Table Of ContentProfessor Hein .J.J :snelleW 33 sraeY of Cardiology and Arrhythmology
Professor Hein J.J. Wellens:
33 Years of Cardiology and
Arrhythmology
Edited hy
J.L.R.M. Smeets, P.A. Doevendans, M.E. Josephson, Ch. Kirchhof and M.A. Vos
SPRINGER-SCIENCE+BUSINESS MEDIA, B.Y.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
ISBN 978-94-010-5799-8 ISBN 978-94-011-4110-9 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-94-011-4110-9
Printed an acid-free paper
All Rights Reserved
© 2000 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
Originally published by Kl uwer Academic Publishers in 2000
Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover Ist edition 2000
No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without
written permis sion from the copyright owner.
v
Contents
Introduction XI
Durrer D., Schoo ,.L Schuilenburg R.M., snelleW :.J.J.H The role of premature beats ni eht initiation
and eht termination of supraventricular tachycardia ni eht Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
Comment by Prof .P .lemuoC .DM Circulation ;7691 :63 644-662
snelleW H.J.J., Durrer :.D Supraventricular tachycardia htiw tfel aberrant conduction due ot retro
grade invasion into eht left bundle branch. Comment by Prof .R .amalS .DM Circulation ;8691
:83 474-479 12
snelleW ,.J.J.H Reinier ,.M Schuilenburg R.M., Durrer :.D Electrical stimulation of eht heart ni
patients htiw Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome; epyT .A Comment by Prof .A Castellanos, .DM
Circulation ;1791 :34 99-114 72
snelleW H.J.J., Reinier ,.M Schuilenburg ,.M.R Durrer :.D Electrical stimulation of eht heart ni
patients with ventricular tachycardia. Comment by Prof .E.M Josephson. .DM Circulation ;2791
:64 216-226 34
snelleW ,.J.J.H neluemreV ,.A Durrer :.D Ventricular noitallirbif occurring no arousal morf sleep by
auditory stimuli. Comment yb Prof .rD A.A.M. .edliW Circulation ;2791 :64 661-665 55
snelleW H.J.J., Durrer :.D Effect of digitalis no atrioventricular conduction and circusmovement at
chycardias ni patients with eht Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Comment by Prof .D.E Robles
ed ,anideM .DM Circulation ;3791 :74 1229-1233 36
snelleW H.J.J., Lie ,.I.K Durrer :.D Further observations no ventricular tachycardia sa studied yb
electrical stimulation of eht .traeh Chronic recurrent ventricular tachycardia dna ventricular tachy
cardia during acute myocardial infarction. Comment yb Prof .L.A ,tiW .DhP Circulation ;4791 :94
647-653 96
eiL ,.I.K snelleW H.J.J., Schuilenburg R.M., Becker A.E., Durrer :.D Factors influencing prognosis
of bundle branch block complicating acute anteroseptal infarction. The value of siH bundle -er
cordings. Circulation ;4791 :05 935-941 97
snelleW H.J.J., Janse M.J., naV Dam R.Th., naV Capelle F.lL., Meijne ,.G.N Mellink ,.M.H Durrer
:.D Epicardial mapping and surgical treatment ni Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome; epyT .A
Comment by Prof .J.M .esnaJ .DhP mA Heart J ;4791 :88 69-78 78
Lie ,.I.K snelleW H.J.J., naV Capelle F.lL., Durrer :.D Lidocaine ni eht prevention of primary ven-
tricular .noitallirbif Comment by Prof .I.K .eiL .DM weN Eng J deM ;4791 :192 1324-1326 99
IV
snelleW ,.1.1.H Durrer :.D WPW syndrome dna lairta .noitallirbif Relation between refractory period
of accessory pathway dna ventricular etar during atrial .noitallirbif Comment by Prof .J Gallagher,
.DM mA J Cardiol ;4791 :43 777-782 501
snelleW ,.J.J.H Durrer :.D The elor of accessory atrioventricular pathway ni reciprocal tachycardia.
Comment by Prof .R Lazzara, .DM Circulation ;5791 :25 58-72 311
snelleW ,.J.J.H Lie ,.I.K Bar FW, Wesdorp lC., Dohmen ,.1.H Duren ,.R.D Durrer :.D Effect of
amiodarone ni eht Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Comment by Prof .G Fontaine, .DM mA J
Cardiol ;6791 :83 189-194 331
snelleW ,.1.1.H Duren D.R., Lie KI.: Observations no mechanisms of ventricular tachycardia ni .nam
Comment by Prof WG. Stevenson, .DM Circulation ;6791 :45 237-244 341
srekcaW ,.hT.1.F Busemann Sokole ,.E Samson ,.G naV der Schoot lB., Lie KI., Liem KL., snelleW
:.1.1.H eulaV dna limitations of Thallium-201-scintigraphy ni eht acute phase of myocardial -ni
.noitcraf Comment by Prof .hT.J.F ,srekcaW ,DM .DhP New lgnE J deM ;6791 :592 1-5 551
snelleW H.J.J., Bar FWH.M., eiL ,.I.K Duren D.R., Dohmen :.1.H Effect of Procainamide, Propra
lolon dna limapareV no mechanism of recurrent ventricular tachycardia. Comment by Prof D.?
Zipes, .DM mA J Cardiol ;7791 :04 579-585 361
snelleW H.J.J., Bar FWH.M., Lie KI.: The value of eht electrocardiogram ni eht differential diag
sison of a tachycardia htiw a widened QRS-complex. Comment by Prof .J.A Camm, .DM mA J
Med ;8791 :46 27-33 371
Becker A.E., Anderson ,.H.R Path M.R.C., Durrer ,.D snelleW :.1.1.H The anatomical substrates of
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. A clinicopathologic correlation ni seven patients. Comment by
Prof A.E. ,rekceB .DM Circulation ;8791 :75 870-879 381
Farre ,.J ssoR ,.D Wiener I., Bar FW, tganaV ,.1.E snelleW :.1.1.H Reciprocal tachycardias gnisu
accessory pathways htiw gnol conduction .semit Comment by .rD .J Fami. mA J Cardiol ;9791
:44 9011-9901 791
snelleW ,.1.1.H Bar FW, Gorgels ,.P.A tganaV :.1.E esU of Ajmaline ni identifying patients with eht
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome dna a short refractory period of their accessory .yawhtap mA J
Cardiol ;0891 :54 130-133 512
snelleW ,.1.1.H Bar FW, Farre ,.J Ross D.L., Wiener ,.I tganaV :.1.E Initiation dna termination of
ventricular tachycardia yb supraventricular stimuli. Comment by Prof .I ,reneiW .DM mA J -raC
loid ;0891 :64 576-582 122
ssoR ,.L.D Farre l, Bar FWH.M., tganaV ,.1.E Brugada ,.P Wiener ,.1 snelleW :.J.J.H Spontaneous
termination of circus movement tachycardia utilizing na atrioventricular accessory :yawhtap inci
dence, etis of block dna mechanisms. Comment by Prof DL ,ssoR .DM Circulation ;1891 :36
1129-1139 132
IIV
De Zwaan ,.c Bar EWH.M., Wellens H.J.J.: Characteristic electrocardiographic pattern indicating a
critical stenosis high in left anterior descending coronary artery in patients admitted because of
impending myocardial infarction. Comment by :ID .C de Zwaan, ,DM .DhP Am Heart J ;2891
:301 730-736 542
Den Dulk ,.K Lindemans EW., Bar FW., Wellens H.J.J.: Pacemaker related tachycardia. Comment
by .rD .K den ,ktuD ,DM .DhP PACE ;2891 :5 476-485 352
Friedman P.L., Brugada ,.P Kuck K.-H., Roy D., Farre J., Bar FWH.M., Wellens :.J.J.H Inter- and
intra-atrial dissociation during spontaneous atrial flutter: Evidence for a focal origin of the arrhyth-
mia. Comment by .L.P Friedman, ,DM .DhP Am J Cardiol ;2891 :05 756-761 562
Oorgels A.P.M., Beekman H.D.M., Brugada ,.P Dassen WR.M., Richards D.A.B., Wellens H.J.J.:
Extrastimulus related shortening of the first postpacing interval in digitalis induced ventricular
tachycardia. Observations during programmed electrical stimulation in the conscious dog. Com-
ment by Prof MR. ,nesoR .DM J Am Coil of Cardiol ;3891 :I 840-857 572
Roy D., Brugada ,.P Wellens H.J.J.: Atrial tachycardia facilitating initiation of ventricular tachycardia.
Comment by Prof .D ,yoR .DM PACE ;3891 :6 47-52 792
Weiss J., Brugada ,.P Roy D., Bar EWH.M., Wellens H.J.J.: Localization of the accessory pathway
in the WPW syndrome from the ventriculo-atrial conduction time of right ventricular apical
extrasystoles. Comment by Prof .1 ,ssieW .DM PACE ;3891 :6 260-267 503
Oreen M., Heddle B., Dassen W, Wehr M., Abdollah H., Brugada ,.P Wellens H.J.J.: The value of
QRS alternation in diagnosing the site of origin of narrow QRS supraventricular tachycardia.
Comment by MS. ,neerG .DM Circulation ;3891 :86 368-373 313
Kuck K.-H., Brugada ,.P Wellens H.J.J.: Observations on the antidromic type of circus movement
tachycardia in the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. J Am Coil of Cardiol ;3891 :5 0101-3001 123
Heddle WE, Brugada ,.P Wellens H.J.J.: Multiple circus movement tachycardias with multiple ac-
cesory pathways. J Am Coil Cardiol ;4891 :4 168-175 133
Braat S.H., Brugada ,.P Den Dulk ,.K naV Ommen ,.v Wellens H.J.J.: Value of lead V R4 for recog
nition of the infarct coronary artery in acute inferior wall myocardial infarction. Comment by
s.H.J.G. Braat, .DM Am J Cardiol ;4891 :35 1451-8351 143
Waldecker B., Brugada ,.P Zehender M., Stevenson WO., Den Dulk K., Wellens H.J.J.: Importance
of modes of electrical termination of ventricular tachycardia for the selection of implantable an-
titachycardia devices. Comment by Prof .B ;lekcedtaW .DM Am J Cardiol ;6891 :75 150-155 743
Stevenson WO., Brugada ,.P Waldecker B., Zehender M., Wellens H.J.J.: Clinical, angiographic and
electrophysiologic findings in patients with aborted sudden death as compared to patients with
sustained ventricular tachycardia after myocardial infarction. Comment by Prof M Zehendel: .DM
Circulation ;5891 :6 1146-1152 553
VIII
Kersschot I.E., Brugada ,.P Ramentol ,.M Zehender ,.M Waldecker ,.B Stevenson WG., Geibel ,.A
De Zwaan ,.c Wellens H.J.J. and The Interuniversity Cardiology Institute, The Netherlands: fE
fects of early reperfusion ni acute myocardial infarction on arrhythmias induced yb programmed
stimulation. A prospective, randomized .yduts Comment by .I Kersschot, .DM J Am Coli Cardiol
1986; :7 1234-1242 365
Lemery ,.R Brugada ,.P Cheriex ,.E Wellens :.J.J.H Reversibility of tachycardia-induced left ven
tricular dysfunction after closed-chest catheter ablation of the atrioventricular junction for intrac-
table atrial fibrillation. Comment by .C.E Cheriex, .DM Am J Cardiol ;7891 :06 1406-1408 377
Bar EW., Vermeer E, eD Zwaan ,.c Ramentol M., Braat ,.S Simoons M.L., Hermens ,.T.W naV der
Laarse ,.A Verheugt EWA., Krauss X.H., Wellens :.J.J.H eulaV of admision electrocardiogram ni
predicting outcome of thrombolytic therapy ni acute myocardial infarction. Comment by Prof .L.M
Simoons, .DM Am J Cardiol 1987; :95 6-13 183
Wellens H.J.J., Brugada ,.P Bar EW: Indications rof use of intracardiac electrophysiological studies
rof diagnosis of site or origin and mechanism of tachycardias. Comment by Prof .S Saksena, .DM
Circulation 1987; 75: III no-U8 393
Gorgels ,.M.P.A soV M.A., Letsch I.S., Verschuuren E.A., Bar EWH.M., Janssen J.H.A., Wellens
H.J.J.: Usefulness of the accelerated idioventricular rhythm sa a marker rof myocardial necrosis
and reperfusion during thrombolytic therapy ni acute myocardial infarction. Comment by A.P.M.
,s/egroG .DM Am J Cardiol ;8891 :16 231-235 104
Trappe H.-J., Brugada ,.P Talajic M., Della Bella ,.P Lezaun ,.R Mulleneers ,.R Wellens :.J.J.H Prog
nosis of patients with ventricular tachycardias and ventricular fibrillation. Role of the underlying
etiology. Comment by Prof .I.H ,epparT .DM J mA Coli Cardiol ;8891 :21 166-174 114
Lemery R., Brugada ,.P Della Bella ,.P Dugemier ,.T Wellens :.J.J.H Ventricular fibrillation ni xis
adults without overt heart disease. Comment by .M ,cijalaT .DM J Am Coli Cardiol 1989; :31
911-916 423
Lemery ,.R Brugada ,.P Della Bella ,.P Dugernier ,.T naV den Dool ,.A Wellens H.J.J.: Non-ischemic
ventricular tachycardia: clinical course and long-term follow-up ni patients without clinicallyovert
heart disease. Comment by .R ,yremeL .DM Circulation ;9891 :97 990-999 134
Cruz EE.S. Cheriex E.C., Smeets J.L.R.M., Atie ,.J Peres ,.K.A Penn O.C.K.M., Brugada ,.P Wellens
H.J.J.: Reversibility of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy after cure of incessant supraventricu-
lar tachycardia. Comment by .S.E.F Cruz ,ohliF .DM J mA Coli Cardiol ;0991 :61 739-744 443
Atie ,.J Brugada ,.P Brugada ,.J Smeets J.L.R.M., Cruz EE.S., Peres ,.A Roukens ,.P.M Wellens :.J.J.H
Clinical and electrophysiologic characteristics of patients with antidromic circus movement tachy
cardia ni the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Comment by .I Atie, .DM Am J Cardiol1990; :66
1082-1091 453
Wellens H.J.J., Atie, ,.J Smeets J.L.R.M., Cruz ,.S.E.F Gorgels ,.P.A Brugada :.P The electrocardio-
gram ni patients with multiple accessory pathways. J Am Coli Cardiol ;0991 :61 157-547 469
XI
Della Bella ,.P Brugada P, Talajic ,.M Lemery ,.R Tomer ,.P Lezaun ,.R Dugemier ,.T Wellens RJ.J.:
Atrial fibrillation ni patients with na accessory pathway: Importance of the conduction properties
of the accessory pathway. Comment by P Della ,alleB .DM J Am Coli Cardiol 1991; :71
1352-1356 774
Atie ,.J Brugada P, Brugada ,.J Smeets J.L.R.M., Cruz EE., Roukens ,.P.M Gorgels A., Bar EW.RM.,
Wellens H.J.J.: Clinical presentation and prognosis of left main coronary disease ni the .s0891
Comment by Prof .rD F.WH.M. .raB .ruE Heart J ;1991 :21 495-502 584
Rodriguez L.M., Smeets ,.J O'Hara G.E., Geelen P, Brugada ,.P Wellens H.J.J.: Incidence and timing
of recurrences of sudden death and ventricular tachycardia during antiarrhythmic drug treatment
after myocardial infarction. mA J Cardiol ;2991 :96 1403-1406 497
Mont ,.L Seixas ,.T Brugada ,.p Brugada ,.J Simonis E, keirK ,.E Smeets J.L.R.M., Wellens :.J.J.H
The electrocardiographic, clinical, and electro physiologic spectrum of idiopathic monomorphic
ventricular tachycardia. Comment by .L ,tnoM .DM mA Heart J ;2991 :421 746-753 305
Lucas C.M.RB., naV der neeV EH., Cherieux E.C., Lorusso ,.R Havenith ,.M Penn O.C.K.M.,
Wellens :.J.J.H Long-term follow-up 21( ot 53 weeks) after dynamic cardiomyoplasty. Comment
by .C Lucas, .DM J mA Coil Cardiol ;3991 :22 758-767 315
eD Chillou c., Rodriguez L.-M., Doevendans ,.P Loutsidis ,.K naV den Dool ,.A Metzger ,.J Bar
EW.RM., Smeets J.L.R.M., Wellens RJ.J.: Effects on the signal-averaged electrocardiogram of
opening the coronary artery yb thrombolytic therapy or percutaneous transluminal coronary na
gioplasty during acute myocardial infarction. Comment by .HC ed Chillou, .DM Am J Cardiol
;3991 :17 805-809 725
Metzger ,.T.J eD Chillou C., Cheriex ,.E Rodriguez L.M., Smeets J.L.R.M., Wellens :.J.J.H eulaV of
the 12-lead electrocardiogram ni arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and absence of cor
relation with echocardiographic .gnidnif Comment by .J ,regzteM .DM Am J Cardiol ;3991 :27
964-967 535
Rodriguez ,.M.L Smeets J.L., Baiyan Xie, De Chillou C., Cheriex E.C., Pieters E, Metzger ,.J Den
Dulk ,.K Wellens :.J.J.H Improvement ni left heart function yb ablation of VA nodal conduction ni
selected patients with lone atrial fibrillation. Am J Cardiol ;3991 :27 1137-1141 345
Konings ,.S.T.K Kirchhof C.J.H.J., Smeets J.R.L.M., Wellens H.J.J., Penn O.c., Allessie :.A.M High
density mapping of electrically induced atrial fibrillation ni humans. Circulation ;4991 :98
1665-1680 549
soV M.A., Verduyn S.C., Gorgels ,.M.P.A Lipcsei G.C., Wellens H.J.J.: Reproducible induction of
early afterdepolarizations and torsade ed pointes arrhythmias yb d-sotalol and pacing ni dogs with
chronic atrioventricular block. Comment by .A.M ,soV .DhP Circulation ;5991 :19 864-872 569
Crijns H.J.G.M., Smeets J.L.R.M., Rodriguez ,.M.L Meijer ,.A Wellens :.J.J.H Cure of interfascicular
reentrant ventricular tachycardia yb ablation of the anterior fascicle of the left bundle branch.
Comment by Prof H.J.G.M. ,snjirC .DM J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol ;5991 :6 486-492 583
x
eD Vreede-Swagemakers ,.M.J.J slegroG A.PM., Dubois-Arbouw WI., naV eeR J.W, nemeaD
MJ.A.P, Houben L.G.E., snelleW HJJ.: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest ni eht :s0991 A population
based yduts ni eht Maastricht aera no incidence, characteristics dna .lavivrus Comment by Prof .G
Breithardt, MD and Prof .M Borggrefe, .DM J Am iloC Cardiol ;7991 :03 1500-1505 195
Smeets J.L.R.M., Ben-Haim ,.A.S Rodriguez ,.M-.L Timmermans c., snelleW HJJ.: weN dohtem
rof cipocsoroulfnon endocardial mapping ni .snamuh Accuracy assessment dna tsrif clinical -er
.stlus Comment by J.L.R.M. Smeets, ,DM PhD. Circulation ;8991 :79 :42 2426-2432 106
snelleW HJJ., uaL c.-P, ztiredi.iL ,.B Akhtar ,.M odlaW ,.L.A Camm AJ., Timmermans ,.C esT
,.F-.H gnuJ W, Jordaens ,.L sreyA ,.G rof eht METRlX investigators. :retrevoirtA na implantable
ecived rof eht treatment of lairta .noitallirbif Comment by Prof .B Liideritz, .DM Circulation ;8991
:89 1651-1656 116
Zipes ,.P.D snelleW HJJ.: Sudden cardiac .htaed Comment by Prof .E.H Kulbertus, .DM Circulation
;8991 :89 2334-2351 126
Geelen J.L.M.C., Doevendans PA., Jongbloed RJ.E., snelleW H.JJ., Geraedts :.M.P.J Molecular eg
sciten of inherited gnol TQ syndromes. Comment by .M.F.A.P Doevendans, ,DM PhD. Eur Heart
J ;8991 :91 1427-1433 746
Nabar ,.A Rodriquez L.-M., Timmermans ,.c naV ned looD ,.A Smeets J.L.R.M., snelleW HJJ.: fE
tcef of right lairta isthmus ablation on eht occurrence of lairta .noitallirbif Observations ni ruof
patient groups having epyt I lairta rettulf htiw or without associated lairta .noitallirbif Comment by
.rD .Y Lokhandwala. Circulation ;9991 :99 1441-1445 756
Timmermans ,.C Rodriguez ,.M-.L sreyA G.M., Lambert ,.H Smeets J.L.R.M., neyealV J.WS., lA
bert ,.A snelleW HJJ.: tceffE of butorphanol tartrate no shock-related discomfort during internal
atrial defibrillation. Circulation ;9991 :99 :41 1837-1842. 766
J.L.R.M. Smeets, ,.DM ,.DhP Associate Professor of ,ygoloidraC University Hospital Maastricht,
Maastricht, The Netherlands.
PA. Doevendans, ,.DM ,.DhP Assistant Professor of ,ygoloidraC University Hospital Maastricht,
Maastricht, The Netherlands.
.E.M Josephson, ,.DM ,.DhP Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical ,loohcS Director of eht raH
-drav Thorndike Electrophysiology Institute, Beth learsI Deaconess Medical ,retneC Boston, .ASU
.hC ,fohhcriK ,.DM PhD., Assistant Professor of ,ygoloidraC University Hospital Maastricht, saaM
,thcirt The Netherlands.
.A.M soV ,.DhP Associate Professor of ,ygoloidraC ytisrevinU latipsoH ,thcirtsaaM Maastricht, The
Netherlands.
IX
noitcudortnI tiele ,14[ taken from a hook published ni 1986 (7) on
53 years of Cardiology ni Amsterdam ni commemo
ration of professor Dirk Durrer.
The investigations reported ni this article were
FRITS .L MElJLER
This book si published at the occasion of a congress, based on:
called 'Future of arrhythmology: lessons from the .I Previous hypothesis of the presence of two con
past, promises for tomorrow', organized ni April 2000 nections between atrium and ventricle ni the
WPW-syndrome with different electrophysiologic
sa a tribute ot Professor Hein Wellens. He will be 56
properties allowing a circus movement with anter
later this year. It si a privilege and distinct pleasure ot
be allowed and hopefully be able to write na Intro ograde conduction over one AV-pathway and ret
duction rof this collage of highlights of the scientific rograde conduction over the other.
work of Dr Hein Wellens and his group produced .2 The definite demonstration of the presence of a
over a period of approximately 30 years. eW lla know second atrio-ventricular pathway by epicardial
that Dr Wellens, like myself, si a pupil of the famous mapping ni a patient with WPW operated upon
Dr Dirk Durrer, professor of Cardiology and Clinical because of na atrial septal defect .131
Physiology at the University of Amsterdam. When .3 The availability of a safe versatile clinical stimu
lator allowing by timed premature stimulation the
Wellens started ot work ni the Wilhelmina Gasthuis
ni Amsterdam ni the mid-sixties, the Amsterdam exposure of differences in electrophysiologie prop
group had established its name ni animal experimen erties of the two AV-connections resulting ni ni
lat electroeardiology, but the step from dogs, goats duction of the circus movement tachycardia.
and rats to humans had ton yet heen taken. The tran
sition came with the excitation study of the isolated This si lla common knowledge now, but ni those days
perfused human heart ni 5691 ]1[ and Durrer's study ti was new and revealing. nI the last sentence of this
of epicardial excitation of human patients with ostium commentary, typical Wellens' vintage, he gave most
primum defects ]21 and WPW ]3[ during cardiac sur of the credit for this study ot his teacher Dr Dirk
gery together with Dr Jan Roos ni Leiden. nI ym per Durrer. As described elsewhere both the observations
ception ti has been Hein Wellens who had the cour leading ot the article and the writing o{ eht article ti
age and the foresight ot take the knowledge and the self will always be remembered as na exciting jour
techniques, acquired ni the previous 51 years yb Dur nev intu a newly discovered land at the hands oj a
,rer Professor Henk van 'led Tweel and others, to the brillian!, inspiring and RnitavitolI/ .ediuR Nohody will
patient in the cath lab. Dr Wellens' name appears for accuse em of degrading Durrer when I dare ot say that
the first time inl967 14[ ni the list of papers of the without the vision and ambitions of Hein Wellens,
Amsterdam group. Leo Schoo would probably not have built the 'versa
This article si also the first puhlieation of this tile clinical stimulator' mentioned ahove. From now
hook. The first paper with Wellens sa tsrif (and single) on Wellens' name appears ni publications ni connec
author, no VA conduction ahnormalities, appeared ni tion with members of the Amsterdam group for an
196~ ni Diseases of the Chest (5). mor:-t that time no other 01 years, but after his transfer ot Maastricht,
the name of Wellens sa the principal author of numer Wellens was on his own and continued ot be very
ous publications on cardiac electrophysiology, first ni productive. Against lla odds, and helieve me there
Amsterdam and later ni Maastricht, became a land were many, he managed ot establish his own, now
mark rof quality and innovation. Hein Wellens' thesis world famous, school of electrocardiology.
at the University of Amsterdam published ni 1791 on:
'Electrical Stimulation of the Heart ni the Study and It will be clear that the whole development of clinical
Treatment of Tachycardias' 161 has set the stage for electrocardiology ni the Netherlands si not a one-man
the future development of clinical electrophysiology show. Durrer together with Henk van dcr Twccl laid
of the heart. the hase for experimental cardiovascular electrophys
iology ni The Netherlands. The stimulator that
tI si not without (historical) interest ot take note of Wellens mentioned ni his commentary was the lanif
the first part of Wellens' commentary on his first -ra rcsult of 51 years of trial and error ni the animal
1.teemS et al ,).I.de( Professor IIeill./..I. Wellells: 33 lean o/Cwdio{ogr alld Arrhlllllll%gr. .'lP xi-Xl.
© 2000 Kh/\f'er Academic Pubhshers.
