TASER conducted electrical weapons and implanted pacemakers and defibrillators.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Forensic Science

Background:

• Conducted electrical weapons (CEW) raise concerns about cardiac rhythm effects and interactions with implanted cardiac devices like pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).
• Review of existing evidence and presentation of a new case series are crucial for understanding these interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the potential adverse effects of conducted electrical weapons (CEW) on pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs).
• To review current evidence regarding CEW interactions with cardiac implanted electronic devices (CIEDs).

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of case reports and animal studies on TASER or CEW interactions with CIEDs using PubMed.
• Analysis of a case series involving 6 patients with implanted devices exposed to CEW discharges.

Main Results:

• Oversensing of CEW discharges can lead to noise reversion pacing in pacemakers and inappropriate ventricular fibrillation (VF) detection in ICDs.
• The short duration of CEW discharges (nominal 5 seconds) has not resulted in clinically significant bradycardia pacing inhibition or inappropriate ICD shocks.
• Current evidence indicates no adverse effects of CEW discharges on pacemakers and ICDs.

Conclusions:

• CEW discharges are unlikely to cause significant harm to patients with pacemakers or ICDs.
• While temporary oversensing can occur, it does not lead to sustained adverse events.
• The safety of CEW use in patients with CIEDs is supported by current evidence.