Course of Symptoms and Spontaneous ECG in Pacemaker Patients: A 5-Year Follow-up Study (original) (raw)

1988, Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology

LANGENFELD, H,, ET AL.: Course of symptoms and spontaneous ECG in pacemaker patients: A 5-year follow-up study. We investigated the course of symptoms and the spontaneous ECG retrospectiveiy in 308 patients who had received a pacemaker because of a trio ventricuJar (AV) block fn = 115), sick sinus syndrome fSSS, n = 107), bradyarrhythmic atriai jibriJiation fbradyarrhythmia, n = 51). carotid sinus syndrome (CSS, n = 16), complete bi/ascicuiar block associated with 1st degree AV block (n = 13) and with other indications fn = 6). The mean impiantation time was 63 months. The c\ir\ica\ state of 93% of all patients improved after pacemaker implantation; their symptoms decreased markedly. Persisting syncopy in some patients with SSS, however, supports a restricted implantation policy. We rarely saw improved AV conduction in patients with AV block fn%). Furthermore, in patients with SSS, afriaJ /ibriliotion occmed significantly more often (35 %) than in those with AV block (17 %; P < 0.01). Only 3% of patients with SSS developed 2nd and 3rd degree AV block within the observation period. In all patients with Initial bi/ascicular block and additional 1st degree AV block, pacing prevented further syncopaJ attacks; four of them showed 3rd degree AV block at control, indicating that pacemaker impiantation is mandatory in symptomatic patients with bifascicular disease and 1st degree AV block. (PACE, Vol. 11, December 1988) folow-up, pacemaker patients, symptoms, spontaneous ECC Address for reprints: Heiner Langenfeld. MD