Survival in patients with permanent pacemakers.

Atrioventricular block I has a benign natural course, and permanent pacing is not warranted. Second-degree AV block, including both type I and type II, can have an ominous course, especially in older patients with underlying heart disease. One study claims that the prognosis in patients with second-degree AV block, irrespective of type, is improved by permanent pacing. In spite of lack of controlled studies it has been convincingly shown that VVI pacing prolongs life in patients with high-grade AV block. Two studies suggest that atrial synchronous pacing in patients with congestive heart failure and high-grade AV block might improve their survival. Studies comparing survival with different pacing modes in patients with sinus node disease support the hypothesis that physiologic pacing can improve survival. Prophylactic pacemaker implantation even in symptomatic patients with chronic bifascicular block does not seem to protect them from sudden death.