[Management of high-grade atrioventricular block in Lomé, Togo].

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to describe epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects of high-grade atrioventricular block in Lomé. Out of 2245 patients hospitalized between June 2004 and May 2009, a total of 22 cases of high-grade atrioventricular block were detected thus a prevalence of 1%. The main symptoms were syncope and presyncope (73%) and dyspnea (50%). There was 77.2% of chronic grade III atrioventricular block and 22.8% of grade II atrioventricular block. A pacemaker has been established in 8 patients (40% of the patients presenting a class I indication) in VVI (R) mode. We noted 59% of deaths among patients who did not benefited from any cardiac pacing.