Chest. 1980 Jul; 78(1): 96-7.

The influence of low frequency acupuncture on a demand pacemaker.

Fujiwara H, Taniguchi K, Takeuchi J, Ikezono E.

Various complications with demand pacemakers have been known to originate from their own sensing mechanisms. In these complications, electromagnetic interference is one of the well known causes of oversensing with demand pacemakers. The influence of low frequency acupuncture as a specific type of electromagnetic interference on a demand pacemaker was examined during a cervical operation. It was found that low frequency acupuncture is a cause of electromagnetic interference with demand pacemakers. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using the low frequency acupuncture on a pacemaker patient.