Methods for failure recovery in a cardiac rhythm management system and apparatus
capable of carrying out the methods. The methods include applying a first pacing
therapy using one or more leads. The methods further include detecting a failure
condition on one or more of the leads, wherein the failure condition prohibits
or frustrates application of the first pacing therapy. The methods still further
include applying a second pacing therapy using one or more of the leads subsequent
to detecting the failure condition. The second pacing therapy is preferably chosen
such that the detected failure does not interfere with the second pacing therapy.
The second pacing therapy may be applied for only one cardiac cycle. The second
pacing therapy may further be applied continuously until the failure condition
is resolved, or it may be latched such that physician intervention is required
to resume the first pacing therapy.
