Interaction of an implanted pacemaker with a transesophageal atrial pacemaker: report of a case.
We report an interaction of a transesophageal atrial pacemaker (TAP) with a permanently implanted pacemaker in a cardiac patient who had undergone ablative therapy for atrial tachyarrhythmia 5 years earlier. The patient's permanent A-V pacemaker was completely inhibited by the TAP, and there was loss of ventricular contractions and blood pressure. The patient required epicardial A-V pacing to overcome the programmed heart rate of 76 bpm. We describe alternative methods to epicardial pacing. We also recommend close inspection of the chest radiograph, which often can reveal the serial numbers of the implanted pacemaker, as a means of identifying the device's functions and programming.
Mychaskiw
G
G
Department of Anesthesiology, University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson 39216-4505, USA. gmychaskiw@anesthesia.umsmed.edu
Eichhorn
J H
JH
D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial