CHAPTER 64 Pacemakers and Internal Cardioverter Defibrillators
1 Explain the letters in the NBG coding system for pacemakers
The first three letters refer to chamber paced, chamber sensed, and response to sensed events. The fourth letter generally refers to programmability and rate responsiveness. The fifth letter is rarely used (Table 64-1).
8 What are common indications for permanent pacing?
In general patients with symptoms from slow heart rate of any type that are not reversible require pacing.
Patients with AV block located below the AV node require pacing. These patients have wide escape complexes, and their escape mechanisms are unreliable and can lead to asystole or death.
Patients with arrhythmias caused by bradycardia such as torsades de pointes responsive to pacing require pacing.