AN UNUSUAL HAZARD OF FIXED-RATE CARDIAC PACEMAKERS.
Rapid stimulation of the heart is an unusual and serious complication of implanted fixedrate cardiac pacemakers. This complication was observed in two patients. In one, stimuli occurred at 336 per minute with a ventricular rate of 168, and at 750 per minute with ventricular arrest. In the other patient, stimuli occurred at 150 per minute with a 1:1 ventricular response. This complication should be recognized and treated promptly by exposing and cutting the electrode lead wires.
D005853:Geriatrics; D006321:Heart; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D012769:Shock; D013610:Tachycardia; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures
GERIATRICS; PACEMAKER, ARTIFICIAL; SHOCK; TACHYCARDIA