[Roentgenographic findings in patients with pacemakers (author's transl)]

Early roentgenographic documentation of the position of an implanted pacemaker by roentgenograms in two planes and fluoroscopy establishes the necessary basis for the roentgenographic examinations in identifying pacemaker malfunction. Early and late causes of pacemaker malfunction in 250 patients are described. Early complications arise at the tip of the electrode: displacement with or against the direction of blood flow, penetration or perforation of the myocardium and false implantation into the coronary sinus. Later causes of pacemaker failure have to be searched mainly in the electrode itself and the battery: damage to the cable or displacement of the battery. The problems of radiologic assessment of the state of charge of the battery are discussed.