Slowing Rate with Battery Depletion

Report:

Atrial fibrillation 1

Pacemaker rhythm 60/min 2

Possible battery depletion 7

Comment:

Battery depletion is usually programmed to manifest itself by slowing to a pre-set rate, in this case 60/min. This patient’s potential problem was in fact diagnosed on routine ECG.

Slow pacing rate does not necessarily denote battery depletion. The example below (Fig 93a) was also referred to the Pacemaker Clinic, but turned out to have the pacemaker’s sleep function at 50/min switched “on”!

In clinical reporting it is not always possible to check what the programmed parameters are for a particular patient’s pacemaker.

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