[Progress in cardiac pacing]. / Novedades en estimulación cardiaca.

This review discusses the utility and current status of remote monitoring in patients with cardiac devices in Spain, the different anticoagulation strategies used during device implantation, the surgical replacement and maintenance of pacemakers and defibrillators, and the present and future importance of impedance sensors in cardiac pacing and heart failure management. Finally, there is a summary of the most relevant scientific articles published in the last year.

[Progress in cardiac pacing]. / Novedades en estimulación cardiaca.

This review summarizes recent scientific developments in ambulatory monitoring and its legal implications in appropriately selected patients. It also considers how new cardiac pacing devices can be used in the clinical monitoring of atrial fibrillation, sleep apnea and, in transplant patients, heart failure and transplant rejection. In addition, the system of accreditation for cardiac pacing services in Spain is outlined, with a focus on process development and quality indicators. Finally, the scientific articles on cardiac pacing that made the greatest impact in 2007 are summarized.

[Safety and effectiveness of single-lead VDD pacing]. / Seguridad y eficacia de los sistemas de estimulación VDD monosonda.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Single-lead VDD pacing provides the physiological benefits of atrioventricular synchrony with the convenience of a single-lead system. However, concern remains about the method's safety and effectiveness. METHOD: In total, 700 patients with single-lead VDD pacemakers were evaluated retrospectively. The following parameters were recorded: age, sex, etiology, the symptoms and electrocardiographic diagnosis that justified pacemaker implantation, the venous access route used for implantation, atrial sensing at implantation, atrial undersensing at follow-up, the occurrence of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias, and final pacing mode. RESULTS: Third-degree atrioventricular block was the main indication for pacemaker implantation (66.4%). The most commonly used venous access route was via the right cephalic vein (49.1%). At implantation, the mean atrial signal was 1.8 (4 1.15) mV. During follow-up, significant atrial undersensing occurred in 7.7% of patients; in 1.9%, it could not be corrected by device reprogramming. Uncontrollable supraventricular arrhythmias were observed in 6.4% of patients. Symptomatic sinus node disease was rare. By the end of follow-up, 91.4% of patients were still on VDD pacing, while, in 8.3%, the pacemaker had to be reprogrammed to the VVI mode. Only 0.3% required atrial lead implantation for DDD pacing. Left-side venous access during implantation was a independent predictora of atrial undersensing at follow-up. Low values of atrial detection at implant did not reach statistical signification although it showed a remarkable trend. CONCLUSIONS: Single-lead VDD pacing seems to be safe and effective when appropriately indicated. Our findings are consistent with those of previously published studies.