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A Technique for Intraoperative Arrhythmia Induction during Automatic Implantable Defibrillator Placement
Author(s) -
GRUBB BLAIR P.,
MANCINI MARY
Publication year - 1990
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.1540-8159.1990.tb02139.x
Subject(s) - medicine , ventricular fibrillation , ventricular tachycardia , implantable cardioverter defibrillator , cardiology , pulse generator , tachycardia , anesthesia , electrical engineering , voltage , engineering
In 14 patients (12 men, 2 women, mean age 51 ± 4 years) we evaluated a new technique for Intraoperative arrhythmia induction during Ventak 1550 automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillalor (AICD), pulse generator placement. At the lime of surgery (nine new impants, five pulse generator replacements), when the AICD pulse generator is in its final configuration with the rate sensing and patch electrodes leads inserted into the header, a #2 hex wrench was inserted into each of the rate sensing lead set screw sites. The alligator clips of a temporary pacing cable were placed on each of the hex wrenches and the remainder of the cable passed off field for attachment to a programmed stimulator or AC fibrillator. In all 14 patients, the clinical arrhythmia was induced at least twice (ventricular tachycardia in eight patients, ventricular fibrillation in six patients). No difficulties with arrhythmia induction or AICD sensing as discharge were encountered. We conclude that this technique is both a safe and effective means of intraoperative arrhythmia induction during placement or replacement in the Ventak AICD 1550 and 1600 series pulse generators.