Ventricular pacemakers versus sinus pacemakers in sinus node dysfunction

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Abstract

Forty one patients having sick sinus syndrome without dilated cardiomyopathy were studied. Twenty six of them had severe sinus bradycardia and 15 had the tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome. One group of 30 patients received ventricular stimulation while 11 were treated with physiological stimulations systems (AAI or DDD). The average age was 64.6 ± 12.9 years in the group treated with ventricular stimulation and 73.16 ± 8.67 years in the other group. The average time of follow up was 44.0 ± 18 months for the VVI group and 26.6 ± 9.5 months for the AAI or DDD group. Survival rate and incidence of complications such as atrial fibrillation, trombolic events and heart failure were compared. The differences founded were not statistically significant at usual levels. The method used in the comparison of both group was the Pearson chi square test with the Yates correction for small samples. However, a greater incidence of complications and mortality in patients treated with ventricular stimulations is showing a tendency, to be confirmed in the future, with greater samples and/or longer follow up.