INTRODUCTION: Sophisticated monitoring of atrial activity is a prerequisite for modern pacemaker therapy. Ideally, near-fields and ventricular far-fields ought to be distinguished by beat-to-beat template analysis of the atrial signal. A prerequisite is that atrial signals are stable under different conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: A Matlab routine was developed to analyze atrial electrograms of 23 patients at least 3 months after implantation of a dual chamber pacemaker under several conditions including at rest, bipolar at rest, in an upright position, during treadmill exercise, and postexercise. A near-field and far-field template was created and amplitudes, widths, and slew rates were measured. In bipolar configuration, near-field amplitude at rest was 3.04 +/- 0.94 mV (unipolar)/3.36 +/- 1.0 mV (bipolar) versus 3.18 +/- 1.0 mV (bipolar) at peak exercise. Far-field amplitude at rest was 1.66 +/- 1.18 (unipolar)/0.47 +/- 0.27 mV (bipolar) and 0.41 +/- 0.21 mV (bipolar) at peak exercise (n.s. for bipolar measurements). No overall significant changes were observed for near- and far-field widths and slew rates during exercise. Shorter tip-ring distances of the atrial bipole, lead position, and the presence of sinus node disease did not have any impact on overall near- and far-field signal characteristics. Intraindividual differences between rest and peak exercise were moderate (range: near-field +0.15 to -0.54 mV; range: far-field +0.05 to -0.18 mV). CONCLUSIONS: Atrial near and far fields can be automatically classified and quantified by automated signal processing. Signals did not change during exercise or change of posture. This is a prerequisite for the implementation of beat-to-beat template analysis into pacemakers.
INTRODUCTION: Sophisticated monitoring of atrial activity is a prerequisite for modern pacemaker therapy. Ideally, near-fields and ventricular far-fields ought to be distinguished by beat-to-beat template analysis of the atrial signal. A prerequisite is that atrial signals are stable under different conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: A Matlab routine was developed to analyze atrial electrograms of 23 patients at least 3 months after implantation of a dual chamber pacemaker under several conditions including at rest, bipolar at rest, in an upright position, during treadmill exercise, and postexercise. A near-field and far-field template was created and amplitudes, widths, and slew rates were measured. In bipolar configuration, near-field amplitude at rest was 3.04 +/- 0.94 mV (unipolar)/3.36 +/- 1.0 mV (bipolar) versus 3.18 +/- 1.0 mV (bipolar) at peak exercise. Far-field amplitude at rest was 1.66 +/- 1.18 (unipolar)/0.47 +/- 0.27 mV (bipolar) and 0.41 +/- 0.21 mV (bipolar) at peak exercise (n.s. for bipolar measurements). No overall significant changes were observed for near- and far-field widths and slew rates during exercise. Shorter tip-ring distances of the atrial bipole, lead position, and the presence of sinus node disease did not have any impact on overall near- and far-field signal characteristics. Intraindividual differences between rest and peak exercise were moderate (range: near-field +0.15 to -0.54 mV; range: far-field +0.05 to -0.18 mV). CONCLUSIONS: Atrial near and far fields can be automatically classified and quantified by automated signal processing. Signals did not change during exercise or change of posture. This is a prerequisite for the implementation of beat-to-beat template analysis into pacemakers.
Authors: U K Wiegand; J Potratz; F Bode; R Schneider; W Peters; H Bonnemeier; H A Katus Journal: Pacing Clin Electrophysiol Date: 2000-05 Impact factor: 1.976
Authors: J Brouwer; D Nagelkerke; P den Heijer; J H Ruiter; H Mulder; M J Begemann; K I Lie Journal: Pacing Clin Electrophysiol Date: 1997-04 Impact factor: 1.976
Authors: U K Wiegand; F Bode; W Peters; H Haase; H Bonnemeier; H A Katus; J Potratz Journal: Pacing Clin Electrophysiol Date: 2000-04 Impact factor: 1.976