Cardiac Pacemaker Induced Ventricular Fibrillation during Surgical Diathermy
Open Access
- 1 November 1975
- journal article
- research article
- Published by SAGE Publications in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care
- Vol. 3 (4) , 321-326
- https://doi.org/10.1177/0310057x7500300407
Abstract
Two demand pacemakers were observed to repeatedly fibrillate the heart during clinical surgery employing diathermy. Marked hypotension associated with a rapid, irregular ventricular action was observed in another patient who had a fixed rate pacemaker implanted. Pacemakers were tested with function generators over a range of frequencies and some increased their rate to between 200–600 impulses/min. Animal experiments confirmed that, contrary to manufacturers advice, surgical diathermy produces myocardial fibrillation in the presence of some pacemakers. Mechanisms of these effects and their clinical significance are discussed.Keywords
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