Pacemaker Codes
15.3.7 Pacemaker Codes
The capabilities and operation of cardiac pacemakers are described by 3- to 5-letter codes.6,7
DDIR pacing
VVI pacemaker
The code system for antibradycardia pacemakers endorsed by the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology and the British Pacing and Electrophysiology Group is known as the NASPE/BPEG Generic Code or NBG Code. Although the code need not be expanded when mentioned in passing, it is good practice to describe pacing modes in prose at first mention, eg, “dual-chamber, adaptive-rate (DDDR) pacing.” The NBG Code was revised in 2001 to apply to antibradycardia, adaptive-rate, and multisite pacing.8,9
In Table 1, positions I through V refer to the first through fifth letters of the NBG Code. The character for “None” is the letter O, not the numeral 0. In practice, the first 3 positions are always given; the fourth and fifth are added when necessary to provide additional information.
Table 1. Revised NASPE/BPEG Generic Code for Antibradycardia Pacinga
Position |
I |
II |
III |
IV |
V |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Category |
Chamber(s) Paced |
Chamber(s) Sensed |
Response to Sensing |
Rate Modulation |
Multisite Pacing |
O = none |
O = none |
O = none |
O = none |
O = none |
|
A = atrium |
A = atrium |
T = triggered |
R = rate modulation |
A = atrium |
|
V = ventricle |
V = ventricle |
I = inhibited |
V = ventricle |
||
D = dual (A + V) |
D = dual (A + V) |
D = dual (T + I) |
D = dual (A + V) |
||
Manufacturers’ designation only |
S = single (A or V) |
S = single (A or V) |
a Reprinted, with permission, from Bernstein et al.8
Note: The principal changes from the previous (1987) code are the dropping of classifications from position IV (P, simple programmatic; M, multiprogrammable; C, communicating) and additions to position V (shown in the table) and deletions from position V (P, pacing; S, shock). Position V, which formerly applied to antitachyarrhythmia functions, now applies to multisite pacing.