Pacemakers

Question 1

Atrial pacing

Answer 1

Spike before P wave

Question 2

Ventricular pacing

Answer 2

Spike before QRS

Question 3

Atrial and ventricular pacing

Answer 3

Two pacer spikes

Question 4

Pacemaker Programmed Mode

Answer 4

First letter- paced
Second letter- sensed
Third letter- pacemaker’s response to sensing the patient’s natural heart activity

Question 5

Pace Mode

AOO

Answer 5

100% atria pacing, no sensing

Question 6

Pace Mode

AAI

Answer 6

Paces the atria, senses natural atria activity, and inhibits pacing if natural activity occurs

Question 7

Pace Mode

VVI

Answer 7

Pieces the ventricle, senses natural ventricular activity, and inhibits pacing if natural ventricular activity occurs

Question 8

Pace Mode

DDI

Answer 8

Peace is both atria and ventricles, senses both the atria and ventricles, and inhibits pacing when not needed

Question 9

Pace Mode

DDD

Answer 9

Paces both the atria and ventricles, senses both atria and ventricles, can both trigger pacing and pacing is needed or inhibit pacing when natural activity occurs

Question 10

Failure to pace/fire

Answer 10

No pacemaker spike
Hypotension
Bradycardia

Causes- not enough energy from pacer to heart

Always check how your patient is doing first

Question 11

Failure to capture

Answer 11

Pacing spike present but no QRS

Bradycardia
Hypotension
Fatigue

Always check to see how the patient is doing

Question 12

Oversensing

Answer 12

The pacemaker is too sensitive and does not pace

Pacemaker pieces at slower than set rate

Always check how the patient is doing first
Decrease sensitivity

Question 13

Undersensing

Answer 13

Pacemaker not sensitive enough
Pacer spikes are scattered throughout the strip

Always check the patient first
Increase sensitivity