Long-term observation of pacemaker electrodes. A follow-up study of 328 consecutive patients treated between 1959 and 1967.
Epicardial electrodes implanted in 20 patients between 1959 and 1962 had a short-term effectiveness. A change to endocardial stimulation was later necessary in 15 of these patients. Endocardial electrodes inserted between 1962 and 1967 in 306 patients were included in this study; 121 (40%) of these patients survived for 10 years or more. Seventy-five (62%) of the long-term survivors had no problems with their electrodes. In 39 of these patients the stimulation thresholds were measured after both 5 and 10 years and found to be 2.3 +/- 0.6 volts and 2.2 +/- 0.8 volts, respectively. Hence, long-term complication-free endocardial pacing can be accomplished.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000401:mortality; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted / Q000592:standards*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D013548:Sweden