[Avoidance of ventricular pacing in patients with sinus node disease or intermittent AV block]

In patients with frequent right ventricular stimulation, worsening of heart failure and atrial fibrillation may occur. Avoidance of unnecessary right ventricular pacing is a major requirement for pacemaker selection and programming in patients with sinus node disease or intermittent AV block. In dual chamber pacemakers this goal can be achieved by programming a long AV delay or an AV delay hysteresis. Algorithms that allow AAI pacing in a dual chamber pacing mode and change to DDD mode in case of high degree AV block are a new attempt to avoid unnecessary right ventricular pacing. The article describes various strategies to avoid unnecessary ventricular pacing and discusses their advantages and disadvantages.