P.2. Syncope, Pacemaker, CRT & ICD

Purpose To estimate incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in chronic atrial fibrillation patients (pts) undergoing VVI and VVIR-pacemaker implantation during a long-term follow-up period. Materials and methods The study group consisted of 74 pts (12 women), 73.1±10.1 years of age. In 55 cases pacemaker implantation was performed because of to tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome and in 19 patients because of Frederic syndrome. The average follow-up was 78.1±23.9 months. Patients were divided in two subgroups. Fifty-six patients with VVI-pacing mode were included in the subgroup A, and 38 patients with VVIR-pacing mode in the subgroup B. Incidence of SCD was evaluated during a long-term follow-up. Results Patients of the subgroup A (VVI-pacing mode) had higher incidence of SCD compared with subgroup B patients (VVIR-pacing mode) during long-term follow-up. Three pts (10%) died suddenly in VVI-pacing group and there were no cases of SCD in VVIR-pacing group. Conclusion Rate-responsive pacing reduces SCD incidence in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation compared with VVI-paced patients during a long-term follow-up period.