Wide QRS complex tachycardia in patient with Chagas disease: Sustained ventricular tachycardia until proven otherwise
We describe a case of a patient with positive serology for Chagas disease and normal echocardiogram who presented an episode of wide QRS complex tachycardia. It was initially diagnosed as sustained ventricular tachycardia using the Brugada and Vereckei algorithms and it was sent to the reference service for the implant of a cardioverter defibrillator. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - June 4, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Thiago B. Cury Megid, Eduardo Palmegiani, Adalberto M. Lorga-Filho Source Type: research

Pitfalls in programming: The HV and VH intervals in his bundle pacing
His bundle pacing provides physiologic ventricular activation in patients with high-grade atrio-ventricular (AV) nodal or intra-Hisian block without the deleterious ventricular dyssynchrony that accompanies right ventricular (RV) apical pacing [1, 2]. Because His bundle lead placement may be accompanied by higher rates of acute lead dislodgement and greater long-term variability in capture threshold compared to RV apical lead placement, backup RV apical pacing may be desirable in cases of high-grade AV block without an adequate ventricular escape rhythm [3]. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - June 4, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Zak Loring, Daniel J. Friedman, Albert Y. Sun, Brett D. Atwater Source Type: research

Initial validation of a novel ECGI system for localization of premature ventricular contractions and ventricular tachycardia in structurally normal and abnormal hearts
View into Ventricular Onset (VIVO) is a novel ECGI system that uses 3D body surface imaging, myocardial CT/MRI, and 12 ‑lead ECG to localize earliest ventricular activation through analysis of simulated and clinical vector cardiograms. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 29, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Satish Misra, Peter van Dam, Jonathan Chrispin, Fabrizio Assis, Ali Keramati, Aravindan Koladaivelu, Ronald Berger, Harikrishna Tandri Source Type: research

Body mass index is a predictor of presence of fragmented QRS complexes on electrocardiography independent of underlying cardiovascular status
Fragmented QRS (fQRS) as a sign of myocardial fibrosis indicates adverse outcomes in various cardiovascular diseases. However, there are no clear data regarding relationship between obesity and fQRS. We aimed to investigate whether high body mass index (BMI) predicts fQRS on electrocardiography (ECG) independent of underlying cardiovascular status. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 29, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Mehmet Eyuboglu, Akar Yilmaz, Onur Dalgic, Caner Topaloglu, Yavuz Karabag, Bahri Akdeniz Source Type: research

The ability of the electrocardiogram in left bundle branch block to detect myocardial scar determined by cardiovascular magnetic resonance
We aimed to improve the electrocardiographic 2009 left bundle branch block (LBBB) Selvester QRS score (2009 LBSS) for scar assessment. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 29, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Bj örn Wieslander, Xiaojuan Xia, Robert Jablonowski, Jimmy Axelsson, Igor Klem, Robin Nijveldt, Charles Maynard, Erik B. Schelbert, Peder Sörensson, Andreas Sigfridsson, Uzma Chaudhry, Pyotr G. Platonov, Rasmus Borgquist, Henrik Engblom, Jean-Philippe C Source Type: research

The BioMonitor 2 insertable cardiac monitor: Clinical experience with a novel implantable cardiac monitor
Implantable loop recorders (ILR) are leadless subcutaneous devices that allow cardiac monitoring for up to 3  years and are a valuable tool in the diagnosis of arrhythmias, cryptogenic stroke and unexplained syncope. The Biotronik BioMonitor 2 is a novel, insertable ILR allowing long-term continuous monitoring with wireless telemetry options. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 29, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Nico Reinsch, Ute Ruprecht, Jochen Buchholz, Rolf R. Diehl, Hagen K älsch, Kars Neven Source Type: research

Sgarbossa criteria used to identify cardiac ischemia in patient with ventricular paced rhythm
We present the case of a 73-year-old man who presented to the ED with acute chest pain. His previous medical history was significant for hypertension and a pacemaker due to type 2  s-degree AV block. His initial ECG fulfilled all three Sgarbossa criteria and subsequent coronary angiography identified a culprit lesion in the posterior descending artery. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 26, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Jonathan Ilicki, Samuel Bruchfeld, Bj örn Kolsrud, Felix Böhm, Therese Djärv Source Type: research

Type 1 diabetes is associated with T-wave morphology changes. The Thousand & 1 Study
Repolarization is impaired in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), and repolarization disturbances are associated with an increased mortality. To study cardiac repolarization, we assessed T-wave morphology in patients with T1DM without known heart disease. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 24, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Jonas L. Isaksen, Claus Graff, Christina Ellervik, Jan Skov Jensen, Henrik Ullits Andersen, Peter Rossing, Jorgen K. Kanters, Magnus T. Jensen Source Type: research

Frequent premature atrial complexes as a predictor of atrial fibrillation: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Frequent premature atrial complexes (PACs) are associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Recent studies suggest that frequent PACs are associated with new onset atrial fibrillation (AF). However, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature has not been done. We assessed the association between frequent PACs and new onset AF by a systematic review and a meta-analysis. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 22, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Narut Prasitlumkum, Pattara Rattanawong, Nath Limpruttidham, Chanavuth Kanitsoraphan, Natee Sirinvaravong, Pichatorn Suppakitjanusant, Pakawat Chongsathidkiet, Eugene H. Chung Source Type: research

What is the cause of syncope?
A 64-year-old man with severe ischemic cardiomyopathy, who also had permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) for over a year, presented with sudden loss of consciousness. The patient had no prior episode of syncope. He denied prodromal symptoms. The patient did not remember how long he was unconscious. He suffered facial and spinal cord contusions but no fractures. The patient had a prophylactic biventricular pacemaker and cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implanted 2  years before but after spontaneous recovery from the episode of syncope, he did not report experiencing an ICD shock. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 22, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: William R. Shimberg, Anthony T. Dang, Laszlo Littmann Source Type: research

Spatial QRS-T angle variants for prediction of all-cause mortality
Many variants of the spatial QRS-T angle (QRS-Ta) are in use. We aimed to identify the best QRS-Ta for all-cause mortality prediction among different variants. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 21, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Karina K ück, Jonas L. Isaksen, Claus Graff, Tea Skaaby, Allan Linneberg, Torben Hansen, Jørgen K. Kanters Source Type: research

Deciphering wide QRS complex: The quest continues
Wide QRS complex (WCT) tachycardias pose a diagnostic dilemma: should we diagnose a ventricular tachycardia (VT) or is this some form of tachycardia that requires structures above the bundle of His, i.e. a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)? All ECG-based approaches to a WCT diagnosis can be grouped into three categories 1.) a “yes” or “no” method based on a single criterion/composite criterion (all “algorithms” are a composite criterion in their essence), 2.) the Bayesian method based on multiple criteria and the likelihood ratio for a VT diagnosis, and 3.) / VT score method, which is methodologically somewhe ...
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 21, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Marek Jastrz ębski Source Type: research

More than meets the eye: False code STEMI
In patients with suspected ST elevation myocardial infarction, it is of paramount importance to identify artifacts on the resting electrocardiogram that may be erroneously interpreted as ST segment deviations in order to prevent administration of potentially harmful pharmacotherapy and invasive coronary angiography. In this case report, we describe a pervasive square wave artifact, not previously reported, that was misdiagnosed as ST segment elevation by computer software and initial physician interpretation. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 19, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Maneesh Sud, Vijay S. Chauhan, Mina Madan Source Type: research

Image-Based Modeling of Acute Myocardial Ischemia Using Experimentally Derived Ischemic Zone Source Representations
Computational models of myocardial ischemia often use oversimplified ischemic source representations to simulate epicardial potentials. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of biophysically justified, subject-specific ischemic zone representations on epicardial potentials. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 18, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: BM Burton, KK Aras, WW Good, JD Tate, B Zenger, RS MacLeod Source Type: research

T-wave oversensing is more dependent on ICD sensitivity algorithm than lead sensing configuration
We present a patient with a Medtronic ICD who had inhibition of pacing and not inappropriate shocks due to T wave oversensing (TWOS) in both true bipolar (TB) and integrated bipolar (IB) sensing configurations. Rather than alternatives such as lead revision or programming to an unacceptably insensitive value, this was solved by exchanging for a Boston Scientific ICD. (Source: Journal of Electrocardiology)
Source: Journal of Electrocardiology - May 18, 2018 Category: Cardiology Authors: Anil H. Punjabi, Arlene Dermovsesian, Ankur A. Karnik Source Type: research