[Permanent endocardiac electric stimulation. Observations on 1125 patients (1 January 1966-31 August 1974)]

The authors report on nine years' experience with permanent endocardial pacing in the treatment of various conduction disturbances. Their experiences relate to 1125 patients; 2208 pacers were used. The age of the patients ranges from 60 to 80 (85%), 15% referring to the left decades, minimum 17 - maximum 94. Fixed rate pacers were used in 41% of cases, QRS synchronous or QRS inhibited pacers were used in 59%. Average life of pacers varies from 8.5 to 28.3 months; the average life of fixed rate pacers is higher. Complications and causes of failures, among which electrode dislodgement is the most relevant and frequent, as well as the relative therapeutical treatments, are described. Early mortality is about 1% and late mortality 8-9%: the survival rate calculated altogether after 9 years' treatment with implantable pervenous pacing is about 24%.