Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Mediastinal Cyst ; pathology ; Young Adult

Sudden unexplained nocturnal death syndrome （SUNDS） is always a difficulty in forensic medicine researches. Although the development of molecular genetics promotes the etiologic study of SUNDS, the pathogenesis of most such cases is still unclear. Sleep apnea syndrome （SAS） is one of the common forms of sleep disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome （OSAHS） is the most common. In recent years, some domestic and international researches show that OSAHS is related to the development of cardiovascular disease, which may cause cardiac arrhythmia, even sudden death. This article reviews the relationship between SUNDS and OSAHS and aims to provide new ideas for the pathogenesis of SUNDS.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Brugada Syndrome/pathology* ; Death, Sudden/etiology* ; Humans ; Male ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/pathology*

BACKGROUNDProlongation of the Tpeak-Tend (TpTe) interval as a measurement of transmural dispersion of repolarization (TDR) is an independent risk factor for chronic heart failure mortality. However, the cardiac resynchronization therapy's (CRT) effect on TDR is controversial. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate CRTs acute and chronic effects on repolarization dispersion. Furthermore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between TpTe changes and ventricular arrhythmia.

METHODSThe study group consisted of 101 patients treated with CRT-defibrillator (CRT-D). According to whether TpTe was shortened, patients were grouped at immediate and 1-year follow-up after CRT, respectively. The echocardiogram index and ventricular arrhythmia were observed and compared in these subgroups.

RESULTSFor all patients, TpTe slightly increased immediately after CRT-D implantation, and then decreased at the 1-year follow-up (from 107 ± 23 to 110 ± 21 ms within 24 h, to 94 ± 24 ms at 1-year follow-up, F = 19.366,P< 0.001). No significant difference in the left ventricular reverse remodeling and ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF) episodes between the TpTe immediately shortened and TpTe immediately nonshortened groups. However, patients in the TpTe at 1-year shorten had a higher rate of the left ventricular (LV) reverse remodeling (65% vs. 44%, χ2 = 4.495, P = 0.038) and less VT/VF episodes (log-rank test, χ2 = 10.207, P = 0.001) compared with TpTe 1-year nonshortened group. TpTe immediately after CRT-D independently predicted VT/VF episodes at 1-year follow-up (hazard ratio [HR], 1.030; P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSPatients with TpTe shortened at 1-year after CRT had a higher rate of LV reverse remodeling and less VT/VF episodes. The acute changes of TpTe after CRT have minimal value on mechanical reverse remodeling and ventricular arrhythmia.

Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; adverse effects ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of bronchoalveolar lavage on the heart rhythm and conduction of children with severe pneumonia through monitoring the electrocardiogram change of different step of the bronchoalveolar lavage, for proving the safety of the operation of bronchoalveolar lavage from the perspective of cardiac electrophysiology.

METHODFrom July 2011 to March 2012, 30 patients who were hospitalized in pneumology department of Dalian Children's Hospital and met the inclusion criteria and therapeutic indications of bronchoalveolar lavage were chosen. They were 3 to 12 years old, the average age was 5.3 years, including 17 boys and 13 girls, the ratio of boys and girls is 1.3: 1. Continuous sampling the electrocardiogram before and during the process including anesthesia, entering into glottis, lavage, aspiration, and revive, and recording the heart rate, rhythm amplitude and width of P wave, the PR interval, the form and width of QRS complex were also measured. The recorded data were analyzed and statistical analysis to reflect the change of the cardiac electrophysiology.

RESULTThe incidence of heart rate increase was 100.0%, 26 (86.7%) patients began to emerge after anesthesia, the rest of the patients also developed heart rate increase after the start of bronchoscopic operation. All patients had sinus tachycardia, and were most obvious in the progress of lavage and revive. In the process of entering into glottis, lavage, aspiration, 13 (43.3%) patients had arrhythmia episodes. Types of arrhythmia included sinus bradycardia, atrioventricular block and premature beat. Incidences of intraoperative arrhythmia compared with the pre- and post-operation were all statistically significantly different (P = 0.00). The most common arrhythmia were premature beat, in 17 of the 30 cases there were premature beat including 9 cases with atrial premature beats and 8 cases ventricular premature contraction. Two patients had III° atrioventricular block accompanied by serious sinus bradycardia. All kinds of arrhythmias except sinus tachycardia disappeared after the operation was ended. Five patients (16.7%) had PR interval prolongation. Five patients (16.7%) had incomplete right bundle branch block (IRBBB) . Incidences of IRBBB compared with the pre-operation and post-operation were all not significantly different [13.3% (n = 4) vs. 0(n = 0) and 3.3% (n = 1), all P > 0.05]. Different operating progress made no significant difference in the measurement value of electrocardiogram[13.3% (n = 4) vs. 0(n = 0) and 3.3% (n = 1), all P > 0.05], but showed the most notable effect on heart rate.

CONCLUSIONBronchoalveolar lavage can influence the heart rhythm and conduction, but most of the influence with pathological significance are transient. Cardiac electrophysiological changes were the most obvious in endotracheal operation with the risk of malignant arrhythmia but the risk is low, the bronchoalveolar lavage technique is safe. The contingency plans for dealing with all kinds of adverse reactions must be ready before the operations of bronchoalveolar lavage. During the procedure, the patient's ECG changes should be closely monitored to reduce the incidence of adverse reactions.

Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; adverse effects ; methods ; Bronchoscopy ; adverse effects ; methods ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Cardiac Electrophysiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Block ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Hypoxia ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Pneumonia ; pathology ; therapy

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ebstein Anomaly ; complications ; pathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Arrhythmias after an esophagectomy (most commonly atrial fibrillation) are a significant contributing factor to patient morbidity. However, the significance of an intraoperative arrhythmia is not completely understood. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the occurrence and risk factors for developing intraoperative arrhythmias in patients undergoing an esophagectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of 427 patients who underwent a transthoracic esophagectomy between 2001 and 2005. Variables such as age, sex, hypertension, diabetes, cardiac disease, preoperative pulmonary function test (PFT) results, cancer level, combined radiochemotherapy, intrathoracic cavity adhesions and anastomosis site, hemoglobin, central venous pressure (CVP), fluid balance, serum potassium level, dose of vasopressors, temperature, and combined general and epidural anesthesia were analyzed as risk factors for the occurrence of an arrhythmia. We defined this arrhythmia as one not originating from the sinus node. RESULTES: The incidence of intraoperative arrhythmia in this subset of patients was 17.1%, with a 37.2% reoccurrence rate during the first three postoperative days. Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed the presence of heart disease, poor PFTs, cervical anastomosis, elevated CVP, and higher ephedrine doses to be independent predictors of the development of an intraoperative arrhythmia. CONCLUSION: The incidence of intraoperative arrhythmia during esophagectomy was 17.1% with a 37.2% of reoccurrence rate.
Aged ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/*etiology/pathology ; Esophagectomy/*adverse effects/statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications/*etiology/pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

To elucidate the mechanism of arrhythmia in healed myocardial infarction (HMI), the changes of action potential duration (APD), transient outward potassium current (Ito), delayed rectifier potassium current (IK) and inward rectifier potassium current (IK1) of left ventricular myocytes in non-infarcted zone of HMI were investigated. Rabbits were randomly assigned into two groups: HMI group, in which animals were subjected to thoracotomy and ligation of the circumflex coronary and sham-operated group, in which rabbits underwent thoracotomy but no conorary ligation. 3 months after the operation, the whole myocyte patch clamp technique was used to record APD, Ito, IK, and IK1 of ventricular myocytes in non-infarcted zone. Our results showed that the membrane capacitance was larger in HMI group than in sham-operated group. Action potential duration was significantly lengthened in HMI group and early afterdepolarization (EAD) appeared in HMI group. The densities of Ito, I(K, tail), and IK1 were reduced significantly in HMI group, from 6.72 +/- 0.42 pA/pF, 1.54 +/- 0.13 pA/pF and 25.6 +/- 2.6 pA/pF in sham-operated group to 4.03 +/- 0.33 pA/pF, 1.14 +/- 0.11 pA/pF and 17.6 +/- 2.3 pA/pF, respectively. It is concluded that the reduced densities of Ito, I(K, tail) and IK1 in ventricular myocytes of non-infarcted zone in HMI were responsible for the prolongation of APD and the presentation of EAD which played important roles in the development of malignant arrhythmia in HMI.
Action Potentials ; Animals ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; etiology ; Female ; Heart Ventricles ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Rabbits

OBJECTIVESTo study the pathologic features of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in the phase of heart failure.

METHODSEight cases underwent heart transplantation in Fuwai Hospital during the period from May, 2004 to July, 2007 with pathologic diagnosis of ARVC were studied. The age of patients ranged from 15 to 54 years. They had history of palpitation and syncope for 1 to 22 years. Severe heart failure was diagnosed according to the New York Heart Association Classification System. The recipient hearts were examined and the following parameters were evaluated: weight of heart, presence of cardiac dilatation, myocardial hypertrophy, fatty infiltration, fibrosis, parietal thrombosis and myocarditis. The degree of left ventricular involvement was also analyzed.

RESULTSOf the 8 cases studied, 7 cases with prominent right ventricular lesion (fibrofatty replacement) were classified as classic type. One case with prominent left ventricle lesion and mild right ventricle involvement was classified as left predominant type. No biventricular type and no pure fatty infiltration were found. The cases of classic type showed moderate to severe dilatation of right ventricle, sometimes with aneurysm formation. Left ventricle was involved in 6 cases, which showed diffuse interstitial fibrosis, patchy fibrous replacement and subepicardial fatty infiltration. Mild to moderate dilatation of left ventricle, myocardial hypertrophy and vacuolation were also observed in these cases. The case of left predominant type had severe hypertrophy and dilatation of left ventricle, with prominent diffuse interstitial fibrosis and transmural fatty infiltration. Besides, 3 cases showed left ventricular hypertrophy and parietal thrombosis in both ventricles. Focal lymphocytic myocarditis was noted in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONSLeft ventricular involvement is common in the heart failure phase of ARVC. Extensive interstitial fibrosis, marked hypertrophy and degeneration of myocardial fibers, as well as severe cardiac dilatation with organized thrombi, represent the major pathologic changes which resembles dilated cardiomyopathy.

Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia ; complications ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; etiology ; Female ; Fibrosis ; etiology ; Heart Failure ; complications ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocarditis ; etiology ; pathology ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Young Adult

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a heart muscle disease of unknown etiology characterized by fatty or fibrofatty infiltration of the right ventricular myocardium. It is well known that ARVC is one of the important causes of sudden death in young individuals. The significant pathological change of ARVC is atrophy and fibrofatty myocardial replacement of the right ventricular free wall. According to the histopathological substrate ARVC could be divided into 2 types: fatty and fibrofatty myocardial replacement. Possible etiology including: (1) apoptosis or programmed cell death; (2) inflammatory; (3) myocardium dysplasia and (4) myocyte transdifferentiation theory.
Adipose Tissue/pathology* ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Apoptosis ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/etiology* ; Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/pathology* ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac/etiology* ; Female ; Forensic Medicine ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged

An 82-yr-old man was presented with fever and cough accompanied by generalized erythematous rash. He had taken mexiletine for 5 months, as he had been diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and ventricular arrhythmia. Laboratory studies showed peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated liver transaminase levels. Chest radiographs showed multiple nodular consolidations in both lungs. Biopsies of the lung and skin lesions revealed eosinophilic infiltration. After a thorough review of his medication history, mexiletine was suspected as the etiologic agent. After discontinuing the mexiletine and starting oral prednisolone, the patient improved, and the skin and lung lesions disappeared. Subsequently, mexiletine was confirmed as the causative agent based on a positive patch test. Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome is a severe adverse reaction to drugs and results from treatment with anticonvulsants, allopurinol, sulfonamides, and many other drugs. Several cases of mexiletine-induced hypersensitivity syndrome have been reported in older Japanese males with manifestation of fever, rash, peripheral blood eosinophilia, liver dysfunction without other organ involvement. Here, we report a case of mexiletine-induced hypersensitivity syndrome which presented as eosinophilic pneumonia in a Korean male.
Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents/*adverse effects ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac/drug therapy ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/drug therapy ; Drug Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis/etiology ; Exanthema/pathology ; Humans ; Lung/pathology/radiography ; Male ; Mexiletine/*adverse effects ; Pulmonary Eosinophilia/*chemically induced/*diagnosis ; Syndrome ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed