Tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (so-called “sick sinus syndrome”)

Pulmonary Vein Isolation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation and Prolonged Sinus Pause

“…An association between sinus node dysfunction and atrial tachyarrhythmia has long been recognized. [1][2][3] Elvan, et al in a canine model of pacing-induced chronic AF recognized sinus node remodeling resulting from AF. 7) In this model, the corrected sinus node recovery time and Figure 2.…”

“…Paroxysmal AF had been present for 67 ± 33 months, with documented prolonged sinus pauses (ranging from 2.1 to 7.2 seconds (4.5 ± 1.7 seconds)) upon termination of AF. Sinus pauses were associated with dizziness (n = 1) Vol 48 No 2 or presyncope (n = 3). Antiarrhythmic drug (3.3 ± 1.0) and/or rate-controlling drug administration failed in all 4 patients.…”

Right Ventricular Endomyocardial Biopsy Findings in 25 Patients With Sick Sinus Syndrome

“…In 1968, Ferrer 9) named the syndrome characterized by sinus node dysfunction and sinoatrial block as the "sick sinus syndrome". Subsequently, various electrophysiologic and other studies [10][11][12] have been conducted on SSS, and numerous histopathologic studies 1,[13][14][15] have focused on the sinus node and abnormalities of the atrial myocardium. Thery, et al 13) studied the histology of the sinus node in 111 autopsies, including 12 with acute or chronic sinoatrial block and demonstrated that the number of sinus nodal cells was ≤ 5% in 8 patients with chronic sinoatrial block.…”

Atrial bigeminy with block associated with bradycardia and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation — An important variant of the tachycardia‐bradycardia syndrome

“…Ventricular tachyarrhythmias are uncommon (27). These electrocardiographic abnormalities have been correlated with pathological changes in the appropriate parts of the conduction system (15). Symptoms related to both bradycardia and tachycardia, consist of light-headedness, syncope or near syncope, fatigue, palpitations and in some patients aggravation of angina.…”

“…In reviews of the tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome (15,16,27) emphasis has been placed on dysfunction of the sinus node in association with paroxysms of atrial fibrillation, atrial tachycardia or atrial flutter. Sinus node dysfunction may be manifest as profound sinus bradycardia, sinoatrial block and sinus node arrest.…”