[Permanent endocardiac electrostimulation. Considerations on 511 implantations and reimplantations in 7 years of...

Permanent pacemakers were implanted and reimplanted in a total of 511 patients (mostly men) during a period of about 7 yr. Mean age was 67.9 yr. The cephalic route was used in nearly every case, with subclavicular implantation of the generator. Mean hospital stay was 7.6 days. Ventricular inhibition pacemakers were used in over 84% and fixed-frequency models in 7%. Mean pacemaker life was 24.1 months, with longer periods in the last months of the period of observation. The evaluation of battery run-down and recent and long-term complications is discussed, together with a particular type of decubitus of electrolytic origin. Hospital mortality was 2%. Survival was 91% at 1 yr and 54% at 6 yr. Emphasis is placed on the fact that subjects continue to be heart patients. Their well-being depends on psychological and general medical care, together with help from their, families and society, quite apart from cardiological attention.