Disturbances in the function of cardiac pacemaker caused by short wave and microwave diathermies and pulsed high...

The effect of short wave diathermy, pulsed high frequency current (Diapulse, Curapuls) and microwave diathermy on the function of an implantable cardiac pacemaker and its leads was examined by measuring the output (voltage) and rate of the pacemaker under various experimental conditions. It appeared that all these devices had a decreasing effect on the output and an increasing effect on the rate of the pacemaker. When therapeutic doses (power) were applied the greatest changes in output and rate were caused by microwave diathermy and the slightest by Curapuls. The clinical precautionary measures based on these observations are discussed.