[Subdiaphragmatic pacemaker implantation of pacemakers - results of 1150 implantations]

Permanent pacemaker are presently used on patients with chronic disease of the cardiac conduction system, with recurrent Adams-Stokes attacks, and with bradycardia. 1865 pacemakers have so far been implanted in the unit for special thoracic surgery in the University of Heidelberg from 1965 to 1978. In 1.150 (or 61%) patients the pacemaker was implanted using the subdiaphragmatic method. A lower transverse pericardiotomy was performed and the battery was located in the rectus abdominis sheath. In the remaining 715 (or 39%) patients, the electrodes were introduced transvenously and implanted in the endocardium. The battery unit in this case was located beneath the pectoral muscle. The transvenous approach was the method of choice until 1971; from that time onward the subdiaphragmatic approach gradually replaced it as the method of choice. Between 1971 and 1978 80% of the pacemakers were implanted directly into the myocardium whereas only 20% were introduced transvenously. The subdiaphragmatic method completely eliminates the frequent complications of the transvenous approach, such as dislocation of electrodes and others so that it now is our method of choice.