[Permanent cardiac pacing: about 234 patients]

Permanent cardiac pacing remains the only effective treatment for chronic, symptomatic bradycardia. In recent years, the role of implantable pacing devices has expanded substantially.

To compare the situation of patients with critical brady arrhythmias before and after pacing focusing on indication for pacemaker implantation, frequency of re intervention and early and late complications.

Retrospective study performed over 24 years between 1984 and 2007 at the department of cardiology of Farhat Hached hospital. A total of 234 patients were included, and the database was formed by the patients' files and the protocols of implantation.

The mean age of patients was 69.5 years. The most frequently reported signs and symptoms before implantation of pace maker were dizzy spells and syncope respectively in 53% and 29.1% of patients. Among the electrocardiographic alterations leading to an indication of pacemaker implantation, atrio-ventricular blocks were the most numerous at 74.4% followed by sinus node disease at 17.1%. Early complications were represented essentially by haematoma and infection of the pocket of pacemaker respectively at 2.9% for each one. After a mean follow up of 6.8 years, 88 patients (45.3%) still free of symptoms. Late complications include lead dislodgement and pacemaker syndrome at 2% for each one.

The results of our study demonstrates that even the rate of complications following pacemaker implantation is not high, the follow-up of patients should be fast, complete, safe, and clear, and should include sufficient documentation.