Management of radiation therapy patients with cardiac defibrillator or pacemaker.

The increasing growth of population with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) such as Pacemaker (PM) and Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators (ICD), requires particular attention in management of patients needing radiation treatment. This paper updates and summarizes some recommendations from different international guidelines. Ionizing radiation and/or electromagnetic interferences could cause device failure.

Implant and long-term evaluation of atrial signal amplification in a single-lead ICD.

Background: In patients without clinical indications for pacing the use of a single-lead implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implementing atrial sensing capability with proper signal amplification management may represent a useful therapeutic option, combining the positive features of both single and dual-chamber devices. The aim of the study was to evaluate the atrial signal amplification and its long-term stability in a single-lead ICD system adding atrial sensing to a standard single-chamber ICD.

Methods: P-wave amplitudes were collected and compared at implant both with a conventional external device ("unfiltered" P wave) and telemetrically with the implanted ICD ("filtered" P wave).