© 2002 by European Society of Cardiology
CASE REPORTS
Triboelectric simulation of pacemaker malfunction
1Cardiology Associates Frederick, MD, 21701, U.S.A.; 2Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation Rochester, MN, 55905, U.S.A.; 3Florida Cardiovascular Institute and Tampa General Hospital Tampa, FL, U.S.A.
We report the occurrence of a triboelectric phenomenon (static electricity) that mimicked malfunction of a contemporary pacemaker by creating an electrocardiograpic artifact virtually identical to the pacemaker stimuli. The diagnosis was established by observing a subtle overshoot of the questionable deflection that was absent from pacemaker stimuli.
Key Words: Pacemaker, triboelectric interference, pacemaker failure