Implanted Bipolar Pacemakers

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Abstract
One hundred five pacemakers with bipolar electrodes have been observed in a pacemaker clinic serving a rural population. Pacemaker stimulus wave-form analysis and electronic stimulus interval counting were employed. Also, in selected cases, radiographic analysis of battery depletion was performed. Results show that a 1% increase in pacemaker rate is an accurate predictor of impending failure in units that are designed to undergo a rate change with battery depletion, and that radiography is helpful in cases of doubt. Wave-form analysis was useful only when other factors were unequivocally abnormal because of difficulty in standardizing the test.