February 2024

Answer
AAIR<>DDDR (MVP)

Explanation/Discussion

The device is a Medtronic Ensura programmed AAI<>DDD (first generation). When MVP is functioning on AAIR mode, as in this case, ventricular backup pacing occurs following 2 out of 4 A-A intervals that do not have a ventricular sensed event. The device then back-up paces 80ms after the A-A escape interval(1). When applied to this ECG, the first two atrial pacing spikes with loss of A-Capture, only one has a valid V-Sense event. The third escape beat of the ECG coincides with the atrial pacing spike and so does not have a valid V-sense event. As now 2 out of four A-A intervals do not have ventricular sense events, the device delivers back-up ventricular pacing 80ms after the atrial paced event. Because this is a temporary switch, the device does not continue to deliver ventricular pacing as some of the junctional escape beats, fall into the V-Sense event window, preventing the switch to DDD mode. Figure 2 demonstrates the annotated ECG, the green VS markers highlight valid V-Sensed event after an atrial pacing event, the red VS markers are invalid V-Sensed events.

 
Figure 2: Annotated 12-Lead ECG

Interestingly, the patient had been started on Flecainide in July 2023 for her PAF. Figure 3 below shows the atrial capture management trend, demonstrating the atrial threshold had begun to rise almost immediately after commencing treatment.

Figure 3: Atrial Capture Management Trend

Flecainide can be associated with a rise in pacing thresholds and intermittent loss of capture(2) is reported in the literature. This is because as a class IC agent, flecainide markedly depresses rate of rise in the cardiac action potential, but a relatively small effect on the action potential duration(3). In this case, the device was reprogrammed to DDDR with a long AV delay, with the atrial outputs being increased to restore atrial capture and AV synchrony. The purpose of this is to provide atrial pacing as required by this patient, and to still allow intrinsic conduction and reduce unnecessary right ventricular pacing. The presence of an active AV delay in DDDR mode will ensure that any atrial paced event will always result in a ventricular paced event, should atrial loss of capture recur.

References

1. Medtronic Academy. (2023). Managed Ventricular Pacing (MVP) Features. Available at: Managed Ventricular Pacing (MVP) Features (medtronicacademy.com)
2. Suffrendi, J. Rutland, J. Akpunonu, P. Baum, R. Catanzaro, J and Elayi, C. (2019). ‘Flecainide Toxicity Resulting in Pacemaker Latency and Intermittent Failure to Capture.’ American Journal of Case Reports. Volume 20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.12659%2FAJCR.916370
3. Hellestrand, K. Nathan, A. Bexton, R. Camm, A. (1984). ‘Electrophysiologic effects of flecainide acetate on sinus node dysfunction, anomalous atrioventricular connections, and pacemaker thresholds’. American Journal of Cardiology. 53(5). 30B-38B. DOI: 10.1016/0002-9149(84)90499-5