Management of tachyarrhythmias with dual-chamber pacemakers

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1983 Mar;6(2 Pt 2):333-45. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1983.tb04370.x.

Abstract

Multiprogrammable dual-demand AV sequential (DVI, MN) pacemakers were implanted in twenty-three patients (in one of them a DVI, MN unit was used as a VVI, MN with the aid of an atrial plug) with supraventricular tachycardias after electrophysiological studies revealed a great variety of AV reentry circuits. The latter included tachycardias involving accessory pathways of the Kent type, manifest or concealed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndromes, nodo-ventricular (Mahaim) tracts, "enhanced" AV node (or extra AV nodal) pathways and dual AV pathways. In addition, multiprogrammable "non-committed" AV sequential (DVI, MN and DDD, M) pacemakers were permanently implanted to treat different forms of ventricular tachyarrhythmias that included: torsade de pointes in the Romano-Ward syndrome and Chagas' cardiomyopathy, ventricular tachycardia which is bradycardia-dependent (in Chagas' cardiomyopathy) and reciprocal beats induced by, and producing severe hemodynamic derangements in a patient with a conventional VVI unit. With small-size multiprogrammable units, arrhythmias may be treated by changing parameters non-invasively. By temporary inhibition, one may analyze the underlying rhythm and pacemaker dependency. In patients without chronic atrial flutter/fibrillation who require pacing and possibly tachyarrhythmia control, our experience with multiprogrammable "non-committed" AV sequential pacing has been very satisfactory. The evolution toward newer pacing modes which provide atrial sensing and tracking (DDD), and thus preserve AV synchrony over a wider range of atrial rates, may contribute even further to successful patient management. This may be applicable to pediatric patients as well.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use
  • Electrocardiography
  • Electrophysiology
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Atria / physiopathology
  • Heart Ventricles / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Pacemaker, Artificial*
  • Tachycardia / complications
  • Tachycardia / physiopathology
  • Tachycardia / therapy*
  • Thrombophlebitis / complications

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents