Absence of discrimination in a pacemaker-dependent patient

Patient

This 68-year-old man underwent implantation of a Cognis triple chamber defibrillator in the context of ischemic cardiomyopathy with left bundle branch block. He had undergone ablation of the His bundle for permanent AFib. He was seen for a routine ambulatory visit.

Summary

Episode of tachycardia diagnosed in the VT zone without programmed discriminator other than the rate. A burst of ATP was delivered

Trace

Tracing

AFib accurately detected by the device; rate responsive, paced ventricular rhythm;
sudden onset of regular tachycardia;
8 out of 10 criterion fulfilled;
at the end of Duration, the arrhythmia persisted; detection of an episode of VT without other discriminator;
burst of 8 cycles of ATP;
successful burst and termination of the arrhythmia.

Comments

This patient had undergone ablation of the His bundle and was entirely dependent on his defibrillator. No discrimination should be programmed in this context, as all spontaneous rapid rhythms can only be ventricular in origin. The discriminators (Onset/Stability or Rhythm ID) are, therefore, systematically deactivated in patients with complete AV block, whether spontaneous, drug-induced or after ablation of the conduction pathways.

Pacing & Defibrillation

ECG

Library

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