Diagnostic Endocardial Electrical Recording and Stimulation

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-100-3-452

Diagnostic Endocardial Electrical Recording and Stimulation

Excerpt

Endocardial electrical stimulation is a diagnostic technique for evaluating sinus node function, the atrioventricular conduction system, and tachyarrhythmias. Electrode catheters inserted into the heart detect and stimulate cardiac electrical activity to provide information about the heart's electrical conduction system. Because activity is measured in several sites, several catheters must be placed in the right heart ventricle and, at times, in the left heart ventricle (1, 2). When severe or life-threatening arrhythmias are induced during stimulation, the efficacy of pharmacologic agents in preventing or suppressing the initiation of these arrhythmias may be evaluated.

Although pacing protocols differ among centers (3, 4),

Acknowledgments

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: The Clinical Efficacy Assessment Project (CEAP) of the American College of Physicians is designed to evaluate and inform College members and others about the safety and efficacy of diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Evaluation of technologies begins with a notice in the Annals of Internal Medicine and the ACP Observer inviting comments. Appropriate members of the Council of Medical Societies and the Council of Subspecialty Societies as well as other experts are asked to review technologies. The CEAP statements thus represent a synthesis of the literature and expert opinion and are intended to reflect the current state-of-the-art knowledge concerning a technology. Statements may be reconsidered as new information becomes available.

Article and Author Information

↵* This paper was authored by Lisa Kaufmann, M.D., and J. Sanford Schwartz, M.D., and was developed for the Health and Public Policy Committee by the Clinical Efficacy Assessment Subcommittee: Donald E. Olson, M.D., Chairman; David Banta, M.D.; Alvan R. Feinstein, M.D.; Howard S. Frazier, M.D.; Richard B. Hortnick, M.D.; and Seymour Perry, M.D. Members of the Health and Public Policy Committee for the 1983-1984 term were Edwin P. Maynard, III, M.D., Chairman; Arthur J. Atkinson, Jr., M.D.; Steven C. Beering, M.D.; Richard G. Farmer, M.D.; Paul F. Griner, M.D.; John R. Hogness, M.D.; Charles E. Lewis, M.D.; Donald E. Olson, MD.; Malcolm L. Peterson, M.D.; Theodore B. Schwartz, M.D.; and Helen L. Smits, M.D. Richard J. Reitemeier, M.D., and Francis J. Sweeney, Jr., M.D., were ex officio members. This position paper was adopted by the Executive Committee of the Board of Regents on 17 October 1983.
Grant support: The Clinical Efficacy Assessment Project is funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation.
▸Requests for reprints should be addressed to Linda Johnson White; Clinical Efficacy Assessment Project, Department of Health and Public Policy, American College of Physicians, 4200 Pine Street; Philadelphia, PA 19104.