Skip Navigation

European Heart Journal 1997 18(12):1951-1955;
Copyright © 1997 by the European Society of Cardiology.
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
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 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 arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Duckers, H. J.
Right arrow Articles by Yee, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Duckers, H. J.
Right arrow Articles by Yee, R.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

© 1997 The European Society of Cardiology

Effective use of a novel rate-smoothing algorithm in atrial fibrillation by ventricular pacing

H. J. Duckers, N. M. van Hemel, J. C. Kelder, H. Bakema and R. Yee*

Department of Cardiology, St Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
*Division of Cardiology, London Health Sciences Centre London, Ontario, Canada

Received 21 April 1997; accepted 25 April 1997.

Correspondence: Prof. N. M. van Hemel, MD, FESC, Department of Cardiology, St Antonius Hospital, P.O. Box 2500, 3430 EM Nieuwegein, The Netherlands

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is still unknown whether a fast heart rate or an irregular ventricular response in atrial fibrillation causes tachycardiomyopathy. Reduction in the variability of RR intervals without an increase in heart rate might be an alternative treatment when antiarrhythmic drugs fail to control the irregularity accompanying atrial fibrillation.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eight patients underwent temporary right ventricular pacing, using a novel rate-smoothing algorithm prior to DC cardioversion or His bundle ablation. A rate-smoothing algorithm was utilized by right ventricular apical stimulation. Spontaneous and paced RR intervals during atrial fibrillation were quantified and processed for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: The rate-smoothing algorithm resulted in a substantial reduction in the variance of the RR intervals (slow mode 73·1%, fast mode 40·0%) and RR range (slow mode 49·3%, fast mode 34·3%). In contrast to previous algorithms, the mean heart rate during pacing intervention in atrial fibrillation did not change significantly to the heart rate directly preceding the pacemaker intervention (+2%).

CONCLUSIONS: This initial study of the novel rate-smoothing algorithm shows that pacing intervention is a relatively safe, rapid and reliable alternative therapy for controlling irregular ventricular rhythms due to atrial fibrillation. Incorporation of the algorithm in implantable pacemakers appears justified, but demands further prospective studies in patients to evaluate relief of symptoms and reduction of tachycardiomyopathy due to atrial fibrillation.

Key Words: atrial fibrillation • rate-smoothing • pacemaker algorithm


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
 EuropaceHome page
J. Lian, D. Mussig, and V. Lang
Ventricular rate smoothing for atrial fibrillation: a quantitative comparison study
Europace, July 1, 2007; 9(7): 506 - 513.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EuropaceHome page
J. Lian, D. Mussig, and V. Lang
On the role of ventricular conduction time in rate stabilization for atrial fibrillation
Europace, May 1, 2007; 9(5): 289 - 293.
[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.