[National survey on cardiac stimulation in Switzerland in 1980]

The fifth national survey of cardiac pacemaking in Switzerland in 1980 can be summarized as follows: 95% replies; 200 first implants/year/million inhabitants, 85% of the patients being more than 60 years old at the time of the implantation; most of the leads (91.5%) were intraventricular, the majority being unipolar (95%). The indications are now sinusal disorders as often as atrioventricular blocks (45% each). They are based upon clinical and electrocardiographic criteria rather than upon complementary diagnostic tests. The most important developments are the growing number of programmable pacemakers and the introduction of physiological pacing.