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Effective prevention of atrial fibrillation by continuous atrial overdrive pacing after coronary artery bypass surgery

Dominique Blommaert, MD^*, Manuel Gonzalez, MD, Joseph Mucumbitsi, MD^*, Olivier Gurné, MD, PhD^*, Patrick Evrard, MD, Michel Buche, MD, Yves Louagie, MD, PhD, Philippe Eucher, MD, Jacques Jamart, MD, Etienne Installé, MD and Luc De Roy, MD^*

^* Department of Cardiology, Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires de Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium
Intensive Care Unit, Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires de Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium
Cardiovascular Surgery, Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires de Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium
Biostatistics Unit, Université Catholique de Louvain, Cliniques Universitaires de Mont-Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium

View larger version (17K): [in a new window]   Figure 1 The dynamic overdrive pacing algorithm allows atrial pacing in the AAI mode, always just above the patient’s own rhythm. When a premature beat is sensed, the algorithm increases the heart rate by shortening its escape interval by 50 ms to a programmed upper rate limit. The pacing cycle length is then gradually increased by 5 ms per stimulus until the lower rate limit is reached or another spontaneous beat is sensed.