Australia and New Zealand pacemaker survey, 1972.

Abstract

During 1972, cardiac pacemaking experience in Australia and New Zealand was surveyed. 20 cardiovascular units in 10 major cities supplied information concerning implantation of 676 generators. There were 341 first implants and 335 replacements. A transvenous pacemaker system was used for pacemaking in 305 (89%) of the 341 patients receiving their first implants. The early mortality in the group receiving a transvenous system was significantly less than the mortality amongst the 32 patients who had a thoracotomy for the establishment of either intramyocardial or epicardial electrodes. There was a growing tendency to implant ventricular synchronous and ventricular inhibited generators in prefe..