[Complications of cardiac pacemakers]

Since the number of patients with pacemakers increases and the further decentralisation of the care of these patients is planned the survey has the purpose to inform as many physicians as possible about the complications of the pacemaker therapy. In the several paragraphs the problems of the regular and anticipated exhaustion of the battery, defects of the electronic constituents of the pacemaker, fracture of the cable, dislocation of the electrodes, disturbances of the transmission between endocardium and myocardium, disturbances of rhythm under pacemaker-therapy, disturbing influences by intra- and extracorporal causes, surgical complications and implantations in the false place are reported on. Knowledge and early recognition of the complications in the pacemaker-therapy will furthermore favourably influence the long-term prognosis of this group of patients.