Automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator: report of the first two implants in Hawaii.

Sudden cardiac death is the major cause of death in the United States today, claiming over 400,000 victims each year, or one per minute. In the majority of cases, the underlying mechanism is malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia, with the common substrate being abnormal myocardium from ischemic heart disease or congestive cardiomyopathy.

Percutaneous entry of the brachial artery for transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Angioplasty is most commonly performed with catheters introduced percutaneously into the femoral artery. A brachial approach has previously been described that employs arteriotomy and cutdown. We describe here the technique and initial results of an alternative method of brachial entry, wherein the catheter is introduced percutaneously. Angioplasty has been performed in 26 patients in this manner, without complications.