R. Chamberlainwebber et al., REASONS FOR REPROGRAMMING DUAL-CHAMBER PACEMAKERS TO VVI-MODE - A RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW USING A COMPUTER DATABASE, PACE, 17(11), 1994, pp. 1730-1736
Seven hundred seventy-one dual chamber pacemakers implanted over a 13-
year period were identified using a computer database. The mean follow
-up period was 40.4 +/- 30.9 months(mean +/- SD). Thirty-three (4.3%)
patients were reprogrammed to the VVI mode after a mean period of 26.4
+/- 29 months. indications for pacing in those reprogrammed were: com
plete heart block 45.7%, impaired AV conduction 5.7%, sick sinus syndr
ome 34.2%, carotid sinus syndrome 11.4%, and vasovagal syndrome 2.8%.
The most common reason for reprogramming was development of sustained
atrial arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation or flutter), which occurred in
25 patients (3.3% of entire group). The remaining 8 (1% of entire gro
up) were reprogrammed because of atrial lead related problems.