The Importance of Adequate Programming Dual-Chamber Pacemaker in Physically Active Patients

Limitations to physical activities and sports practice are frequently observed in pacemaker's users, due to patient's difficulties in judging their real physical capacity after device implantation and because of inappropriate programming. In this paper, we describe the cases of two patients with diagnosis of complete atrioventricular block and structurally normal heart, who started having symptoms of exercise intolerance after pacemaker implantation. The pacemaker programming was then individualized, based on treadmill tests, according to the needs of each patient. We concluded that exercise testing was an important tool to guide proper electronic programming of pacemakers during exercise