THE INFLUENCE OF SENSOR ORIENTATION ON ACTIVITY-BASED RATE-RESPONSIVEPACING

Piezoelectric activity-based rate responsive pacemakers are commonly i mplanted with the sensor facing inward. This study was conducted to as sess the safe and effective rate response of an activity-based rate re sponsive pacemaker implanted with the sensor facing outward. A compari son were made to a previously studied patient group with sensor facing inward. Patient and pacemaker data was collected at predischarge and 2-month follow-up, Two-minute hall walks in conjunction with programme r-assisted rate response assessment were utilized to standardize initi al rate response parameter settings for both patient groups. At 2-mont h follow-up, sensor rate response to a stage 3 limited CAEP protocol w as recorded, Adequate sensor rate response was achieved for both patie nt groups. No difference was noted in report ed patient complications for both groups. A statistically significant difference in programmed rate response curve setting and activity threshold for the two groups was noted at 2-month follow-up. Adequate sensor rate response was achi eved for a patient population implanted with an activity-based rate re sponsive pacemaker with sensor facing outward. In this orientation, on e higher rate response curve setting and an activity threshold one val ue more sensitive were required on average when compared to the normal sen sor orientation group.