Evaluation of Uses of Dual Chamber Pacemakers in the Sick Sinus Syndrome Treatment and Their Success in Decreasing the Complication Rate

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of the new model DDD pacemakers in the treatment of symptomatic sick sinus syndrome (SSS) and their success for solving the commonly encountered problems in this disease. The study material consisted of 67 patients who were implanted with 4. generation DDD pacemakers between 1984-1988 in our instution. 45 of these patients were male and average age was 66±12 years. Clinical and laboratory experiences related to these patients had tachy-brady syndrome and 55 % had ventriculo-atrial retrograde conduction. With the use of these pacemakers; commonly encountered problems like endless loop tachycardia, pacemaker syndrome and thrombo-embolic phnomena were solved. However atrial fibrillation had been a continuing problem. Approximately 87 % of the patients were in DDD mode at the end of an average 27-months follow-up period.