Combined use of morphology discrimination, sudden onset, and stability as discriminating algorithms in single chamber cardioverter defibrillators

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2002 Sep;25(9):1357-66. doi: 10.1046/j.1460-9592.2002.01357.x.

Abstract

Morphology Discrimination (MD) is a rhythm discriminator based on QRS morphology analysis that can be combined with other discriminators like Stability, with or without Sinus Interval History (SIH) and Sudden Onset. Thirty-five patients implanted with a St. Jude Medical single chamber ICD were evaluated during exercise testing, during induced AF, and during follow-up for 14 +/- 5 months. At exercise testing (60 episodes detected) MD had a specificity (SP) of 96.7% and Sudden Onset a SP of 91.7%; during induced AF (25 episodes) both MD and Stability had a SP of 96.0%. The diagnostic performance on spontaneous arrhythmias was as follows: for ventricular tachycardia (126 episodes) a sensitivity (SE) of 94.4% for MD, 92.1% for Sudden Onset, 89.7% for Stability without SIH and 79.4% for Stability + SIH; for sinus tachycardia (44 episodes) a SP of 86.4% for MD, 97.7% for Sudden Onset, 2.3% for Stability and of 95.5% for Stability + SIH. For AF (165 cases) a SP of 67.9% for MD, 69.1% for Stability and 90.3% for Stability + SIH, 44.8% for Sudden Onset. Use of MD alone provided a SE of 94.4% and a SP of 71.4% for spontaneous arrhythmias and combined use of the discriminators in a "2 of 3" diagnostic logic implied a SP of 90.9% with maintenance of 96.0% of SE. In single chamber ICDs a wide range of SE/SP ratios may be obtained by use of multiple discriminators, but use of the algorithm in a 2 of 3 diagnostic logic may achieve a SP of 90.9% and a SE of 96.0%.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Defibrillators, Implantable*
  • Equipment Design
  • Exercise Test
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tachycardia, Supraventricular / diagnosis*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / diagnosis*
  • Time Factors