What does Failure to Sense imply in cardiac rhythms?

Failure to Sense in cardiac rhythms indicates that the pacemaker or monitoring device is not detecting the intrinsic electrical activity of the heart effectively. When this situation arises, the device may deliver pacing impulses at inappropriate times, which can lead to spikes appearing on the ECG without being synchronized with the heart's natural contractions. This phenomenon can result in pacemaker spikes occurring unexpectedly, even in the absence of a QRS complex, illustrating a lack of sensing capability.

The understanding of this concept is critical for healthcare professionals as it can lead to complications such as pacemaker competition or inappropriate pacing, which may compromise cardiac output or lead to other dysrhythmias. Recognizing this pattern on an ECG allows for timely interventions and adjustments to the pacing strategy to ensure proper synchronization with the heart's rhythm.