BACKGROUND: We evaluated the early clinical outcomes of tricuspid valve annuloplasty (TAP) with the Tri-Ad annuloplasty ring for functional tricuspid regurgitation (TR). METHODS: From January 2015 to March 2017, 36 patients underwent TAP with a Tri-Ad ring for functional TR. To evaluate the early clinical outcomes of TAP with the Tri-Ad ring, we conducted a propensity score-matched analysis comparing the Tri-Ad and MC3 tricuspid annuloplasty rings (n=34 in each group). The follow-up duration was 11.0±7.07 months. RESULTS: There was 1 case of operative mortality (2.8%) and no cases of late mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in 15 patients (41%), including acute kidney injury in 6 patients (16%), bleeding requiring reoperation in 4 patients (11%), and low cardiac output syndrome in 4 patients (11%). There were no ring-related complications, such as atrioventricular block or ring dehiscence. The TR grade decreased significantly (from 2.03±1.06 to 1.18±0.92, p < 0.01), as did the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (from 43.53±13.84 to 38.00±9.72 mm Hg, p=0.03). There were no cases of severe residual TR, but moderate TR was observed in 3 patients, all of whom had severe TR preoperatively. Severe preoperative TR was also associated with moderate in the univariate analysis (p < 0.01). In the propensity score-matched analysis comparing the Tri-Ad and MC3 rings, there was no significant difference in early clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: TAP with the Tri-Ad ring corrected functional TR effectively and provided good early clinical and echocardiographic results without ring-related complications. However, severe preoperative TR was associated with moderate or severe residual TR in the immediate postoperative period. A follow-up study is necessary to confirm the stability of this procedure.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Atrioventricular Block ; Cardiac Output, Low ; Cardiac Valve Annuloplasty ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Mortality ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period ; Pulmonary Artery ; Reoperation ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Tricuspid Valve*

Atrioventricular Block ; complications ; Atrioventricular Node ; surgery ; Heart Neoplasms ; complications ; surgery ; Humans

Congenital myotonic dystrophy (CMD) is an inherited neuromuscular disorder with cardiac rhythm abnormalities that may occur as a child grows. No report has described complete atrioventricular (AV) block detected in a neonate with CMD. We report a floppy infant of 31(+4) weeks gestation with complete AV block at birth, who was diagnosed with CMD by Southern analysis. She recovered from complete AV block 32 hr after temporary transcutaneous pacing was applied. To the best our knowledge, this is the first recorded case of a complete AV block accompanied by CMD during the neonatal period. When a newborn has a complete AV block, the physician should consider the possibility of the CMD and conduct a careful physical examination.
3' Untranslated Regions ; Atrioventricular Block/complications/*diagnosis ; Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Myotonic Dystrophy/complications/*diagnosis/genetics ; Myotonin-Protein Kinase/genetics ; Trinucleotide Repeats

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility, advantages and efficacy of implantation of left atrial and ventricular epicardial dual chamber pacemaker to treat pediatric complete atrioventricular block.

METHODEleven children with median age 4.0 years (0.5-7.6 years) diagnosed as complete atrioventricular block resisting to drug therapy received implantations of left atrial and ventricular epicardial dual chamber pacemakers. Six were male and five female. Temporal or permanent right ventricular pacing was used for all of them before implantation of left atrial and ventricular epicardial dual chamber pacemakers. Three cases showed cardiac dysfunction. Left lateral thoracotomy was performed at 4th intercoastal space along anterior axillary line under general anesthesia, the pericardium was incised vertically anterior to the phrenic nerve, two pacing leads were individually located at left atrial appendage and left ventricular lateral wall. After all the parameters were detected to be satisfactory, a pouch was made at left abdomen under coastal margin. Dual chamber pacemaker was connected with pacing leads through subcutaneous tunnels. The sizes of heart chambers, cardiac functions, parameters of pacemaker, sensitivity, pacing status, PR interval and QRS interval were closely followed up post-operatively.

RESULTImplantations of pacemakers were successful for all of the patients with no complications associated with operations. Preoperative electrocardiograms showed QRS interval (180 ± 33)ms under right ventricular pacing, it decreased to (140 ± 24)ms after implantation of left atrial and ventricular epicardial dual chamber pacemaker, significantly lower than right ventricular pacing (t = 8.8, P < 0.05) . Atrioventricular (AV) interval was set at 90 ms, PR interval (124 ± 4)ms. Echocardiograms performed within 2-3 days after implantation of left atrial and ventricular epicardial dual chamber pacemakers showed that for the 3 cases who were previously under right atrial and right ventricular dual chamber pacing presenting cardiac dysfunction, their left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDd) decreased from (46.3 ± 12.5) (32.0-55.0) ms to (44.7 ± 12.0) (31.0-53.0) mm and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) increased from 30% ± 15% (18%-47%) to 44% ± 18% (33%-65%). During 2-14 months' follow up, LVEF increased progressively which became significantly higher than before (65% ± 8% vs. 30% ± 15%, t = 5.6, P < 0.05) . Cardiac chamber sizes and left ventricular systolic function for the other 8 patients maintain normal during follow up. Pacing status and sensitivity were satisfactory for all these patients during follow up.

CONCLUSIONImplantation of left atrial and ventricular epicardial pacemaker might be considered for children diagnosed as complete atrioventricular block for whom endocardial pacemaker could not be implanted, due to its utmost protection for cardiac function with minimal injury and its ability to prevent or reverse pacemaker syndrome. Left atrial and left ventricular epicardium should be regarded as the first-choice and routine locations for epicardial pacing.

Atrioventricular Block ; etiology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; methods ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Electrodes, Implanted ; Equipment Design ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Atria ; physiopathology ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; complications ; Heart Ventricles ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; Stroke Volume ; Thoracotomy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics of a Chinese pedigree with cardiac conductive disease complicated by atrial fibrillation and the therapeutic effect of the treatments.

METHODSAll the family members including the proband were screened with routine examination, electrocardiography, echocardiograpy, Holter recording, chest X-ray, blood biochemistry tests and autoantibody test. The proband received dual chamber pacemaker implantation combined with oral amiodarone treatment for 3 months. The patient was monitored for thyreoid function and chest X-ray during the treatments, and was followed up for another 3 months.

RESULTSClinical evidence of organic heart disease was found in none of the family members. The proband showed recurrent dizziness and chest distress, which exacerbated after exercise, and ECG showed atrial fibrillation and severe A-V block. The proband's uncle was found to have atrial fibrillation and III degree A-V block after a syncope episode at the age of 30, and received a pacemaker treatment. Her grandpa died from a heart attack without detailed clinical documentations. No other family members showed abnormal ECG or a history of any heart events. The proband's condition was improved by treatments, after which ECG and Holter recording showed pace rhythm without atrial fibrillation.

CONCLUSIONCardiac conductive disease with atrial fibrillation can present in one family, and can be managed effectively and safely with implantation of dual chamber pacemaker combined with oral amiodarone.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Atrial Fibrillation ; complications ; genetics ; therapy ; Atrioventricular Block ; complications ; genetics ; therapy ; Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; Female ; Heart Conduction System ; abnormalities ; Humans ; Pedigree ; Young Adult

Complete atrioventricular (AV) block is frequently regarded as a cause of informed syncopal attacks, even though the escape rhythm is maintained. Torsade de pointes (TdP) may be a significant complication of AV block associated with QT prolongation. Here, we report the case of a 42-year-old female who was referred to our hospital due to recurrent seizure-like attacks while taking anti-convulsant drugs at a psychiatric hospital. TdP with a long QT interval (corrected QT = 0.591 seconds) was observed on an electrocardiogram (ECG) taken in the emergency department. The patient's drug history revealed olanzapine as the suspicious agent. Even after the medication was stopped, however, the QT interval remained within an abnormal range and multiple episodes of TdP and related seizure-like symptoms were found via ECG monitoring. A permanent pacemaker was thus implanted, and the ventricular rate was set at over 80 beats/min. There was no recurrence of tachyarrhythmia or other symptoms.
Adult ; Atrioventricular Block/*complications ; Benzodiazepines/adverse effects ; Electrocardiography ; Epilepsy/*etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Pacemaker, Artificial ; Torsades de Pointes/*etiology/therapy

Anti-Ro autoantibody is associated with Sjogren's syndrome (SS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and neonatal lupus syndrome (i.e., congenital complete heart block in newborns). Generally, the adult atrioventricular (AV) node is believed to be relatively resistant to the scarring effects of anti-Ro/anti-La autoantibodies. However, there have been some reports of adult complete AV block in SS and SLE patients. Here, we report a case of complete heart block in primary SS with anti-Ro autoantibodies, with no other risk factor for the development of heart block, and review their etiological association.
Antibodies, Antinuclear/*blood ; Atrioventricular Block/diagnosis/*immunology/therapy ; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial ; Electrocardiography ; Electrocardiography, Ambulatory ; Exercise Test ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Risk Factors ; Sjogren's Syndrome/complications/*immunology ; Treatment Outcome

High degree atrioventricular block (HDAVB) is a serious complication of transcatheter closure of a perimembranous ventricular septal defect (PMVSD). We report one patient who developed transient HDAVB seven days after transcathter closure of PMVSD and had recurrent HDAVB 42 months after the procedure.
Atrioventricular Block ; etiology ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Septal Occluder Device

This study aimed to assess the influence of lobectomy and pneumonectomy on cardiac rhythm and on the dimensions and function of the right-side of the heart. Twelve dogs undergoing lobectomy and eight dogs undergoing pneumonectomy were evaluated preoperatively and one month postoperatively with electrocardiography and Doppler echocardiography at rest. Pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was estimated by the tricuspid regurgitation jet (TRJ) via the pulse wave Doppler velocity method. Systemic inflammatory response syndrome criteria (SIRS) were also evaluated based on the clinical and hematological findings in response to lobectomy and pneumonectomy. Following lobectomy and pneumonectomy, we predominantly detected atrial fibrillation and varying degrees of atrioventricular block (AVB). Dogs that died within seven days of the lobectomy (n = 2) or pneumonectomy (n = 1) had complete AVB. Preoperative right atrial, right ventricular, and pulmonary artery dimensions increased gradually during the 30 days (p<0.05) following pneumonectomy, but did not undergo significant changes during that same period after lobectomy. Mean PASP was 56.0 +/- 4.5 mmHg in dogs having significant TRJ after pneumonectomy. Pneumonectomy, but not lobectomy, could lead to increases (p<0.01) in the SIRS score within the first day post-surgery. In brief, it is important to conduct pre- and postoperative cardiac evaluation of dogs undergoing lung resections because cardiac problems are a common postoperative complication after such surgeries. In particular, complete AVB should be considered a life-threatening complication after pneumonectomy and lobectomy. In addition, pneumonectomy appears to increase the likelihood of pulmonary hypertension development in dogs.
Animals ; Atrial Fibrillation/diagnosis/veterinary ; Atrioventricular Block/diagnosis/*veterinary ; Blood Pressure/physiology ; Dogs ; Echocardiography/veterinary ; Electrocardiography/veterinary ; Pneumonectomy/adverse effects/*veterinary ; Postoperative Care/methods/*veterinary ; Postoperative Complications/diagnosis/*veterinary ; Preoperative Care/methods/*veterinary ; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome/diagnosis/etiology/veterinary ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency/diagnosis/etiology/veterinary

Adult ; Atrioventricular Block ; complications ; Cardiomyopathies ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Sarcoidosis ; complications ; diagnosis