Pacemakers for cyclists - finding an EP

I have bradycardia and exercise chronotropic incompetence. My age is 70. Resting heart rate 28 - 35 and cannot increase heart rate beyond 100 under rigorous cycling conditions.   From Holter monitor, ECG and exercise routines looks like I have a pause in the sinus node (PR ~ 3 to 4 seconds) and Type II, Mobitz 1 (Wenkabach) AV Block.  

I'm a competitive cyclist.  Looking for the best PM that tracking respiratory change.  Also looking for recommendations for EPs that understand cycling and also programming the PM for maximum performance.  I live in the Pacific NW part of the country.

3 Comments

rate response

by Tracey_E - 2024-06-04 16:14:02

Boston Scientific uses minute ventillation for rate response

https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/products/pacemakers/accolade-mri-and-essentio-mri-pacemakers.html

Something else to look into is Biotronik's Closed Loop Stimulation. Hopefully someone else can explain it better, but it learns you.

https://www.biotronik.com/en-int/professionals/featured-technologies/closed-loop-stimulation

There is also Soren, and Medtronic has recently started using minute ventilation also. 

Both Boston and Biotronik are less common than Medtronic and Abbott, the other two main manufacturers, which means it's harder to find someone expert at programming them. Be sure whoever you choose has done a lot of them and is experienced with athletes. 

If your rate won't go over 100 now, it's best not to push it too hard until you get it fixed. It's hard on the body to push harder than what the heart can keep up with. 

I'm going to send you a private message with another resource.

Pacemakers for Cyclists - EP specializing in this area

by passnape - 2024-06-04 19:03:36

Thanks so much Tracy; appreciate the great info.  I found the Boston Accolade and researched that model a little.  Think my biggest challenge is locating an EP or tech that understands and can program this model.or other approriate models.  Right now I am in an HMO where I don't think the EPs have this experience.  Good news is that I can go out of this HMO network if I find someone.   Let me know if you need my email for additional info.

messages

by Tracey_E - 2024-06-05 09:36:11

I sent you a private message through here. There should be a little red notification on the bell at the top left of the page. 

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