Hemodynamic Results of Right Atrial Pacing in Cardiac Subjects

The effect of increasing heart rate above control sinus rate was investigated in 136 patients with pulmonary emphysema or rheumatic or congenital heart disease. Bipolar right atrial electrode catheter pacing was utilized to increase the atrial rate. At all atrial pacing rates, significant cardiac output increments are noted compared to the outputs during the control sinus rates. The cardiac indices are generally similar at the various atrial pacing rates.