Bradyarrhythmia Management

Indications, Safety, and Warnings

Brief Statement: Medtronic IPGs

Indications

Implantable Pulse Generators (IPGs) are indicated for rate adaptive pacing in patients who may benefit from increased pacing rates concurrent with increases in activity and increases in activity. Pacemakers are also indicated for dual chamber and atrial tracking modes in patients who may benefit from maintenance of AV synchrony. Dual chamber modes are specifically indicated for treatment of conduction disorders that require restoration of both rate and AV synchrony, which include various degrees of AV block to maintain the atrial contribution to cardiac output and VVI intolerance (e.g. pacemaker syndrome) in the presence of persistent sinus rhythm. See device manuals for the accepted patient conditions warranting chronic cardiac pacing. Antitachycardia pacing (ATP) is indicated for termination of atrial tachyarrythmias in patients with one or more of the above pacing indications.

Contraindications

IPGs are contraindicated for concomitant implant with another bradycardia device and concomitant implant with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. There are no known contraindications for the use of pacing as a therapeutic modality to control heart rate. The patient's age and medical condition, however, may dictate the particular pacing system, mode of operation, and implant procedure used by the physician. Rate-responsive modes may be contraindicated in those patients who cannot tolerate pacing rates above the programmed Lower Rate. Dual chamber sequential pacing is contraindicated in patients with chronic or persistent supraventricular tachycardias, including atrial fibrillation or flutter. Asynchronous pacing is contraindicated in the presence (or likelihood) of competition between paced and intrinsic rhythms. Single chamber atrial pacing is contraindicated in patients with an AV conduction disturbance. Anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapy is contraindicated in patients with an accessory antegrade pathway. Medtronic Kappa 400 Series pacemakers are contraindicated for use with epicardial leads and with abdominal implantation.

Warnings/Precautions

Changes in a patient's disease and/or medications may alter the efficacy of the device's programmed parameters. Patients should avoid sources of magnetic and electromagnetic radiation to avoid possible underdetection, inappropriate sensing and/or therapy delivery, tissue damage, induction of an arrhythmia, device electrical reset or device damage. Do not place transthoracic defibrillation paddles directly over the device.

Potential Complications

Potential complications include, but are not limited to, rejection phenomena, erosion through the skin, muscle or nerve stimulation, oversensing, failure to detect and/or terminate arrhythmia episodes, and surgical complications such as hematoma, infection, inflammation, and thrombosis.

See the device manual for detailed information regarding the implant procedure, indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions, and potential complications/adverse events. For further information, please call Medtronic at 1-800-328-2518 and/or consult Medtronic’s website at www.medtronic.com.

Caution: Federal law (USA) restricts these devices to sale by or on the order of a physician.