Cardiac Pacemakers in Electrosurgery

Abstract

To the Editor:— Transurethral prostatectomies are performed with a high-frequency electrosurgical unit and, since the advent of cardiac pacemakers in patients with cardiac arrythmias, the question arises whether the electrical frequency of the electrosurgical instruments will interfere with the frequency of the cardiac pacemaker. The nominal oscillation frequency of the electrosurgical instrument is about 1 million to 3.5 million cycles per second with 120-cycle modulation ( J Urol 93 :263, 1965). It is conceivable that current interference in cardiac pacing might lead to irregularities in the cardiac pacemaker and possibly to cardiac damage and arrest ( JAMA 190 :938-940 [Dec 7] 1964). We have recently had experience with transurethral electroresection of the prostate in two patients with cardiac pacemakers. A 68-year-old white man was admitted to the Lankenau Hospital with right-bundle-branch block and first degree A-V block. Attempt at resection of a parotid tumor was unsuccessful because the patient went into temporary