Automatic tachycardia recognition

ARZBAECHER, R., ET AL.: Automatic tachycardia recognition. A microcomputer algorithm for tachy-cardia identi/icution, suitable for use in un implanted aniiiachycardia pacemaker, is described. The system employs an atriaJ and venlricuiar eleclrogram, detects a sustained fast rate in either chamber, and awakens ihe main program io perform detailed analysis of ihe tachycardia and its immediately preceding beats. The algorithm distinguishes airial. ventricular, and AV nodal and re-entranl tachycardia from high rates due io sinus tachycardia. For testing of the program, we used a data base of twenty-two tape-recorded and documented orrhyihmias provoked during electrophysiologic studies in which atrial and ventricular bipolar electrodes were in place; twenty-one of twenty-two wave successfully detected. These included atriaJ fibrillaiion, alrial flutter, airial tachycardia, AV nodal re-entrant tachycardia, AV re-entrant tachycardia using an accessory pathway, and ventricular iachycardia wiih and without ven-tricuJo-atriaJ conduction. (PACE, Vol 7. May-June, Part II, 1984] antitachycardia, microcomputer, algorithm, extrastimuJus testing, automati