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AMA Manual of Style Committee

Contents

Implanted Cardioverter/Defibrillators

Chapter:
Nomenclature
Author(s):

Harriet S. Meyer

15.3.8 Implanted Cardioverter/Defibrillators

A similar code, known as the NASPE/BPEG Defibrillator Code or NBD Code,10 exists for implanted cardioverter/defibrillators (ICDs), as defined in Table 2.

Table 2. Defibrillator Codea

Position I (Shock Chamber)

Position II (Antitachycardia Pacing Chamber)

Position III (Tachycardia Detection)

Position IV (Antibradycardia Pacing Chamber)

O = none

O = none

E = electrocardiogram

O = none

A = atrium

A = atrium

H = hemodynamic

A = atrium

V = ventricle

V = ventricle

V = ventricle

D = dual (A + V)

D = dual (A + V)

D = dual (A + V)

a Reprinted from Bernstein et al10 by permission of Blackwell Publishing.

Table 3. Style Rules for Gene Symbols (Examples)

Gene Description

Approved

Gene Symbol Rule Illustrated

α-fetoprotein

AFP

Greek letter changed to Latin letter (but not moved to end of symbol: exception to recommendation)

β2-microglobulin

B2M

Greek letter changed to Latin letter; no subscripts or punctuation

α-galactosidase

GLA

Greek letter changed to Latin letter and moved to end of symbol

coagulation factor VIII

F8

roman numeral changed to arabic numeral

β1-galactosidase

GLB1

Greek letter changed to Latin letter and moved with numeral to end of term; no subscripts or punctuation

heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A2/B1

HNRPA2B1

no punctuation marks or spaces

MCF.2 cell line–derived transforming sequence

MCF2

no punctuation marks

5′-nucleotidase, cytosolic

NT5C

number moved from the start of symbol; no punctuation

5S RNA, cluster 1

RN5S1@

first character is letter, not number

thromboxane A2 receptor

TBXA2R

no superscripts or subscripts

Examples are as follows:

DDH defibrillator

VOEO defibrillator

There is also a Short Form of the NBD Code intended only for use in conversation:

ICD-B: ICD with antibradycardia pacing as well as shock

ICD-T: ICD with antitachycardia pacing as well as shock and antibradycardia pacing

ICD-S: ICD with shock capability only

The foregoing terms can each represent a variety of devices; for instance, ICD-S could indicate VO, VOE, VOEO, DOH, or DOHV. The same devices may also be represented by more than 1 term, eg, ICD-B may also represent VO and VOE, among other devices. Therefore, only the Long Form is used in writing. As in the case of the NBG Code, at first mention of an ICD it is good practice to include a prose description as well as the NBD Code designation.

For maximum conciseness and completeness in ICD labeling and record keeping, the first 3 positions of the NBD Code are given, followed after a hyphen by the first 4 positions of the NBG Code. Thus, “VAE-DDDR” refers to an ICD providing ventricular shock, atrial antitachycardia pacing, EGM sensing for tachycardia detection, and dual-chamber, adaptive-rate antibradycardia pacing.