Prevention of recurrent life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias by temporary cardiac pacing

Not just any ICD device in patients with long-QT syndrome

Patients with LQT syndrome are prone to lifethreatening arrhythmias. After surviving such an event, implantation of an ICD is indicated. There are, however, special subtle demands in the treatment of these patients. In this case report we describe our findings in a patient with LQT1 syndrome, and the pitfalls that can and must be avoided. (Neth Heart J 2007;15:418-21.).

Use of electrical pacing and automatic cardioversion defibrillation for normal cardiac function recovery

Antitachycardia pacing and low energy cardioversion terminated episodes of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation and prevented extrasystoles in patients with acute myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and long QT syndrome. Low energy automatic defibrillation was used in 25 patients intraoperatively and during the early postoperative period. The Soviet prototype of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICAR-D) detects the arrhythmia automatically and delivers selectively an electrical impulse to the heart: 2.5-4 J for VT and 15-20 J for VF. In addition, the effectiveness of ICAR-D was studied in chronicle experiments in 10 dogs with follow-up of 4-6 months.