Bradypacing: indications and management challenges in Nigeria

Permanent pacemaker implantation is a life-saving procedure that is performed worldwide. There is paucity of reports on pacemaker surgery in Nigeria. The aims of the study were to determine the indications for pacemaker insertion, the demographic distribution of the patients requiring it, the electrocardiographic (ECG) changes, and the management challenges in Nigeria.

One hundred consecutive patients who had pacemaker insertion done by our team from 1999 were included in the study. The patients' biodata, indications for pacemaker insertion, ECG changes, and the treatment profile were recorded.

There was female preponderance (93.0%) among the patients studied. Third-degree heart block was the indication in 86.0% of the patients and most patients did well with single lead ventricular pacing which is generally cheaper than the dual chamber pacing.

The majority of bradyarrhythmia patients in this environment can be maintained on single lead ventricular pacemaker.