Electrical parameters of the atrial leads.

<p>Electrical parameters of the atrial leads.</p

Distribution of programmed PVAB during follow-up by randomization groups.

<p>Nine patients of the study group initially received a PVAB that was erroneously programmed to a value other than 60 ms which was corrected after one month in eight of the patients and remained prolonged in one patient. None of these patients had inappropriate mode switch due to FFS. One patient of the study group patient exhibited inappropriate mode switch due to FFS and the PVAB was then individually optimized (150 ms). For the control group PVAB is shown as determined to be optimal at discharge. In case of changes of the PVAB programming during the follow-up, the longest programmed PVAB for both groups are displayed.</p

Study flow-chart.

<p>Study flow-chart.</p

Inappropriate mode switch due to FFS: Stored episode depicting inappropriate mode switch due to FFS from the control group.

<p>Despite optimized PVAB of 140 ms inappropriate mode switch occurs because the coupling interval of the far-field R-wave is 160 ms. First line: bipolar atrial electrogram, shows bipolar atrial, second line: bipolar ventricular electrogram, bottom line: marker channel with AMS = mode switch; AP = atrial pacing; AS = atrial sensed event; AS on black background = atrial sensed event in refractory period; VP = ventricular pacing.</p

Baseline characteristics of the patients.

*<p>According to the implanter’s judgment.</p