Pacemaker Codes

Question 1

Pacemaker Code: A means…?

Answer 1

Atria

Question 2

Pacemaker Code: V means…?

Answer 2

Ventricle

Question 3

Pacemaker Code: D, means…

Answer 3

Dual (both)

Question 4

What does the 1st initial of the pacemaker code signify?

Answer 4

CHAMBER PACED

Question 5

What does the 2nd initial of the pacemaker code signify?

Answer 5

Chamber SENSED

Question 6

What does the 3rd initial of the pacemaker code signify?

Answer 6

Response to sensing

Question 7

The 3rd initial is the response to sensing. There are 3 actions: I, D, O

What does I signify?

Answer 7

Inhibits

Pacer detects intrinsic cardiac activity and withholds its pacing stimuli

Question 8

What does the D of the third initial signify?

Answer 8

D = inhibits and triggers

pacer detects intrinsic cardiac activity and fires a pacing stimulus in response

Question 9

What does the O mean

Answer 9

None

Question 10

What are 3 basic pacer malfunctions?

Answer 10

Failure to pace (no spike)

Failure to capture (spikes without QRS for ventricle pacing)

Failure to sense (pacing in native beats)

Question 11

ICDs can shock, burst pace, or provide pacing for bradyarrhythmias.

What is shock, and burst pace?

Answer 11

Shock = defibrillate or synchronized cardioversion

Burst pace = senses tachyarrhythmia, provide a series of beats FASTER than the tachyarrhythmia, and then suddenly stops