title: Pacemaker update 1984. Part II. The pacemaker syndrome.
abstract: When ventricular pacemakers are implanted in patients who still retain normal AV conduction, retrograde conduction may activate the atria after ventricular activation. This results in a retrograde flow of blood from the ventricles to the atria with flooding of the jugular and pulmonary veins. Weakness or syncope can then occur as a result of lower cardiac output or congestive heart failure. A change to a dual-chamber pacemaker that produces AV synchrony is often necessary.
mesh_terms: D002303:Cardiac Output, Low / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012804:Sick Sinus Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D013577:Syndrome