Initial experience with a fully implantable, programmable, scanning, extrastimulus pacemaker for tachycardia termination

Abstract

Summary:A fully implantable automatic scanning pacemaker designed for tachycardia termination has been used in three patients with regular paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. The pacemaker recognizes tachycardia and delivers one or two extrastimuli which automatically scan inwards if tachycardia continues. A memory is incorporated to retain and immediately reuse a successful pacing sequence if tachycardia recurs. Ventricular pacing has been used in two patients and atrial stimulation in one. Although all had suffered frequent attacks of tachycardia after implantation no sustained episodes of tachycardia have been appreciated. No unwanted arrhythmias have been induced and drug treatment has been stopped in all three patients. Fully implantable scanning pacemakers which automatically recognize and revert tachycardia offer an effective and versatile form of treatment for recurrent paroxysmal tachycardias.

Clinical Experience with Implantable Scanning Tachycardia Reversion Pacemakers

“…Shifting burst mode up to seven extrastimuJi can be programmed. The coupling interval between the last sensed tachycardia beat and the first 3. Bradycardia support (60 hpm) is available on this unit particularly to provide rate support for those patients who exhihit post-tachycardia sinus suppression.…”