Treatment of severe diphtheritic myocarditis by temporary insertion of a cardiac pacemaker.

Vietnamese children and adolescents with diphtheritic myocarditis and severe conduction abnormalities were treated prospectively with temporary insertion of a cardiac pacemaker. Five of 32 patients died before the procedure could be performed; the remaining 27 patients underwent successful pacemaker insertion. In children and adolescents with diphtheritic myocarditis and severe conduction defects, temporary insertion of a cardiac pacemaker may improve the outcome.