Permanent cardiac pacemakers: Issues relevant to the emergency physician, part I

Many people benefit from the implantation of cardiac pacemakers for managem ent of certain cardiac dysrhythmias, These patients are seen regularly in t he emergency department with a variety of pacemaker complications and malfu nctions. The presence of a pacemaker may also affect management of unrelate d medical problems, This two-part series reviews the medical issues related to patients with permanent pacemakers. Part I covers pacing modes and term inology, complications of the implant procedure, and the approach to a pati ent with a permanent pacemaker, Part II covers the causes, diagnosis and ma nagement of pacemaker malfunction; the pacemaker syndrome; the pacemaker Tw iddler's syndrome; and other considerations in the paced patient including diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, ACLS protocols, trauma, and sourc es of interference. Indications for permanent pacemaker implantation and te mporary external pacing will not be covered. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.