Influence of digital and analogue cellular telephones on implanted pacemakers.
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Date
1997-11-24
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to find out whether digital and analogue cellular phones affect patients with pacemakers The study comprised continuous ECG monitoring of 200 pacemaker patients During the monitoring certain conditions caused by interference created by the telephone were looked for temporary or prolonged pacemaker inhibition a shift to asynchronous mode caused by electromagnetic interference an increase in ventricular pacing in dual chamber pacemakers up to the programmed upper rate The Global System for Mobile Communications system interfered with pacing 97 times in 43 patients 21 5 During tests on Total Access of Communication System telephones there were 60 cases of pacing interference in 35 patients 17 5 There were 131 interference episodes during ringing vs 26 during the on off phase P Under 0 0001 106 at maximum sensitivity level vs 51 at the base value P Under 0 0001 Prolonged pacing inhibition 4 s was seen at the pacemaker base sensing value in six patients using the Global system but in only one patient using Total Access