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Long‐Term Internal Cardiac Defibrillation Threshold Stability
Author(s) -
WETHERBEE JULE N.,
CHAPMAN PETER D.,
TROUP PAUL J.,
VESETHROGERS JAN,
THAKUR R.K.,
ALMASSI G. HOSSEIN,
OLINGER GORDON N.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1989.tb02682.x
Subject(s) - defibrillation , medicine , defibrillation threshold , cardiology , implantable cardioverter defibrillator , ventricular fibrillation
The automatic implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator is tested intraoperatively with defibrillation trials to ensure effectiveness. It is unknown if the energy requirement for internal defibrillation remains stable and that once demonstrated effective, if the device will continue to be effective in terminating lethal ventricular arrhythmias. In this study, the defibrillation energy requirement was compared in 56 patients at the time of lead implantation to that obtained at the time of generator replacement. Mean time to generator replacement was 17. ± 6.6 months. The defibrillation threshold was stable over that time (11. 9 ± 6.7 joules compared to 12.7 ± 8.4 joules, NS). There was no relation between transmyocardial impedance and defibrillation threshold. In addition, no effect on defibrillation threshold was demonstrated by the use of various cardiac medications, concomitant surgery or the occurrence of clinical shocks during follow‐up.