Comparative evaluation of acute and long-term clinical performance of two single lead atrial synchronous ventricular (VDD) pacemakers: Diagonally arranged bipolar versus closely spaced bipolar ring electrodes

Floating P wave sensing can be derived from bipolar atrial electrodes with different electrode configurations, although the relative clinical efficacy of these methods of atrial sensing has not bee studied. We evaluated 32 sex and age matched patients with advanced AV block who received AV synchronous pacers using wither a single lead with diagonally arranged bipole (Unity VDDR, Model 292, Intermedics Inc.) or closely spaced bipolar complete ring electrodes (Thera VDD, Model 8948, Medtronic Inc.). The total surface area of the atrial electrodes were 17.2 and 25mm(2), and the highest programmable atrial sensitivities were 0.1 and 0.25 mV, respectively. Atrial electrogram amplitude and sensing threshold were evaluated at implant and at each follow-up clinic visit (1, 3, and 6 months). Stability of atrial sensing was assessed during physical maneuvers, treadmill exercise test, and Holter recording. Atrial electrogram amplitude at implantation was higher in the Thera VDD (2.08 +/- 0.79 vs 1.45 +/- 0.59 mV in Unity VDDR; P < 0.05), but the value of atrial sensing threshold was lower during follow-up than Unity VDDR. P wave undersensing was additionally observed with both pacemakers during physical maneuvers and exercise testing (6%-19% of patients). Two and four patients had atrial undersensing on Holter in the Unity VDDR and Thera VDD, respectively, and the percentage P wave undersensing were 0.88% +/- 2.41% versus 3.63% +/- 8.16%, respectively. Reprogramming of the atrial sensitivity it the Unity VDDR and the use of investigational software allowing 0.18 mV atrial sensitivity to be programmed in the Thera VDD substantially reduced the percentage of P wave undersensing on Holter to 0.46% +/- 1.67% and 0.19% +/- 0.24%, respectively. Beginning at discharge with a programmed atrial sensitivity level at least twice the sensing margin, the mean atrial sensitivity level was reprogrammed from 0.29 to 0.26 mV for Unity VDDR and 0.33 to 0.24 mV for Thera VDD at 6 months. There was no incidence of atrial oversensing. Despite differences in atrial amplitudes at implantation between the diagonally arranged bipole and closely spaced full ring single lead systems, the clinical performances of atrial sensing were similar at an appropriately high atrial sensitivities. The absence of atrial oversensing suggests that single pass VDD pacemakers should probably be programmed at the highest available atrial sensitivity to ensure adequate P wave sensing as guided by physical maneuvers and Holter recording to minimize the need of subsequent reprogramming.