title: Methods for testing automatic mode switching in patients implanted with DDD(R) pacemakers.
abstract: The assessment of automatic mode switching (AMS) algorithms is impossible in vivo, due to a low chance of seeing the patient at the onset of a spontaneous episode of atrial fibrillation (AF). As the induction of AF to test AMS has clinical concerns, three alternative and non-invasive techniques may be proposed for this purpose: myopotentials, chest wall stimulation, and an external supraventricular arrhythmia simulator. The first method is simple and does not require additional equipment, even though in some patients adequate signals cannot be generated with a soft effort such as handgrip or hand compression. The main advantage of the chest wall stimulation method is the possibility that it be performed in every implanting center, since it is based on the use of standard devices for cardiac stimulation. The method based on the external supraventricular arrhythmia simulator allows the most detailed of the ECG traces, but it needs a dedicated electronic device.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Chu-Pak
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mascia
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Corbucci
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Padeletti
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy; D001331:Automation / Q000379:methods*; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000628:therapy