[Treatment by electrostimulation of chronic atrioventricular block: surveillance and future perspectives....

After having reviewed the indications and the main modes of electrostimulation, the author introduces the problem of choice and especially of replacement of the pacemaker. In an overwhelming majority of cases, effective stimulation stops because the batteries are exhausted: this is announced in various ways, one of them being a reduced rate of discharge. The author's opinion is that a pacemaker should not be replaced preventively. On the contrary, appropriate follow-up during the last theoretical period of life, as mentioned by the manufacturers, will avoid losing many months of adequate stimulation. This problem will be developed in detail in the next papers.