Clinical features, follow-up, and reprogramming of patients with pacemaker in a secondary care center

During recent years, several recommendations and guidelines regarding cardiac pacing have been published in the literature. However, only a few studies have examined the implementation of these guidelines in clinical practice. The current study aimed to record and evaluate the effects of the mainstream studies, and the experience gathered by all patients who have been followed-up at the pacemaker Unit of Veroia Hospital, which is a secondary care center.

Epidemiological, clinical, and electrocardiographic data were collected and studied for patients with a permanent pacemaker that have been followed-up in our hospital from 2002 to 2017. The total number of patients of the study was 3,902 (2,164 men; 55.45 %) with a mean age of 73.4 ± 12.6 years. Third degree atrioventricular (AV) block was the most common cause of pacing. Dysfunction of the sinus node involved the majority of cases with bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome. At 18 patients, the cause of permanent pacemaker implantation was carotid sinus syndrome and at 13 of them, cardio-vascular type of neurocardiogenic syncope. Dizziness and syncope were the most common symptoms. Dual-chamber pacing was the most common type of pacing, which has been increasing in recent years. In follow-up visits, the most frequent examinations concerned battery condition, as the stimulation and sensing threshold. Reprogramming of the device was required in 1,434 patients (36.75 %), especially during the first year after implantation.

Pacing indications have been unchanged during all the years of the study and have been based on confirmed bradycardia and major symptoms. Reprogramming of the device was needed in an increased number of patients. HIPPOKRATIA 2018, 22(2): 75-79.