Pacemaker implantation in patients with major depression, should it be of concern? A case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Psychological adaptation after cardiac pacemaker implantation is a challenge for patients with mental illness. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report a self-harming patient with a psychiatric disorder. A 73-year-old female patient with 16-year coronary heart disease and a 4-year depression was admitted to our hospital for a coma. Two months earlier, the local hospital confirmed that the patient had a second-degree sinoatrial (SA) block (type 2) as well as basal septal hypertrophy with the left ventricular outflow obstruction. Therefore, metoprolol sustained-release tablets 95 mg QD and diltiazem sustained-release tablets 90 mg QD was given as treatment after a pacemaker was implanted. However, the patient had continued complaining about discomfort due to the pacemaker implanted after being discharged from the hospital. Two months later, she attempted to commit suicide by removing her pacemaker and taking 80 sleeping pills. After a series of treatments, the patient improved and was discharged without a pacemaker re-implantation. With continued anti-depression treatment and strengthen family supervision, the patient's condition is stable now. CONCLUSIONS: A suicide attempt by intentionally removing the permanent pacemaker system was rarely reported. In bradycardia patients with a history of psychological or psychiatric disease, careful evaluation should be done before and after implantation of the pacemaker.

Trends in permanent pacemaker implantation in the United States from 1993 to 2009: increasing complexity of patients and procedures.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to define contemporary trends in permanent pacemaker use by analyzing a large national database. BACKGROUND: The Medicare National Coverage Determination for permanent pacemaker, which emphasized single-chamber pacing, has not changed significantly since 1985. We sought to define contemporary trends in permanent pacemaker use by analyzing a large national database. METHODS: We queried the Nationwide Inpatient Sample to identify permanent pacemaker implants between 1993 and 2009 using the International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision-Clinical Modification procedure codes for dual-chamber (DDD), single-ventricular (VVI), single-atrial (AAI), or biventricular (BiV) devices. Annual permanent pacemaker implantation rates and patient demographics were analyzed. RESULTS: Between 1993 and 2009, 2.9 million patients received permanent pacemakers in the United States. Overall use increased by 55.6%. By 2009, DDD use increased from 62% to 82% (p < 0.001), whereas single-chamber ventricular pacemaker use fell from 36% to 14% (p = 0.01). Use of DDD devices was higher in urban, nonteaching hospitals (79%) compared with urban teaching hospitals (76%) and rural hospitals (72%). Patients with private insurance (83%) more commonly received DDD devices than Medicaid (79%) or Medicare (75%) recipients (p < 0.001). Patient age and Charlson comorbidity index increased over time. Hospital charges ($2011) increased 45.3%, driven by the increased cost of DDD devices. CONCLUSIONS: There is a steady growth in the use of permanent pacemakers in the United States. Although DDD device use is increasing, whereas single-chamber ventricular pacemaker use is decreasing. Patients are becoming older and have more medical comorbidities. These trends have important health care policy implications.

Spontaneous resolution of sinoatrial exit block and atrioventricular dissociation in a child with dengue fever.

Cardiac rhythm abnormalities, including ventricular arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation and atrioventricular block, have been observed during the acute stage of dengue haemorrhagic fever. Atrioventricular or complete heart block can be fatal and may require a temporary pacemaker. We report a ten-year-old girl who presented with dengue haemorrhagic fever with sinoatrial block and atrioventricular dissociation that had a spontaneous resolution.

[Treatment of patients with long nocturnal asystoles and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome by creating continuous positive air pressure in the upper respiratory tract].

AIM: To study prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in patients with nocturnal asystoles, and assess therapeutic efficiency of constant positive air pressure (CPAP) applied to upper respiratory tract in this category of patients. METHODS: The study incorporated 37 patients (33 men and 4 women, average age 50+/-11 years) with nocturnal heart beat interruptions of over 3 seconds. Baseline examination revealed grade II-III arterial hypertension in 67.5%, coronary heart disease - in 19%, diabetes mellitus in 8% and no cardiovascular disease - in 5.5% of patients. Sinus rhythm was registered in 30 (81%) of patients, 7 (19%) patients had permanent atrial fibrillation. Causes of deteriorated cardiac conduction were as follows: sinoatrial blocks and sinoatrial arrests (n=18), grade II-III atrio ventricular block (n=10), combination of these forms of bradyarrhythmias (n=2) and block of conduction to ventricles in permanent atrial fibrillation (n=7). According to intra esophageal cardiac pacing, the function of sinus node and atrio ventricular conduction appeared to be undisturbed in all patients with sinus rhythm. All patients have undergone polysomnographic (PSG) examination. For patients with OSAS, an individual selection of therapeutic pressure was carried out using the CPAP apparatuses. CPAP therapy was considered effective against OSAS if normalization of apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) was observed. RESULTS: OSAS was registered in 25 cases (68%) (mean AHI 54.9+/-28.7), 20 patients (80%) had severe grade of the syndrome. CPAP therapy appeared to be effective in all patients. At the background of treatment AHI decreased from 60.7 to 5.5 episodes per hour of sleep, mean oxygen saturation of arterial blood rose from 74 to 90%. Effect of CPAP therapy relative to cardiac conduction abnormalities was attained in all 19 patients with sinus rhythm and only in one patient with permanent atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION: OSAS was revealed in 68% of patients with nocturnal bradyarrhythmias. Individually selected therapy with constant positive pressure in patients with nocturnal asystoles and OSAS efficiently eliminated in sleep asystoles and made it possible to avoid pacemaker implantation in some patients.

Intermittent interatrial block after electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation.

A 67-year-old woman with persistent atrial fibrillation presented for elective electrical cardioversion. The patient was cardioverted to normal sinus rhythm with a synchronized 150 joules (J) biphasic shock. Varying P-wave morphology suggesting intermittent interatrial block (IAB) was noted after the cardioversion on the rhythm strip. Three minutes later the patient developed early recurrence of atrial fibrillation and a second successful 150 J biphasic shock was delivered; IAB was still evident on a single lead II monitoring. However, the patient remained in sinus rhythm. The patient was discharged in normal sinus rhythm with electrocardiographic evidence of intermittent interatrial block. This case report examines the occurrence of IAB postcardioversion for atrial fibrillation and speculates on its prognostic significance.

[The research of related factors affecting the longevity of double chamber cardiac pacemaker].

OBJECTIVE: To research the related factors affecting the dual chamber cardiac pacemaker (PM) longevity, and provide the clinical basis for the PM reasonable application and design. METHODS: From 1991, 71 patients with AVB or SSS who used 9 kinds of dual-chamber PM were followed up. Every installed PM's related parameters, such as sensing electric current, resistance and pacing electric voltage, which may affect the PM longevity voltage had been recorded regularly. At the end point of survey, according to the related parameters of patients and PMs, the 71 patients were grouped into several groups. Then the related parameters were analyzed by statistical methods. RESULTS: The average of PM service life is 111 months +/- 19 months. Patient's basal heart rate, battery capacity, pacing electric voltage, pacing frequency, resistance, threshold value, pulse width and sensing electric current had all affected the PM's longevity (all P < 0.05) counted by Wilcoxon (Gehan) test. Sensing electric current (P = 0.000, RR = 3.072, 95% CI = 2.130 - 4.429), pacing electric voltage (P = 0.040, RR = 2.121, 95% CI = 1.126 - 3.998) and resistance (P = 0.049, RR = 1.786, 95% CI = 1.007 - 3.169) were the important predicting indictors of the PM longevity by Cox'proportional hazard risk regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Sensing electric current, pacing electric voltage and resistance are the important affecting factors of the PM longevity. Patient's basal heart rate, battery capacity, pacing frequency, threshold value and pulse width have influence of different degree on dual-chamber PM longevity.

Viral encephalitis associated with reversible asystole due to sinoatrial arrest.

We report a case of sinoatrial node block associated with syncopal episodes that required a temporary pacemaker. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed lesions of both temporal lobes consistent with viral encephalitis, presumably due to herpes simplex virus (HSV). The patient quickly recovered with intravenous acyclovir (Zovirax) therapy. Patients with presumed encephalitis might benefit from cardiac monitoring for possible associated cardiac arrhythmia. A permanent pacemaker is rarely required, since recovery is spontaneous in the majority of these cases.

[Sinoatrial block induced by therapeutic doses of diltiazem. Report of 3 cases]. / Bloc sino-auriculaire induit par le diltiazem aux doses therapeutiques. A propos de trois observations.

We report three observations of Diltiazem intoxication at therapeutic doses with occurence of sino auricular block. The situation evolute favorably for two patients while the third die. The electro systolic stimulate seems to be justified in case of Diltiazem intoxication.

Single chamber atrial pacing: an underused and cost-effective pacing modality in sinus node disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and cost effectiveness of single chamber atrial pacing in patients with sinus node disease. DESIGN: Retrospective follow up study. SETTING: Tertiary referral centre. PATIENTS: 81 patients with single chamber atrial pacemakers implanted between 1992 and 1996. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The development of high grade atrioventricular block resulting in a further pacemaker procedure. The cost savings of changing our current pacing practice to conform with British Pacing and Electrophysiology Group guidelines. RESULTS: During the follow up period, four patients (5.8%) required a further procedure to upgrade their atrial pacemaker to a dual chamber system owing to the development of high grade atrioventricular block. In 1995 and 1996, 343 pacemakers were implanted in patients with sinus node disease; 19 (5.5%) received single chamber atrial pacemakers and 271 (79%) dual chamber pacemakers. If the current pacing practice was changed so that all patients received single chamber atrial pacemakers, with revision for symptomatic atrioventricular block, savings in excess of 206,000 Pounds would have been made in the two year period. CONCLUSIONS: Atrial pacing in patients with sinus node disease is underused. The need for patients to undergo further procedures owing to the development of atrioventricular block is small and significant cost savings could be made by changing pacemaker practice.

Determinants of dual chamber pulse generators longevity.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of battery capacity, internal current drain, and stimulation energy on pulse generators longevity, and if battery impedance measurements can reliably predict pulse generators end-of-life. For this purpose, the records of 577 patients with a mean age of 65 +/- 14 years who had undergone implantation of two different dual chamber pulse generators (PG1: 409; PG2: 168) were retrospectively reviewed. Battery capacity were 2.3 Ah (PG1) and 3.0 Ah (PG2) while current drain at comparable nominal settings was 20 microA (PG1) and 30 microA (PG2) indicating a higher internal current drain of PG2. After a mean follow-up of 46 +/- 23 months, stimulation energy at reprogrammed output settings was significantly higher in PG1 as compared to PG2 (17.1 +/- 0.14) vs 15.5 +/- 0.24 J). Three PG1 (0.7%) and 12 PG2 (7.1%) (P < 0.01) had to be exchanged after a mean of 77.3 +/- 5.3 months (PG1) and 75 +/- 13.5 months (PG2) (P = NS) due to end-of-life being reached. The difference in battery impedances of PG1 and PG2 gained statistical significance 5 years after implantation (1.0 k omega vs 2.4 +/- 6.7 k omega) preceding the significant difference in PG survival after 6 years (98.7 +/- 1.3% vs 90.7 +/- 4.8%). These results indicate that internal current drain is the most important determinant of the pulse generators longevity and that battery impedance can reliably predict end-of-life. Therefore, the essential information about internal current drain should be available for each pacemaker, since it is required for adequate pulse generator selection. Diagnostic functions of dual chamber pulse generators should include measurements of battery impedance.

Disfunçäo do nódulo sino-atrial: clínica e terapêutica / Sick sinus syndorme: clinical approach and treatment

Disfunçäo do nódulo sino-atrial é a incapacidade apresentada pelo coraçäo em manter uma frequência adequada às necessidades orgânicas, provocando sintomas, devido ao fluxo snaguineo diminuido. Habitualmente, a reduçäo da frequência cardíaca se manifesta no eletrocardiograma (ECG) como: bradicardia sinusal persistente, bloqueio sino-atrial de 2 grau, pausas ou paradas sinusais passageiras, ritmos de escape passivos, juncionais ou idioventriculares, flutter ou fibrilaçäo atrais com resposta ventricul lenta e síndrome bradicardia-taquicardia. Todos estes distúrbios devem surgir sem a utilizaçäo de agentes farmacológicos bradicardizantes. Os principais sintomas referidos säo: síncopes, pré-síncopes, lipotímias, tonturas, palpitaçöes, insuficiência cardíaca congestiva, edema agudo de pulmäo e agravamento de quadros anginosos. a investigaçäo diagnóstica compreende: história clínica, ECG (em repouso, ambulatorial e de esforço), testes da funçäo autonômica, incluindo a massagem do seio carotídeo e avaliaä dos parâmetros eletrofisiológicos do nódulo sino-atrial. A evoluçäo natural desta enfermidade é lenta e episódica: a bradicardia persiste por períodos prolongados de tempo, até a apariçäo dos sintomas. O prognóstico geralmente é benigno; entretanto podem surgir complicaçöes graves, potencialmente letais: fenômenos embólicos säo comuns, quando exite fibrilaçäo atrial paroxística. A síncope do seio carotídeo é causada por reflexo barorreceptor exagerado, ocasionando assistolias prolongadas, após manobra povocativas mínimas sobre a bifurcaçäo da artéria carótida comum; pode ser subdividida em dois tipos: cardioinibitória e vasodepressora. O uso de fármacos com açäo aceleradora da frequência cardíaca, na disfunçäo do nódulo sino-atrial, näo produz resultados satisfatórios e conduz, precocemente, ao aparecimento de efeitos secundários. Nos casos sintomáticos o tratamento ideal é o implante de marcapasso artificial definitivo: de acordo com as circunstâncias, pode-se utilizar gerador unicameral com eletroo etimulador posicionado em átrio ou dispositivo de dupla câmara, com ou sem modulaçöes de frequencia. Na miocardiopatia chagásica crônica, é relativamente comum a presença de disfunçäo do nódulo sino-atrial, sendo acompanhada, na maioria dos casos por lesöes extensas do sistema de conduçäo; apesar de todas as medidas terapêuticas, farmacológicas ou näo, existe progressäo contínua no comprometimento muscular cardíaco, evoluindo, após ...

Sinus arrest developed during gastric cancer operation in a progressive systemic sclerosis patient.

We report a case of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) who suddenly developed sinus arrest during an operation for gastric cancer under general anesthesia. No abnormalities in her cardiac, respiratory or renal functions had been detected before surgery. The cardiac functions evaluated by echocardiogram before and after pacemaking eliminated heart muscular involvement. We speculated that the operation stress induced by general anesthesia altered the asymptomatic fibrotic sinus into apparent sinus dysfunction. Care should be taken in general anesthesia for scleroderma patients who are free from detectable cardiac manifestations.

Bloqueo sino-atrial durante el tratamiento con amiodarona que ameritó marcapasos temporal / Pacient whith coronary artery disease receiving amiodarone who developd symptomatic synoatrial block and reguired the insertion of a tempory pacemaker

La amiodarona es una agente antiarrítmico potente altamente efectivo en el tratamiento de las arritmias auriculares y ventriculares. A pesar de su eficacia, la amiodarona tiene unas características farmacocinéticas poco usuales debido a su prolongada vida media de eliminación, su tendencia a acumularse en diversos tejidos y no existe un criterio definido para prescribir una dosis exacta basada en concentraciones plasmáticas. Adicionalmente, numerosos efectos adversos e interacción con otras drogas limita la aplicabilidad clínica de la droga. Nosotros precentamos un caso de un paciente con efermedad isquémica coronaria que recibia amiodarona y digoxina para el control de una fibrilación auricular quien desarrolló un bloqueo sino-atrial sintomático que requirió la inserción de un marcapaso temporal