Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Search research articles

Related Experiment Videos

Pacemaker function during helicopter transport.

R S French¹, J G Tillman

¹Emergency Medical Services, North Carolina Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill 25714.

Annals of Emergency Medicine

|March 1, 1989

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Methodological report of a cross-sectional survey of abortion-related knowledge, attitudes and practices amongst health professionals in Britain, strategies adopted and lessons learned: evidence from the SACHA Study.

BMC health services research·2024

Same author

The seventh inner moon of Neptune.

Nature·2019

Same author

The need for innovative sexually transmitted infection screening initiatives for young men: evidence from genitourinary medicine clinics across England.

International journal of STD & AIDS·2011

Same author

Commentary.

Sexually transmitted infections·2009

Same author

Are one-stop shops acceptable? Community perspectives on one-stop shop models of sexual health service provision in the UK.

Sexually transmitted infections·2008

Same author

One stop shop versus collaborative integration: what is the best way of delivering sexual health services?

Sexually transmitted infections·2006

Same journal

Variation in Emergency Department Experience With Pediatric Critical Illness.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Point-of-Care Ultrasound-Guided Hydrostatic Reduction of Ileocolic Intussusception in the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Managing Diabetic Ketoacidosis.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Needle Thoracostomy: Implications of Chest Wall Thickness for Anatomical Location and Needle Length.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Women Emergency Physicians and Gender Disparities from Entry to Advancement.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

Same journal

Policy Statements Approved March 2026.

Annals of emergency medicine·2026

See all related articles

Helicopter transport can interfere with pacemakers, causing increased firing rates due to vibrations and electromagnetic forces. This effect resolves when the helicopter is shut down, highlighting a potential risk for patients.

Area of Science:

Biomedical Engineering
Cardiology
Medical Device Technology

Background:

Pacemakers are crucial for regulating heart rhythm in patients with cardiac conditions.
Air ambulance services are increasingly utilized for patient transport, including those with implanted medical devices.
Understanding environmental impacts on medical devices is vital for patient safety.

Observation:

A patient experienced an elevated pacemaker firing rate during helicopter transport.
The pacemaker's increased rate normalized immediately after the helicopter's engines were shut down.
The phenomenon was attributed to the unique environmental conditions within the helicopter.

Findings:

Helicopter vibrations and electromagnetic forces can affect pacemaker function.

Related Experiment Videos

These environmental factors can lead to a temporary increase in pacemaker firing rate.

The observed effect is reversible upon cessation of the environmental stimuli.

Implications:

Healthcare providers and patients should be aware of potential pacemaker interference during air transport.
Further research is needed to quantify the risks and develop mitigation strategies.
Ensuring the safety and reliability of pacemakers in diverse transport environments is paramount.