Epicardial leads & rate response

• by golden_snitch
• 2011-03-16 02:03:34
• Batteries & Leads
• 1714 views
• 0 comments

Hey there!

I was wondering if anyone of you has epicardial pacemaker leads, and a rate response with minute-ventilation sensor (I have MV + accelerometer) that he/she needs a lot. Just asking because ever since my atrial pacer lead was switched to epicardial, the minute ventilation sensor has a problem, and is not adapting the rate well. I can hardly get above 100-110 bpm, no matter what I do. No one knows why. Pacer manufacturer says there are not a lot of experiences with epicardial leads and this sensor because the kids who usually have epicardial leads placed, most often have heart blocks, and do not need the rate response.

My cardio has checked the minute ventilation sensor alone, and it's slow, but works. But with both sensors, MV + accelerometer switched on, I have this problem (MV is supposed to lead). Now, he has switched MV off today, so I'm left with accelerometer only, and what I can say so far is that now my heart starts to race whenever I walk slowly etc. Oh well... I need the rate response a lot since I have no sinus node. I'm paced 99,5% atrially, around 70% is with rate response. I had chosen this pacer model mostly (but not only) because of the dual-sensor rate response, and of course, no one ever told me - seems no one really knows - that it could be a problem with epicardial leads.

Just wondering, maybe there is someone here who's had the same problem.

Best wishes
Inga