Sudden cardiac death in calves with experimental heavy infection of Strongyloides papillosus.

For obtaining the preliminary data on the pathogenesis of sudden death in calves naturally heavily infected with Strongyloides papillosus, we monitored 8 Holstein calves experimentally infected with the larvae on electrocardiographic and pneumographic changes. Six calves died suddenly on days 11 to 17 after infection. Sinus tachycardia had been recorded continuously since 1 to 6 days before death. Heart rates increased gradually until death. Since 1 or 2 days before death, various patterns of tachyarrhythmia and bradyarrhythmia had been observed among patterns of sinus tachycardia. Arrhythmias included serious ventricular premature beat, paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia, complete atrioventricular block and so on. The terminal pattern observed suddenly in all of the cases was ventricular arrhythmias consisting of serial ventricular tachycardia, flutter and fibrillation, which were followed by respiratory arrest. Abnormal pneumograms were not obtained before the terminal ventricular fibrillation. Two of 8 calves recovered from the infection, only one of which showed sinus arrest and the second degree of atrioventricular block transiently. We concluded that calves heavily infected with the larvae died due to sudden cardiac arrest.

Transcoronary chemical ablation of ventricular tachycardia in chronic chagasic myocarditis.

OBJECTIVE: A case of incessant ventricular tachycardia in a patient with Chagas' disease that was successfully terminated by chemical ablation is reported. BACKGROUND: Chagas' disease is a common medical problem in South America. Ventricular tachyarrhythmias, atrioventricular conduction disturbances, congestive heart failure and sudden cardiac death are important manifestations of this disease. METHODS: Selective catheterization of the coronary artery supplying the arrhythmogenic area was performed by using a conventional angioplasty system and the arrhythmogenic area was ablated by injection of 96% sterile ethanol. RESULTS: Ethanol (96%) injection initially in a lateral branch of the left circumflex artery and 2 days later in the proximal segment of the artery resulted in termination of ventricular tachycardia. Two weeks after ablation, programmed ventricular stimulation failed to induce ventricular tachycardia. CONCLUSION: Transcoronary chemical ablation should be considered in selected cases of Chagas' disease with incessant ventricular tachycardia.