Ventricular pacing thresholds following high-energy implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks in integrated bipolar defibrillation systems.

Background: Increased ventricular pacing thresholds have been observed following monophasic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks.

Aim: To examine changes following high-energy biphasic shocks delivered by integrated bipolar ICD systems.

Method: Ten episodes of ventricular fibrillation (VF) were induced at 10 min intervals in nine pigs with integrated ICD systems.