Stroobandt R, Willems R, Depuydt P, Holvoet G, Sinnaeve A
Department of Cardiology, St.-Jozef Hospital Oostende, Belgium.
Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 1989 Mar;12(3):451-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1989.tb02683.x.
Pectoral muscle stimulation may cause serious discomfort to patients equipped with a pulse generator. Insulation defects of the lead, connector problems and defective coating of the pacemaker can are common causes of local muscle contractions. This report describes pectoral muscle stimulation caused by the atrial superfast recharge pulse incorporated into the atrial channel of a commercially available unipolar DDD pacemaker. As pectoral muscle stimulation could not be eliminated by reprogramming the pacemaker to a lower atrial output in some patients a redesign of the pacemaker is highly required.
