A randomized, double-blind, parallel group comparison of disopyramide phosphate and quinidine in patients with cardiac arrhythmias

This report summarizes the results of a randomized, double-blind, parallel group, multicenter study which compared the antiarrhythmic activity and safety of oral disopyramide phosphate and oral quinidine sulfate. A total of 124 outpatients, whose pretreatment rates of ventricular and/or supraventricular arrhythmias were documented by ambulatory ECG recordings, were randomly assigned to receive either oral disopyramide or oral quinidine for the eight-week course of the study. Every two weeks, ten-hour ambulatory ECG recordings were obtained from each patient and blood was drawn to determine serum concentrations of assigned drug.

Atrioventricular sequential pacemakers: indications, complications, and long-term follow-up

Our experience with 32 patients with atrioventricular (AV) sequential pacemakers and an average follow-up of 22 months is presented. The pertinent literature and physiology are reviewed. The indications, advantages, and complications of AV sequential pacemakers are analyzed. Half of the patients required bifocal pacing for control of arrhythmia alone, while half required control of arrhythmia associated with congestive heart failure due primarily to a noncompliant left ventricle. It is anticipated that the hemodynamic improvement occurring as a results of AV sequential pacing will increase the use of this mode of cardiac pacing in selected patients.