ABSTRACT
Analysis of the cardiac rhythm in patients with ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia can be difficult because P-waves tend to be obscured by other components of the ECG. Recording of the intracavitary electrogram by means of pacing wires and the use of esophageal leads can be very helpful under these circumstances. Because a number of these patients are monitored with pulmonary artery catheters, we developed a method to obtain the atrial electrogram using the fluid column of the pulmonary artery catheter as an electrical conductor. Only slight modifications of the ECG equipment were necessary.
Subject(s)
Electrocardiography/methods , Arrhythmias, Cardiac/diagnosis , Cardiac Catheterization/instrumentation , Electrocardiography/instrumentation , Humans , Monitoring, Physiologic/instrumentation , Pulmonary ArteryABSTRACT
Given the not infrequent need for intracardiac pacemaking during intensive cardiac care, a new type of cardiac pacemaker has been designed and tested [1]. With this pacemaker the heart can be stimulated through the fluid column of any conventional catheter, provided it is filled with a 0.9% NaCl solution. This fluid column pacemaker (FCP) is of the "constant current" type. The FCP was tested in 37 animals, in 30 patients in sinus rhythm, and also in two critical patients. In addition to the pacemaker circuit, a special connector was designed, enabling a fast, effective, and safe contact between patient and pacemaker. The FCP is considered to be ideally suited for use in emergency cardiac pacing in intensive care units and other areas where sudden bradycardias may occur and where intrathoracic catheters are inserted for a variety of reasons.
