title: Safety of nerve conduction studies in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A patient with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) may suffer from neuromuscular disorders and may need to undergo a nerve conduction study (NCS). However, a NCS may be a source of electromagnetic interference (EMI). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the interference from NCS used in a standardised test protocol affects ICD function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients (19 males; mean age of 59.8±9.9 years) with implantable ICDs (eight with integrated and 12 with true bipolar leads), treated with amiodarone and with symptoms suggesting neuropathy were included. NCS were conducted using repetitive stimulation with frequency of 2 Hz and single, rectangular pulses of intensity up to 100 mA. Stimulation was performed in standard sites including proximal sites in the arm.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The impulses generated NCS were not detected by the ICD, irrespective of the site, rate or stimulus intensity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Standardised test protocol for an NCS is safe in patients with an ICD regardless of the leads type.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current guidelines which limitate the NCS in patients with ICD may be the subject of revision.
authors: Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Warsaw, Poland. mderejko@yahoo.com
authors: Mirosława
authors: M
authors: Derejko
authors: Paweł
authors: P
authors: Derejko
authors: Andrzej
authors: A
authors: Przybylski
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Niewiadomska
authors: Jakub
authors: J
authors: Antczak
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Banach
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Rakowicz
authors: Łukasz
authors: Ł
authors: Szumowski
authors: Franciszek
authors: F
authors: Walczak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000638:Amiodarone