Does A-V sequential pacing induce atrial fibrillation in patients without prior atrial arrhythmias?
A-V sequential pacing without atrial sensing can induce atrial fibrillation by stimulating during the atrial vulnerable period, highlighting the need for atrial sensing.
Atrial fibrillation resulted from competition between the P wave and a unipolar cathodal stimulus from the atrial output of an A‐V sequential pacemaker Review of 31 patients with recently implanted A‐V sequential pacemakers revealed that five, who had not had atrial fibrillation or flutter before implant, developed atrial arrhythmia early after implant As occasional placement of an atrial stimuJus in tlie atrial vulnerable period can occur during normal function, pacer induced atrial fibrillation must be expected Atrial sensing to ensure lack of competition between pacer and spontaneous atrial activity is desirable
Furman et al. (Fri,) studied this question.