Transient left anterior and septal fascicular blocks after self-expandable percutaneous transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is indicated in severe symptomatic aortic stenosis, when there is intermediate-high surgical risk, or a condition considered inoperable, as in the case of "porcelain aorta" that could turn clamping or cannulation of the ascending aorta hazardous in open-heart surgery. Among the complications of this less invasive procedure, intraventricular conduction disorders subsequent to the procedure stand out. TAVI causes worsening of intraventricular dromotropic disorders in more than 75% of the cases, with the presence of preexisting right bundle branch block and first-degree atrioventricular block, deep prosthesis implant, male gender, size of the aortic annulus smaller than the prosthesis, and porcelain aorta being predictive of requirement for permanent pacemaker implant.

Electro-vectorcardiographic demonstration of bifascicular block associated with ventricular preexcitation

Down syndrome occurs more frequently in the offsprings of older pregnant women and may be associated with atrioventricular septal defect. This refers to a broad spectrum of malformations characterized by a deficiency of the atrioventricular septum and abnormalities of the atrioventricular valves caused by an abnormal fusion of the superior and inferior endocardial cushions with the midportion of the atrial septum and the muscular portion of the ventricular septum.

Transient left septal fascicular block and left anterior fascicular block as a consequence of proximal subocclusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery

The association of left anterior fascicular block (LAFB) with left septal fascicular block (LSFB) characterizes a left bifascicular block subtype rarely described in the literature, probably due to the fact that most researchers are not aware of the existence of the left septal fascicle. We describe a case with this transient intraventricular dromotropic disturbance due to left anterior descending coronary artery subocclusion.

Transient left septal fascicular block in the setting of acute coronary syndrome associated with giant slurring variant J-wave

We report a case of acute coronary syndrome with transient prominent anterior QRS forces (PAF) caused by proximal subocclusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery before the first septal perforator branch. The ECG change indicates left septal fascicular block (LSFB) with associated slurring-type giant J-wave. Currently, this J-wave variant is considered as a lambda-like wave or QRS-ST-T "triangulation". Its presence is indicative of poor prognosis because of the risk for cardiac arrest as a consequence of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF).

Acute coronary syndrome of very unusual etiology

Aortitis is one of many possible manifestations of tertiary syphilis. Aortic disease is the most common of all cardiovascular syphilitic lesions. Aortic diseases caused by tertiary syphilis include aortitis, aortic root dilation, aneurysm formation, aortic regurgitation and coronary ostial stenosis. A less common manifestation of syphilitic aortitis is coronary artery ostial narrowing related to aortic wall thickening. We report a case of a 40-year-old male patient admitted with a clinical picture of acute coronary syndrome (unstable angina). He had no risk factors for coronary artery disease. The physical examination revealed nothing remarkable. The admission electrocardiogram (ECG) showed ST segment depression in the anterolateral and inferior leads (Figure 1). The coronary angiogram showed critical ostial stenosis of the right (RCA) and left main coronary artery (Figure 2a, b). Cardiac-computed tomography showed aortic wall thickening with involvement of bilateral coronary ostia (Figure 2b, c). The patient was referred for coronary bypass surgery after treatment with two doses of penicillin G. The laboratory test was strongly positive for syphilitic infection. Postoperative treatment with benzathine penicillin, in doses recommended for tertiary syphilis, was implemented.

The congenital long QT syndrome Type 3: An update

Congenital long QT syndrome type 3 (LQT3) is the third in frequency compared to the 15 forms known currently of congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS). Cardiac events are less frequent in LQT3 when compared with LQT1 and LQT2, but more likely to be lethal; the likelihood of dying during a cardiac event is 20% in families with an LQT3 mutation and 4% with either an LQT1 or an LQT2 mutation. LQT3 is consequence of mutation of gene SCN5A which codes for the Nav1.5 Na+ channel α-subunit and electrocardiographically characterized by a tendency to bradycardia related to age, prolonged QT/QTc interval (mean QTc value 478 ± 52 ms), accentuated QT dispersion consequence of prolonged ST segment, late onset of T wave and frequent prominent U wave because of longer repolarization of the M cell across left ventricular wall.

Electrocardiographic Markers of Sudden Cardiac Death (Including Left Ventricular Hypertrophy)

Although the electrocardiograph (ECG) was invented more than 100 years ago, it remains the most commonly used test in clinical medicine. It is easy to perform, relatively cheap, and results are readily available. Interpretation, however, needs expertise and knowledge. New data, phenomenon, and syndromes are continually discovered by the ECG. It is important to differentiate between normal and abnormal ECGs first and then try to correlate the findings with clinical pathologies. Furthermore, the ECG is an integral part of the screening model for a variety of conditions such as channelopathies, athletes, preoperative risk profile, and remains the cardiologist's best friend.

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, an update

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia is a rare devastating lethal inherited disorder or sporadic cardiac ion channelopathy characterized by unexplained syncopal episodes, and/or sudden cardiac death (SCD), aborted SCD (ASCD), or sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) observed in children, adolescents, and young adults without structural heart disease, consequence of adrenergically mediated arrhythmias: exercise-induced, by acute emotional stress, atrial pacing, or β-stimulant infusion, even when the electrocardiogram is normal. The entity is difficult to diagnose in the emergency department, given the range of presentations; thus, a familiarity with and high index of suspicion for this pathology are crucial. Furthermore, recognition of the characteristic findings and knowledge of the management of symptomatic patients are necessary, given the risk of arrhythmia recurrence and SCA. In this review, we will discuss the concept, epidemiology, genetic background, genetic subtypes, clinical presentation, electrocardiographic features, diagnosis criteria, differential diagnosis, and management.

Main artifacts in electrocardiography

Electrocardiographic artifacts are defined as electrocardiographic alterations, not related to cardiac electrical activity. As a result of artifacts, the components of the electrocardiogram (ECG) such as the baseline and waves can be distorted. Motion artifacts are due to shaking with rhythmic movement. Examples of motion artifacts include tremors with no evident cause, Parkinson's disease, cerebellar or intention tremor, anxiety, hyperthyroidism, multiple sclerosis, and drugs such as amphetamines, xanthines, lithium, benzodiazepines, or shivering (due to hypothermia, fever (rigor due to shaking), cardiopulmonary resuscitation by chest compression (oscillations of great amplitude) and patients who move their limbs during the test, causing sudden irregularities in the ECG baseline that may resemble premature contractions or interfere with ECG wave shapes, or other supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. When the skeletal muscles experience shaking, the ECG is "bombarded" by apparently random electrical activity.

Transient left septal and anterior fascicular block associated with type 1 electrocardiographic Brugada pattern

The left septal fascicular block (LSFB) or blockage of the middle fibers of the left bundle branch is probably caused mainly by - in the developed world - the proximal obstruction of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) before its first anterior septal perforator branch (S₁). The association of transient LSFB and left anterior fascicular block (LAFB) - left bifascicular block - and the electrocardiographic type 1 Brugada pattern (BrP) has not been described in the literature yet.

Myotonic dystrophy and Brugada syndrome: A common pathophysiologic pathway?

Type 1 myotonic dystrophy (DM1) is a hereditary neuromuscular disease affecting multiple organs in human adults. Here we report a 42-year-old man diagnosed with DM1. Having a history of progressive muscular weakness and gradual loss of visual acuity, he was referred to us by his ophthalmologist for risk assessment of undergoing cataract surgery. Cardiology workup revealed type 1 Brugada ECG pattern, positive late potentials and inducible ventricular fibrillation in an electrophysiology study. Literature review revealed that those ECG changes may be observed in DM1, suggesting that DM1 and Brugada syndrome may share a common pathophysiologic pathway.

Mid-ventricular Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy with Apical Aneurysm Complicated with Syncope by Sustained Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia

Mid-ventricular hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy with secondary formation of apical aneurysm is a rare variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. They have a unique behavior because unlike other variants it causes sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, which makes it particularly severe.

P-wave dispersion: an update

P-wave dispersion (PWD, Pd or Pdis) is a noninvasive electrocardiographic (ECG) marker for atrial remodeling and predictor for atrial fibrillation (AF). PWD is defined as the difference between the widest and the narrowest P-wave duration recorded from the 12 ECG leads. Increased P-wave duration and PWD reflect prolongation of intraatrial and interatrial conduction time with lack of a well-coordinated conduction system within the atrial muscles, with inhomogeneous, asynchronic, pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effect mediated by interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with the CG + GG genotype IL-6 -634C/G polymorphism [1] and discontinuous propagation of sinus impulses mainly between the left and right atria, interstitial/extracellular fibroblast activation and collagen deposition with fibrosis (via TGF-β) in atrial tissue, insufficient blood supply, significant not isotropic myoelectric activity, and thin wall thickness and consequent expansion tendency all well-known electrophysiological characteristics in patients with atrial arrhythmias and especially paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) [2].

Massive J-waves in the context of intracranial hemorrhage

Transient ST-segment elevation may be caused by conditions other than myocardial ischemia, among them intracranial hemorrhage. Recognition of the underlying etiology of these ST-segment changes is key because of the vastly different therapies used to treat them. We describe the case of a patient with massive transient J-waves and ST-segment elevation in the context of an intracranial hemorrhage.

Progressive interatrial block associated with atrial fibrillation in a patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Progressive interatrial block is a clinically significant condition that has previously been reported in various patient populations. It is a manifestation of progressive fibrosis affecting the Bachmann region. This report presents a case of progressive interatrial block associated with atrial fibrillation in the context of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

R-Peak Time: An Electrocardiographic Parameter with Multiple Clinical Applications

In the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), the time from the onset of the QRS complex (Q or R wave) to the apex or peak of R or to R' (when present), using indirect or semidirect surface unipolar precordial leads, bipolar limb leads or unipolar limb leads, is called ventricular activation time (VAT), R wave peak time (RWPT), R-peak time or intrinsicoid deflection (ID). The R-peak time in a specific ECG lead is the interval from the earliest onset of the QRS complex, preferably determined from multiple simultaneously recorded leads, to the peak (maximum) of the R wave or R' if present. Irrespective of the relative height of the R and R' waves, the R-peak time is measured to the second peak. The parameter corresponds to the time of the electrical activation occurring from the endocardium to the epicardium as reflected by the recording electrode located at a variable distance on the body surface, depending on the lead type: a unipolar precordial lead, a bipolar or unipolar limb lead. In normal conditions, the R-peak time for the thinner-walled right ventricle is measured from lead V1 or V2 and its upper limit of normal is 35 ms. The R-peak time for the left ventricle (LV) is measured from leads V5 to V6 and 45 ms is considered the upper limit of normal. In this manuscript, we review the clinical applications of this parameter.

Value of electro-vectorcardiogram in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

The electrocardiogram is an important tool for the initial diagnostic suspicion of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in any of its forms, both in symptomatic and in asymptomatic patients because it is altered in more than 90 percent of the cases. Electrocardiographic anomalies are more common in patients carriers of manifest hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and the electrocardiogram alterations are earlier and more sensitive than the increase in left ventricular wall thickness detected by the echocardiogram. Nevertheless, despite being the leading cause of sudden death among young competitive athletes there is no consensus over the need to include the method in the pre-participation screening. In apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy the electrocardiographic hallmarks are the giant negative T waves in anterior precordial leads. In the vectorcardiogram, the QRS loop is located predominantly in the left anterior quadrant and T loop in the opposite right posterior quadrant, which justifies the deeply negative T waves recorded. The method allows estimating the left ventricular mass because it relates to the maximal spatial vector voltage of the left ventricle in the QRS loop. The recording on electrocardiogram or Holter monitoring of nonsustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in patients with syncope, recurrent syncope in young patient, hypotension induced by strain, bradyarrhythmia, or concealed conduction are markers of poor prognosis. The presence of rare sustained ventricular tachycardia is observed in mid-septal obstructive HCM with apical aneurysm. The presence of complete right bundle branch block pattern is frequent after the percutaneous treatment and complete left bundle branch block is the rule after myectomy.

The use of fontaine leads in the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia

We report a case of a 68-year-old man admitted to the emergency department with syncope preceded by rapid palpitations. His admission ECG demonstrated a sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) originating from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). This report highlights the importance of distinguishing ventricular tachycardia caused by arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) from the more benign idiopathic RVOT-VT. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of the Fontaine leads placement in increasing the sensitivity for uncovering epsilon waves, a highly specific electrocardiographic feature that increases diagnostic accuracy in patients with ARVD.