Long-Term Internal Cardiac Defibrillation Threshold Stability
JULE N. WETHERBEE
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
PETER D. CHAPMAN
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Address for reprints: Peter D. Chapman, M.D. Cardiology Division, 8700 W Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226.Search for more papers by this authorPAUL J. TROUP
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorJAN VESETH-ROGERS
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorR.K. THAKUR
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorG. HOSSEIN ALMASSI
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorGORDON N. OLINGER
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorJULE N. WETHERBEE
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
PETER D. CHAPMAN
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Address for reprints: Peter D. Chapman, M.D. Cardiology Division, 8700 W Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53226.Search for more papers by this authorPAUL J. TROUP
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorJAN VESETH-ROGERS
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorR.K. THAKUR
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorG. HOSSEIN ALMASSI
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorGORDON N. OLINGER
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division and Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
The automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is tested intraoperatively with defibrillation trials to ensure effectiveness. It is unknown if the energy requirement for internal defibrillation remains stable and that once demonstrated effective, if the device will continue to be effective in terminating lethal ventricular arrhythmias. In this study, the defibrillation energy requirement was compared in 56 patients at the time of lead implantation to that obtained at the time of generator replacement. Mean time to generator replacement was 17. ± 6.6 months. The defibrillation threshold was stable over that time (11. 9 ± 6.7 joules compared to 12.7 ± 8.4 joules, NS). There was no relation between transmyocardial impedance and defibrillation threshold. In addition, no effect on defibrillation threshold was demonstrated by the use of various cardiac medications, concomitant surgery or the occurrence of clinical shocks during follow-up.
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