Sudden Death in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Jun 19, 2008
Results Patients with severe abnormalities according to the entry ECG were older than patients without severe abnormalities, had more severe skeletal-muscle impairment, and were more likely to have heart failure, left ventricular systolic dysfunction, or atrial tachyarrhythmia ... Among the 17 patients who died suddenly in whom postcollapse rhythm was evaluated, a ventricular tachyarrhythmia was observed in 9 ... 78) and a clinical diagnosis of atrial tachyarrhythmia (relative risk, 5. (New England Journal of Medicine)
Heart Device Recipients Often Not Aware of Recalls May 17, 2008
The surveys are small, but they point to a lack of understanding among both doctors and patients about heart disease and the devices used to treat it, said Dr. Bruce Wilkoff, director of cardiac and tachyarrhythmia devices at Cleveland Clinic. "There are fundamental problems with even the physician's understanding of the situation and an appropriate focus on accurate information," said Wilkoff, who is familiar with the surveys. (MEDLINEplus)
Defibrillators Not Dangerous While Driving Nov 28, 2007
"This is very strong evidence that our worries were not based on fact but were theoretical," said Dr. Bruce Wilkoff, director of cardiac and tachyarrhythmia devices at the Cleveland Clinic. But common sense factors into the safety issue of ICDs and drivers, Wilkoff added. (MEDLINEplus)
Sorin Group Announces FDA Approval of World's Smallest Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator; OVATIO(TM) Offers Advanced Pacing and Defibrillation Technology to Patients at Risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest May 16, 2006
"OVATIO DR will set a high standard for ICD therapy and patient safety." With PARAD+, its enhanced and fast discrimination of ventricular tachyarrhythmia, the OVATIO family is also capable of detecting and treating the full spectrum of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, i.e., slow (100 beats per minute) and fast (up to 255 beats per minute), through painless anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP). ATP is delivered as first-line therapy, thus sparing the patients unnecessary defibrillation shocks that could... (Canada Newswire)
Pacemaker, Defibrillator Reliability Can Be Improved Apr 27, 2006
Dr. Bruce L. Wilkoff is director of cardiac and tachyarrhythmia devices at the Cleveland Clinic, and wrote an accompanying editorial in the journal. The studies "should enable clinicians and patients to make better informed decisions about these devices," he said. (MEDLINEplus)
