Pacing and Programming

Question 1

What are the two basic components of a single chamber pacemaker?

Answer 1

Pacing
Sensing

Question 2

What are the main components of sensing?

Answer 2

Amplitude
Slew rate

Question 3

Amplitude

Answer 3

Peak to peak measurement or “height” of the sensed events

Question 4

Slew rate

Answer 4

Change in voltage over change in time

Question 5

What is the nominal amplitude of R waves?

Answer 5

> 5mV

Question 6

What is the nominal amplitude for P waves?

Answer 6

> 2mV

Question 7

What is the nominal slew rate for R waves?

Answer 7

> or equal to 0.75V/sec

Question 8

What is the nominal slew rate for P wave?

Answer 8

> or equal to 0.50 V/sec

Question 9

Over sensing leads to _____pacing and under sensing leads to ______pacing.

Answer 9

under pacing
over pacing

Question 10

Fusion beat

Answer 10

A combination of an intrinsic beat and a paced beat

Question 11

Pseudofusion beats

Answer 11

Pacing pulse falls on an intrinsic beat
The pacing pulse is ineffective and the intrinsic QRS complex is unchanged

Question 12

Atrial escape interval (V-A interval)

Answer 12

Time in milliseconds from a ventricular paced/sensed event to the next atrial output pulse

Question 13

Escape interval

Answer 13

The interval between the normal beat and the escape beat (or) time between a paced/sensed cardiac event and the next schedule pacing stimulus

Question 14

Automatic interval

Answer 14

Pacing rate in milliseconds
Usually equal to the escape interval unless rate hysteresis is programmed on

Question 15

What are the two phases of a refractory period?

Answer 15

Absolute refractory (blanking) period
Relative refractory period

Question 16

What is the difference between absolute and relative refractory periods?

Answer 16

Absolute refractory periods device cannot see or respond to impulses
Relative refractory period device can see impulses but response is limited

Question 17

Asynchronous pacing

Answer 17

programmed mode of pacing that delivers a stimulus at a fixed rate independently of any atrial or ventricular activity

Question 18

What is the purpose for triggered modes of pacing?

Answer 18

Temporary diagnostic use
avoid inappropriate device inhibition owing to interference

Question 19

How does triggered modes work?

Answer 19

Paces when there is an intrinsic event detected

Question 20

MVP

Answer 20

Medtronic algorithm that minimizes RV pacing by using AAI(R) pacing when ventricular beats are sensed between two atrial beats

Question 21

What are the three main timing cycles in the atrial channel?

Answer 21

Atrial alert period
AV delay
PVARP

Question 22

What are the three main timing cycles in the ventricular channel?

Answer 22

Ventricular alert period
Blanking period/crosstalk detection window
Ventricular refractory period

Question 23

What is the cycle of periods on the atrial channel?

Answer 23

alert period, atrial event, AV delay, PVARP

Question 24

What two periods encompass the atrial refractory period?

Answer 24

PVAB and PVARP