Dorsal spinal cord injury as a cause of recurrent asystole requiring permanent cardiac pacing.

Numerous unusual causes of atrioventricular block (AVB) with cardiac pacemaker implantation have been documented including cough, deglutition, or other vagally mediated mechanism. In spinal cord lesions, only high cervical spinal cord lesion has been reported as a cause of severe bradycardia. We report a case with not cervical but dorsal vertebral trauma and persistent paroxysmal AVB requiring cardiac pacemaker implantation.

Effects of hyperbaric exposures on cardiac pacemakers.

Data on tolerance of cardiac pacemakers during diving are very scarce. The aim of this study was to test electronic and mechanical tolerances of pacemakers exposed to experimental reproductions of pressures encountered during diving. Two samples each of 20 different models of cardiac pacemakers were exposed to compression during continuous telemetric monitoring.

Right atrial sensing for VDD pacing through a persistent left superior vena cava.

This report describes a pacing lead insertion through a persistent left superior vena cava in the VDD pacing mode, with a large retrograde lead course allowing the optimal positioning of the sensing electrodes in the right atrium.

Intra-atrial thrombosis and pulmonary embolism complicating pacemaker leads for cardiac resynchronization therapy.

This is the first report of intracardiac thrombi and pulmonary embolism complicating pacemaker leads implanted for cardiac resynchronization therapy. Prompt diagnosis and successful therapy with a thrombolytic agent lead to a favourable outcome. This report suggests that long-term oral anticoagulation should be considered in patients with depressed left ventricular function undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy in order to prevent this potentially serious complication.

[Interferences and cardiac pacemakers--defibrillators. Results of in vivo experiments and radio frequencies].

Interference with cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators by cellular phone and electronic article surveillance systems is shown in experimental studies with disparate findings. Interaction occurrence in real life is a convincing but rare experience. Device model, distance, power output and technology of the source are different and sometimes uncontrollable factors.