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Interference of cellular phones with implanted permanent pacemakers
1Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
Clinical Cardiology
|November 1, 1996
Summary
Cellular phones can interfere with pacemakers, causing issues like pacing inhibition. Reprogramming pacemaker sensitivity can prevent this interference, ensuring patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
Background:
- Reports suggest cellular phones may interfere with permanent pacemakers.
- Systematic investigation is needed to understand these effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically assess the impact of cellular phones on various pacemaker modes and lead configurations.
- To identify specific conditions and pacemaker types susceptible to interference.
Main Methods:
- Tested 29 patients with different permanent pacemakers (9 models, 6 sensors) and 3 cellular phones (analog/digital).
- Evaluated interference at various phone positions (pocket, ear levels) and during calls.
- Recorded ECG, intracardiac electrograms, and marker channels for 8 pacing modes (unipolar/bipolar).
Main Results:
- 3.1% of episodes (74/2418) showed interference in 8 patients.
- Interference types included pacing inhibition, rapid tracking, and asynchronous pacing, primarily above the pacemaker pocket.
- Unipolar atrial leads were most susceptible; interference occurred before ringing tone; digital and analog phones caused issues.
Conclusions:
- Commercially available cellular phones can cause reversible pacemaker interference.
- High atrial unipolar sensitivity and VDD(R) systems are most affected.
- Interference can precede phone alerts, posing patient safety risks; reprogramming sensitivity is effective.