Abstract
Polarization artifacts that result from pacing may interfere with analysis of paced evoked responses during, e.g., automatic threshold tracking. We have developed a method for reduction of such artifacts that relies on the introduction of pacing stimuli during the refractory period of unipolar or bipolar paced captured beats after previous identification of a refractory period "template" or baseline. The refractory pacing stimuli cannot capture the heart, and thus any deviation from the template is due to polarization artifact alone. The artifact amplitude is measured and the precharge duration of the triphasic stimulus waveform is changed each time until artifact is minimized, as detected by repeated reversals in the polarity of the polarization artifact. In a series of 11 patients with unipolar and bipolar permanent pacing leads, mean initial artifact before balancing was 1.44 +/- 0.84 mV, which was reduced to 0.44 +/- 0.30 mV after balancing (P = 0.001). Initial precharge duration was 3.2 msec by design; mean final precharge duration was 3.30 +/- 0.34 msec. This algorithm is universally applicable in permanent pacing systems, as it is valid in unipolar and bipolar pacing and it does not require an intrinsic cardiac rhythm.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.