Skip Navigation

Europace 2004 6(2):165-168; doi:10.1016/j.eupc.2003.11.003
© 2004 by European Society of Cardiology
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (3)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Waller, C.
Right arrow Articles by Langenfeld, H.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Waller, C.
Right arrow Articles by Langenfeld, H.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

OLD ISSUE REVISITED

Adverse effects of direct current cardioversion on cardiac pacemakers and electrodes

Is external cardioversion contraindicated in patients with permanent pacing systems?

Christiane Waller*, Frank Callies and Heiner Langenfeld

Medizinische Universitätsklinik Würzburg, Germany

Abstract

Use of pacing in sick sinus syndrome and recent developments in pacemaker therapy for intermittent atrial fibrillation raise the question of whether external electrical cardioversion should be used for termination of atrial fibrillation. This paper analyzes three cases of pacemaker and/or electrode dysfunction appearing after direct current (DC) cardioversion for termination of atrial fibrillation. Despite similar conditions during cardioversion in all cases, different dysfunctions reflecting damage to the pulse generator and/or a rise of the stimulation threshold in both, atrial and ventricular leads, have been observed. The possible mechanisms for these effects are discussed and recommendations for the management of cardioversion in patients with permanent pacemaker systems are given.

Key Words: cardioversion, pacemaker dysfunction, lead dysfunction

*Corresponding author. Universitätsklinik Würzburg, Medizinische Klinik, Josef-Schneider-Strasse 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany. Tel.: +49-931-201-36904; fax: +49-931-201-36302. E-mail address: waller_c{at}medizin.uni-wuerzburg.de (C. Waller).


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eur Heart JHome page
J. C. Manegold, C. W. Israel, J. R. Ehrlich, G. Duray, D. Pajitnev, F. T. Wegener, and S. H. Hohnloser
External cardioversion of atrial fibrillation in patients with implanted pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator systems: a randomized comparison of monophasic and biphasic shock energy application
Eur. Heart J., July 2, 2007; 28(14): 1731 - 1738.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EuropaceHome page
R. Anzawa, S. Ishikawa, Y. Tanaka, F. Okazaki, and S. Mochizuki
Increased AAI mode pacing threshold after termination of atrial fibrillation by acute administration of disopyramide phosphate.
Europace, January 1, 2006; 8(5): 345 - 348.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.