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Multiple Choice

Dual-chamber pacemaker shows pacing spikes before both atrial and ventricular signals. What mode is this?

Pacing spikes in both chambers indicate the device is delivering stimuli to the atrium and the ventricle, i.e., dual‑chamber pacing. When AV synchrony is maintained, the atrial spike paces the atrium and, after a short AV delay, the ventricular spike paces the ventricle to coordinate atrial and ventricular contractions. This contrasts with atrial pacing alone (spikes before P waves only) or ventricular pacing alone (spikes before QRS only). It’s also distinct from biventricular pacing, which paces both ventricles (often part of CRT) and does not imply atrial pacing. So the mode is dual-chamber pacing with AV synchronization.

Pacing spikes in both chambers indicate the device is delivering stimuli to the atrium and the ventricle, i.e., dual‑chamber pacing. When AV synchrony is maintained, the atrial spike paces the atrium and, after a short AV delay, the ventricular spike paces the ventricle to coordinate atrial and ventricular contractions. This contrasts with atrial pacing alone (spikes before P waves only) or ventricular pacing alone (spikes before QRS only). It’s also distinct from biventricular pacing, which paces both ventricles (often part of CRT) and does not imply atrial pacing. So the mode is dual-chamber pacing with AV synchronization.