Key result
Reprogramming a multiprogrammable unipolar cathodal ventricular pacemaker (Spectrax 5985 SX) induced ventricular tachycardia due to a short switch to fixed rate pacing.
Why the study?
Does pacemaker reprogramming induce ventricular tachycardia in patients with unipolar pacemakers?
Case Report (n=1)
Does pacemaker reprogramming induce ventricular tachycardia in patients with unipolar pacemakers?
Reprogramming of certain unipolar pacemakers can induce ventricular tachycardia due to a short switch to fixed rate pacing, suggesting magnet use for reprogramming should be avoided.
May warrant caution reprogramming older unipolar pacemakers; leaves open generalizability to modern devices.
The induction of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation by competitive pacing, especially in the setting of acute myocardial ischemia, is well known. A case of ventricular tachycardia induced by a multiprogrammable unipolar cathodal ventricular pacemaker is reported. The arrhythmia was caused by reprogramming, which necessitates a short switch to fixed rate pacing in this model (Spectrax 5985 SX). This potential hazard is not well established in patients with unipolar pacemakers. The use of the magnet as one of the preconditions for reprogramming should be avoided in future pacemakers.
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Barold et al. (1982) conducted a case report in Ventricular tachycardia (n=1). Pacemaker reprogramming (Spectrax 5985 SX) was evaluated on Induction of ventricular tachycardia. Reprogramming a multiprogrammable unipolar cathodal ventricular pacemaker (Spectrax 5985 SX) induced ventricular tachycardia due to a short switch to fixed rate pacing.
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