OUTCOMES OF 6 MONTHLY STIMULATION THRESHOLD ASSESSMENTS IN PATIENTS WITH PROGRAMMABLE PACING SYSTEMS

The purpose of this review was to evaluate the yield of atrial and ven tricular stimulation threshold assessments at each routine six monthly pacemaker clinic visit. Since 1983 six monthly stimulation thresholds have been performed in all patients with programmable pacing systems to establish reduced output levels for safe capture margins and pulse generator longevity. All records of patients with pacing system implan ted for greater than twenty-four (24) months were retrospectively revi ewed for stimulation threshold stability. After pacing system implanta tion and the initial three month visit all patients were routinely fol lowed in the pacemaker clinic with full programming including the asse ssment of stimulation threshold using the programmer options for volta ge and duration attenuation. Mean follow-up was 6.5 yrs (range 1 to 12 yrs).