Long-term follow-up of young adults following permanent pacemaker placement for complete heart block

Young adults with nonsurgically induced complete heart block (CHB) do not necessarily have a benign prognosis and pacemaker (PM) implantation may be necessary. No one has reported long-term PM follow-up in young adults with CHB. We studied 13 patients aged 15 to 37 years (mean 24 years) at PM implantation. There were nine female and four male patients. All were functional class II or III (NYHA) before PM implantation. Syncope, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, and dyspnea on exertion were the most common symptoms. Cardiac catheterization findings (11 of 13 patients) were normal in five, and additional cardiac anomalies were present in six. His bundle studies (9 of 13 patients) showed absent AH intervals in all patients, with HV intervals not identified in two, 20 to 30 msec in one, and 30 to 50 msec in six patients. Holter monitor recordings (8 of 13 patients) demonstrated CHB in all eight with intermittent second- to third-degree block in two of three patients. Two patients had occasional premature ventricular contractions. Stress exercise tests (9 of 13 patients) demonstrated increased ventricular rate response (although subnormal in some patients); symptoms developed in seven. One patient had ventricular ectopy. All 13 patients were contacted 3 months to 7 years (mean 4 years) after PM implantation. Two patients had died, but the deaths were not related to PM dysfunction. All patients who are currently alive had marked improvement in functional symptomatology and all are currently functional class I. CHB is not a benign condition in young adults and may require PM implantation, which improves symptoms and allows the patient to lead a normal life.