Twiddlers Syndrome

Q. Anyone know what Twiddlers Syndrome is?
A. From the Medtronics Technical Manual: patient manipulation of the device after implant may cause the pacing rate to increase temporarily if the pacemaker is programmed to a rate responsive mode.

Put in simple terms if rate response is on twiddling your pacer may give you tachycardia.

frank


3 Comments

CRIKEY!!!

by Rewiredaussiegirl - 2008-03-19 08:03:14

Oh my god Frank!!!
I'm so glad I knit while Im watching telly!!
Otherwise I might......(shudder!!)... dare I say it .........
"Twiddle"!!

New twist

by ElectricFrank - 2008-03-19 11:03:08

Youmight say that's a new twist on the problem! (:

frank

Twiddle

by Cycledoc - 2008-03-19 11:03:26

I don't know whether it will affect the rate.

There have been cases of this syndrome in which the patient flipped the pacemaker and broke a lead. In one of the pacemaker books, I've seen twisted leads in a patient who flipped his pacemaker multiple times--amazing.

You know you're wired when...

You read consumer reports before upgrading to a new model.

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