Pacemaker Flashcards
Common PM implanted in vet practice
- Single transvenous lead pacing in RV apex most commonly
o Easy to place
o Alternative sites: bundle of His, biventricular - Single epicardial lead pacing on LV apex
o Alternative for unsuitable to transvenous pacing - Dual chamber may provide superior performance → DDD mode
o Favorize AV synchrony → improve hemodynamics
Risk epicardial pacing
↑ risk for bacteremia, thrombosis, embolism
Consequences of long term RV pacing
Asynchronous ventricular contraction
Impaired cardiac performance
Deleterious myocardial remodeling
Advantage of Dual ch
o Favorize AV synchrony → improve hemodynamics
CO depends on
o Ventricular rate and physiologic HR variation
o Synchrony of atrial/ventricular contraction
Can be attained by
* Pacing atrium
* Endogenous atrial depol → AV delay → ventricular pacing
Hu: improve CO, BP, quality of life
o Ventricular activation sequence
Modes of dual chamber pacing
- DDD mode: 2 leads (1 atrial, 1 ventricular)
- VDD mode: 1 lead in RV with floating electrodes
Disadvantages of dual pacing
o Complex programming,
o ↑ expense, ↑ implantation time
o Technical challenge of placing atrial lead in small patiens
o ↑ complications post op
Define the NASPE/BPEG classification.
1- Chamber paced
O none
A atrium
V ventricle
D dual
2- Chamber sensed
O none
A atrium
V ventricle
D dual
3- response to sensing
O none
T triggered
I inhibited
D dual
4- rate modulation
O non
R rate modulation
5- multisite pacing
O none
A atrium
V ventricle
D dual
What are the typical modes used in veterinary practice?
Most commons: VVI and VVIR
AAI/AAIR
VDD
DDD
VVI modality
- Ventricular depolarization in absence of inherent beat
- Sensing ventricular signal → inhibit PM output
o Important feature to prevent competitive rhythms and trigger arrhythmias if pacing during vulnerable period of cardiac cycle
Disadvantages
o Preset pacing rate (non physiological pacing)
o Asynchronous contraction of A and V → can lead to PM syndrome
VVIR
- Similar to VVI + rate responsiveness (chronotropic competence)
- Stimulation frequency ↑ in response to physical activity/respiration
o Sensors: motion, minute ventilation - AV asynchrony persists
AAI/AAIR
- Single chamber, atrial inhibited +/- rate responsiveness
o Stimulus delivered to atrium
o PM output inhibited by atrial events
AAI/AAIR pacing indications
SSS and normal AV node function
AAI/AAIR pacing advantages
o Maintain AV synchrony
o Synchronous ventricular contraction
o Avoid retrograde conduction through AV node and echo beats
AAI/AAIR pacing disadvantages
lack of depol if AVB occurs
o 24h Holter and Weckenbach testing recommended
VDD
- Atrial synchronous pacing
o Single pacing lead w sensing electrodes in atrial portion of lead
Pacing in ventricle
Sensing in atria and ventricle → input inhibited by ventricular beat but stimulated by atrial beat
o Sensed atrial events → AV delay
Intrinsic ventricular beat during AV delay → inhibit pacing, reset timing cycle
No intrinsic ventricular beat → paced beat at end of AV delay
No intrinsic atrial event → PM escape w paced ventricular depol at lower rate
Upper tracking rate
upper limit of atrial depol permitted to trigger ventricular depol
Requirement for VDD pacing
- Need normal SA node function
DDD
- Dual chamber pacing + sensing with inhibition and tracking → fully automatic PM
- Similar to VDD but atrium is paced
o No intrinsic atrial depol → atrial paced beat → tracked → ventricular paced beat - ECG can vary → normal sinus rhythm, atrial pacing only, AV sequential pacing, atrial synchronous pacing
DDD pacing advantages
preserve AV synchrony
PM refractory periodq
- Pacemaker is refractory for specific (pragrammable) period after paced or sensed depol
o Ventricular events during refractory period = will not reset PM
o Ventricular event after refractory period → sensed and inhibit output
Restart timing cycle
Pacemaker syndrome c/s
- Vasovagal syncope, pre-syncope, shortness of breath, dyspnea with exertion
Mechanism of c/s w/ PM syndrome
o ↑LAP/RAP with atrial contraction against closed AV valve during ventricular contraction
Release of ANP → vasodilation and diuresis
o Stretch of atrial baroR → vagally mediated hypotension
o Stimulation of cardiopulmonary baroR from canon V wave
Cause of c/s w/ PM syndrome
- Caused by improper timing btw atrial and ventricular contraction
o Atrial contraction: 15-25% of CO
o Hemodynamic consequence: ↓CO, BP, ↑PAP/PVP
o Suspect if BP ↓ >20mmHg with paced beats compared to sinus rhythm
Treatment PM syndrome
should resolve with restoration of AV synchrony
o VVIR should help → allow underlying sinus rate to predominate
o Dual chamber PM to insure AV sequential pacing
Ventriculoatrial conduction
- Retrograde depolarization of atria
o Hu: 90% of SSS and 30% of AVB cases - Long term effects in dogs not established
o Hu: ↑ susceptibility to adverse circulatory reflexes from atrial R
Atrial, PVs, venoatrial jct distension → vagal afferent → vasodepressor response → ↓BP and HR
Associated with ↑ R sided and pulmonary filling P
Components of pacing system
Pulse generator
Pacing lead
Pulse generator
o Lithium iodide battery w electronic circuitry connected to lead
D/c pacing impulses of different voltage/duration
Sense intracardiac signals, filter signals, rate response fct, store rhythms data
o Can test battery life, lead impedance, retrograde ventriculoatrial conduction, pacing thresholds
Asynchronous mode
magnet in close proximity
Pacing lead: how is it made
o Insulated wire that conduct impulse from generator to myocardium
Conductor + lead insulation + lead connector + electrode
Types of leads and fixation
o Epicardial: pacing wires sutured to heart → atrium +/- ventricle
o Transvenous endocardial: RA, RV
Passive fixation: collar of tines at tip of lead → anchors lead in RV trabeculae
Active fixation: screw into myocardium
Pacing circuit
o Anode → + pole, cathode → - pole
Cathode is always tip of lead
Circuit unipolar lead
cathode = lead tip, anode = generator
Impulse travels from generator → myocardium in lead
Myocardium → generator via soft tissues
* Proximity to skeletal muscles → can cause twitching
ECG unipolar lead
large pacing spikes
Advantages unipolar lead
- Smaller diameter pacing leads
- Single attachment site
- Superior sensitivity for sensing intrinsic beats
Disadvantages unipolar lead
- More susceptible to oversensing
- Can detect skeletal muscle potentials
- Generator in contact w/ body/tissues → can cause muscle twitching
Circuit bipolar lead
2 spaced electrodes distally on lead, distal = cathode, proximal = anode
Advantages bipolar lead
- Greater signal to noise ratio
- Less sensitivity to extraneous interference
- Avoid skeletal muscle stimulation
- Generator does not have to touch body tissue
- Less susceptible to oversensing
ECG bipolar lead
Smaller pacing spikes
Why choose epicardial PM
o Usually if lead dislodgement or animal too small for transvenous
ECG epicardial PM
larger pacing spikes
Wide QRS
Disadvantages epicardial PM
More inflammation vs transvenous
Invasive: intercostal or diaphragmatic approach
Advantages epicardial PM
Can be considered for pts at higher risk for endocardial complications due to pt size, pre-existing infections, or hypercoagulability
Pacing from L ventricle might be associated with better cardiac systolic fct (compared to RV)
Avoid contact of lead w/ blood and intra cardiac structures
Factors involving lead system in clinic
o Output voltage
Certain magnitude of voltage must be applied to induce depol of myocytes
Stimulation threshold: min voltage required to stimulate heart outside its refractory period
o Lead resistance
o Pulse duration (width)
o Pacing rate
o % pacing time
o Battery capacity