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Ann Thorac Surg 1981;31:329-333
© 1981 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

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Articles

Changing Indications for Pacemakers in Children

University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE

^* Address reprint requests to Dr. Fleming, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 42nd and Dewey Ave, Omaha, NE 68105

Permanent pacemakers were implanted in 50 children. Indications were symptomatic sinus node dysfunction in 34 (68%), surgical block in 9 (18%), and congenital block in 7 (14%). Twenty-three (68%) of the 34 children with sinus node dysfunction had undergone prior cardiac operations.

Only 4 of the 50 patients (8%) had electrode problems after a mean pacing time of 29.5 months (range, 1 to 96 months). All 35 of the mercury-cell pulse generators used in 28 patients ceased to function after an average useful life of 20.8 months (range, 1 to 51 months). The lithium-powered units in the 45 survivors all show satisfactory pacing after 5 to 44 months (mean, 28.1 months).

With improved pacemaker technology, longer survival after complex repairs, and better monitoring techniques, the indications for cardiac pacing in children have broadened. Surgical block now is an indication in only a small fraction of the pediatric pacemaker population. Sinus node dysfunction accounts for an ever-increasing majority of the pacemakers we currently implant in children.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. M. Robertson and H. Laks A New Technique for Permanent Pacemaker Implantation in Infants and Children Ann. Thorac. Surg., August 1, 1987; 44(2): 209 - 211. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. H. Fleming, L. B. Sarafian, J. W. Yarbrough, J. D. Kugler, and P. K. Mooring Epicardial Corkscrew Lead Fracture: An Underreported Cause of Pacing Failure? Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 1983; 35(5): S0003497510604286 - S0003497510604286. [Abstract] [PDF]