Effect of Potassium in Restoring Myocardial Response to a Subthreshold Cardiac Pacemaker

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Abstract
IMPLANTED cardiac pacemakers may become exhausted and no longer produce myocardial response. Pharmacologic means were used in this study to restore responsiveness to partially exhausted pacemakers in 2 patients with complete heart block.Case ReportsCase 1. A 69-year-old woman had been asymptomatic for 20 months after implantation of a cardiac pacemaker for complete heart block and Adams-Stokes attacks. However, 2 weeks before admission, she noted a slower heart rate and after 2 syncopal episodes was returned to Walter Reed General Hospital. An electrocardiogram revealed complete heart block, with idioventricular rhythm. The ventricle responded to the implanted pacemaker only when . . .