The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 81, 713-717, Copyright © 1981 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Output programmability and reduction of secondary intervention after pacemaker implantation
S Furman and F Pannizzo
Six hundred one new or initial pacemaker implants between Jan. 1, 1972, and
Dec. 31, 1979, consisted of 289 output-programmable pulse generators and
312 fixed-output generators. Standard leads were used in all instances. Of
the 289 output-programmable pulse generators, 4.5% (13) required revision
for failure to capture the heart in the postimplant period; of the 312
fixed-output units. 9.6% (30) required revision (p = 0.015). In 41 patients
the early threshold was above standard output (5 V. 10 mamp, 0.5 msec), and
in six of them approximately 6 months were required to return to stable
threshold levels below standard output. In the remainder, threshold rose
above standard output and was managed by increased output of the output-
programmable pulse generators, either briefly or permanently. We conclude
that output programmability allows reduction in secondary intervention
after implantation and that threshold evolution may occupy a period as long
as 6 months.
