Recording endocardial electrograms from pacemaker catheters facilitates proper placement, indicates endocardial contact via S-T segment elevation, and helps investigate pacemaker failure.
Proper placement of pacemaker catheters can be facilitated by recording endocardial electrograms from the catheters. These electrograms are also helpful in the investigation of pacemaker failure. Endocardial contact is indicated by S-T segment elevation. When bipolar catheters are used, these "contact currents" may be visible in electrograms from the tip or ring electrodes, or both. Right ventricular cavity electrograms are characterized by their high voltage and are influenced by intraventricular conduction defects and acute myocardial infarction. Serial changes have been described indicating myocardial injury, infarction, and healing in the area underlying the catheter tip.
Gordon et al. (Mon,) conducted a review in Pacemaker placement and failure. Recording endocardial electrograms from pacemaker catheters was evaluated. Recording endocardial electrograms from pacemaker catheters facilitates proper placement, indicates endocardial contact via S-T segment elevation, and helps investigate pacemaker failure.