Raja J. Selvaraj

“Pseudo PJRT”—Fast‐Slow AV Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia Presenting with Tachycardia‐Induced Cardiomyopathy

A 52‐year‐old woman presented with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and incessant narrow complex tachycardia. Electrocardiogram and clinical picture were suggestive of a permanent form of junctional reciprocating tachycardia, but electrophysiology study showed the tachycardia to be a fast‐slow form of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Slow pathway ablation terminated the tachycardia and the LV dysfunction resolved completely at follow‐up. Fast‐slow AVNRT has not been reported to present in incessant form, and the mechanism in this patient was absent retrograde fast pathway conduction resulting in easy initiation and maintenance of tachycardia.

Reuse of pacemakers, defibrillators and cardiac resynchronisation devices

Objective Access to pacemakers remains poor among many patients in low/middle-income countries. Reuse of explanted pacemakers is a possible solution, but is still not widespread because of concerns regarding outcomes, especially infection. Our objective was to study early outcomes with implants using reused devices and compare them with those with implants using new devices. Methods We studied all patients who underwent implantation of a new or reused pacemaker, cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) device or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in the last 5 years at a single institution. We analysed outcomes related to infection, device malfunction and device-related death within 6 months after initial implantation. Results During the study period, 887 patients underwent device implant, including 127 CRT devices or ICDs. Of these, 260 devices (29.3%) were reused and the others were new. At 6 months, there were three device-related infections in implants using a new device. There were no infections among patients receiving a reused device. There were no device malfunctions or device-related deaths in either group. Conclusions We found no difference in rate of infection or device malfunction among patients getting a reused device as compared with those with a new device. This study reinforces the safety of reusing devices for implant including CRT and ICDs.

Utility of balloon assisted technique in trans catheter closure of very large (≥35 mm) atrial septal defects

BACKGROUND Very few published data is available on the outcomes of balloon assisted techniques (BATs) for trans catheter closure (TCC) of very large (Defined as ≥35 mm size) ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). OBJECTIVE To study the utility of BAT as against conventional techniques (CT) in TCC of very large ostium secundum ASD (≥35 mm) over the past 5-year period and to find out the association of different morphological features of the defects in relation to TCC outcomes. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS Descriptive single center retrospective study of patients with very large ostium secundum ASD (≥35 mm size) who were subjected to TCC. RESULTS Thirty-three out of 36 patients with ≥35 mm ASD and complex morphological features underwent successful TCC. The study patients had high prevalence of absent aortic and posterior rims with posterior mal-alignment of the septum. BAT was successful in 28/31 (90.3%) patients while CT had a success rate of 16%. The mean trans-esophageal echocardiography (TEE) ASD size with BAT success 37 (SD 1.3) mm and CT failure 36.2 (SD 1.1) mm was not different (P=0.06). On univariate analysis of different morphological features, posterior mal alignment of the septum was associated failure of CT (P=0.01). There was no urgent referral for surgery and patients did well on follow up. CONCLUSIONS Balloon assisted device closure of (≥35 mm) ASD had 90% success rate. BAT helps in controlled delivery and device alignment in very large ASD with posterior malalignment of the septum and is often helpful when CT fails.

Ventricular tachycardia in repaired double chambered right ventricle - identification of the substrate and successful ablation.

A 35 year old female presented with recurrent ventricular tachycardia 5 years after she had undergone surgical repair of double chambered right ventricle. Electroanatomical mapping showed a localised scar in the apex with double potentials and good pace map. Ablation here resulted in non-inducibility of ventricular tachycardia. We hypothesise that the scarring in the apex is the result of sustained pressure overload and becomes arrhythmogenic similar to the apical scar in patients with mid-ventricular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Clinical presentation, management, and outcomes in the Indian Heart Rhythm Society-Atrial Fibrillation (IHRS-AF) registry

Aim A national atrial fibrillation (AF) registry was conducted under the aegis of the Indian Heart Rhythm Society (IHRS), to capture epidemiological data-type of AF, clinical presentation and comorbidities, current treatment practices, and 1-year follow-up outcomes. Methods A total of 1537 patients were enrolled from 24 sites in India in the IHRS-AF registry from July 2011 to August 2012. Their baseline characteristics and follow-up data were recorded in case report forms and subsequently analyzed. Results The average age of Indian AF patients was 54.7 years. There was a marginal female preponderance – 51.5% females and 48.5% males. At baseline, 20.4% had paroxysmal AF; 33% had persistent AF; 35.1% had permanent AF and 11% had first AF episode. At one-year follow-up, 45.6% patients had permanent AF. Rheumatic valvular heart disease (RHD) was present in 47.6% of patients. Hypertension, heart failure, coronary artery disease, and diabetes were seen in 31.4%, 18.7%, 16.2%, and 16.1%, respectively. Rate control was the strategy used in 75.2% patients, digoxin and beta-blockers being the most frequently prescribed rate-control drugs. Oral anticoagulation (OAC) drugs were used in 70% of patients. The annual mortality was 6.5%, hospitalization 8%, and incidence of stroke 1%. Conclusions In India, AF patients are younger and RHD is still the most frequent etiology. Almost two-third of the patients have persistent/permanent AF. At one-year follow-up, there is a significant mortality and morbidity in AF patients in India.

Cardiac syndrome X: Clinical characteristics revisited

BACKGROUND Cardiac syndrome X includes a heterogenous group of patients with angina but normal epicardial coronaries in angiography. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to study the clinical characteristics of patients with cardiac syndrome X. METHODS Data of patients who underwent coronary angiography over a period of one year was retrospectively analyzed. Those with normal or non-obstructive coronaries in angiography with chest pain were included in this study. RESULTS 1203 patients underwent coronary angiography during the study period. 105 (8.7%) patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. There were 52 (49.5%) males and 53 (50.5%) females including 31 (29.5%) postmenopausal women. Many patients had atherosclerotic risk factors. Typical angina and atypical chest pain were reported by 63 (60%) and 42 (40%) patients, respectively. ECG was normal in 46 (43.8%) and abnormal in 59 (56.2%) patients. The most common abnormal finding in ECG was ST-T changes seen in 49 (46.7%) patients. Regional wall motion abnormality with mild left ventricular systolic dysfunction was seen in 4 (3.8%) patients while 101 (96.2%) patients had normal ventricular function in echocardiography. TMT was positive for inducible ischemia in 35 (33.3%) patients and inconclusive in 10 (9.5%) patients. Angiography showed normal epicardial coronaries in 85 (80.9%) patients. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac syndrome X constitutes a significant subset of patients undergoing coronary angiography. It is essential to identify and treat them specifically for microvascular angina. Many of them have atherosclerotic risk factors but their presentation is different from those with obstructive coronaries.

Techniques and outcomes of transcatheter closure of complex atrial septal defects - single center experience.

Objective To prospectively study the techniques and outcomes of transcatheter closure of complex Atrial septal defects (ASD). Study design and settings Prospective single center study with experience in catheter closure of ASD. All patients with complex ASD suitable for device closure. Objective Analysis of outcomes of transcatheter closure of complex ASD in JIPMER Hospital over the past 5-year period. Methods Complex ASD was predefined and patients satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria are included. All the patients had meticulous Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) imaging beforehand. Modifications of the conventional techniques were allowed on a case per case basis according to operator preference. Successfully intervened patients were followed up clinically. Results Out of the 75 patients enrolled, 69 patients had successful device closure (success rate 92%) despite challenging anatomy. Fifty-six (74%) patients had ASD ≥25 mm. Fifteen patients (20%) had defect size ≥35 mm and 20 patients (26.6%) had devices implanted with ≥35 mm waist size. Fifty percent of patients had complete absence of aortic rim and 25% had deficient posterior rim. Twenty percent of patients had malaligned septum. Mean follow up period was 3.2 years. Conclusions Trans catheter closure is feasible in anatomically complex substrates of Secundum ASD. Careful case selection, scrupulous imaging protocol, and expertise in modified techniques are mandatory for successful outcomes.

Pace mapping in the atrium using bipolar electrograms from widely spaced electrodes

Pace mapping is a useful tool but is of limited utility for the atrium because of poor spatial resolution. We investigated the use of bipolar electrograms recorded from widely spaced electrodes in order to improve the resolution of pace mapping.

Jumping across the gap - a series of atrial extrastimuli.

The “gap phenomenon” is an interesting phenomenon in electrophysiology arising from the differences in refractory periods at two or more levels of the atrioventricular (AV) conduction system. We present a patient with dual AV nodal physiology in whom the AH jump mediates the gap phenomenon. We also briefly discuss the other mechanisms of gap phenomenon that have been described in this setting.

Peritricuspid reentrant ventricular tachycardia in Ebstein's anomaly

A 40-year-old woman with Ebsteins anomaly of the tricuspid valve presented with recurrent palpitations. Electrocardiogram during the episode showed a regular broad complex tachycardia at 150 beats per minute with left bundle branch abnormality morphology, left axis deviation …