|
|
| (10 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| __NOTOC__
| | #redirect:[[Artificial pacemaker]] |
| [[Image:Pacemaker GuidantMeridianSR.jpg|thumb|right|A pacemaker, scale in centimeters]]
| |
| {{SI}}
| |
| {{CMG}}
| |
| ==Overview==
| |
| A '''pacemaker''' (or '''artificial pacemaker''', so as not to be confused with the heart's natural [[cardiac pacemaker|pacemaker]]) is a medical device which uses electrical impulses, delivered by [[electrode]]s contacting the heart muscles, to regulate the beating of the [[heart]]. The primary purpose of a pacemaker is to maintain an adequate [[heart rate]], either because the heart's [[sinoatrial node|native pacemaker]] is not fast enough, or there is a block in the [[electrical conduction system of the heart|heart's electrical conduction system]]. Modern pacemakers are externally programmable and allow the [[cardiologist]] to select the optimum pacing modes for individual patients. Some combine a pacemaker and implantable [[implantable cardioverter-defibrillator|defibrillator]] in a single implantable device. Others have multiple electrodes stimulating differing positions within the heart to improve synchronisation of the [[ventricle (heart)|lower chambers]] of the heart.
| |
| | |
| == History of the artificial pacemaker ==
| |
| | |
| In '''1889''' J A McWilliam reported in the British Medical Journal of his experiments in which application of an electrical impulse to the human heart in [[asystole]] caused a [[ventricular]] contraction and that a heart rhythm of 60-70 beats per minute could be evoked by impulses applied at spacings equal to 60-70/minute.<ref>{{cite journal |author=McWilliam JA |year=1889 |month= |title=Electrical stimulation of the heart in man |journal=Br Med J |volume=1 |issue= |pages=348-50 |id= |url= |accessdate= 2007-10-24 |quote= }}. Partial quote in [http://www.hrsonline.org/News/ep-history/timeline/1800s.cfm#elec "Electrical Stimulation of the Heart in Man - 1889"], ''Heart Rhythm Society'', Accessed May 11, 2007.</ref>
| |
| | |
| In '''1928''' Dr Mark C Lidwell of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital of Sydney, supported by physicist Edgar H Booth of the University of Sydney, devised a portable apparatus which "plugged into a lighting point" and in which "One pole was applied to a skin pad soaked in strong salt solution" while the other pole "consisted of a needle insulated except at its point, and was plunged into the appropriate cardiac chamber". "The pacemaker rate was variable from about 80 to 120 pulses per minute, and likewise the voltage variable from 1.5 to 120 volts" The apparatus was used to revive a stillborn infant at Crown Street Women's Hospital, Sydney whose heart continued "to beat on its own accord", "at the end of 10 minutes" of stimulation.<ref>Lidwell M C, "Cardiac Disease in Relation to Anaesthesia" in ''Transactions of the Third Session'', Australasian Medical Congress, Sydney, Australia, Sept. 2-7 1929, p 160.</ref><ref name="Mond_1982">{{cite journal |author=Mond H, Sloman J, Edwards R |title=The first pacemaker |journal=Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE |volume=5 |issue=2 |pages=278-82 |year=1982 |pmid=6176970}}</ref>
| |
| | |
| In '''1932''' American physiologist [[Albert Hyman]], working independently, described an electro-mechanical instrument of his own, powered by a spring-wound hand-cranked motor. Hyman himself referred to his invention as an "artificial pacemaker", the term continuing in use to this day.<ref>Aquilina O, "[http://www.impaedcard.com/issue/issue27/aquilinao2/AquilinaO.htm A brief history of cardiac pacing]", ''Images Paediatr Cardiol'' 27 (2006), pp.17-81.</ref><ref>Furman S, Szarka G, Layvand D, "Reconstruction of Hyman's second pacemaker", Pacing Clin Electrophysiol.2005 May;28(5):446-453</ref>
| |
| | |
| An apparent [[hiatus]] in publication of research conducted between the early '''1930'''s and World War II may be attributed to the public perception of interfering with nature by 'reviving the dead'. For example, "Hyman did not publish data on the use of his pacemaker in humans because of adverse publicity, both among his fellow physicians, and due to newspaper reporting at the time. Lidwell may have been aware of this and did not proceed with his experiments in humans".<ref name="Mond_1982"/>
| |
| | |
| An external pacemaker was designed and built by the Canadian electrical engineer [[John Alexander Hopps|John Hopps]] in '''1950''' based upon observations by cardio-thoracic surgeon [[Wilfred Gordon Bigelow]] at Toronto General Hospital . A substantial external device using [[vacuum tube]] technology to provide [[transcutaneous pacing]], it was somewhat crude and painful to the patient in use and, being powered from an AC wall socket, carried a potential hazard of [[electrocution]] of the patient by inducing [[ventricular fibrillation]].
| |
| | |
| [[Image:CPI Pacemaker.jpg|thumb| World's first Lithium-iodide cell powered pacemaker. Cardiac Pacemakers Inc. 1972]]
| |
| A number of innovators, including Paul Zoll, made smaller but still bulky [[transcutaneous pacing]] devices in the following years using a large rechargeable battery as the power supply.<ref>http://www.hno.harvard.edu/gazette/2001/04.19/12-zoll.html</ref>
| |
| | |
| In '''1957''' Dr. William L. Weirich published the results of research performed at the University of Minnesota. These studies demonstrated the restoration of heart rate, cardiac output and mean aortic pressures in animal subjects with complete [[heart block]] through the use of a [[myocardial]] electrode. This effective control of postsurgical heart block proved to be a significant contribution to decreasing [[death|mortality]] of [[open heart surgery]] in this time period.<ref> Weirich W, Gott V, Lillehei C: The treatment of complete heart block by the combined use of a myocardial electrode and an artificial pacemaker. Surg. Forum 1957;8;360-363</ref>
| |
| | |
| The development of the [[transistor]] and its first commercial availability in '''1956''' was the pivotal event which led to rapid development of practical cardiac pacemaking.
| |
| | |
| In '''1957''' engineer Earl Bakken of Minneapolis, Minnesota, produced the first wearable external pacemaker for a patient of Dr. [[C. Walton Lillehei]]. This transistorised pacemaker, housed in a small plastic box, had controls to permit adjustment of pacing heart rate and output voltage and was connected to electrode leads which passed through the skin of the patient to terminate in electrodes attached to the surface of the [[myocardium]] of the heart.
| |
| | |
| The first clinical implantation into a human of a fully implantable pacemaker was in '''1958''' at the Karolinska University Hospital in Solna, Sweden, using a pacemaker designed by [[Rune Elmqvist]] and surgeon Åke Senning, connected to electrodes attached to the [[myocardium]] of the heart by [[thoracotomy]] . The device failed after three hours. A second device was then implanted which lasted for two days. The world's first implantable pacemaker patient, Arne Larsson, went on to receive 26 different pacemakers during his lifetime. He passed away in 2001, at the age of 86<ref>http://www.sjm.com/successstories/successstory.aspx?name=Larsson%2C+Arne</ref>.
| |
| | |
| In '''1959''' temporary [[transvenous pacing]] was first demonstrated by Furman et al in which the [[catheter]] electrode was inserted via the patient's [[basilic vein]].<ref> "Furman S, Schwedel JB" An intracardiac pacemaker for Stokes-Adams Seizures N Eng J Med 1959; 261:943-948" </ref>
| |
| | |
| In February,'''1960''', an improved version of the Swedish Elmqvist design was implanted in Montevideo, Uruguay in the Casmu Hospital by Doctors Fiandra and Rubio. That device lasted until the patient died of other ailments, 9 months later. The early Swedish-designed devices used rechargeable batteries, which were charged by an induction coil from the outside.
| |
| | |
| Implantable pacemakers constructed by engineer Wilson Greatbatch entered use in humans from April '''1960''' following extensive [[animal testing]]. The Greatbatch innovation varied from the earlier Swedish devices in using primary cells ([[mercury battery]]) as the energy source. The first patient lived for a further 18 months.
| |
| | |
| The first use of [[transvenous pacing]] in conjunction with an implanted pacemaker was by Parsonnet in the USA <ref> "Permanent Transvenous Pacing in 1962", Parsonnet V, PACE,1:285, 1978</ref><ref>"Preliminary Investigation of the Development of a Permanent Implantable Pacemaker Using an Intracardiac Dipolar Electrode", Parsonnet V, Zucker I R, Asa M M, Clin. Res., 10:391, 1962</ref>, Lageren in Sweden<ref> "How It Happened: My Recollection of Early Pacing", Lageren H, PACE: Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology 1.1, Jan. 1978, pp 140-143</ref><ref> "Intracardiac Stimulation for Complete Heart Block", Lageren H, Acta. Chir. Sca., 125:562, 1963</ref> and Jean-Jaques Welti in France<ref>Jean Jaques Welti:Biography, Heart Rhythm Foundation</ref> in 1962-63.
| |
| The transvenous, or pervenous, procedure involved incision of a vein into which was inserted the [[catheter]] electrode lead under [[fluoroscopic]] guidance, until it was lodged within the [[trabeculae]] of the right ventricle. This method was to become the method of choice by the mid-'''1960s'''.
| |
| | |
| The preceding implantable devices all suffered from the unreliability and short lifetime of the available primary cell technology which was mainly that of the [[mercury battery]].
| |
| In the late '''1960s''' several companies, including ARCO in the USA, developed isotope powered pacemakers, but this development was overtaken by the development in '''1970''' of the lithium-iodide cell by Wilson Greatbatch. Lithium-iodide or lithium anode cells became the standard for future pacemaker designs.
| |
| | |
| A further impediment to reliability of the early devices was the diffusion of water vapour from the body fluids through the [[epoxy]] resin encapsulation affecting the electronic circuitry. This phenomenon was overcome by encasing the pacemaker generator in an hermetically sealed metal case, initially by [[Telectronics]] of Australia in '''1969''' followed by Cardiac Pacemakers Inc of Minneapolis in '''1972'''. This technology, using titanium as the encasing metal, became the standard by the mid-'''1970s'''.
| |
|
| |
| Others who contributed significantly to the technological development of the pacemaker in the pioneering years were Bob Anderson of [[Medtronic]] Minneapolis, J.G (Geoffrey) Davies of [[St George's Hospital]] London, [[Barouh Berkovits]] and Sheldon Thaler of American Optical, [[Geoffrey Wickham]] of [[Telectronics]] Australia, [[Walter Keller]] of [[Cordis]] Corp. of Miami, [[Hans Thornander]] who joined previously mentioned [[Rune Elmquist]] of Elema-Schonander in Sweden, [[Janwillem van den Berg]] of Holland and [[Anthony Adducci]] of Cardiac Pacemakers Inc.([[Guidant]])
| |
| | |
| == Applications ==
| |
| Artificial pacemakers can be used in order to help with and/or treat these conditions: | |
| * [[Sick sinus syndrome|Sinus node dysfunction]] - when the [[sinoatrial node]] does not fire properly to contract the heart
| |
| * [[Bifascicular block]], [[trifascicular block]], or [[third degree AV block]].
| |
| *[[Stokes-Adams attack]] involving disruption of conduction between the [[sinoatrial node]] and the [[atrioventricular node]].
| |
| | |
| == Methods of pacing ==
| |
| === Percussive Pacing ===
| |
| Percussive Pacing, also known as Transthoracic Mechanical Pacing, is the use of the closed fist, usually on the left lower edge of the sternum over the right ventricle, striking from a distance of 20 - 30 cm to induce a ventricular beat (the British Journal of Anesthesia suggests this must be done to raise the ventricular pressure 10 - 15mmhg to induce electrical activity). This is an old procedure used only as a life saving means until an electrical pacemaker is brought to the patient.<ref>(Cite_Journal)Percussion pacing in a three year-old girl with complete heart block during cardiac catheterization. C Eich, A Bleckmann and T. Paul, retrieved from http://bja.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/95/4/465</ref>
| |
| | |
| === Transcutaneous pacing ===
| |
| | |
| {{main|Transcutaneous pacing}}
| |
| | |
| Transcutaneous pacing (TCP), also called external pacing, is recommended for the initial stabilization of hemodynamically significant [[bradycardia]]s of all types. The procedure is performed by placing two pacing pads on the patient's chest, either in the anterior/lateral position or the anterior/posterior position. The rescuer selects the pacing rate, and gradually increases the pacing current (measured in mA) until electrical capture (characterized by a wide QRS complex with a tall, broad T wave on the [[electrocardiogram|ECG]]) is achieved, with a corresponding pulse. Pacing artifact on the [[electrocardiogram|ECG]] and severe muscle twitching may make this determination difficult. External pacing should not be relied upon for an extended period of time. It is an emergency procedure that acts as a bridge until transvenous pacing or other therapies can be applied.
| |
| | |
| === Transvenous pacing (temporary)===
| |
| | |
| {{main|Transvenous pacing}}
| |
| | |
| Transvenous pacing, when used for temporary pacing, is an alternative to transcutaneous pacing. A pacemaker wire is placed into a vein, under sterile conditions, and then passed into either the right atrium or right ventricle. The pacing wire is then connected to an external pacemaker outside the body. Transvenous pacing is often used as a bridge to permanent pacemaker placement. It can be kept in place until a permanent pacemaker is implanted or until there is no longer a need for a pacemaker and then it is removed.
| |
| | |
| === Permanent pacing ===
| |
| [[Image:St Jude Medical pacemaker with ruler.jpg|right|thumb|An artificial pacemaker with electrode for transvenous insertion (from [[St. Jude Medical]]). The body of the device is about 4 [[centimeter]]s long, the electrode measures between 50 and 60 centimeters.]]
| |
| Permanent pacing with an implantable pacemaker involves transvenous placement of one or more pacing electrodes within a chamber, or chambers, of the heart. The procedure is performed by incision of a suitable vein into which the electrode lead is inserted and passed along the vein, through the valve of the heart, until positioned in the chamber. The procedure is facilitated by [[fluoroscopy]] which enables the physician or cardiologist to view the passage of the electrode lead. After satisfactory lodgement of the electrode is confirmed the opposite end of the electrode lead is connected to the pacemaker generator.
| |
| | |
| The pacemaker generator is an hermetically sealed device containing a power source, usually a [[lithium battery]], a sensing amplifier which processes the electrical manifestation of naturally occurring heart beats as sensed by the heart electrodes, the computer logic for the pacemaker and the output circuitry which delivers the pacing impulse to the electrodes.
| |
| | |
| Most commonly, the generator is placed below the subcutaneous fat of the chest wall, above the muscles and bones of the chest. However, the placement may vary on a case by case basis.
| |
| | |
| The outer casing of pacemakers is so designed that it will rarely be rejected by the body's [[immune system]]. It is usually made of [[titanium]], which is inert in the body.
| |
| | |
| == Basic pacemaker function ==
| |
| Modern pacemakers usually have multiple functions. The most basic form monitors the heart's native electrical rhythm. When the pacemaker doesn't sense a heartbeat within a normal beat-to-beat time period, it will stimulate the ventricle of the heart with a short low voltage pulse. This sensing and stimulating activity continues on a beat by beat basis.
| |
| | |
| The more complex forms include the ability to sense and/or stimulate both the atrial and ventricular chambers.
| |
| | |
| {| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
| |
| |+ '''The revised NASPE/BPEG generic code for antibradycardia pacing'''<ref>{{cite journal |author=Bernstein A, Daubert J, Fletcher R, Hayes D, Lüderitz B, Reynolds D, Schoenfeld M, Sutton R |title=The revised NASPE/BPEG generic code for antibradycardia, adaptive-rate, and multisite pacing. North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology/British Pacing and Electrophysiology Group |journal=Pacing Clin Electrophysiol |volume=25 |issue=2 |pages=260-4 |year=2002 |pmid=11916002}}</ref>
| |
| ! I || II || III || IV || V
| |
| |-
| |
| | Chamber(s) paced || Chamber(s) sensed || Response to sensing || Rate modulation || Multisite pacing
| |
| |-
| |
| | O = None || O = None || O = None || O = None || O = None
| |
| |-
| |
| | A = Atrium || A = Atrium || T = Triggered || R = Rate modulation || A = Atrium
| |
| |-
| |
| | V = Ventricle || V = Ventricle || I = Inhibited || || V = Ventricle
| |
| |-
| |
| | D = Dual (A+V) || D = Dual (A+V) || D = Dual (T+I) || || D = Dual (A+V)
| |
| |-
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| == Biventricular Pacing (BVP) ==
| |
| A biventricular pacemaker, also known as CRT (cardiac resynchronization therapy) is a type of pacemaker that can pace both ventricles (right and left) of the heart. By pacing both sides of the heart, the pacemaker can resynchronize a heart that does not beat in synchrony, which is common in [[heart failure]] patients.
| |
| CRT devices have three leads, one in the atrium, one in the right ventricle, and a final one is inserted through the [[coronary sinus]] to pace the left ventricle.
| |
| CRT devices are shown to reduce mortality and improve quality of life in groups of [[heart failure]] patients.<ref>Cleland JGF, Daubert J-C, Erdmann E, et al; the Cardiac Resynchronization — Heart Failure (CARE-HF) Study Investigators. The effect of cardiac resynchronization on morbidity and mortality in heart failure. N Engl J Med. 2005 March 7 [http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/352/15/1539 Fulltext]. PMID 15753115.</ref><ref>Bardy GH, Lee KL, Mark DB, et al for the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT) Investigators. Amiodarone or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator for congestive heart failure. [http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/352/3/225 N Engl J Med 2005; 352:225–237]</ref><ref name="pmid15753115">{{cite journal |author=Cleland J, Daubert J, Erdmann E, Freemantle N, Gras D, Kappenberger L, Tavazzi L |title=The effect of cardiac resynchronization on morbidity and mortality in heart failure |journal=N Engl J Med |volume=352 |issue=15 |pages=1539-49 |year=2005 |pmid=15753115}}</ref>. CRT can be combined with an [[implantable cardioverter-defibrillator]] (ICD) <ref name=pmid15152059">{{cite journal |author=Bristow M, Saxon L, Boehmer J, Krueger S, Kass D, De Marco T, Carson P, DiCarlo L, DeMets D, White B, DeVries D, Feldman A |title=Cardiac-resynchronization therapy with or without an implantable defibrillator in advanced chronic heart failure |journal=N Engl J Med |volume=350 |issue=21 |pages=2140-50 |year=2004 |pmid=15152059}}</ref>.
| |
| | |
| == Advancements in pacemaker function ==
| |
| When first invented, pacemakers controlled only the rate at which the heart's two largest chambers, the [[Ventricle (heart)|ventricle]]s, beat.
| |
| | |
| Many advancements have been made to enhance the control of the pacemaker once implanted. Many of these enhancements have been made possible by the transition to microprocessor controlled pacemakers. Pacemakers that control not only the ventricles but the [[Atrium (heart)|atria]] as well have become common. Pacemakers that control both the atria and ventricles are called dual-chamber pacemakers. Although these dual-chamber models are usually more expensive, timing the contractions of the atria to precede that of the ventricles improves the pumping efficiency of the heart and can be useful in congestive heart failure.
| |
| | |
| Rate responsive pacing allows the device to sense the physical activity of the patient and respond appropriately by increasing or decreasing the base pacing rate via rate response algorithms.
| |
| | |
| The DAVID trials<ref>Wilkoff BL, Cook JR, Epstein AE, et al.: Dual-chamber pacing or ventricular backup pacing in patients with an implantable defibrillator: the Dual-chamber and VVI Implantable Defibrillator (DAVID) Trial. JAMA 2002, 288: 3115–3123. [http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/288/24/3115]</ref> have shown that unnecessary pacing of the right ventricle can lead to [[heart failure]]. The newer bi-ventricular devices can keep the amount of right ventricle pacing to a minimum and thus prevent worsening of the heart disease.
| |
| | |
| == Other devices with pacemaker function ==
| |
|
| |
| {{main|Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator}}
| |
| | |
| Sometimes devices resembling pacemakers, called ICDs ([[implantable cardioverter-defibrillator]]s) are implanted. These devices are often used in the treatment of patients at risk from sudden cardiac death. An ICD has the ability to treat many types of heart rhythm disturbances by means of pacing, [[cardioversion]], or [[defibrillation]].
| |
| | |
| {| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
| |
| |+ '''NASPE / BPEG Defibrillator (NBD) code - 1993'''<ref name=NASPE_defib_code>{{cite journal |author=Bernstein A, Camm A, Fisher J, Fletcher R, Mead R, Nathan A, Parsonnet V, Rickards A, Smyth N, Sutton R |title=North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology policy statement. The NASPE/BPEG defibrillator code |journal=Pacing Clin Electrophysiol |volume=16 |issue=9 |pages=1776-80 |year=1993 |pmid=7692407}}</ref>
| |
| ! I || II || III || IV
| |
| |-
| |
| | Shock chamber || Antitachycardia pacing chamber || Tachycardia detection || Antibradycardia pacing chamber
| |
| |-
| |
| | O = None || O = None || E = Electrogram || O = None
| |
| |-
| |
| | A = Atrium || A = Atrium || H = Hemodynamic || A = Atrium
| |
| |-
| |
| | V = Ventricle || V = Ventricle || || V = Ventricle
| |
| |-
| |
| | D = Dual (A+V) || D = Dual (A+V) || || D = Dual (A+V)
| |
| |-
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| {| class="wikitable" style="margin: 1em auto 1em auto"
| |
| |+ '''Short form of the NASPE/BPEG Defibrillator (NBD) code'''<ref name=NASPE_defib_code/>
| |
| | ICD-S || ICD with shock capability only
| |
| |-
| |
| | ICD-B || ICD with bradycardia pacing as well as shock
| |
| |-
| |
| | ICD-T || ICD with tachycardia (and bradycardia) pacing as well as shock
| |
| |-
| |
| |}
| |
| | |
| ==Chest X-ray==
| |
| <div align="left">
| |
| <gallery heights="175" widths="175">
| |
| Image:Tri-lead-cardiac-pacer-001.jpg|CXR showing Trilead cardiac pacer <small>Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted</small>
| |
| Image:Tri-lead-cardiac-pacer-002.jpg|CXR showing Trilead cardiac pacer <small>Image courtesy of RadsWiki and copylefted</small>
| |
| </gallery>
| |
| </div>
| |
| | |
| ==Electrocardiogram==
| |
| | |
| EKG below demonstrates the determination of the atrial capture threshold. The pacemaker is decrementing down the atrial amplitude as marked below the atrial pacer spikes. Note the loss of atrial capture after the second spike of 1.5 volts. Loss of capture is illustrated by three events
| |
| | |
| 1) the lack of a p wave after the spike
| |
| | |
| 2) the appearance of a native p wave after the failure to capture
| |
| | |
| 3) the change in the RR intervals as the QRS is no longer following the paced P wave.
| |
| | |
| The lack of capture after the second 1.5 volt complex illustrates a component of time dependent capture where after a while a stimulus may fail to capture even thought the amplitude is kept constant.
| |
| | |
| [[Image:Pacemaker with atrial capture.jpg|center|800px]]
| |
| | |
| ----
| |
| | |
| EKG below demonstrates threshold test of a VVI pacemaker. Note the effect of the PVCs, the first of which competes with the pacer stimulus and suggests capture when there may be none. Also note that the second to last 0.6 volt pulse captures the ventricle but the last, with the same pulse width, does not.
| |
| | |
| [[Image:Pacemaker.jpg|center|800px]]
| |
| | |
| ----
| |
| | |
| EKG below demonstrates an EKG rhythm and marker strip from a patient with a Medtronic model 7108 Minuet dual chamber pacemaker. The patient had intact A/V conduction, and with a long paced A/V interval, conducted paced atrial beats to the ventricle. The atrial pacing threshold was determined by pacing at a rate faster than the patient's own rate and decreasing the atrial pulse width until atrial capture was lost, and ventricular pacing occurred (the upper tracing).
| |
| | |
| In spite of returning the atrial pulse width back to the last successful value, ventricular pacing continued .
| |
| | |
| Slowing the pacing rate terminated ventricular pacing (the lower tracing) and ventricular pacing did not return when the pacing rate was speeded up again.
| |
| | |
| [[Image: Pacemaker with long AV interval.jpg|center|800px]]
| |
| | |
| ----
| |
| This is an electrocardiogram recorded from a patient in his 80's after implantation of a pacemaker. This recording was made as part of a routine pacemakers follow-up The pacing system was working well . This is an interesting electrocardiogram which illustrates an important point regarding pacemaker lead implantation. It is clear that this patient's pacemaker is sensing his P waves and following with pacing of his ventricle. What is curious about this recording, is the right bundle branch block configuration of the QRS and the extreme rightward axis seen in lead one. It is for this reason, a routine electrocardiogram should be done after every pacemaker implantation that involves implanting a ventricular lead. In actual fact this patient's ventricular lead was pacing the left ventricle. This lead was probably in a branch of the coronary vein . The path of the lead can be traced by the CT video which was taken after this electrocardiogram was recorded. The patient had a pacemaker system that was working well, in spite of the fact that the pacemaker was pacing the left ventricle. In fact, new pacing techniques are pacing the left ventricle as well as the right ventricle to maintain cardiac synchronization. In this case though , the ventricular lead was removed, without complication, because of an associated infection of the pacemaker pocket.
| |
| | |
| A new pacemaker was implanted from the right side with the new lead placed in the right of ventricle. This resulted in a markedly different electrocardiogram.
| |
| | |
| [[Image:Pacemaker lead implantation lesson.jpg|center|800px]]
| |
| | |
| EKG Below is from a 21 year old patient during threshold testing in the pacemaker clinic.
| |
| | |
| The patient had congenital heart block for which a pacemaker was implanted. She was asymptomatic before the implant, and a dizzy period during the test below.
| |
| | |
| [[Image:Pacemaker implant EKG.jpg|center|800px]]
| |
| | |
| ----
| |
| | |
| == Related Chapters ==
| |
| * [[Cardiology]]
| |
| * [[Electrical conduction system of the heart]]
| |
| * [[Transcutaneous pacing]]
| |
| | |
| ==Sources==
| |
| Image courtesy of http://en.ecgpedia.org/index.php?title=Special:NewFiles&offset=&limit=500
| |
| | |
| ==References==
| |
| <references/>
| |
| | |
| [[Category:Cardiology]]
| |
| [[Category:Electrophysiology]]
| |
| [[Category:Implants]]
| |
| [[Category:Neuroprosthetics]]
| |
| [[Category:Prosthetics]]
| |
| | |
| [[da:Pacemaker]]
| |
| [[de:Herzschrittmacher]]
| |
| [[es:Marcapasos]]
| |
| [[fr:Stimulateur cardiaque]]
| |
| [[it:Pacemaker]]
| |
| [[he:קוצב לב]]
| |
| [[nl:Pacemaker]]
| |
| [[ja:心臓ペースメーカー]]
| |
| [[no:Pacemaker]]
| |
| [[nn:Pacemaker]]
| |
| [[pl:Stała elektrostymulacja serca]]
| |
| [[pt:Marcapasso]]
| |
| [[ru:Электрокардиостимулятор]]
| |
| [[sk:Kardiostimulátor]]
| |
| [[fi:Sydämentahdistin]]
| |
| [[sv:Pacemaker]]
| |
| [[tr:Kalp pili]]
| |
| | |
| | |
| {{WikiDoc Help Menu}}
| |
| {{WikiDoc Sources}}
| |