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Europace 2005 7(6):592-597; doi:10.1016/j.eupc.2005.06.004
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© 2005 The European Society of Cardiology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

SHORT SERIES REPORT

Runaway pacemaker: A forgotten phenomenon?

Daniel F. Ortega, M. Victoria Sammartino*, Graciela M.M. Pellegrino, Luis D. Barja, Gaston Albina, Eliseo V. Segura, Roberto Balado, Ruben Laiño and Alberto G. Giniger

Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires, Electrofisiología, Blanco Encalada 1543 DCO 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Abstract

Runaway is an uncommon pacemaker dysfunction, characterized by fast and erratic spikes at non-physiological rates.

This infrequent but potentially lethal failure mode may be related to low battery voltage.

Four single chamber pacemaker patients were analyzed (Medtronic Minix ST 8330, Minneapolis, MN, had been implanted in two patients and two CPI Triumph VR 1124, St Paul, MN, in the other two). They had been admitted because of presyncopal episodes. Typical high rate stimuli at 2000 ppm alternating with pacing at 60–65 ppm were recorded in all ECGs. Lead system tests were normal. The pulse generators had to be replaced.

Key Words: failure of capture, battery depletion, runaway

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +54 1148635770; fax: +54 1147877500. E-mail address: vicsam1604{at}yahoo.com.ar


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