[Anesthetic management of the patient with a permanent pacemaker]

Anesthetic management of two patients with a permanent pacemaker is reported; patient no. 1 had the VVI mode pacemaker and patient no. 2 had the DDD mode pacemaker. In patient no. 1, the hypotensive response of the 'pacemaker syndrome' occurred during general anesthesia. Patient no. 2 had no anesthetic problems but careful attention should be paid to the DDD mode pacemaker, because the newer widely used dual lead systems (DDD) are more susceptible to electromagnetic interference. Anesthetists often encounter patients with pacemakers. Knowledge of pacemakers available of the increasingly wide range is necessary to ensure safe management of these patients, many of whom are frail and elderly.