Pacemaker therapy in a group of 132 patients with sick sinus syndrome--indications and results

Of the 132 patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) studied, 62 (47.8%) required pacemaker implantation thus showing the severity of the arrhythmic syndrome. The pacing requirement varied according to the SSS arrhythmic form with a maximum in the tachy-brady syndrome (53.5%) and in major sinus bradyarrhythmias--S--A block and sinus arrest (54.1%). The presence of syncopes (in 32.6% of the patients) represented the main indication for pacing. Very good results (100% efficiency) were obtained in the bradycardic forms. In the tachy-brady syndrome electrostimulation solved completely the bradycardic component and was able, alone, to suppress the tachyarrhythmic episodes in 18.4% of the patients. By associating pacing with antiarrhythmic drugs favourable results were obtained in an additional proportion of 65.8% of the patients. In the rest of 15.8% of the cases the results were partial.