidence of electrophysiologic abnormalities and subsequent spontaneous AV block as well as cardiovascular and sudden death mortality. The diagnosis of PCD based on clinical criteria probably underestimates the presence of underlying OHD, as suggested by a small but definite risk of cardiovascular mortality.

Adult↗

Significance of block distal to the His bundle induced by atrial pacing in patients with chronic bifascicular block.

Twenty-one of 496 (4%) patients with chronic bifascicular block, studied and followed prospectively, had block distal to the His bundle (BDH) induced by atrial pacing during initial electrophysiologic studies. In six, BDH was noted during pacing-induced atrioventricular (AV) nodal Wenckebach periods (at paced rates of 150--190 beats/min), with BDH in the short HH cycles after the AV nodal blocked P (lond cycle). The AH interval was normal in all six patients and HV was normal in four. None of the six patients has developed AV block during a mean follow-up of 5.33 +/- 0.48 years. In 15 patients, pacing-induced BDH was noted during intact AV nodal conduction (paced rate of 80--200 beats/min). The AH interval was prolonged in one, and HV was prolonged in 10 of the 15 patients. During a mean follow-up of 3.4 +/- 0.59 years, seven of these patients developed AV block, one had treadmill-provoked AV block, and two died suddenly (major morbid event in 10 of 15 patients). In conclusion, BDH induced by atrial pacing is an infrequent finding in patients with bifascicular block, and can be a functional as well as a pathologic response. The latter is associated with a high risk of major morbid events (AV block and sudden death).

Adolescent↗