Environmental and drug effects on patients with pacemakers and implantablecardioverter/defibrillators - A practical guide to patient treatment

The potential for interaction between pacemakers and implantable cardiovert er/ defibrillators (ICDs) and the medical and nonmedical environment, and b etween these devices and certain cardioactive drugs, has been recognized fo r years. Whereas a number of experimental and clinical studies have been pe rformed to define some of these interactions, in man): instances data are s parse and anecdotal clinical experiences form the basis for decision making and recommendations. Nevertheless, given the proliferation of rhythm-manag ement devices in use in the population today, practitioners may find a guid e to management of these patients helpful. This management guideline is the refore offered not as an extensive, literature-based review, but as a frame work on which to understand specific types of problems that may be encounte red in the daily lives of patients who have such implanted devices.