[Hemodynamic consequences of suddenly abolished atrial contraction]

The effects of several modes of stimulation (right ventricular pacing during sinus rhythm, right ventricular pacing during induced atrial fibrillation, and atrioventricular (AV) sequential pacing with an AV delay of 130 msec) on blood pressure and cardiac output were investigated in 10 patients with normal left ventricular function. The stimulation rates were 110, 140, and 170/min for each stimulation mode. There were no significant differences between ventricular pacing in sinus rhythm and ventricular pacing in atrial fibrillation as regards blood pressure and cardiac output. Ventricular stimulation during atrial fibrillation resulted in a significant fall in systolic blood pressure (84%, p less than 0.05) even at a rate of 140/min, whereas in AV-sequential pacing systolic blood pressure only fell to 87% of the baseline value at a rate of 170/min. A significant decrease in cardiac output occurred at rates of 140/min ventricular pacing during atrial fibrillation and at rates of 170/min with AV-sequential pacing. The results underline the importance of active ventricular filling in tachycardia. There were no significant differences in the measured parameters when ventricular pacing with AV-dissociation was compared with ventricular pacing at identical rates during atrial fibrillation.