[Changes in cardiopulmonary capacity after pacemaker implantation in the elderly]

Elderly patients often suffer from several diseases. A combination of heart failure and low heart rate causes a decrease of cardiopulmonary capacity in the elderly. Analysis of gas exchange during exercise allows to determine cardiopulmonary capacity. Twenty-one patients older than 70 years were examined by spioergometry, before and 1 week after implantation of a pacemaker. Blood pressure, breath-frequency, oxygen-uptake, carbon dioxide emission, and respiratory quotient were measured. One week after implantation of a pacemaker system, there was an improvement of cardiopulmonary capacity and oxygen uptake at the moment of aerobic-anaerobic exchange. An additional positive effect was seen in elderly patients after implanting a system with rate-response stimulation (VVIR). Elderly patients with bradycardia profit from the implantation of a pacemaker system. Rate-response stimulation seems to be more effective in increasing cardiopulmonary capacity in the elderly.