[Combined anti-bradycardia/anti-tachycardia pacemaker-cardioverter-defibrillator systems in patients with recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmias]

Abstract

In 41 patients with recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation an integrated pacemaker-defibrillator-system (PCD, Medtronic, model 7216 A or 7217 B) was implanted. In 21 out of 24 (88%) patients a new transvenous implantation technique in combination with a subcutaneous patch electrode was used. The implanted devices comprise antibradycardiac pacemaker functions, two different forms of antitachycardiac pacemaker functions (ramp and burst pacing), and internal cardioversion or defibrillation capabilities. During a mean follow-up of 8 months 147 episodes of ventricular tachycardia were detected, 131 of them were terminated successfully by antitachycardiac pacing; in 13 episodes internal cardioversion was applied to revert ventricular tachycardia. Twenty-seven episodes of ventricular fibrillation or rapid ventricular tachycardia (greater than 200/min) were detected and successfully terminated by internal defibrillation. In six patients with intermittent rapid atrial fibrillation, change of antiarrhythmic therapy was required to avoid activation of the device. The new integrated pacemaker-defibrillator systems improve therapy in patients with life-threatening tachyarrhythmias by reducing the number of internal cardioversions/defibrillations; the non-thoracotomy approach reduces the post operative risk.