Programmable features in modern DDD pacemakers have effectively mitigated pacemaker circus movement tachycardia, rendering it a largely resolved clinical issue.
Supports routine use of preventive algorithms in DDD devices; leaves open need for prospective validation in unselected populations.
Pacemaker circus movement tachycardia (PCMT) was a significant problem in first generations of DDD pacemakers. Programmability of the atrial refractory period proved to be an effective tool to prevent PCMT except in patients with very long ventriculoatrial (V-A) conduction intervals, because a long atrial refractory period severely limits the maximum tracking rate. In these patients, extension of the atrial refractory period after a VPB, bipolar atrial sensing, adaptation of atrial refractory period to atrial rate, and VPB synchronous atrial stimulation helped limit the incidence of PCMT. Rate smoothing and fallback behavior have given rise to other forms of PCMT. Once initiated, PCMT can be terminated by a single P wave or by means of an appropriately timed atrial stimulus. Recognition by means of continued upper rate pacing may not be helpful in patients with a long V-A conduction interval because their PCMT rate will be low, thus requiring a low upper rate to trigger. Therefore, absolute prevention of PCMT has not yet been achieved, but PCMT is no longer a significant problem in DDD pacing; recognition of PCMT should not be related to the ventricular upper rate limit.
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Dulk et al. (1986) studied this question.
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