Permanent pacemaker insertion for bradyarrhythmias in a secondary health facility in sub-Saharan Africa

Permanent cardiac pacemaker (PPM) insertion has been used clinically since 1960. It is a lifesaving procedure in symptomatic bradyarrhythmia. The experience of PPM implantation in non-Western countries has not been well characterized.

This study reports our experience in pacemaker insertion in the newly remodeled District General Hospital Awa. The Akwa Ibom state government fully sponsored the procedures with state funds; otherwise, patients would have to pay out of pocket.

The general hospital is fully equipped with an ultramodern theater with C-arm fluoroscopy and audiovisual facilities, and there is an anteroom in the procedural suite where people can watch for virtual learning. This is the first of its kind.

A single-chamber (VVIR) pacemaker was implanted in all patients. There were no acute complications postsurgery. All patients were followed for at least 3 months. There were no deaths reported at the 3-month follow-up. Device interrogations were performed at the 3-month follow-up visit, and device parameters were all stable with excellent sensing thresholds. Routine follow-up for our center is a regular 2-monthly follow-up in the first year.

We conclude that permanent pacemakers can be safely carried out in a well-equipped district general hospital. Most needy patients are likely older, with complete heart block as the commonest indication. However, government and/or nongovernmental organizations need health insurance or subsidization to make it sustainable in low-income countries to which Nigeria belongs.