Overdrive pacing

Hi, I have read somewhere that the pacemaker can be set to overdrive pacing and this may stop Atrial Flutter. My husband has had paroxmyl AF since he had the pacemaker fitted. He is on Bisoprolol 2.5 and although this helps it doesnt stop the AF completely.

Reason for the pacemaker was low pulse rate resulting in syncope. He has SSS.

Can anyone throw any light on this. I dont understand the pacemaker settings and when we asked at the clinic they said there werent any settings that could be altered to correct AF.

Thanks in advance

Craft

1 Comments

Overdrive pacing

by golden_snitch - 2016-05-18 06:05:33

Hi!

First of all, a betablocker like Bisoprolol is used for "rate control" in AF only. It does not stop AF, it only reduces the heart rate during AF. For "rhythm control", which means stopping or reducing AF, you use different kinds of drugs as for instance Flecainide, Propafenone or Dronedarone. So, it's not surprising that Bisoprolol doesn't stop your husband's AF.

Some Medtronic pacemakers have a set of features to prevent atrial flutter and fibrillation, including overdrive pacing, atrial preference pacing and atrial anti-tachycardia pacing.

As far as I know Boston Scientific pacemakers don't have anything similar. But you can ask a company rep about that.

Best wishes!

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