title: Inappropriate shocks delivered by an ICD as a result of sensed potentials from a transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation unit.
abstract: Although the potential for transcutaneous electronic nerve stimulation (TENS) units to interfere with appropriate function of cardiac pacemakers is well documented, an adverse interaction between a TENS unit and an ICD has never been reported. We describe a patient in whom a TENS unit created an electrical artifact that was interpreted by a transvenous ICD as ventricular fibrillation, leading to the delivery of inappropriate therapy. TENS units should be used with caution in patients with ICDs.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, USA.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Philbin
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Marieb
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Aithal
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Schoenfeld
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000628:therapy; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis