[Anti-tachycardia radiofrequency pacemakers. Experience with 44 cases]

Programmed cardiac stimulation may be performed externally using implanted radiofrequency receiving capsules. Between 1979 and 1984, 44 patients underwent implantation of these devices, 12 with atrial leads for supraventricular tachycardias (8 orthodromic reciprocating tachycardias, 1 intranodal junctional tachycardia and 3 atrial tachycardias), and 32 with ventricular leads for ventricular tachycardias. In the first case the transmitter was given to the patients so that they could terminate the tachycardias themselves. In the second case, the transmitter was kept in the cardiology department. All patients were also prescribed prophylactic antiarrhythmic drugs. The radiofrequency method was effective in 11 out of 12 cases of supraventricular tachycardia with a follow-up period ranging from 24 to 65 months (average 45 +/- 11 months). In the ventricular tachycardia group, the device was used in 11 patients to terminate ventricular tachycardia and in all patients to evaluate the efficacy of the antiarrhythmic therapy by provocative programmed stimulation with a follow-up ranging from 2 to 81 month (average 24 +/- 20 months). This palliative therapeutic method has reduced the number of hospital admissions in these patients. The indications are relatively few because of the efficacy of currently available antiarrhythmic agents and the possibility of radical treatment of tachyarrhythmias by surgery or catheter ablation.