[Permanent cardiac pacing: about 234 patients].

Background: Permanent cardiac pacing remains the only effective treatment for chronic, symptomatic bradycardia. In recent years, the role of implantable pacing devices has expanded substantially.

Aim: To compare the situation of patients with critical brady arrhythmias before and after pacing focusing on indication for pacemaker implantation, frequency of re intervention and early and late complications.

Methods: Retrospective study performed over 24 years between 1984 and 2007 at the department of cardiology of Farhat Hached hospital. A total of 234 patients were included, and the database was formed by the patients' files and the protocols of implantation.

Results: The mean age of patients was 69.5 years. The most frequently reported signs and symptoms before implantation of pace maker were dizzy spells and syncope respectively in 53% and 29.1% of patients. Among the electrocardiographic alterations leading to an indication of pacemaker implantation, atrio-ventricular blocks were the most numerous at 74.4% followed by sinus node disease at 17.1%. Early complications were represented essentially by haematoma and infection of the pocket of pacemaker respectively at 2.9% for each one. After a mean follow up of 6.8 years, 88 patients (45.3%) still free of symptoms. Late complications include lead dislodgement and pacemaker syndrome at 2% for each one.

Conclusion: The results of our study demonstrates that even the rate of complications following pacemaker implantation is not high, the follow-up of patients should be fast, complete, safe, and clear, and should include sufficient documentation.