JACC
HOME SUBSCRIPTIONS CURRENT ISSUE PAST ISSUES CARDIOSOURCE SEARCH HELP FEEDBACK
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


J Am Coll Cardiol, 1992; 20:707-711
© 1992 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation
This Article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Powell, A.
Right arrow Articles by Ruskin, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Powell, A.
Right arrow Articles by Ruskin, J.

Low energy conversion of atrial fibrillation in the sheep

AC Powell, H Garan, BA McGovern, JT Fallon, SC Krishnan, and JN Ruskin

Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.

OBJECTIVES. In this study, the feasibility, efficacy and safety of low energy internal atrial cardioversion were investigated in a sheep model. The relation between the level of energy used for atrial defibrillation and the probability of successful cardioversion was examined. BACKGROUND. Atrial fibrillation is a common clinical arrhythmia that frequently recurs after termination with high energy external cardioversion. In some patients with drug-refractory and poorly tolerated atrial fibrillation, an automatic implantable cardioverter may prove useful by providing rapid restoration of sinus rhythm. METHODS. In 16 pentobarbital-anesthetized sheep, a right atrial spring electrode was implanted percutaneously and a left thoracic cutaneous patch electrode was placed on the thorax. Sustained atrial fibrillation was induced by rapid atrial pacing and terminated by biphasic cathodal shocks synchronized to the R wave of the surface electrocardiogram (ECG). RESULTS. During 768 defibrillation attempts in 16 sheep, the percent of successful cardioversion attempts increased in a dose-response manner, reaching a plateau at the average energy level of 5 J. With greater than or equal to 1.5 and greater than or equal to 2.5 J energy levels, cardioversion was achieved, respectively, in greater than 50% and greater than 80% of attempts. Ventricular fibrillation occurred in 18 (2.4%) of 768 cardioversion attempts; in all 18 cases, the shock was poorly synchronized with the ECG R wave. CONCLUSIONS. Low energy cardioversion of atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm is feasible with use of a right atrial spring/cutaneous patch electrode configuration. The percent of successful cardioversion attempts depends on the level of energy output, and there is a risk of ventricular fibrillation if cardioversion is poorly synchronized with ventricular depolarization.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
EuropaceHome page
M.C.E.F. Wijffels, C.C.M.M. Timmermans, R.J. van Suylen, and L.M. Rodriguez
Internal atrial shock delivery by standard diagnostic electrophysiology catheters in goats: effects on atrial electrogram amplitude and tissue architecture
Europace, April 1, 2007; 9(4): 203 - 207.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
J Am Coll CardiolHome page
M. Cooklin, M. R. Olsovsky, R. G. Brockman, S. R. Shorofsky, and M. R. Gold
Atrial defibrillation with a transvenous lead: A randomized comparison of active can shocking pathways
J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 1, 1999; 34(2): 358 - 362.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
H. J. J. Wellens, C.-P. Lau, B. Luderitz, M. Akhtar, A. L. Waldo, A. J. Camm, C. Timmermans, H.-F. Tse, W. Jung, L. Jordaens, et al.
Atrioverter: An Implantable Device for the Treatment of Atrial Fibrillation
Circulation, October 20, 1998; 98(16): 1651 - 1656.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CirculationHome page
A. C. Skanes, R. A. Gray, C. L. Zuur, and J. Jalife
Effects of Postshock Atrial Pacing on Atrial Defibrillation Outcome in the Isolated Sheep Heart
Circulation, July 7, 1998; 98(1): 64 - 72.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
HeartHome page
E Alt, R Ammer, G Lehmann, C Schmitt, J Pasquantonio, and A Schömig
Efficacy of a new balloon catheter for internal cardioversion of chronic atrial fibrillation without anaesthesia
Heart, February 1, 1998; 79(2): 128 - 132.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
CirculationHome page
E. T. Keelan, D. Krum, J. Hare, K. Mughal, H. Li, M. Akhtar, and M. R. Jazayeri
Safety of Atrial Defibrillation Shocks Synchronized to Narrow and Wide QRS Complexes During Atrial Pacing Protocols Simulating Atrial Fibrillation in Dogs
Circulation, September 16, 1997; 96(6): 2022 - 2030.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
CirculationHome page
M. C. Sokoloski, G. M. Ayers, K. Kumagai, C. M. Khrestian, S. Niwano, and A. L. Waldo
Safety of Transvenous Atrial Defibrillation : Studies in the Canine Sterile Pericarditis Model
Circulation, August 19, 1997; 96(4): 1343 - 1350.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.Home page
B. L. Cmolik, J. Ortiz, G. M. Ayers, J. H. Lee, A. S. Geha, and A. L. Waldo
SUCCESSFUL ATRIAL DEFIBRILLATION WITH VERY-LOW-ENERGY SHOCKS BY MEANS OF TEMPORARY EPICARDIAL WIRE ELECTRODES
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., February 1, 1996; 111(2): 392 - 398.
[Abstract] [Full Text]


Home page
CirculationHome page
C. A. Morillo, G. J. Klein, D. L. Jones, and C. M. Guiraudon
Chronic Rapid Atrial Pacing : Structural, Functional, and Electrophysiological Characteristics of a New Model of Sustained Atrial Fibrillation
Circulation, March 1, 1995; 91(5): 1588 - 1595.
[Abstract] [Full Text]




HOME SUBSCRIPTIONS CURRENT ISSUE PAST ISSUES CARDIOSOURCE SEARCH HELP FEEDBACK
Copyright © 1992 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.