Pacemaker-induced tachycardia during general anaesthesia: a case report.

Pacemakers with a rate-responsive function, based on calculation of ventilatory minute volume, may induce tachycardia in patients who undergo hyperventilation during general anaesthesia. If hyperventilation is desired, it is recommended that the pacemaker is reprogrammed in order to avoid tachycardia. If the programming device is not available, a magnet may be placed over the pacemaker site to convert it to fixed-rate pacing.