[Changes in pacemakers and the wearers of pacemakers as a result of the use of different electromagnetic energy sources].

Over the past decade there have been considerable advances in cardiac electrostimulation technologies. However, there are still reports of electromagnetic interference with pacemakers and pacemaker patients. We have studied the effects of various electromagnetic sources (short-wave diathermy, electrosurgical knives, electrotherapy and radiofrequencies) on both humans and animals. The results of the studies were completely negative and, therefore, we are convinced that today's pacemakers are much more reliable and hence less subject to interference from external electromagnetic sources. We performed the following tests: (a) Short-wave diathermy: various electrode positions in pigs and 8 patients with pacemakers. (b) Electrosurgical knives: several tests on pigs with unipolar electrosurgical knife; 6 tests on humans during automatic defibrillator implantation using two-pole electrosurgical knives; 23 pacemaker patients underwent abdominal surgery (3 inguinal hernias, 12 gastric resections; 6 cholecystotomies, 2 aortic aneurysms-with two-pole electrosurgical knives). (c) Electrotherapy (TENS): on pigs. (d) Radiofrequency (RF) for transcatheter ablation-several tests on pigs.