Sensing and not Sensing Atrial Fibrillation

Report:

AV sequential pacemaker rhythm 60-75/min 5

Atrial fibrillation 5

Comment:

For much of the trace the pacemaker is firing through both barrels, unaware that AF precludes any atrial capture. This wastes the battery. On the other hand, having a rapid ventricular rate in response to sensed atrial waves would be even less desirable. The cure is to activate the mode switch and convert the unit to VVI mode.

Below (Fig 99a) is a trace from better times, when atrial waves were appropriately made or sensed.

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