Linked Life Data

9082672

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/9082672

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
12
pubmed:dateCreated
1997-3-28
pubmed:abstractText
Between January and September 1995, 54 consecutive patients (male: 34, age: 66 +/- 10 years) with symptomatic chronic atrial fibrillation (median duration: 4.5 months) were referred for external electrical cardioversion to our hospital. Mean left atrial diameter was 49 +/- 9 mm, heart disease was apparent in 81%. All patients were under antiarrhythmic drugs (class III: 85%). In 49 patients (91%) sinus rhythm was achieved. In five patients atrial fibrillation persisted after delivery of 360 Joules. These five patients were characterized by a significantly higher body weight in comparison to patients with successful external cardioversion. All five patients underwent low energy internal cardioversion the following day: biphasic R-wave synchronous shocks were delivered through catheters positioned in the right atrium and the coronary sinus using stepwise increased energy levels. Internal cardioversion was successful in all patients resistant to external cardioversion: stable sinus rhythm was established at a mean energy level of 13 +/- 6.7 Joules. No complications were observed. During the follow-up, each patient revealed a relapse of symptomatic atrial fibrillation within 2 weeks after internal cardioversion despite antiarrhythmic therapy, whereas only 16 patients (33%) lost sinus rhythm during the same period of time after external cardioversion (p < 0.01). During a mean follow-up of 283 +/- 72 days 21 patients (43%) preserved stable sinus rhythm after external cardioversion. Internal low energy cardioversion seems to be effective and safe in conversion of chronic atrial fibrillation resistant to external cardioversion. The clinical value of this invasive, time- and material-consuming therapy seems to be limited in this setting because of the high early relapse-rate in the investigated patient population. Further clinical studies in a larger cohort of patients are necessary.
pubmed:language
ger
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0300-5860
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
85
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
943-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1996
pubmed:articleTitle
[Initial clinical experiences with low energy internal cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation after unsuccessful external cardioversion].
pubmed:affiliation
Medizinische Universitäts, Poliklinik Innere Medizin III, Homburg/Saar.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, English Abstract