title: Sinoatrial disorders, the "sick sinus" syndrome. Experience with implanted cardiac pacemakers.
abstract: The long term results of permanent pacemaker implantation in patients with disorders of the sinoatrial node and atrial conduction pathways were studied. In a consecutive series of 300 patients treated by pacemaker implantation, 68 ((22.3%) had sinoatrial disorders. Mean age of the group was 54 years (33-82 years); 37 were male, 31 female. Diagnosis was confirmed by serial electrocardiography with overdrive suppression of sinoatrial node function as indicated. Twenty-two patients presented with sinus bradycardia alone (Type I disorder) and 46 with bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome (Type II disorder) were completely controlled. of the 46 Type II patients, in 30 (65.2%) tachyarrhythmias were controlled by pacing alone and in 14 (30.4%) by pacing and antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Congestive cardiac failure was relieved in 80% and anginal pain in 70% of patients with rate control alone. Systemic embolisation did not recur after pacemaker implantation. The average duration of pacemaker therapy was 52 months (12-96 months). In this series, long term ventricular demand pacing proved beneficial in both types of sinoatrial disorders.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001146:Arrhythmia, Sinus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000628:therapy; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents