title: First clinical results with a new temperature-controlled rate-responsive pacemaker. Comparison of Activitrax and Nova MR pacemakers with VVI/AAI pacing.
abstract: We examined the cardiopulmonary effects of maximum bicycle ergometer exercise in seven patients with implanted Intermedics Nova MR pacemakers for three types of pacing in a randomized sequence: VVI or AAI at 70 beats/min (SSI 70), rate-adaptive temperature-controlled pacing with the implanted Nova MR, and rate-adaptive activity-controlled pacing with a Medtronic Activitrax pacemaker taped to the chest wall, which triggered the implanted Nova MR in the VVT or AAT mode by skin electrodes. The maximum exercise tolerance was 67 W with SSI 70, 71 W with Activitrax pacing, and 91 W with Nova MR pacing; the maximum oxygen uptake as 17.6, 19.5, and 21.5 ml/min/kg, respectively. The highest heart rate achieved was 81 beats/min with SSI 70, 98 beats/min with the Activitrax, and 118 beats/min with the Nova MR on average; the mean rate increase from rest to maximum exercise was 11, 29, and 47 beats/min, respectively. With both rate-adaptive types of pacing (Nova MR and Activitrax), an increase in exercise tolerance and maximum heart rate could be achieved, but this increase was significantly more obvious with the temperature-controlled Nova MR than with the activity-controlled Activitrax. However, with a different form of exercise, for example, treadmill ergometry, the rate response of the Activitrax would presumably have been somewhat clearer.
authors.affiliation: I Medical Clinic, Technical University of Munich, FRG.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Alt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Völker
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Högl
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacCarter
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D001831:Body Temperature; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D010807:Physical Endurance; D012119:Respiration; D014680:Veins