Treatment of Stokes-Adams Disease by External Electric Stimulation of the Heart

Abstract

An external cardiac pacemaker was developed and was used to stimulate the heart electrically in a series of patients with recent Stokes-Adams syncope. It resuscitated patients from attacks due to ventricular standstill; it maintained an adequate circulation during persistent ventricular standstill; and it prevented the recurrence of irregular ventricular tachycardia. Several patients have now survived for many months without recurrent syncope. Such long survivals suggest that the periods of cardiac disturbance which cause syncope may subside if the patient is kept alive during the crucial period.