[A new method for the diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in patients with an implanted programmable pacemaker]

Abstract

Implanted programmable pacemaker (IPP) applicability for detection of myocardial ischemia has been tried in patients with continuous pacing (CP). 28 patients (mean age 59 +/- 9 years) on CP in VVI and AAI regimens because of arrhythmia and abnormal cardiac conduction underwent loading test with enhanced stimulation made with IPP on the changed program. Impaired local contractility (ILC) of the left ventricle was registered at two-dimensional echoCG. The test reached diagnostic criteria in 27 cases. The results of the test appeared positive in 11 patients whose ILC index increased from 3 +/- 3 to 9 +/- 5 (p < 0.01), on the average. The authors believe this variant of stress-echoCG applicable for diagnosis of myocardial ischemia in IPP patients. Limitations are indicated in AAI and VVI CP regimens.