A new method for diagramming pacemaker electrocardiograms.

Abstract

Advancements in technology have made paced ECG interpretation increasingly difficult. A new method for depicting the complex pacemaker/heart interactions that eliminates the extensive use of symbols and repetitious use of refractory period and rate limit information of previous methods has been devised. The method uses a framework of parallel horizontal lines drawn on grid paper underneath the ECG. The lines are spaced apart by the actual programmed values (lower rate, AV, VA intervals) of the pacemaker in question. This framework allows the simultaneous use of the horizontal and vertical directions for the diagram of pacemaker timing intervals. Also, a single representation of refractory periods, upper rate intervals, and other variables can be labeled vertically and extrapolated horizontally across the entire diagram. Single chamber, dual chamber, and rate-modulated ECGs are readily represented. The diagram is easily plotted on standard ECG paper and flexible enough to represent complex ECGs.